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.

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. 

October's Food Festivals & Events

Ok so autumn is officially here - me having to defrost my car for the first time in months must mean it is so! I have to say I love the cold (I will probably be shunned for that!) but there is something lovely about getting all the winter clothes out and getting all snuggled up. Now if it rains that's a different matter but fingers crossed it just stays clear and cold - perfect weather for getting out and about. Have a fantastic October.

Taste of Monaghan, Monaghan Town, 3rd – 5th October

Now in its fifth year, Taste of Monaghan celebrates the best of local produce in Monaghan and its surrounding areas.  Our 60+ exhibitors will be in attendance including artisan food businesses, food business start ups and major international players such as Monaghan Mushrooms, Silver Hill Farm and Mallon's Foods.

The Festival will be hosted by Brian McDermott of No Salt Chef fame who will present the audience with cookery demonstrations from a host of acclaimed chefs and personalities such as Jenny Bristow, Clodagh McKenna, Derval O'Rourke, Calso Cooks, Jenny Eustace and Scottish TV Chef, Peter McKenna. 

 

September's Food Festivals & Events

The schools are back and the sun is gone but there are still a million reasons to love September. Long autumn walks, hearty stews and big chunky cardigans are just three off the top of my head! September also means there are loads more food events and festivals happening all around the country. Harvest time is here - Enjoy.

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.

 

Campo Viejo Tapas Trail - Cork Style

Anyone who is a regular reader of the blog will know that I am a big fan of affordable, creative and interesting events that help to showcase a city. One of my favourite yearly events in Dublin is the Campo Viejo Tapas Trail which I have gone on since it started in 2010. You can read all about the fun we had at the 2014 one here. Campo Viejo also started doing a tapas trail in Cork last year and it looked great, so much so, that the girls and I said we might even think about going down especially for it. Surprisingly, we actually managed to get ourselves organised enough this year and made it down to Cork for the last Sunday trail of the season!

Now Cork is a well visited city on my holiday destination list but I had never eaten in any of the restaurants on the trail which made the event all the more exciting. Our guide for the afternoon was George who was a lively and very entertaining Cork woman – a pure born rebel as she called herself! Our first stop was Electric which has the most gorgeous art deco inspired facade. 

 

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!

August's Food Events and Festivals

August always feels like the final 'big hurrah' before summer is officially over and it's back to normality for us all. There is loads happening throughout the country, so even if the weather doesn't return to the former glory of July, there is no excuse not to get out and enjoy the long summer days before Autumn kicks in.

A Foodie's Guide to Kerry

Off on your holliers to Kerry this summer? Well to make your life easier Eva Schmid from the Ard na Sidhe Hotel has designed a fantastic infographic which highlights some of Kerry’s best food festivals, café’s and tearooms, cooking courses, farmers markets and artisan food stores. Check it out here to see it in full. 

Also check out some of my old posts to see what I thought of eating out in Killarney and Kenmare while on holidays down there a few years ago. I would adore a hake burger from Whartons right now! 

Killarney Town Centre

Kerry’s food festivals, cafes and tea rooms, cooking courses, farmers markets and food stores. - See more at: http://www.cheapeats.ie/#sthash.ROeBNJQH.dpuf

Kerry’s food festivals, cafes and tea rooms, cooking courses, farmers markets and food stores. - See more at: http://www.cheapeats.ie/#sthash.ROeBNJQH.dpuf

The Connemara 'Surf to Turf' Self-driving Foodie Adventure

Mungo invites you to embark on a driving tour of Connemara to see and  eat your way through the two contrasting sides of Connemara.  From the rugged, austere landscape by the sea at Connemara Abalone in Rossaveal, to the lush, fertile grounds at Uncle Matt's Farm in Oughterard you will get to experience two very different landscapes.

July's Food Events & Festivals

 

July is my favourite month of the whole year. I swear it's not just because my birthday falls in the middle of it but that does help! It's because the days are long, autumn is still many weeks away and there is always the promise of sunshine. There are also loads of events throughout Ireland that celebrate all this too so it is a great time to get out and about. Happy July, enjoy.

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

The G Counter, Galway City

Recently the boyfriend and I found ourselves at a wedding down in Athlone. It was one of those fabulous two day affairs which took place on a Friday meaning that we were halfway down the country and had a whole Sunday to spare. What to do, oh what to do, we thought. Sure the only answer was a quick nip down to Galway for the day since we were only an hour away.

