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LEENANE FOOD FESTIVAL 25th & 26th September 2010
A Real Taste of
Last year over 1,500 visitors descended on the
tiny village of Leenane for the inaugural Food Festival. This year’s
line up of chef demonstrations will showcase local produce from
international award winning Smoked Tuna, Killary Mussels to organic
lamb from the village mountains.
Heading the line up of chef’s demonstrations is Derry Clarke chef/patron of L’Ecrivain and proud owner of one of only six Michelin starred restaurants in the country. “As a supporter of Organic and non genetically modified food it is a pleasure to be associated with the Leenane Food Festival” Derry said at last year’s event. “We serve only Connemara Hill lamb at L’Ecrivain and it great to come down to Leenane and meet the local farmers of this wonderful product” Derry will cook the lamb in the village marquee and visitors can watch and learn from the gastronomic master at work. Also attending will be Graham Roberts of Connemara Smokehouse who will be demonstrating the uses of smoked salmon and his smoked tuna which snapped up the bronze medal at the prestigious Great Taste Awards in London. Rick Stein’s claim that “Grahams smoked tuna is the finest I have ever tasted” led to Stein serving it in his restaurant within a week of first tasting of the tuna. Also participating will be local restaurateur Oran Daly of Portfinn Lodge and Fjord Restaurant recently featured on RTE’s At Your Service. Oran will be cooking lobster, mussels and scallops all fresh from the Killary. Chefs will be on hand for questions after each session while visitors will have the opportunity to sample the delicious fare. Local farmers and producers will have a market at
the festival where artisan produce ranging
Connemara Lamb is indigenous to this region and have roamed the village hills since the 1800s. The sheep feed on wild herbs, heathers and grasses. It is this diet which gives the meat is beautiful colour and remarkable flavour. It is less fatty than regular grass fed lamb and therefore healthier. Local Farmers will be available to take orders for Connemara lamb for winter supplies. The event marquee will be situated beside The Sheep and Wool Centre overlooking the Killary – Irelands only fjord. The Sheep and Wool Centre will have spinning and sheep shearing demonstrations celebrating the long tradition of wool and lamb in the area. Chef Demonstrations Time table for the weekend: Saturday September 25th Connemara Smokehouse - Graham has achieved so many accolades for his smoked fish especially the Albacore Tuna which has won international acclaim and will fillet an entire tuna for the audience. Delphi Mountain Resort - Arlindam Ghosh will showcase scrumptious delights from Irish Tatler 2009 IT Factor Spa Lough Inagh Lodge - Julie and Fiona will reveal the gastronomic secrets of this award winning fishing lodge. Leenane Hotel - Clipper Racer/International Banker turned chef Sean Coote will entertain you with his new found culinary skills Sunday September 26th Eamon Holt - To celebrate the location of Leenane on Killary Fjord, Eamon will give demonstrations on the many culinary uses of seaweeds. Elizabeth Birdthistle & Children of Leenane Village - Elizabeth and the children from Leenane National School will give a sushi demonstration using local fish. Portfinn Lodge and Fjord Restaurant - Oran will cook lobster scallops and mussels fresh from Killary Harbour Derry Clarke An Tóbar Café - Madeline from South Africa will put an African twist on local produce Visit Leenane on the weekend of the 25-26 September, where you can sample wonderful local produce cooked by some of the best chefs in the country.
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Timetable
of Chef Demonstrations below.
from
chowder, breads, bisque, jams, cheeses, fudges, smoked tuna and
salmon will be for sale. 
