Archive News - 2007

Looking for The Perfect Duck…. Make it Silver Hill November 2007 BBC2 viewers were able to see our Silver Hill Head on duck on Heston Blumenthal’s fascinating 'In search of perfection' programme. In the third episode aired on October 30th, Heston searched for the perfect Pekin Duck - Britain’s favourite ethnic food choice - Chinese. Heston Blumenthal selected the unique Silver Hill Breed of duck owing to the fact that our ducks are produced specifically for the perfect Pekin duck. Silver Hill Foods is home to the unique breed of Silver Hill ducks, which the Steele family has evolved through a selective breeding process combined with modern technology and over forty-five years of breeding experience.

Highlighted in the programme was the unique Silver Hill production process which has resulted in a Pekin duck which is consistently flavoursome, succulent and tender.

98% of the top restaurants in the Chinatowns throughout the United Kingdom & Europe who have long enjoyed the delicious quality of Silver Hill Head on duck which is renowned for its quality, succulent taste and the golden crisp lacquer finish to its flawless skin so no other breed of duck will produce the Perfect Pekin duck dish.

Pub Chef Approval July 2007
Independent reviews conducted by The Pub Chef magazine on the Silver Hill Duck Sausages & Honey Roast Half Duck concluded that they would both be simple to use high quality products for the busy publican to put onto their menu. All Silver Hill's cooked product range are slow cooked & hand produced, whilst our Duck sausages are made only from prime cuts of Silver Hill Duck.

Read the review here >>
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Award Winning Confit July 2007
The quality & consistency of our cooked product range was recently recognised with the Confit winning an award at the British Frozen Food Federation's 2007 Gala Dinner.

The Confit duck legs are hand prepared and trimmed it is then marinated with a subtle combination of garlic, black pepper,salt & herbs, before being slow cooked in its own juices to produce a product that is the finest Duck confit.

The Confit was the focal point on the 2006 Ryder cup gala dinner menu. All our cooked product range is hand prepared before being slow cooked to ensure that our customers receive a product that is succulent, tender & full of flavour.

Celebrating 45 years June 2007
To mark 45 years in the business, coupled with our recent inclusion in the Bord Bia Duck Quality Assurance Scheme, Silver Hill Foods hosted a celebratory lunch in the Michelin starred L’Ecrivain restaurant. The lunch, which featured a duck themed menu, was prepared by Michelin Star chef Derry Clarke. Guests were given an exclusive preview of the wonderful range of duck products that we showcased at the Taste of Dublin, from the 14th - 17th June 2007 in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2.

Michael Murphy, European Markets Director from Bord Bia summarised the achievements of Silver Hill during the past 45 years highlighting the continual focus on quality, sustainability & the environment. Michael also highlighted the recent approval of Silver Hill in the Bord Bia Duck Quality Assurance Scheme. To be included within the scheme involved audits of the duck production and processing facilities and systems, which were passed with "flying colours". We can now participate in the Félie Bia programme and are licensed to use Bord Bia quality marks.

Felie Bia Approved - Quality Ducks Guaranteed May 2007 We are pleased to announce that Bord Bia have recently endorsed Silver Hill Foods with the coveted Bord Bia Duck Quality Assurance Scheme, which was earned through its dedication to ensure that the highest standards are achieved in duck production from breeding, hatching, growing, through to processing and cooking. The Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme is an integrated food quality and food safety management system involving the primary producer and the factory processor working in partnership to provide the customer with Quality Assured Product. The scheme has been developed by an expert group representing, Bord Bia, Teagasc, The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), duck producers and processors, industry advisors and the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF).

IFE 2007 May 2007
In March 2007 we launched 15 new & exciting Foodservice & Retail products at IFE 2007. Visitors to the stand were also able to taste the quality of our duck as Gary McDowell, our Development chef offered daily cooking demonstrations, recipe tips and menu ideas.

We also were the main headline sponsor for the Chef@IFE 2007 feature ran in conjunction with the Craft Guild of Chefs. To show the importance that at Silver Hill we place on insight, creativity and innovative ideas for chefs, restaurateurs, cafe and deli owners, and anyone else in the foodservice and retail sectors, in search of new concepts and culinary inspiration.

Our Development chef gave a Master class in the art of cooking innovative duck dishes. Among the recipes he demonstrated were:

• Confit of Duck, Butternut squash, Green Bean & Barley salad Balsamic Essence
• Duck Sausages Black Pudding Crushed potatoes, Pan Fried Bacon & Cabbage

IFE 2007 - 18th - 21st March 2007

Silver Hill Foods will be exhibiting at IFE 2007,Stand number SE2405, held at the Excel exhibition centre, Docklands, London. During the show we will be:

Launching 15 new & exciting Foodservice & Retail products Our Development chef will also be on the stand with daily cooking demonstrations, recipe tips and menu ideas. Visitors to the Silver Hill stand will be able to sample a wide range of premium quality duckling products. The main headline sponsor for the Chef@IFE 2007 feature run in conjunction with the Craft Guild of Chefs. Demonstrating the importance as a company we place on continued product innovation.

Chinese New Year - Silver Hill duckling broadens New Year appeal February 2007

Silver Hill's premium oven-ready head-on duckling is now being used by 95 per cent of the UK's top Chinese restaurants, but that's by no means the whole market at Chinese New Year, says the company. "Each year we find increasing interest from caterers using the occasion to introduce Chinese-themed menus for all their customers, with duck one of the focal points on the menu. So caterers can benefit from our experience of working with all the top Chinese restaurants which guarantees them the highest quality product to serve their customers," says Silver Hill.

As well as the market leading premium oven-ready head-on duckling favoured by Chinese connoisseurs, Silver Hill also has a whole range of convenience products guaranteeing premium taste and quality in a user-friendly format.

The range includes products such as boneless Chinese roast duck, and whole cooked aromatic duck combining aromatic oriental spices with star anise, ideal as a meal centre for lighter menus with stir-fry vegetables. Hand-prepared and slowly roasted, Silver Hill products may also be used in an aromatic duck salad, as a duck sandwich, or served with Chinese pancakes and hoisin sauce.

Chinese New Year - 18th February 2007 - Kung Hei Fatt Choi February 2007

The Directors & Staff at Silver Hill Foods would like to wish our customers & friends Kung Hei Fatt Choi for the New Year of the Boar.

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