Galway’s leading artisan food producers are joining forces to promote local produce with a special Féasta Bia celebration weekend this weekend.
Atlantic Way, the body behind the two-day event, has organised this new initiative with local food enterprises, which will include food trails and tastings in Galway restaurants. Seamus Sheridan of Sheridan’s Cheesemongers has been appointed the Galway Féasta Bia Food Ambassador.
Highlights on the trail include the Galway City Market, Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, McCambridges, Ard Bia, Galway City Museum and The Galleon Restaurant. Tasting sessions, as well as special food for kids sessions and tree-planting ceremonies will also take place. Restaurants and eateries in Galway will be offering special ‘Féasta Bia’ menus and dishes throughout the weekend.
Atlantic Way hopes to generate local production and consumption by encouraging, supporting and promoting sustainable regional food production at home and abroad all along the west coast.
According to Paddy Duffy of the Atlantic Way advisory board, awareness campaigns like Feasta Bia are the stepping stones in helping to promote the local enonomy.
The Atlantic Way is seeking a 20 per cent increase in production and consumption of local food, which would lead to a €2.5 billion growth; growing employment in the sector to 5,000 jobs; and an additional 100,000 tourists for the region by 2020.
“Bringing together the fantastic selection of local producers, farmers markets, restaurants and hotels along the Atlantic Way for Féasta Bia offers an ideal opportunity to showcase the finest regional produce on offer.
“The Atlantic Way Food Pillar is delighted to initiate this major regional food promotion to give a platform and increased public profile to our best food producers. Increasing sustainable food production and the rewards for artisan food producers; widening the reach and scope of our food tourism; optimising direct route to markets for producers and entrepreneurs - these are our objectives,” says Paddy Duffy.
In total six food trails across Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick and Mayo have been designed to incorporate a range of food demonstrations, farm tours, food sampling and culinary surprises en-route.
To keep up-to-date with all the events happening in the Féasta Bia weekend, and to view the events, visit www.feastabia.com
