Zucchini's Crafty Weekend

Zucchini's Crafty Weekend was the last event that I had to cover for the Boyne Valley Food Series and what a way to end it! I had never heard about Zucchinis which is only up the road from me in Navan. They have been in business for ten years so I blame himself more seeing as he grew up around here! 

We visited on Sunday afternoon with the SnuggleMonkey in tow. It's clear that it is a regular venue for a lot of families and I can see why. It's comfortable, there is loads of space and the Sunday menu is extremely good value. There is also loads of parking close by so no need to bring a buggy as you wouldn't get it up the stairs anyway! 

Navan Tapas Trail

  

I have lived in Meath now for three years and I still haven't managed to make it to all the great places that people tell me about! Navan is full of such places so when I heard about the Navan Tapas Trail I jumped at the chance to blog about it. Followers of the blog will know that I love tapas and was disappointed that I couldn't make this year's Campo Viejo Trail due to being heavily pregnant. The Navan Tapas Trail more than made up for this and we even brought the baby along!

La Dolce Vita at Jack's Railway Bar & Restaurant

You know you have had a good meal out when you wake up thinking about it! Well that's what happened to me this morning after a fantastic meal out at the La Dolce Vita event at Jack's Railway Bar & Restaurant in Kells. Jack's is run by the lovely Martin and Victoria, a young dynamic couple from Lithuania who took over the restaurant in January. Martin looks after the bar while Victoria expertly manages the front of house. In the kitchen is Aurora, originally from Italy, and having run her own restaurant in Navan for years knows what the customers are looking for when it comes to food. 

Afternoon Tea at Teltown House

Anyone who is a regular reader of the blog will know that I LOVE a good afternoon tea. So I was quick to offer to go to Teltown House to attend their Coole Swan Afternoon Tea for the Boyne Valley Food Series. One of the things I love most about the food series is discovering places that I never would have known existed except for this initiative.

Sheridans Irish Food Festival

Last weekend saw the sixth Sheridans Irish Food Festival take place. It's an event we have been attended every year, rain or shine. Thankfully this year was one filled with lots and lots of sunshine! We didn't make it down till about 3.30 but there was still a steady stream of visitors making their way in. The event is well laid out so it never feels too packed especially since there is a good seating area where people can sit down, enjoy their food and listen to live music. 

Boyne Valley Fruit Farm Blossom Walk

This weekend saw the first events of the Boyne Valley Food Series take place. The Bective in Kells held their seafood festival which Nicky from One Life Adventure attended and which you can read about here and Boyne Grove Fruit Farm opened their beautiful orchards to the public. To say they weren't blessed with the weather is a bit of understatement but Sunday saw a much welcomed break in the rain which we and lots of other families took advantage of. 

The Boyne Valley Food Series 2015

So I know I haven't blogged in a really loooog time so hopefully noone totally dismisses this post as spam! Life got a bit hectic and the blog took a bit of a backseat but I'm hoping to fix all that in the next while. My plans however may be scuppered for a little while though with the impending arrival of baby number 1. So please forgive me in advance!

What better way to start back afresh though than with the announcement of the return of the 3rd Boyne Valley Food Series which kicks off this weekend!  For the last two years this wonderful series of events has turned the summer season into one full of food trails, festivals, farmers markets and fun. Personally it has allowed me to discover a whole new side to the county that I call home and its neighbour, Louth. 

Boyne Valley Food Series - September Events

The Boyne Valley Food Series is nearing its end and while I am sad to see summer go the prospect of autumn fills me with joy. The countryside will look more beautiful than ever and autumn is such a wonderful time to celebrate what the land provides us with. The closing events of the Boyne Valley Food Series reflect this.

Foraging for Lunch on Girley Bog with Meath Eco Tours

Foraging is something I don't know a lot about. Yes I can identify blackberries, elderflowers and wild garlic but that is about it. I'm lucky enough to have the first two in my garden so I'm not even sure you can call that foraging!! So when Kate from Meath Eco Tours invited me along to Girley Bog for a morning of foraging as part of Boyne Valley Food Series I jumped at the chance to learn more.

 

Boyne Valley Food Series - August Events

The Boyne Valley Food Series is a summer long series of events which aims to highlight Meath and Louth's rich selection of artisan producers, small food businesses and restaurants over five months from May till September. So far I have attended the Brú Brewery Tour, Sheridan's Food Festival, Taste of Meath, the Irish Maritime Festival and the Meath Food Safari. Sunday saw the boyfriend and I head to Girley Bog for a foraging session with Meath Eco Tours. It was pouring out of the heavens but it was a great informative morning and I can't wait to visit the bog again on a sunnier day!

Boyne Valley Food Series Foraging Walk & Picnic

Herbal Delights - photo from Facebook

Join Meath Eco Tours this Saturday 2nd August for a special foraging walk and picnic at Girley Bog Natural Heritage Area, near Kells, County Meath. This guided walking tour will celebrate the edible delights to be found in this beautiful bogland area and its surrounds.

Participants will learn about edible plants and flowers, as well as discovering what plant families are safe to eat and which are best avoided. The tasty picnic, a highlight of the three-hour experience, will feature samples of foraged foods, such as Elderflower cordial with Raspberry and Meadowsweet syrup, Bilberry muffins, and Dillisk oatcakes with Wild Rocket and Basil pesto. Recipes and resources for further foraging adventures will also be provided on the day. 

This event takes place on Saturday 2nd August from 10am to 1pm and is part of the Boyne Valley Food Series. Further information and booking at www.meathecotours.com or phone Kate on 087-9712072. Cost is €20 and places are limited so get booking! The meeting point is the Girley Bog Looped Walk car park off the N52.

