Joe McNamee: All systems go for Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
FROM THE WATER
It has always amazed The Menu how we Gaels managed to lose the taste for oysters, once a staple of the national diet ever before the arrival of the potato to these shores, but lose it we did and only now are we beginning to renew acquaintance with the truly glorious bivalve, produced here to a truly world class level.
September sees a plethora of opportunities to rectify any previous sins of omission, chief amongst them, the Murphy’s Cork Oyster & Seafood Festival (Sept 21-23), which includes a Cork Gourmet Trail, sampling food and beverages in a variety of top Leeside Restaurants.
The festival’s inaugural All-Ireland Oyster Shucking Competition features Guinness Book of Records’ fastest shucker, Paddy the Shucker, The Lazy Chef, Simon Lamont, three-time world champion Anti Lpik, and more with chef Derry Clarke (L’Ecrivain) helming the whole affair. (www.corkoysterfestival.com).
The Shelbourne Oyster festival (throughout September) includes champagne pairings, special offers, live music and multiple tasting opportunities while the Cliff Oyster Festival (in the Cliff House Hotel at Ardmore, Cliff at Lyons and Cliff Townhouse) do similar with their Oyster Sessions, offering oysters, drinks and live music and finally, the daddy of them all, the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival (Sept 28-30) includes the World Oyster Opening Championships.
The country’s first ‘Oyster Experience’, freshly ‘shucked’ in Sligo town will do its own bit to evangelise on behalf of the beautiful bivalve with a dedicated oyster trail and interactive visitor centre. (www.sligooysterexperience.ie)
COFFEE MORNING
Time to set the beans a brewin’ for the return of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s (Sept 20) for its 26th annual outing, encouraging citizens around the country to host a coffee morning to help raise vital funds for their local hospice and homecare service. Hosts are provided with a free Coffee Morning Pack containing Bewley’s coffee, posters and invitations. (www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie)
TASTE OF WEST CORK
As part of the ongoing Taste of West Cork Food Festival, Clonakilty Fairtrade’s 15th Anniversary Gala Dinner, Fair and Local Feast, celebrates its 15th year as Ireland’s first Fairtrade Town with a splendid menu created by the very wonderful Caitlin Ruth, chef at Deasy’s, in Ring, to be served up in Fernhill House Hotel. John McKenna as keynote speaker will also pay special tribute to Jennifer Sleeman, the visionary impetus behind Clonakilty’s decision to become a Fairtrade town. Includes cocktail reception and live music. www.flavour.ie/fairtrade
Having just enjoyed one truly splendid night at Singing for your Supper, in Levis’, in Ballydehob, The Menu encourages others to do likewise at Plenty of Fish (Sept 14), a joint collaboration with the very splendid Restaurant Chestnut, Rob Krawczyk’s wonderful establishment, just doors away, and, what’s more, the equally talented Niall Sabongi (of Klaw) is also pitching in for what is being described as a ‘promenade’ event between the two establishments featuring a carousel of seafood and top tunes, including the Ceilí All Stars Collective, Sliabh Luachra meets folk and country, with other surprise guests on the night (Tickets: Restaurant Chestnut on 028-25766 or Leviscornerhouse@gmail.com)
TODAY’S SPECIAL
At the recent and very wonderful VoxPro Urban Garden Fest, The Menu sampled one or two sweet treats that lingered on memory’s palate long after said treats had met their fate in The Menu’s cavernous tum, most especially a selection from Marie O’Mahony of Healthy Made Delicious, a range of gluten and dairy free desserts that are most certainly a boon to those shying clear of the aforementioned but an equal pleasure for those of us normally quite happy to consume gluten or dairy.
A Sticky Peanut Slice was proving especially popular with the punters but it was a rich Chocolate Banoffee that floated The Menu’s boat, good chocolate augmented with a sumptuous undertow of dates and something akin to a banana syrup sealing the deal. www.facebook.com/HealthyMadeDelicious
