Award winning chef Neven Maguire presents a brand new six-part series on RTÉ One this Autumn, as he travels through Ulster, celebrating the great food and culture of the province.
Neven’s Ulster Food Tour sees Neven meeting food producers, chefs and bakers, as he visits cafes, restaurants and castles enjoying some of the delicious flavours Ulster has to offer, and meeting some of the people who are putting Ulster’s food culture on the map.
Neven also tries out several activities during the six-part series, including crossing a very shaky rope bridge, undertaking a hovercraft obstacle course, and visiting George Best’s childhood home in Belfast. This combination of food, great activities and the people, is what makes Ulster one of Ireland’s most exciting destinations.
And as Neven’s MacNean House & Restaurant in Cavan was awarded Best Restaurant in Ulster 2025, the popular chef,
who also received the Outstanding Achievement Award recognising his contribution to Irish food and hospitality, is delighted to present the first RTÉ food series filmed solely in Ulster:
“I was so excited to get back on the road for another food adventure, and this time I explored closer to home. Just around the corner is the border so I know Ulster a little but I’ve never really explored it. I’m so pleased to dedicate a food series to Ulster for the first time.
“I learned so much and met some amazing people and enjoyed some great activities. What excites me is the prospect for food in the future, and here in Ulster we have some of the best produce in the world.
“The people were so friendly and kind, and they’re proud of what they do and where they come from. That’s what makes it so special and unique. It’s an exciting time for food and travel in Ireland, especially in Ulster, and I think the best is yet to come”.
Fiona Cunningham (ROI Market Manager) from Tourism NI said “Food and drink experiences continue to be a major motivator for visitors choosing Northern Ireland for a short break or holiday, accounting for over 35% of visitor spend- around £420m to the tourism economy. This new series speaks to and visits a wide range of these food and drink experiences which are only an example of what we have to offer visitors.
With vibrant festivals, great value restaurants, a growing number of distilleries and craft breweries, there has never been a better time to visit Northern Ireland”.
At the end of each episode Neven cooks something special back home in Blacklion, inspired by the produce he enjoys on his journey.
Programme Three: Belfast and Antrim
- Neven’s first stop is at Titanic Belfast where Visitor Experience crew member Johanna Deaney takes Neven back in time as she describes the food on the Titanic – the lavish menus and the opulent dining rooms. Neven also gets to see one of the original menus from the last luncheon.
- Neven then heads to Ora Tapas which mixes international style dishes with local ingredients. He chats with senior sous chef John Hollywood about the unlikely fusion, and they discuss how the North has come into its own in the culinary world.
- Neven then stays overnight in the childhood home of his football hero George Best, learning about the humility and history of the great footballer with tour guide and local historian Gerry O’Neill.
- Neven visits a great neighbourhood restaurant in the suburbs. At Noble he meets head chef Pearson Morris and co-owner Saul McConnell who have a simple but renowned approach to food. Neven enjoys a few of their signature dishes inspired by Northern Irish produce.
- Neven’s final trip in this episode takes him up the Causeway Coast to enjoy some traditional snacks at Glens of Antrim Crisps. Here he meets New Product Development Manager Maria McConaghy who explains the history of the company and the care that is taken to source local ingredients to make these famous crisps. He even tastes some straight out of the fryers.