Food fest stirring up tasty recipe for success
The fifth annual Taste of West Cork festival was launched by celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna yesterday with an extended calendar of events taking place over six days.
Up to 5,000 people are expected to attend the event’s food market — one of the highlights of the festival, which takes place in Skibbereen, Co Cork, from September 16 to 21.
The open-air food and craft market, with more than 100 stalls, will display the very best the region has to offer.
Award-winning artisan food producers including Fingal Ferguson’s Gubbeen range, Bill Hogan’s Desmond and Gabriel cheeses, Gwen’s Chocolates, Sally Barnes’ Woodcock Smokery and Union Hall Smoked Fish will be among those displaying their wares.
There will also be a young chefs cookery competition judged by Neven Maguire.
Mick O’Shea, Irene Murphy and Stephen Brandes will demonstrate the less conventional side to food, as they use food to create art pieces and combine dining with some unusual and delicious recipes.
Highlights from their menu include sea urchin noodles and pea and coconut-froth mouthwash.
The festival will also feature performances of Waiting for Godot, the only performance of the Gate Theatre’s production in Cork.
Catherine Anne Field of sponsors Field’s SuperValu Skibbereen said west Cork is spoiled for top-quality produce.
“As a retailer who is at the very heart of the community in which we operate, we are delighted to be giving back to our community by sponsoring the festival and we are looking forward to a fantastic event.”
Festival chairwoman Eilis Cohalan said Skibbereen was well on its way to being recognised as the food capital of Ireland.
“We have world-class food artisans on our doorstep and an abundance of talented chefs. Every year the festival gets bigger and better and we are very proud of its success.”
Some events are free and prices for ticketed events range from €5 to €40.
www.atasteofwestcork.com
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