The Menu: Loving the spud

Waterford-based GIY are joining forces with Bord Bia to search for Ireland’s favourite potato, a quest for inner ‘spudlove’, encouraging the growing, cooking and consumption of the National Tuber and participation in a ‘Spud-Off’, whereby local winners compete in a national competition at the GIY GROW festival, in Waterford, in mid-September.

Open to individuals, families, friends, groups and communities, online tuition is available from Spudmeister Dermot Carey, curator of the Lissadell Heritage Potato Collection (giyinternational.org/spudlove).

For those unable to make the Big Smoke for the Bloom Garden Festival this weekend, the Mallow Home and Garden Festival (June 5-7) has plenty for the keen grower/gardener as well as a tidy Specialty Food Zone, featuring some fine local nosh (exhibitionsireland.ie). Speaking of GIY, one of its many community groups, an integral part of GIY’s gameplan, has been established in Mitchelstown with guest speaker Mary Ellen Kenneally talking Herbs/Kitchen Gardening (June 4, 8pm) at the Ozanam Centre, Thomas St, Mitchelstown (also seeds/seedling ‘Bring’n’Swap’).