Meath Eco Tours

+353 (0)87-9712072

www.meathecotours.com

www.facebook.com/MeathEcoTours

Bog blog: meathecotours.wordpress.com/

Boyne Valley Food Series: July Events

The Boyne Valley Food Series aims to highlight Meath and Louth's rich selection of artisan producers, small food businesses and restaurants over five months from May till September. The food series kicked off in May with a great array of events. In May I attended the Brú Brewery Tour and the Sheridan's Food Festival. In June I visited the first ever Taste of Meath at Oldbridge House, the Irish Maritime Festival and went on the Meath Food Safari. So far all the events have been very well organised, informative and, above all, great craic. 

A Taste of Meath at Oldbridge House

So this weekend I was fully immersed in Meath culture and society, from a massive charity barn dance in Cushinstown to my first ever visit to Oldbridge House. I have to admit it was my first time attending a barn dance and if that one is anything to go by it won’t be my last! Over 3000 people attended and there were cowboy hats galore on show. On Sunday, once we had recovered from all that dancing, we travelled up to Oldbridge House for the first ever Taste of Meath as part of the Boyne Valley Food Series.

Out and About at Oldbridge House

A visit to the Irish Maritime Festival 2014

Last Sunday was one of those days where we didn’t know whether we wanted to stay at home and laze about or head out into the wild. In the end the sun made a break from the clouds and our decision was made for us. So off we popped to the Irish Maritime Festival in Drogheda for a few hours where there were tall ships and water sports on display.

Food and Beer Pairing at Brú Brewery

I’ll admit it. I’m a wine drinker by nature. In my twenties I would never have chosen beer over wine. This is probably down to the fact that I found most of the beer on offer too heavy, too fizzy or just plain disgusting. Then I went to Brussels and was shown the error of my ways! On my return I started to seek out what Ireland had to offer and bang on time too since we are now in the midst of a craft beer revolution. 

So I am slowly getting to know my Irish craft beer brands and discovering how well they go with food. I also recently discovered that one brand, Brú Beers, even comes from my adopted home county of Meath! As part of the Boyne Valley Food Series the guys in Brú Brewery put on a food and beer pairing night to demonstrate how well their range of beers went with food, all of which was local too. 

Boyne Valley Food Series: June Events

The Boyne Valley Food Series aims to highlight Meath and Louth's rich selection of artisan producers, small food businesses and restaurants over five months from May till September. The food series kicked off in May with a great array of events. I attended both the Bru Brewery tour and the Sheridan's Food Festival and had a fantastic time at both. I learnt so much and got to meet the people behind all the small businesses and artisan products. 

June Food Festivals & Events

It's the weekend again already!  Short working weeks are the best! To get you in the weekend mood here is a list of events taking place over the next few weeks. June is always a great month for festivals and events so there is loads happening and hopefully something of interest for everyone.

May Food Festivals & Events

So summer is finally here and it's a bank holiday weekend. Wohoo! So get out, enjoy the weekend and celebrate the start of summer in style.

2nd  - 8th May: 

• Boyne Valley Food Series: Co. Meath & Co. Louth, May - September
• Connemara Mussels Festival: Co. Galway, 2 - 4 May
• Gourmet Greystones: Co. Wicklow, Sunday 4 May
• Riverfest: Limerick, 2 - 5 May
• Roscommon Lamb Festival: Roscommon, 30 April - 5 May 

9th - 15th May:

•  Boyne Valley Food Series: Co. Meath & Co. Louth, May - September

16th - 22nd May:

• Boyne Valley Food Series: Co. Meath & Co. Louth, May - September  

• Ballymaloe LitFest of Food & Wine: Co. Cork, 16 - 18 May  

• Kildorrery International Food Fair: Co. Cork, 18 May
• Docklands Summer Festival: Grand Canal Dock Dublin, 17 & 18 Ma
• World Whiskey Day: Various, 17th May

23rd - 31st May: 

• Boyne Valley Food Series: Co. Meath & Co. Louth, May - September

• Burren Slow Food Festival: Co. Clare, 23 - 25 May
• Bloom: Dublin, 29 May - 2 June  
• Bloom Fringe: Dublin City Centre, 31st May
• Culture & Chips: Limerick, 29 May - 2 June 
• Foynes Coffee Festival: Limerick, 30 May - 1 June
• Sheridans Irish Food Fest: Virginia Road Station, Co. Meath, 25 May
• Wexford Food and Wine Festival: Co. Wexford, 22 - 25 May

If you would like to have your food event or festival added please contact Kat at thepurplepageireland (at) gmail.com. Dates are always subject to change so please check the event website before getting all geared up to go out!

The Boyne Valley Food Series kicks off this May Bank Holiday Weekend

The Boyne Valley Food Series is an innovative food adventure! Its aim is to highlight Meath and Louth's rich selection of artisan producers, small food businesses and restaurants during the summer and autumn months.  This will be done through a series of fantastic events that will take place from May right on up to September. 

The Boyne Valley Food Series kicks off this Friday in perfect time for the May bank holiday weekend. You could go on a blossom walk in Grove Orchard or get fancy with fish at the Seafood Festival in the Bective, Kells. On Monday the Electric Bike Foodie Tour is happening and it consists of a one day 25km tour by electric bike with stops at a wonderful selection of artisan producers.

Throughout the rest of the month there will be BBQ demonstrations, beer tastings, gourmet nights and a big Festival of Food. Some of the events are free, others are not, so check out the website here for more details. You can also find them on Facebook here.

Have a fabulous bank holiday weekend and let's welcome the summer in with style!