Waterford served up on a plate at Waterford Harvest Festival

With a tasty, jam – packed programme of events scheduled for Waterford Harvest Festival (September 11^th to 13^th), an exciting collaboration of Waterford restaurants is flying the flag for local producers.

The premise of this year’s Harvest Festival is Waterford Food Heroes and “EAT Waterford”, a collective of Waterford restaurants and hotels will champion the best of local produce.  Set in the Marquee on the Mall, in the heart of the Viking Triangle, diners will be able to enjoy a five course tasting menu, prepared by the participating restaurants using fresh, seasonal ingredients, sourced from local producers.

Paul Power, Head Chef with Waterford’s Bellissimo Restaurant, a member of EAT Waterford, outlined the group’s food philosophy and how EAT Waterford is committed to shining the spotlight on Waterford as a burgeoning food tourism destination.

“The last ten years have seen an exciting, passionate food movement in Waterford.  There has been the development of a food philosophy that values local and regional produce and from that ensures the best dining experience for customers.”

“Waterford and its surrounds are spoilt with a fantastic array of great growers and producers and, of course, natural resources, so there is no excuse for restaurants to provide sub-standard dining experiences.”

All of the EAT Waterford restaurants are ardent supporters of artisan producers and there is currently an exciting cohort of such producers in Waterford.  The home of the blaa, rashers and even the humble cream cracker has inspired a generation of local producers of great meat, seafood, breads, vegetables, beer and spirits.

“In the last decade, Waterford producers, growers, chefs and restaurants began to sing from the same hymn sheet.  Working in tandem, from grass roots level to the dining table, has resulted in a more enjoyable, positive, memorable experience for diners in Waterford city.”

“EAT Waterford was formed earlier this year to harness local restaurants that adhere to a similar food philosophy and those that recognise the value of working together to raise the profile of our vibrant restaurant scene.”

The EAT Waterford Marquee on the Mall takes place throughout Waterford Harvest Festival with sittings at 7pm on Friday, September 11^th, 1pm, 5pm and 8.30pm on Saturday, September 12^th and 2pm  on Sunday, September 13^th.

Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.ie or from  participating restaurants; Loko, La Boheme, L’Atmosphere, Bellissimo and Zak’s Restaurant (Athenaeum House Hotel).

Not only will Waterford Harvest Festival be the home of the Marquee on the Mall dining experience, there is an emphasis on all things fun, food and family. 

The wide and eclectic programme of free events for all includes the Festival Market on the Mall, Farm to Fork, The Big Taste, Enterprising Food Market, Trad Craft Corner, Harvest Time in the Garden, The Ballybricken Festival Fair, Harvest Kitchen and Play ‘n’ Picnic in the Park.

This year’s festival promises a congruence of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas with cookery demonstrations, foodie films, tastings and workshops, all making Waterford City one big street party for Harvest weekend.

All roads lead to Waterford from September 11^th to 13th.  If you want to know more, the Waterford Harvest Festival full programme of events is available on www.waterfordharvestfestival.ie

Be sure to keep up to date on all things Harvest Fest by checking it out on Facebook and Twitter #WaterfoodHeroes and #WhattheFork

Local food producer to speak about Waterford’s rising food reputation!

As part of the Harvest Festival in September the Local Enterprise Office in Waterford will host its annual ‘Enterprising Food Lunch’ on Friday, September 11^th in Dooley’s Hotel.

The key note speaker at the lunch will be Dermot Walsh, co-owner of Walsh’s Bakehouse (formerly M&D Bakeries), a third generation family bakery. This lunch is a celebration of food in Waterford. With the assistance of Love Irish Food, diners will enjoy the best east and west Waterford has to offer.

One of the most famous offerings in the Walsh’s Bakehouse portfolio is the Waterford Blaa.  In 2013, the Waterford Blaa received the highest recognition as a quality European foodstuff – Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.  This prestigious designation meant that the Waterford Blaa could claim its place among the ranks of internationally renowned products such as Italy’s Parma Ham, France’s Camembert de Normandie Cheese and Greece’s Kalamata Olive Oil. 

Driven by the The Blaa Bakers Association, which consists of Walsh’s Bakehouse, Hickey’s Bakery, Barron’s Bakery and Kilmacow Bakery, the group, between them, produce over 100,000 blaas weekly.

Mr. Walsh added, “Since the awarding of PGI status, the blaa can be found throughout Ireland, the UK, France, the U.S. and now in the Middle East.  It’s been an exciting journey for the once humble Waterford foodstuff that can trace its origins back to the 1690’s.”

Richie Walsh, Head of Enterprise, LEO Waterford commented on the importance of the event, “The Enterprising Food Lunch has become a popular event during Waterford Harvest Festival and we are delighted to have such an inspirational speaker this year. This industry has grown exponentially throughout Waterford.  With its rich and fertile hinterlands and seas, and such an abundant trading heritage, Waterford has been fortunate to have a proliferation of quality food producers.  The Enterprising Food Lunch is important, to celebrate what we have, but also to inspire others to enter the food business.”

The lunch will also serve as the launch platform of the Harvest Festival.  Being the first event of the festival weekend it is a fitting and appropriate start to the festivities.

Waterford Harvest Festival Chair, Paul Nolan (Business Development Manager of Dawn Meats), “We are delighted to link up with the Local Enterprise Office for this Enterprising Food Lunch, the food industry has always been very strong in Waterford and I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to launch the Harvest Festival”.

Tickets (just €15) for this lunch can be purchased from the Customer Services Department, Bailey’s New Street, Waterford Tel 0761 10 20 20 (street at side of Reginald’s Tower) or Customer Services Dept. Civic Offices, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford Tel 058 22 00 0.

Early booking is advised.

The Local Enterprise Office offers support services for start-up and existing SME’s in Waterford City and County. For more information on food production assistance please contact your Local Enterprise Office at 32 the Mall.  Tel 0761 09 99 05 or email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie .