“I'm learning, we're all learning from each other. It's the sharing of ideas. Maybe I'm being naive, but I don't think there's any competition. In the past young people would have left here because of the troubles, but now everybody's staying, and we're learning from each other and supporting each other.”
The Food Programme · Food & Beverage · October 2026
Context
In a Belfast bakery before the BBC Food and Farming Awards, Sheila Dillon asked Paula McIntyre how she has seen the Northern Ireland food scene change over her career.
Transcript
…Northern Ireland. You know we talk about six degrees of separation in the world. In Northern Ireland it's more like two. So you can nearly always lift the phone and be like, here, did you see that? Yeah I know that person so that for me is something that's really really good about Northern Ireland.
Paula you've you've had an overview of this you know 20 years older than these two. You know you've you've really seen the change from the top.
Definitely and I think what really excites me now is young people like you two. I'm learning, we're all learning from each other. I think it's the sharing of ideas. There's not really, maybe I'm being naive, but I don't think there's any competition because you mentioned a bakery in the North Coast. I knew exactly who you're talking about. You know, somebody comes up with an idea and then they steal it, but it's okay, isn't it? It's not, there's no, you know, it's not steal it, but we share ideas. And I think that's the thing that I love, that maybe in the past people, young people would have left here because of the troubles, but now everybody's... Staying, and we're learning from each other. And not we, I'm past that young people stage, but you're learning from each other, and we're all supporting each other. I'm just so happy to be a part of it. And I think it's sort of endowed me with energy. You know, when you're around young people, I'm like a vampire.
So, we go from the Ormo Road and Lemon Morang Torns to the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026, which is being held at Titanic Belfast. A very good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to Belfast. Our host for the night was the starry Northern Irish BBC presenter, Holly Hamilton. Yes, Belfast is indeed a city where the stories are rich, the people are warm, the weather keeps you humble. I will be your guide this evening as we come here to celebrate the very best of food…
The first category was best food producer. Head Judge Paula McIntyre and I had the almost unbearable job of deciding between three finalists, all worthy of the top spot. The Fresh Flour Company in South Devon, producing pasta, noodles, and crackers from local grains of many varieties, adding value…
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