Canadian chef to front TV showcase of Cork food

Cork’s culinary excellence — as well as its scenic backdrops — will take centre stage on a cookery show which will be beamed into 1.5m homes next year.

Gourmet Escapes will feature Canadian celebrity chef Gerardo D’Amore. He travels to an interesting destination and takes on a cookery challenge set by a local chef.

While in Cork, he is set a task by Martin Shanahan of the Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale.

According to Tourism Ireland, the show filmed here sees the Canadian chef travel around Kinsale and Cork, searching for ingredients in places such as the English Market; he then returns to cook a meal using those local foods.

As well as hunting for the local ingredients, D’Amore has also been filming at well-known tourist sites along the way, including the Jameson Distillery in Midleton and Shandon in Cork City.

Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland’s manager for Canada, said: “Lifestyle programmes such as Gourmet Escapes are an excellent way to highlight Ireland to a huge audience in Canada.”

The episode filmed here will be seen by about 1.5m Canadian ‘foodies’ and potential holidaymakers — encouraging them to come and partake of the many culinary delights of the destination for themselves.