A Harvest Feast to be proud of…
What an amazing night we had on Friday! The Sligo Food Trail Harvest Feast was a true celebration of food and culinary skill; a worthy flagship event for Taste The Island. It was wonderful to have Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland and Niall Tracey, Director of Marketing there to celebrate with us and enjoy a genuine feast. Thank you Paul for coming and for all the wonderful things you said about us and Sligo during your speech.
What can we say about our chefs? They rose to the occasion and produced a magnificent nine course menu that was a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. Every dish looked like a masterpiece on a plate. It’s no wonder the place erupted in applause when the Parade of Chefs took place at the end of the night. Take a bow:
- Marcin Szczodrowski (Eala Bhán Restaurant)
- Alan Fitzmaurice (The Glasshouse)
- Joe Shannon (Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa)
- Chris Friel (Sligo Park Hotel)
- Marc Gallagher (Sligo Wellness Centre)
- Yvonne Kathrein (Waterfront House Hotel)
- Joe McGlynn (Hooked)
Well done also to Aisling Kelly (Sligo Oyster Experience at WB’s) and Neil Byrne (Mammy Johnston’s) who also presented courses representing the artisan aspect of Sligo Food Trail and Dr. Prannie Rhatigan who collaborated with the Chefs. Also to all the Sligo Food Trail producers whose food and drinks starred all throughout the meal and during the canape reception which started the night in style. Many other Sligo Food Trail members also donated prizes for the raffle.
Thank you to the our main funding partner Failte Ireland. Visit Discover Ireland/ Taste the Island.
The Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa pulled out all the stops decorating the room beautifully and producing a serving team second to none. Thanks to all involved.
Thanks also to our fabulous MC, chef Shane Smyth who was debonair, charming and a perfect host.
Thank you to all the members of Sligo Food Trail, their friends and family who came along on the night. Thank you to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Fiona, Berni and all the staff who accommodated us in every way possible and contributed so much to the success of this wonderful night.
Thank you to the sponsors of the drink’s reception, canapés and accompaniments:
Osta Cafe & Wine Bar, Eala Bhán Restaurant, Hargadon Bros, Sweet Beat Café, Lough Gill Brewery, MCM Brands & Liquid Innovation, Febvre & Company Wine Merchants, Bakeshop, Gourmet Parlour, Murson Farm and Irish Seaweed Kitchen.
Thank you to all of the sponsors of food and drinks who made this banquet possible:
Bakeshop, BD Foods, Dozio’s Artisan Cheesemakers, Eala Bhan Restaurant, Febvre & Company Wine Merchants, Gourmet Parlour, Hargadons Bros, Irish Seaweed Kitchen, Irish Independent Health Foods, JBC Meats, Lavin’s Fruit & Veg, La Rousse Foodservice, Lough Gill Brewery, Lough Gill Distillery, MCM Brands, Murson Farm, Mammy Johnston’s, Neantóg Kitchen Garden School, Osta Cafe & Wine Bar, Pallas Foods, Sweet Beat Café, Tattie Hoaker, The Organic Centre, Total Produce, Wild Atlantic Oysters.
Thank you to everyone who kindly donated raffle prizes.
Finally, we’d like to say thank you to everyone who came along, who dressed up in their finery and with their enthusiasm and passion for good food, became part of our Harvest Feast celebrations.
What a night! Roll on the next one!
“The food and professionalism of everyone involved was brilliant. Sligo did itself proud and it showed itself as a food destination, the quality of the food that is being produced in Sligo to the chefs that are working in the area. Thanks for a brilliant evening.”
Rory Culkin, Commis Chef Instructor, Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim Education Training Board.
A small sample of photographs on the night. Complete album on Facebook.
