Food awakening MID(TERMS) OF ENDEARMENT
And better than ever… By Rachel Beresford
Amelting pot of local produce, flavour experiences and culinary talent will be served up at this year’s West Waterford Festival of Food, taking place from April 14 to 16. And the event, one of Ireland’s largest and longest-running food festivals, promises to be even bigger and better this year.
The 14th annual festival will again showcase the very best produce from the region as visitors enjoy over 70 events including a food stage, pop-up dinners, a full children’s programme, foraging trails, bus tours, cooking demos, top chefs, high-end and casual dining experiences, plus one of Ireland’s largest outdoor markets.
The main hub for the three-day festival is in the harbour town of Dungarvan with events also taking place in Lismore and throughout the West Waterford region, making it a truly local celebration.
Newly-appointed festival director Eunice Power brings a wealth of food passion and credentials to the table for this year’s event as a founding member of the festival and a well-known TV chef and food journalist.
Commenting on the launch Eunice explained,“over the years the festival has been a showcase of the food of the region, provides a forum for important conversations around food as well as hosting many top chefs, fresh interesting venues, and diverse influences.
“This is one festival where there is something for everyone. For 2023, the theme is the continuing adventure of Irish food, hearing from food producers, food economists, chefs, and restaurateurs about the ever-changing landscape of Irish food.”
New event highlights to look forward to at this year’s festival will include a very special dinner at Lismore Castle honouring the culinary contribution of Paul Flynn, cooked by ‘past pupils’ of the Tannery.
Another special dinner will bring fun and flavour to the unusual location of The Courthouse in Dungarvan.
And this year there will also be a sensory experience on hand for children on the autism spectrum. During the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to forage for seaweed and other wild produce on local beaches and forests to discover the incredible edibles under your nose and see how it’s used in cooking.
Also new this year will be some creative elements including a food photography workshop with food and travel writer and photographer Cliodhna Prendergast while Sinead Connigle Palmer will host a ‘The Art of Tablescaping’ workshop at the newlyopened Cass & Co followed by dinner cooked by culinary duo Eamon Connors and Roisin O Connor.
Tapping into the trending topic of ‘Mood Food’ will see psychotherapist and nutritional expert Evie Flynn hosting a brunch and walk set at the scenic Mount Congreve house and gardens in Kilmeaden — one of the ‘great gardens of the world’ and having just reopened in 2022 this is sure to be a popular outing!
Taste Waterford — Waterford’s food and drink members network — will also be on hand to tell Waterford’s food and drinks story with cookery demos and drinks workshops.
Members showcased will include Mezze, Dun Bakery, Blackwater Spirits, Dungarvan Brewing Company, Eunice Power, Paul Flynn, and John Mcgrath, the famous Lismore Butcher to name but a few. Guest chefs including Mags Roche and Aisling Larkin will also be on hand to highlight the produce.
High-profile chefs set to feature in this year’s line-up include Paul Flynn, Chef and Owner of The Tannery Restaurant, Townhouse and Cookery School and Mark Moriarty Irish chef and presenter of RTE cookery programme Off Duty Chef.
Richard Jacob, formerly of Idaho, is launching ‘Bia not Bluster’, an exciting collective of thinkers and doers from the food industry which promises to be both engaging and fun.
Other food industry figures expected at the festival include Fiona Touhy, Caitlin Ruth, Cliodhna Prendergast, Jenny Flynn (Faithlegg) Grainne Mullins (from Grá Chocolates) Shane Mcgrath, Paddy Lee and Hilary Casey.
Festival favourites set to return include daily markets and the famed Festival Market on Sunday when over 100 stalls fill the town centre, bringing the best of local and Irish artisan food to the fore; ‘Bus Bia’ food tours through wonderful West Waterford by bus; and the ever-popular food trails.
One of the aims of organisers is to run a plastic-free festival with an emphasis on food sustainability, and in line with this a ‘Food Waste Workshop’ will demonstrate how to reduce food waste in cooking at home, making the best of your leftovers.
The Food Cloud Ireland ‘Zero Waste Food Truck’ will be in situ during the festival and the social enterprise with a mission to transform surplus food into opportunities to make the world a kinder place will bring their expertise into play for a Food Cloud Dinner.
For more information, see westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com.■
With Christmas firmly behind us, it’s time to look ahead to family midterm breaks to make some memories.
Enjoy a one, two or three-night family break at the four-star Castleknock Hotel, located right on the doorstep of Dublin where kids receive a welcome bag on arrival (including the cute Phoenix the Giraffe, a colouring book and exploration map for Phoenix Park).
The excellent location of Castleknock Hotel means that you can enjoy all the fun activities nearby such as Dublin Zoo, the National Aquatic Centre and Phoenix Park.
Return to the hotel and it’s cosy, tranquil countryside setting for some quality family time in the warm and welcoming 22 Bar & Restaurant or the adults can treat themselves to a little urban luxury with a visit to the Spa at Castleknock Hotel, a luxurious retreat fuelled by the energy of the nature that surrounds it.
Dublin Zoo passes can be added to each package which cost €54 for a day pass for two adults and two children.
For more information, visit www.castleknockhotel.com
Fairmont, Carton House is also the perfect place to enjoy a break away with your family and loved ones, especially if you’re looking to get out of Dublin but not travel too far.
With 1,100 acres of natural woodlands and magnificent landscape, they have unique family experiences on offer to ensure that everyone leaves with wonderful memories.
Choose from a number of their unique and exciting resort activities from picturesque self-guided walking trails, resort bicycles for hire, boat hire and much more.
Book by phone on +353 (0) 1 651 7701, or see www.cartonhouse.com.
“The festival has been a showcase of the food of the region...”