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Looking forward to the Tralee Food Festival which takes place from September 22-24 were, Yomk Oviedo and Mayrinfer Ambrano of Transition Kerry, Paul Cotter, Croí Restaurant; David Scott, Tralee Chamber Alliance; Mayor of Tralee Norma Foley; Kevin O’Connor of Croí Restaurant and Sylvia Thompson of Transition Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean
THERE’S just a week to go until the third Tralee Food Festival in association with Taste Kerry and organisers say it will be the most important food event in the county capital this year.
The town will strive to promote local producers and restaurants to an appreciative and rapidly growing market from Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24.
The event, which returns for a third outing, will feature a longer Taste Trail and Craft Beer Trail, Artisan Food Market, Cookery Demonstrations and a variety of menus at some of Tralee’s top food and beverage haunts including hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés.
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The CEO of Tralee Chamber Alliance, Kieran Ruttledge, said: “The Tralee Food Festival continues to provide a platform from where the wider public may experience the wonderful taste of what Tralee has to offer.
Having the Atlantic to the west and with some of the best pasture in Europe on our doorstep, Tralee can justly claim to produce the highest-quality, natural ingredients that others can only dream of. Our chefs and restaurants make the most of our produce and they are earning a world-wide reputation for their creativity and skill.”
The Chairman of Taste Kerry, John Harty, said: “Food Festivals in Kerry are growing in popularity and it’s essential for the capital town of our county to host a well-supported event. Food festivals provide an opportunity for restaurants and producers to meet their customer-base face-to-face. The event provides a chance for them to interact, swap ideas and suggestions, and show off to a broader spectrum of client than they would normally encounter. Marketing, innovation, product launches are all part of food festivals, but perhaps the most important benefit is the chance to let your hair down and have fun.”
Tralee Bay Wetlands will host the opening event of this year’s Tralee Food Festival on Friday 22nd September at 6pm with seafood taster plates from Spa Seafoods (only €5) and Oyster Demonstrations.
On Saturday, September 23, the Tralee Food Festival Taste Trail will include 15 locations, an increase on last year, where delicious bites will be available for the public to eat for only €2 each from 10am until late.
The Cookery Demonstrations with the Culinary Gangsters from Croí Restaurant, and top chefs from The Rose Hotel and The Ashe Hotel will tantalise the taste buds of foodies in the Square from 12pm until 3pm on Satuday.
The Artisan Food Market and Transition Kerry Tent will open at 10am on Saturday in The Square, while Tralee Farmers Market will open for business as usual beside the Brandon Car Park on Saturday.
To celebrate the continued growth of Craft Beers as the beverage of choice for many pub-goers, the Tralee Food Festival has extended the Craft Beer Trail to incorporate five local hostelries in town.
Such was the success of last year’s Sunday Brunch, another late morning/early afternoon offering will be served at selected restaurants on the 24th September with the Ashe Hotel hosting a Yoga Brunch priced at €25 pp on Sunday afternoon from 11am to 1.30pm.
Festival Menus are now available from selected restaurants for the duration of the Festival and they can be seen or downloaded from the Tralee Food Festival Facebook Page.
Kieran Ruttledge thanked everyone who has played a role in developing the first ever Tralee Food Festival, in particular – The Artisan Food Market vendors, the weekly Tralee Farmers Market vendors, Transition Kerry, Garvey’s Supervalu, Noel Keane, Culinary Arts Department of the Institute of Technology Tralee, Rural Food Skillnet, Kerry County Council, Kingdom Party Pals and the members of Tralee Chamber Alliance.
Full details of the Tralee Food Festival are available from Tralee.ie, Facebook.com/TraleeFoodFestival and Tralee Chamber Alliance on 066 7121472.
Have to wait til next year to attend. Sounds really good. Enjoy everyone!