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Local farmers help to build a West Cork burger in the city

June 18th, 2017 7:15 AM

By Southern Star Team

Henry Hegarty is opening his West Cork Burger Co at the end of the month.

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A Bantry businessman has joined forces with two others to form the West Cork Burger Company and is about to open a restaurant in the city centre.

BY JACKIE KEOGH

A BANTRY businessman has joined forces with two others to form the West Cork Burger Company and is about to open a restaurant in the city centre.

Henry Hegarty, whose other company Wokabout is a familiar sight at markets and festivals throughout the county, has partnered up with Macroom butcher Michael Twomey and Cian Bradley, of Irish Bacon Slicers in Ballincollig. Together they will be opening their new restaurant at the corner of Washington Street and Grand Parade on June 27th.

Their new company, the West Cork Burger Company, has enlisted the support of 40 farmers in an area ranging from Macroom to Bandon, and all the way back to Bantry.

Henry explained that the farmers have formed their own mini co-operative, the West Cork Wagyu Company, and will be rearing animals that have a high fat marbling content especially for the burger company.

‘We will buy the animals, one animal at a time, from the farmers,’ said Henry. ‘The animal will be slaughtered by Michael and the prime cuts will be sold on to restaurants, leaving 75% of the trim, which we will be mincing upstairs in Washington Street.’ 

He said the new business will employ 12 people, as well as supporting the 40 farmers they are dealing with throughout West Cork.

When ordering at the new restaurant, customers can choose from three different types of buns, or indeed a bunless option, and can choose their burger from a Wagyu beef, Kobe beef, or an Angus option.

To finish it off they can select one of five cheeses – all of which are made in West Cork – plus one or more of the 12 homemade toppings. 

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