Despite their best culinary efforts, staff from The Fatted Calf in Glasson were unable to compete with all the maritime cooks in the third annual All-Ireland chowder cook-off in Kinsale last week.
In what was their second time to represent Westmeath in the cook-off, Dee Adamson and Kate Whelan travelled with their special recipe but were unable to dislodge any of the seaside counties from the podium.
“It’s meant to be competitive, but it’s more about the craic. I suppose it’s more about going down and selling yourself,” said Ms Adamson.
Almost 900 people cast their vote, to choose their champion in the hotly contested cook-off, which took place in Acton’s Hotel, Kinsale on Sunday which saw chefs, fishermen, and commercial chowder producers from every county of Ireland serve up pots and pots of delicious creamy chowder in a bid to walk away with the coveted title.
In the end it was The West Bar from Westport’s special recipe that for the second year running wowed the public’s palate and won their vote.
Louth’s Fitzpatrick’s Bar and Restaurant, whose fantastic “fishy” stand was one of the main talking points of the day came second; while The Cornstore, Cork came in third place.
The All-Ireland chowder cook-off was the pinnacle of a two-day family festival that was held in Kinsale over the weekend.
