Countdown to Listowel Food Fair 2017

THE 2017 Listowel Food Fair runs from November 9-12 in what promises to be another top weekend of rejoicing in everything that’s unique and wonderful about delicious food.

The food fair is now an important tick in Listowel’s calendar of events where for the past 23 years it has grown – with the combined and continued support of numerous local people – to become one of the premier food fairs in Ireland.

Best Emerging Artisan Food Competitions, Cheese Competitions, innovative Secondary Schools Competitions, cooking demos, celebrity guests, farming seminars, whiskey and wine tasting, food tasting, workshops, food halls, crafts, family themed events is but a sample of the interactive and engaging way Listowel Food Fair celebrates food and its provenance.

Spreading the positive message about quality food and the care and consideration that comes with sourcing and preparing it, is the fundamental objective of Listowel Food Fair - an endeavour which has been enthusiastically reciprocated by locals and visitors to Listowel for over two decades.

This year’s exciting programme once again reflects the ambitions of a hardworking committee in their determination to deliver an enjoyable cross-section of events. Here’s a sample of what to expect.

Thursday kick-starts the festival with a Celebrity Cookery Demonstration as Lizzy Lyons and Simon Delaney prepare dishes from ‘Simply Simon’s: The Diner Cookbook’ where the chef ’s VIP table will include 2017 Rose of Tralee, Jennifer Byrne, and Kerry team nutritionist, Kevin Beas- ley. Friday brings a wide variety of ‘foodie entertainment’ with a Farmer’s Market, Garvey’s SuperValu Food Village, and the annual Listowel Food Fair Awards Dinner.

The remainder of the weekend’s line-up includes such treats as a demo from Lizzy’s Little Kitchen, Cookarama Baking Workshop, ‘Pilates and Sports Nutrition’, Greta’s Herbs, The Listowel Food Trail, ‘Christmas with Orla’, Galvin’s Select Fine Wine Event, The Maurice Walsh Whiskey Experience, Live Jazz, Craft Fairs, and so much more. For more information on Listowel Food Fair’s schedule of events, visit: listowelfoodfair.ie or follow them on Facebook.

Asya O’Callaghan, Jimmy Deenihan, Mairead Moriarty and Listowel Food Hero Ian McGriogor at Gortbrack Organic Farm for the launch of the 22nd Listowel Food Fair. Photo: Don MacMonagle.