TOTALLY TERRIFIC TOMATO FESTIVAL AT AIRFIELD ESTATE

TOTALLY TERRIFIC TOMATO FESTIVAL

AIRFIELD ESTATE

 

SATURDAY, 27^TH AND SUNDAY 28^TH AUGUST 2022 09.30am-5pm daily

Pre-book via www.airfield.ie

Instagram @AirfieldEstate / Facebook @AirfieldEstate

Twitter @AirfieldEstate

After a two-year hiatus, the colourful “Totally Terrific Tomato Festival” is back with a smash and a brand-new venue. This year, Dublin’s favourite Urban Farm and Gardens, Airfield Estate, will play host to the two-day festival, where there’ll be no tomato shortages and plenty of fun to be had with tips aplenty from tomato growing enthusiasts and experts alike. Celebrating its 10th birthday this unique festival which champions the culture and diversity of tomatoes will have a specific focus on taste for its residence in Airfield on the weekend of August 27th & 28th 2022.

The cost of living has dramatically increased over the past few months, with the humble tomato causing political unrest in India (price of tomatoes has jumped 70% from a month ago, and vegetables have an unusual history of toppling governments in the country) (ref Bloomberg) . 

 In Ireland, retailers have cited that the cost of tinned tomatoes has risen in price by 29% and a tray pack of tomatoes by almost 10% (ref RTE). Even if the consumer isn’t buying fresh produce, the humble tomato is used in a wide range of products including ketchup, prepared sauces, and convenience ready-made meals, so the costs have risen for these items too. Ireland does grow and produce tomatoes, but also imports over 25,000 tonnes last year (ref CSO) and add the outrageous fuel prices and other inflation factors it looks like the costs will continue on an upward spiral for the foreseeable future (ref RTE). Therefore, the ‘Totally Terrific Tomato Festival’ is the ideal destination for those looking to start growing their own or learning more about this versatile and precious commodity.

As was the intention of its founder Nicky Kyle, this festival will continue to celebrate the delicious and diverse fruit with a jaw dropping display of over 100 tomato varieties. Community involvement will be key to creating this display and already 60 tomato growers from across the country have pledged to grow tomatoes for the festival. 

Individuals who contribute tomatoes to the display will be automatically entered into the tomato competition with prizes awarded for several categories including the much-coveted title of “ugliest” tomato. This visually stimulating display will be accompanied by informative talks, tomato seed saving demonstrations, tomato growing tours and the all-important tomato taste test.

“Airfield Estate is encouraging people to get to know their food. We are delighted to put the spotlight on tomatoes and host the festival. The catalyst for bringing the festival to Airfield was the desire to carry out a tomato taste test, a sensory experiment whereby Airfield will pitch four distinct tomato varieties against each other to find the tastiest tomato for our garden team to grow. Our four open pollinated contenders have big boots to fill but ultimately with the help of the public the tastiest tomato will reign supreme” said Airfield Estate’s CEO, Claire MacEvilly.

For Colm O'Driscoll, Head Gardener at Airfield Estate The GAIA Seed Exchange trail in the UK was the initial inspiration behind the new addition to the Festival, The Tomato Taste Test as the GAIA celebrate their seeds and the stories behind them in order to connect the wider community with issues around crop genetic diversity just like the ‘totally Terrific Tomatoes Festival’ wishes to.

Whether you are a rookie gardener or a tomato grower this festival is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the Totally Terrific Tomato and ultimately will help you to get to know your tomatoes better. There will also be a series of talks and events throughout the two-day event with more to be confirmed. Scheduled talks and demonstrations for now include:

· Garden tour of tomato growing in Airfield including top tips on how to grow tomatoes.

· Tomato seed saving demonstrations.

· Demonstration on how to prune your tomato to make it more productive.

As with all community-based events, there will be a competition prize giving, for the ‘best in show’ or rather the ‘tastiest in show’.

 
Airfield Estate is located just off the M50 and reachable by LUAS to the Balally stop, by Bike with bike-parking onsite, by Bus routes 11,14, 14C, 44, 44B, 75, 116 and 175 and finally by Car or Coach taking the M50 to Junction 13, following the R826 for 2 kilometres to Overend Way.

Annual pass holders do not need to prebook to visit the Estate. Day tickets can also be purchased on arrival at the ticket desk, but workshops must be booked in advance where indicated. To book your day pass please click here

The Weir Rooms. Pay attention to simple things

The Weir Rooms

Pay attention to simple things

Tomatoes and Mozzarella

 Last weekend, I had lunch on the bank of the south channel of the river, in the Weir Rooms of the River Lee hotel.

By coincidence, that very evening I began reading Chef by Jaspreet Singh in which the senior chef advises his apprentice (the author): Pay attention to simple things… If one cannot deal with a simple dish properly, there is no way one will be able to handle the more sophisticated. Take a tomato, for instance….. give it the reverence it deserves and ask: Tomato, what would you like to become? Do you want to be alone? or do you prefer company? Apricot…. would you like to become more than yourself in the company of saffron?”

Tomatoes and Goat's Cheese

The humble tomato is the link with the Weir Rooms as it featured in our starters. They could, of course, have sent it out on its own, like the famous Alice Waters peach, on second thoughts maybe not! But the chefs in the River Lee decided it to roast it up and give it some company, mainly a soaking in sweet balsamic.

Pay attention to the simple things paid off big time as the tomatoes were one element of a superb starter that also included goat’s cheese wrapped in golden fried kataifi and a well dressed salad. We also got to taste a big ball of Toonsbridge Mozzarella with a similar accompaniment and glad to report that both were excellent.

Quite a choice of starters (some shared plates) and the day's special was a Spiced Butternut Squash Soup. I love Skeaghanore Duck and picked the Crispy Duck Spring Roll confit cucumber, pickled ginger hoisin sauce, another winner, and I loved every little tasty bit as the river flowed by in the sun shine, just outside, well not so much outside as the “shelter” at our side could be lifted to allow more of the the outside in.

No shortage of choice of mains. Included on the list were a selection of sandwiches (including a Slow Cooked BBQ pulled pork), salads (including a smoked salmon special), steaks and curries and so on and also a Fish Pie (from the Specials Board).

We both decided on the Pan fried fillets of Sea-Bass with sea asparagus and Seville oranges and pink grapefruit, acidulated fennel, and pommes noisette. This was a summer-time gem, full of colour, flavour and textures, a lovely little crunch coming via the samphire. Happy out, as we say around here. So happy in fact that we skipped the tempting array of desserts.

Two courses for two, including an aperitif of Campari on the rocks for me, came to €58.45.

The Weir Rooms is part pf the River Lee Hotel Western Road, Cork, Ireland.

Phone:+353 (21) 4252700,  Fax:+353 (21) 4274477

One corner of the Weir Rooms.