Irish chef Gary O'Hanlon has teamed up with Fáilte Ireland to call on chefs across Ireland to participate in the national tourism development authority's new "Taste of Place" training programme.
Fáilte Ireland has identified a growing trend, in Ireland and internationally, of tourists seeking out locally sourced dishes and the stories behind them. The "Taste of Place" training programme is designed to help chefs and culinary teams tap into this trend by providing stand-out local and seasonal cuisine to tourists.
The programme will arm chefs with insights into how food motivates tourists, provide them with the latest tourism trends and culinary concepts, and underline the business benefits of sourcing locally.
Workshops
Fáilte Ireland is calling on chefs to sign up to take part in the two-day workshops that will take place this October and November by emailing [email protected].
The workshops will take place on the following dates and at the following locations:
• October 8 and 9, Athlone Institute of Technology, cookery demonstration with Gary O'Hanlon
• October 15 and 16, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, cookery demonstration with Jess Murphy
• October 22 and 23, Cork Institute of Technology, cookery demonstration with Gary O'Hanlon
• November 5 and 6, Airfield Estate, cookery demonstration with Luke Mathews.
"An Ideal Opportunity"
Fáilte Ireland food tourism manager Tracey Coughlan stated, "This new programme is designed to support Fáilte Ireland's latest three-year food and drink initiative, 'Taste the Island', by equipping chefs across Ireland with the knowledge on the power and benefits of using local produce to deliver an unforgettable visitor experience. We have found that there is a growing trend, at home and internationally, of tourists seeking out locally sourced dishes and the stories behind them. This growing interest in experiencing local food presents an ideal opportunity for chefs to create and deliver authentic food experiences that are reflective of the area. This new programme has been developed by Fáilte Ireland to ensure that visitors to Ireland enjoy a real taste of place."
"Unparalleled"
Meanwhile, O'Hanlon commented, "Irish Food is the best it has ever been. Our natural produce is unparalleled internationally, and today's chefs need to work smarter than ever to ensure we put our best foot forward to deliver menus that are reflective of Ireland's growing reputation. I am thrilled to help deliver Fáilte Ireland's 'Taste of Place' programme, and I commend their vision and drive in promoting local produce through this programme. I'm looking forward to working with other like-minded chefs and culinary teams to reinforce the message about the many positive benefits of using quality locally sourced food and beverage."
© 2019 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
