Chefs from some of Belfast’s top restaurants and hotels have donated free recipes to a book with aim of reducing food waste.
This initiative is part of Belfast City Council’s Recycle Week programme.
The un-EAT-en cookbook includes dishes that can be made using simple, cost-effective ingredients. The chefs are from Home, Shu, Coco, James Street South and Ginger Bistro, and The Merchant and Grand Central Hotel.
From pan roast salmon and chicken soup, seasonal pasta dishes and peanut butter and jam bread pudding, there is something to inspire everyone, regardless of your culinary expertise.
People bin around £13 billion worth of food each year – that’s 4.4 million tonnes of food.
Councillor Kate Nicholl, chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, attended the book launch on the Belfast Barge.
“Food waste is still a big challenge for households. We’re all guilty of buying too much and having to throw out food because it is past its best. As well as including sustainable recipe ideas, the book has top tips on reducing food waste and advice for freezing food – something that people are often unsure about,” she said.
And she said she wanted to thank the chefs for sharing their culinary secrets.
“Now we can all have a go at rustling up a restaurant-worthy meal at home,” she added.
Belfast City Council has a no food waste in black bins policy.
Households use a dedicated food waste recycling bin.
Cllr Nicholl said a consultation is being carried out on how we manage our waste. And she said changes to the current collection systems are needed if the council is to meet its target of increasing the city’s recycling rate to 50% by December 2020.
“We have done well to raise our recycling rate over the past 10 years to around 44 per cent, however, we have now reached a plateau. Providing recycling and waste collection for residents is one of council’s most critical services so it’s important for us to get it right,” she added.
Belfast City Council’s consultation on waste collection closes on October 7. You can share your views here: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/consultations
Susan Doherty, General Manager of the Belfast Barge said historically, we had a fabulous tradition of using up leftovers, but that the practice went out of fashion.
“Here in Belfast, we’ve been quietly going through something of a revolution. Over the last decade, Belfast has become one of the best cities to eat out in, boasting Michelin star and award-winning restaurants; and much of that success has been down to chefs returning to locally-sourced, high quality ingredients on their menus. This has helped transform the city into something of a foodie destination,” she added.
The limited edition recipe book can be downloaded from the Council website www.belfastcity.gov.uk/uneaten.