We hadn’t had breakfast and were holding out for brunch in Galway. We decided on the G Counter as I had read good things about it from Warm & Snug & Fat. It was also on our route into the city and had ample parking so it was very handy. The G Counter is located beside the G Hotel but apparently they aren’t connected at all, even though the G logo is very similar. It is a bright, airy, almost industrial space and seemed a big hit with families as all the surrounding tables were packed out with the smallies. There was a decent sounding brunch menu which included all the usual suspects such as eggs benedict, waffles, pancakes and breakfast butties.

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.

Campo Viejo Tapas Trail: Dublin 2014

I always feel like summer has well and truly kicked off when it is time for the Campo Viejo Tapas Trail. I have been on every single trail since it started and it is still as much fun as it was the first time around. This year we kicked off in The Market Bar which by the way does a fab early bird of 2 tapas and a glass of wine/beer for €14. It is a big cavernous space where the only noise is the sound of people enjoying catching up over good food. We started the journey with a glass of Campo Viejo Cava and bowls of patatas bravas, piri piri chicken and goats cheese crostini. I could eat those patatas bravas all day!

Dingle is crowned Ireland's Top Foodie Town

Photo from www.dingle-peninsula.ie

Dingle has been crowned Top Foodie Town of Ireland from a shortlist of ten finalists.  The winner was announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards on the 9th of June that took place in the DoubleTree by Hilton.  This first year of the annual competition was run by The Restaurants Association of Ireland in conjunction with Admailer from An Post.

The ‘Foodie Town of Ireland’ award recognised Dingle for actively promoting itself through joint activities such as food festivals, gourmet trails and farmers’ markets as well as great dining experiences. It was noted that Dingle goes above and beyond to give their tourists the best foodie experience.  They have a well-established local producer/supplier network which is utilised and promoted by local businesses. They also actively plan for future growth and investment in the food and hospitality industry at a local level.  Education, training, development and employment are key components of the ultimate foodie destination, which is  seen in abundance in Dingle.    

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.

Bloom Fringe - Where Inspiration Grows

Bloom Fringe is the latest independent festival to hit the streets of Dublin. The festival is a spin-off of the hugely successful Bloom and will showcase Dublin’s ever growing creative capacity with fresh ideas, spontaneity and fun. The aim is to celebrate the biodiversity and sustainability of Dublin’s City Centre by bringing together communities, artists, performers, professionals, enthusiasts and free thinkers in a joyous explosion of garden-related creativity.

Bloom Fringe will literally take over the city with over 35 eclectic events staged in pop-up venues in parks, gardens, lane-ways and Dublin City Centre as well as established venues such as cafés, shops and more. The fringe will showcase works from the world of gardening, sustainability, architecture, food, fashion and much more. Innovative workshops, pop-up dinners, picnics, exhibitions, garden installations and other experiences will be hosted throughout the city on Saturday 31st May to promote sustainability, green infrastructure and community involvement.

The Bloom Fringe HQ will be at the top of Grafton Street with a green pop-up on George’s Street and other surprises sprinkled in-between. Event coordinators, Landscape Architect Esther Gerrard and Garden Designer Marion Keogh, “want to encourage anyone with artistic vision and drive to participate and present their work. This means that there’s always something to suit everyone, of all ages and tastes. Our city lends itself to a multitude of uses and we want to show it off in all its glory!”

Some of the events that are taking place include:

• Tours/trails such as foraging with Ed Hicks
• A Masterchef picnic with Tamarin Blackmur winner of Masterchef
• Pop-up windows will be on display at Industry, Berlin and Courtney Lennon
• Family Friendly Workshops such as: Hedgerow Herbalism, Composting Bootcamp and Forest School
• Visit open community gardens

Bloom Fringe is happening this Saturday - 31st May 2014. The full programme is available on their website - www.bloomfringe.com. You will also find them on Twitter @bloomfringe #bloomfringe and on Facebook www.facebook.com/bloomfringedublin.

March's Food Festivals & Events

Spring is officially here. The daffodils are out, the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in sight. I have even seen a guy in shorts which I'm taking as some sort of good omen! The good news is that it is also meant to last over the St. Patrick's weekend so there is no excuse not to get out and about. 

Here are a few events taking place this week:

• Irish Food Week at Rua: Castlebar, Co.Mayo, 10  - 15 March 2014 
• St Patrick's Weekend Irish Craft Beer and Food Market: IFSC, Dublin, 13 -17 March 
• St. Patrick's Festival: Dublin, 14 - 17 March. Includes a food market in Christchurch Cathedral.

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!

Enjoy the long weekend or in keeping with the St. Patrick's Day spirit - Bain taithneamh as an deireadh seachtaine.