Sligo Food Trail celebrates 5 years... with taste

Sligo Food Trail celebrates 5 years with taste

Sligo Food Trail on the "Chew, chew train"

 

Sligo Food Trail are celebrating their fifth birthday with taste and in trademark style, launching a commemorative video entitled “A tasty trip around five years of Sligo Food Trail” as well as a series of exciting online events showcasing some of the talented members. It’s quite a milestone for the network which began in 2016 and has matured into one of the best recognised food networks in the country.

 

Cllr. Marie Casserly, Chair Sligo Food Trail said, “I’m so proud of all that Sligo Food Trail has achieved. Over the five years it has put Sligo firmly on the map in terms of food and drink, drawing national and international attention to our county. The strength of a network like this and the power of the collective working as a group is really visible”.

 

The video neatly closes a circle, as it is very appropriately voiced by Aoife Carrigy, Chair of the Irish Food Writers Guild who was guest speaker at the launch event in The Model, Sligo. It’s a real trip down memory lane, featuring showcase events like the Harvest Feasts and the special Sligo ‘chew chew’ train that brought media on a culinary journey from Dublin to Sligo town. Taste The Island, networking events, several series of videos and the Irish Food Writers Guild visit are all remembered in glorious technicolour. “A tasty trip around five years of Sligo Food Trail” will be released online to kickstart celebrations.

 

Everyone is invited to join in an appetising series of online food and drink events. The tastings, demonstrations, recipes and Zoom events will run from Tuesday 4th – Friday 14th May showcasing some of Sligo Food Trail’s talented members. Try a tasting, learn tips and techniques from the experts, and marvel at the breath-taking showstopper created by one very talented chef.

 

Grainne Gilmartin from Sligo Wellness Centre focusses on cooking for teenagers in her live Zoom event ‘Teenage Brains’ on Thursday 6th May. On Friday 7th, it’s the ice cream man - Neil Byrne from Mammy Johnston’s in Strandhill. ‘Creptastic facts and ice cream trivia’ will be entertaining and educational in equal measure. Saturday sees Anthony Gray, ex-Chair of Sligo Food Trail and owner of Eala Bhán and Hooked Restaurants, take to the stage, demonstrating a delicious “DIY Smashed Burger” recipe. “Aw Shucks” is the intriguing title of Sunday’s demonstration when Aisling Kelly of Sligo Oyster Experience shows everyone three ways to serve the delicious bivalves.

 

The seaweed queen herself, Prannie Rhatigan (Irish Seaweed Kitchen) presents ‘Seaweed the Superfood’ on Tuesday 11th May, introducing everyone to cooking with seaweed, making seaweed pesto and even a seaweed smoothie. ‘Brew Coffee with Carrow’ on Wednesday is a Zoom event with Andrew Willis of Carrow Coffee inviting everyone to join in as he talks about their new Peruvian coffee 'Alberca' while brewing with an aeropress. You can purchase some in advance if you’d like to brew along with him. On Thursday evening, Dave Raethorne and Ollie Alcorn (head distiller) of Lough Gill Distillery present a virtual tour of their distillery in Hazelwood combined with an Athrú Whiskey tasting.

 

The finale is ‘Pure Poetry in Chocolate’ a demonstration by executive chef Alan Fitzmaurice from the Glasshouse Hotel.  Drawing together ingredients from Sligo Food Trail producers and inspired by the landscape and beaches, he has created a true floral masterpiece fit to grace the finest dining tables in the land. An appropriate culmination of a fantastic five years of Sligo Food Trail.

 

The project is funded by CEDRA, Dept. of Agriculture and supported by Sligo Tourism.

 

Registration is required for the live events. See (www.sligofoodtrail.ie) for details.