Morton's really are spud-tastic

(L-R): Ivor Ferguson, UFU Deputy President pictured with Angela and Kevin Morton from Mortons, Ballycastle who won Mightiest Chip in Northern Ireland as part of the Mighty Spud Awards 2016. Also pictured is Chef Paula McIntyre who led the judging panel for the inaugural awards. INBM15-16S

-ENDS-

(Pictures: Cliff Donaldson)

For further information please contact Annette Small at Morrow Communications on 028 9039 3837 or email a.small@morrowcommunications.com — (L-R): Ivor Ferguson, UFU Deputy President pictured with Angela and Kevin Morton from Mortons, Ballycastle who won Mightiest Chip in Northern Ireland as part of the Mighty Spud Awards 2016. Also pictured is Chef Paula McIntyre who led the judging panel for the inaugural awards. INBM15-16S -ENDS- (Pictures: Cliff Donaldson) For further information please contact Annette Small at Morrow Communications on 028 9039 3837 or email [email protected]

The Ballycastle eatery has recently scooped ‘The Mightiest Chip in Northern Ireland’ accolade thanks to all its dedicated and loyal customers.

Hundreds voted for their favourite chippy and mash in the Mighty Spud Awards 2016, however Morton’s was crowned ‘a standout in the category’.

Speaking to the Times, Angela Morton, joint owner of Morton’s explained: “We know a good spud when we taste one here in Northern Ireland and to be given this award is truly amazing.

“We never heard or entered the competition and so never in our wildest dreams did we expect this. The first we knew of it was when the competition organisers phoned up to say we had been shortlisted in the top five. Then they rang again to say we had won it, we were speechless.”

So...what does make a ‘mighty spud’, according to Angela it’s all about the potato and the cooking.

“It’s about having the best quality potatoes, and most of the year we use Maris Piper. We make sure that they have a good clean and are put into really hot oil. This makes them fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

“We are delighted with the award and want to say a massive thank you to all our loyal customers who voted for us.”

A spokesperson from the awards continued: “There were hundreds of entries across all four categories of the Mighty Spud Awards 2016. However the Mightiest Chip in Northern Ireland was awarded to Mortons, Ballycastle who were a standout in the category.”

Launched in January, the public were asked to nominate local restaurants, takeaways and pubs that should be recognised for their culinary expertise when it comes to the ‘spud’. The entries were shortlisted by a judges Chef Paula McIntyre, Michele Shirlow (Food NI), Michael McKillop (Glen’s of Antrim Potatoes) and Angus Wilson (Wilson’s Country Potatoes) who then visited the venues for a week of tasting before selecting the winners.

Chef Paula McIntyre added: “Firstly I would like to congratulate the four winners. It wasn’t an easy job shortlisting the hundreds of nominations entered and we had some really tough decisions to make. One thing is for sure - people in Northern Ireland are passionate about the potato!”