Hand-made fudge and chocolates, sourdough bread and goat burgers will feature in a festive feast to be served up at during the LegenDerry Food Festival taking place in Derry over the upcoming St Patrick’s weekend.
Chef Ian Orr and co-owner of Browns Restaurant with his team.
The festival will take place from Saturday 15 until Monday 17 March in Guildhall Square will be filled with mouth watering aromas drifting from the immense marquee which will house a feast of local produce given the star treatment by some of the biggest names in Irish cooking, and the very best local chefs.
The city’s Mayor Councillor Martin Reilly, said the festival – sponsored by the DARD NI Regional Food Programme, Invest NI and the City of Culture Legacy programme, was a fantastic addition to the St Patrick’s weekend festivities.
He said: “The North West has always enjoyed the finest produce and the LegenDerry Food Festival provides the ideal opportunity to sample and celebrate some of the finest food available right on our doorstep.”
From RTE’s Nevin Maguire to BBC Radio Ulster’s Paula McIntyre, the festival will feature demonstrations and tastings aplenty.
Compere Brian McDermott aka ‘The No Salt Chef’ will introduce chefs from Derry who will be sharing recipes and staging live cook offs throughout the weekend. Seven local producers will also be showcasing a range of quality regional produce, including Broughgammon Farm’s cabrito burritos made with meat reared near Ballycastle, as well as a wide range of handmade baked goods.
Among the local talents revealing the secrets of their signature dishes will be chefs from La Sosta, Browns, The Sooty Olive, The Custom House, Harry’s, Primrose Café and many more.
Irish Chef of the Year 2013, Ian Orr, will talk about the importance of local supply and celebrity chefs will share their insider tips.
There will be many opportunities to try and buy some of the finest local products, including award-winning delights like Abernethy Butter, Broighter Gold rapeseed oil, Passion Preserved chutneys and relishes and Braemar Farm ice-cream, as well as a whole host of freshly prepared dishes.
Event organiser Mary Blake said the festival was simply a celebration of the best local food. “With themes from ‘caught here not brought here’ and ‘grown here not flown here’, the focus really is on local food,” she emphasised. “We’ve got great taste in Derry, and LegenDerry produce on offer from farm to fork.
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