Festival to serve up Cork’s finest fare

SOME of the country’s top chefs will serve up their signature dishes on the banks of the Lee next month as the southern capital celebrates its renowned food culture.

Details of Cork’s TasteFest were unveiled last night just days after Queen Elizabeth’s historic visit to the landmark English Market put the spotlight on the region’s artisan food producers and their produce.

Tourism chiefs are hoping that TasteFest will help entice more visitors to the city and cement its reputation as the food capital of Ireland.

With the tag line “sample the food, drink in the atmosphere”, beautiful Fitzgerald’s Park will be transformed into a culinary quarter for four days, from June 23 to 26.

Chefs from 15 of the city’s top restaurants will tickle the tastebuds with samples of their signature dishes.

TasteFest Cork has already signed up some leading restaurants, including Amicus, Augustines, the Boardwalk Bar and Grill, Electric Bar and Restaurant, Hayfield Manor, Isaac’s, The Ivory Tower, Liberty Grill, Rising Tide, Sage, Springfort Hall Country House, the Club Brasserie and The Cornstore.

Barry and Fitzwilliam Ltd and Heineken Ireland have also committed to the event, along with a number of top-class exhibitors, including Ballymaloe Country Relish, Clonakilty Black Pudding, Cooleeney Cheese Company and Kerry Spring Water.

Food and wine suppliers, cookery schools, artists and entertainers will also promote their products.

There will also be a number of cookery demonstrations from leading celebrity chefs such as Rachel Allen, who attended last night’s launch, Conrad Gallagher and Andrew Rudd, as well as chefs from many of the participating restaurants.

Electric Restaurant’s Ernest Cantillon, one of the festival’s main organisers, said the idea of establishing an event like this featuring high-quality, reasonably priced food has been talked about for years.

“The festival will provide Cork foodies and visitors with an opportunity to experience the wide diversity that is on offer from indigenous suppliers, combined with the best of both Irish and international cuisine,” he said.

“TasteFest gives over 15 of Cork’s top quality restaurants a unique opportunity to expand their client base in the most effective way possible; by allowing new customers to sample their signature dishes in a convivial atmosphere.”

TasteFest is supported by Fáilte Ireland, Bord Bia, the Irish Examiner and Cork’s 96FM.

The event has also received backing from Cork City Council, the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

* Tickets for TasteFest are available from as little as €10 on www.tastefest.ie