Feast of food for all at revamped festival

A feast of food from some of the country’s leading chefs, restaurants, and producers will be served up during a revamped food festival in a city park next month.

And the organisers of the Irish Examiner Cork Food Festival 2012 have promised value-for-money in the completely overhauled event.

The “corker” voucher system that left a bad taste after a similar festival last year has been scrapped, and replaced with a recession-busting €12 entrance fee, with children admitted free.

Once inside the park, visitors can graze their way through the free samples, or pay for chefs’ taster plates, with prices starting at €2.

“A big thing for us, taking over the complete organisation of the event, was to make it as inclusive as possible,” said festival organiser, Ernest Cantillon, owner of the Electric Bar and Restaurant.

“So we have reduced the price of the ticket to just €12. And we have made sampling of food much easier with the removal of the payment by tokens.

“Feedback from last year was that this was a little complicated — and we want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to try out something new at the festival.”

Top chef Rachel Allen was joined at last night’s launch at Hayfield Manor by some of the top restaurateurs and food producers who will be showcased at the event in Fitzgerald’s Park from Jul 19 to 22.

The event has been expanded to take in the entire park, with more exhibitors, especially in the artisan food producers section, as well as a special section for young foodies and their families.

Leading chefs, including The Restaurant critic Paolo Tullio, Darina Allen, and Andrew Rudd, will give cooking demonstrations.

“It will be a chance for everyone to meet the teams behind some of Cork’s greatest culinary success stories, as well as new talent on the food scene — where restaurants will be exhibiting alongside their food producers — a real farm to fork experience,” he said.

The festival is supported by the Irish Examiner and Cork City Council.

Tickets are available from Electric Bar and Restaurant, on South Mall, Sober Lane on Sullivan’s Quay, from www.prettyreallygoodevents.com, and from the Irish Examiner office on Lapps Quay.

* www.irishexaminerfoodfestival.com

Featured exhibitors

* Bite-Size Ltd, Ballymaloe Country Relish, Clarion Hotel Cork, Classic Drinks, Choc Allure, Cork International Hotel, Country Choice on Tour, Donegal Rapeseed Oil Co, Follain Teo, Glenilen Farm, O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausages, O’Donovan’s Off Licence, The Good Fish Co, Amicus Restaurant, The Boardwalk Bar & Grill, The Cornstore, Electric Bar & Restaurant, Fleming’s Restaurant, Greene’s, Hayfield Manor, Isaacs, The Rising Tide, Sage, Soho and Springfort Hall.