Derry chef Emmett McCourt is pictured offering a tempting taste of smoked Lough Neagh Eel to medieval maiden Ingrid Houwers and Councillor Thomas Hogg, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
DERRY superchef Emmett McCourt is about to take his passion for locally sourced, traditional foods to the North’s largest celebration of rural sports, pursuits and lifestyles in June.
This week he helped launch the 2015 Irish Game Fair & NI Angling Show with a taste of what will be on offer to the tens of thousands of visitors who will flock to the event at Shane’s Castle, Antrim, over the weekend of June 27 and 28.
Top of his menu choice was the Lough Neagh eel, an Ulster delicacy which Emmett who is the Official Chef for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland, believes deserves its place on our tables.
He says: “Most of our Lough Neagh eels are exported to fine dining restaurants across Europe and beyond, yet here at home they are under-appreciated.
“I’m looking forward to encouraging Irish Game Fair visitors to taste eels – possibly for the first time – and explore easy ways to prepare and serve them.
“I plan to present a broad range of the great tasting foods from our rural traditions and, as a Derry man, I will of course be showcasing recipes rooted in the North West.
“I’m also hoping that some of our local artisan food producers will be amongst those exhibiting at the fair, part of its extensive celebration of Irish food and drink.”
Looking forward to Irish Game Fair & NI Angling Show in June, show Director Albert Titterington, says, “Food and drink are always a key visitor attraction and, with Emmett’s inspiration behind us, we are already on track to present a fabulous array of country cuisine.
“That show-within-a-show will sit very happily with the country crafts and retailing village which sits alongside our main event arenas.
“They will of course be packed with the top class competitions, displays and exhibitions of country sports and pursuits which are the hallmark of the Irish Game Fair, packing in audiences from town as well as country.”
Over the next weeks and months details will be revealed about the special headline attractions, challenges and family entertainment which will make the 2015 Fair one of the most diverse and exciting ever staged in Northern Ireland. Visit www.irishgamefair.com to find out more.
The fair is organised with the support of Tourism Northern Ireland and Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council.
Tags:
