A host of food producers from across the west will showcase everything from honey to cheese and sea cucumber to craft beer – all aimed at increasing the range on offer in local shops, cafes and restaurants. They are all part of Galway’s Food & Drink Showcase, organised by the Local Enterprise Office Galway and Bord Iascaigh Mhara and taking place at the Galway Hooker Brewery in Oranmore on Monday March 6.
The local food producers are busy preparing for this trade only event which aims to help them get a foothold in the marketplace. Seafood including sea cucumber and oysters, regional honey, and local specialty cheeses such as Irish Moiled cow’s cheese, goat’s cheese, and sheep’s cheese will feature in this free event running from 10am to 1pm. Producers from across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon will be exhibiting their products.
Producers and BIM chefs will also provide a demonstration of displaying seafood sharing platters which are proving ever more popular with tourists travelling the Wild Atlantic Way.
Rory Fitzpatrick, chair of the Irish Hotels Federation Galway branch, commented: “Our members are delighted to have the opportunity to meet with so many first class local producers at this showcase. We want to work towards building new relationships that allow us to promote the very best produce this region has to offer. This local producer showcase affords our members a unique opportunity to meet with so many fantastic producers in one place. It’s a great chance for Galway hoteliers to discover some of the best seafood and produce this country has to offer.”
Discussing the reasons behind organising this event, head of the Local Enterprise Office Galway, Breda Fox, said: “This is a must attend event for anyone interested in serving or selling food in the west region and beyond and will provide access to over 30 high quality food producers available throughout the region. The showcase follows the success of successful food development programmes, Food Academy, and will showcase innovative products including carbonated green tea, cold pressed juice, regionally brewed ales, and a range of paleo bread and cookie mixes which will appeal to retailers and restaurants alike."
Máirtín Walsh of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Galway, said: “It’s very important for local food producers to have opportunities to showcase their products and to meet other producers and, of course, customers. We are really lucky here in Galway that we produce a really diverse range of great, fresh, shellfish and we have seen from the Taste the Atlantic initiative along the Wild Atlantic Way that local consumers and tourists want to enjoy great local produce as often as they can. We will have our chefs prepare some dishes for people to see what can be done with shellfish and we will sample some oysters from around the region. Oysters are like wine, the flavour is influenced by where it’s grown and there is one for every taste."
This event is part of the wider efforts within the region with the Galway west of Ireland designation of European Region of Gastronomy 2018 and the ambition to increase the amount of local food and drink showcase opportunities. Attendees will be right in the centre of the Galway Hooker Brewery and will get an unparalled view of local beer production.
This is a free event with limited availability and booking is essential. To get involved contact Ricky Conneely, Local Enterprise Office, Galway, [email protected].
