Warrenpoint community garden announced as finalist in national Big Lunch Recipe Search

The Warrenpoint garden impressed judges with their Irish apple chutney which organisers behind the food-sharing initiative hope will be served at Big Lunch events on June 7-8.

The competition was inspired by YouGov research commissioned by the Eden Project which revealed that almost one in seven of all UK adults (14%) never cook a completely new recipe, with around a quarter of people (24%) admitting that a lack of ideas discourages them from cooking from scratch.

Determined to inspire people to roll up their sleeves, get in the kitchen and cook up a delicious dish to share, organisers at The Big Lunch were delighted to receive recipe entries from all four corners of the UK. Entries were sifted and judged by chefs and recipe developers from the Eden Project, Greene King and Co-op, who considered factors including shareability, value for money and creativity, as well as the stories behind the recipes entered.

The inspiration behind the prize-winning dish, which also included seeded Irish bread, came from volunteers at Green Spaces Community Growing Project where they make seasonal dishes from food grown in the garden.

Roisin Murray-Gibbons, chairperson of the community garden, explained: “It’s wonderful for us to be recognised as a finalist in The Big Lunch Recipe Search. We grow our own food at the community garden and will use what is in season and will make dishes that can be pickled or frozen or used throughout the season, reducing waste too. We make our own jams, pesto and kimchi etc and that’s where the idea for the chutney came from. The role of community gardens is about growing easy to grow organic food that everyone can get involved with, just like our families before us did. It’s good for our health and their pockets and the environment too.”

Roisin and other volunteers are holding a Big Lunch at the garden on June 7 which will not only include delicious food but a tour of the garden and plant-swap event.

After beating off competition from other keen home cooks, the garden is set to have their prizewinning recipe featured in a special Big Lunch online cookbook and will receive a gift voucher to spend on a Big Lunch buffet. Roisin is one of ten finalists from around the country including other prizewinning dishes ranging from a strawberry and vanilla cheesecake to butternut squash empanadas and Irish apple chutney.

Lindsey Brummitt, Programme Director at the Eden Project, said: “We were blown away by the quality of the recipes we received from passionate home cooks around the country and are thrilled with our top ten dishes, showcasing community sharing at its best. You can’t have a Big Lunch without a bite to eat - food connects people, starts conversations and brings us all together. It’s something we all have in common and that’s why The Big Lunch works so well – it’s about making those vital social connections while tucking into something delicious. So why not pick a recipe that tickles your fancy and share it with your community at The Big Lunch on 7 and 8 June?”