Here’s our exciting speakers for the Taste Waterford demo tent at this year’s West Waterford Festival of Food!
There’ll be something for everyone – Middle Eastern and Mexican food, bread baking, talks on gardening and food availability, an insight into cheese production in the county, and a chance to try award-winning local cider.
Go on a food journey with our members and special guests – hear and taste the food – an unforgettable experience!
We’re located just off Grattan Square, Dungarvan by the SuperValu car park – starts at 11.00am.
See you there!
11.00am – Nicola Crowley and Dvir Nusery – Mezze
The demo tent kicks off with Nicola and Dvir of Mezze – an award-winning Middle Eastern deli, shop and cafe in Tramore. With a cooking demo, hearing about their food inspirations, and sharing cooking tips from their new cookbook – Middle Eastern Food Made to Share – it promises to be an unforgettable experience! There will also be an opportunity to meet Nicola and Dvir and purchase signed copies of their book.
11.50am – Gerry Raimundi – gardener at The Old Bank Restaurant
Argentinean Gerry heads up the garden produce for the successful Old Bank Restaurant in Dungarvan. His farm in Kilgobnet has a strong focus on seasonality and quality of produce, and you’ll get a passionate insight into gardening through the seasons, how this benefits the menu at the restaurant, and his quest for organic certification and why it’s important.
12.30pm – Lily Rameriz-Foran – Picado Mexican
Hola! Our first guest chef, Lily Rameriz, is an acclaimed cook and food writer, and also founded Ireland’s leading Mexican grocer and cooking school with her husband Alan Foran. She’ll bring all the vibrancy and flavours from her native Mexico to this cooking demonstration, and take recipes from her debut Blasta Book Tacos for an exciting culinary journey. There will also be an opportunity to meet Lily and purchase signed copies of her book.
1.30pm – Michael Kelly – founder and CEO of GIY
With food availability a key point on the worldwide agenda, we’re delighted to have Michael Kelly – founder and CEO of GIY, a social enterprise that aims to help 100 million people to grow some of their own food for a healthier, more sustainable world by 2030. A respected speaker, author, presenter and social entrepreneur, he’ll offer credible insights into food systems, challenges in the food chain, and what we can do about it. An inspiring talk that is not to be missed.
2.10pm – Eamonn Lonergan – Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese
Knockanore Cheese is handmade on the Lonergan family farm in County Waterford using raw milk from their pedigree herd of Friesian cows. The Lonergan family have been farming in the lush rolling countryside of Knockanore for over 60 years. The cheese is a hard-pressed, mature farmhouse cheese made in the cheddar style. The raw milk adopts the flavours of the local pasture on which the cows graze producing a cheddar cheese with a complex creamy flavour, earthy tones and a nutty aroma. We’ll from Eamonn about farming, why cheese is his passion and get to taste it too!
3.00pm – Fergal Walsh – Dún Artisan Bakery
When it comes to baking, there’s not much Fergal doesn’t know. With an emphasis on using authentic ingredients and baking methods, Fergal runs the successful bakery with his partner Caitríona Keating. With a talk on his love for sourdough baking and using local ingredients, he’ll demonstrate baking a croissant. He’ll also have on hand artisan sourdough bread – so you can taste what happens when you blend quality ingredients with expert knowledge – traditional baking of the highest standard!
3.40pm – David Dennison – Viking Irish Drinks
David wraps up the speakers this year and will delight the audience of the life and times of an artisan cider and wine producer. He’ll offer an insight into what it’s like to run a small vineyard and cider orchard’s , how he’s adapted to climate change, his sustainability initiatives (which are inspiring), and what makes a great beverage in an organic setting. There’s also an opportunity to taste some of his ciders and Pet-Nat wines which he produces in East Waterford – a great way to end this year’s demo tent!
Visit West Waterford Festival of Food for the full programme.
