Waterford food festival to tempt palates with local treasures

THE tempting aroma of the best of locally produced food will fill the air in Dungarvan for three days in April when gourmet and culinary whizzes from across the country gather in the coastal town.

Among the line-up of chefs and guest speakers for the first-ever Waterford Festival of Food are Richard Corrigan, Paul Flynn, Darina Allen, Regina Sexton and Biddy White Lennon.

The festival takes place on April 11, 12 and 13 and will be opened by Social Affairs Minister Martin Cullen, with food trails criss-crossing the town between restaurants.

One trail will feature a variety of meat dishes based on local produce while another will serve up fish dishes and vegetarian delights.

Food lovers can also treat themselves to meals in any one of eight participating restaurants — all offering special festival menus based on local produce.

The county’s food producers and restaurateurs are busy collaborating to design special festival menus to celebrate local produce and highlight local chefs.

Many of the restaurants will host food producers who will speak about their produce and the benefits associated with using local produce.

The cafes will be offering special festival coffee and tea breaks with local confectionery on offer at every corner.

The line-up includes Michelin-starred restaurateur Richard Corrigan of RTÉ’s Corrigan knows Food; chef of the year Paul Flynn of The Tannery and Balzac; award-winning author, food historian and broadcaster Regina Sexton; and chairwoman of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild Biddy White Lennon.

Darina Allen will launch the Farmers’ Market Extravaganza on Grattan Square on Sunday, April 13. The square will be closed to traffic and the food will be complemented by a lively programme of music.

The festival programme also includes something for younger members of the family. Secondary school “chefs in the making” will compete in the Fáilte Ireland-supported cookery competition in secondary school, Coláiste Cathal Naofa on Friday, April 11.

The winning student will be awarded the prize of a day’s tuition at Paul Flynn’s cookery school and will be Paul’s guest at the Tannery restaurant, while the second place prize winner will go home with a selection of kitchen supplies sponsored by Tom Curran of Homestyle in Dungarvan.

On the Saturday, children can participate in cake-decorating workshops,storytelling in the library, and see how butter was made in the “olden days” and learn about honey making. The town will be in full festival mode with plenty of street theatre.

The Waterford Festival of Food, Dungarvan, is being supported by the county and town councils along with the local business community, including Flahavan’s, Glanbia and Dawn Meats.

The festival programme will be launched in full early next month.

* www.waterfordfestivaloffood.ie