Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2019

Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2019 starts on 6th September and continues for 10 days until the 15th. This makes a Taste of West Cork 2019 one of the longest food festivals in the country and it is recognized as one of the best also. The Restaurant Association of Ireland called it Ireland’s number one foodie destination in 2017.  Not only is it the the best but it is also the biggest with numerous towns, restaurants, producers, chefs and visitors participating.

A Taste of West Cork Food Festival brings together a unique mix of food markets, cooking demonstrations, dinners, brunches and banquets with guest chefs, food-tastings, talks, exhibitions, children’s events and more. Over 250 events take place across West Cork in 50 towns and villages and 8 islands.

Celebrity Chefs

These are some of the top chefs which will be in action throughout the the week:
KEVIN AHERN Owner and Head Chef at the Sage Restaurant in Midleton, cooking at Dunmore House Hotel, Clonakilty, on 12th September.
ED COONEY Executive Chef at the Merrion Dublin cooking at The Church Restaurant on 12th September.
DERRY CLARKE Chef & patron of L’Ecrivain cooking at Sherkin House, Sherkin Island on 14th September.
STEVEN AND DAVID FLYNN o The Happy Pear Restaurant at Field’s of Skibbereen SuperValu, Friday 6th September.
AHMET DEDE Head chef at Michelin Star Mews Restaurant, Baltimore cooking at the Customs House on 10th September.
MARK DOE from justcooking.ie cooking at Murphy’s SuperValu, Castletownbere on 13th September.
EDDIE ATTWELL head chef at the Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff as Head Chef cooking at Bumblebee Farm, Drimoleague on 7th September.
ANTHONY TARRO USA GUEST CHEF Joint owner of the Sienna Restaurant Group in Providence, Rhode Island cooking at Glebe on 11th September.
ENEKO LOPEZ head chef of the Paradiso restaurant in Cork city cooking at Pilgrims on 12th September
There are many more too numerous to mention here but you can check them all at the Taste of West Cork website

Walks and Talks

During the week there are lots of tours, talks, demonstrations, workshops and outings. Here are just a few of the best:

TEN ISLAND TOUR leaves from Baltimore Pier and cruises around the beautiful islands of Roaring Water Bay, with a full commentary on the history of the islands.
complimentary snacks and drinks.
The Clonakilty Food Tour visits many food producers in the area including Clonakilty Black pudding, and cheese meat ice cream beer chartered and bread producers. Medieval feasting is it talk and slideshow about the feasting that took place in the great Hall of Dun na Sead castle in the Middle Ages.
BECKETT AND THE WAKE: AN EVENING WITH JOHN MINIHAN
The Coffee Shop at Uillinn, Skibbereen.
John Minihan, renowned Irish photographer photographed the great playwright Samuel Beckett many times in Paris and London, capturing moments that have become iconic images.
FORAGING FISHING & FEASTING WITH THE EXPERTS
join Michelin Star Chef Ahmet Dede of the Mews Restaurant, Baltimore and visiting
indigenous Australian chefs Luke and Samuel Bourke, David Gray and Josh Moore for a marathon day of foraging, fishing and feasting.

There are dozens of fascinating events all over West Cork during the course of the 10 day festival.
Download the programme for full details.

Markets and Fairs

Throughout the week there ar Farmers Markets and fairs at various locations:

Friday 6th September: Bantry Market Fair Day
Friday 6th September: Clonakilty Farmers Market
Friday 6th September: Skibbereen Country Market 40th Anniversary
Saturday 7th September: Skibbereen Country Market
Saturday 7th September: Bandon Farmers Market
Sunday 8th September: Schull Country Market
Sunday 8th September: Kilcrohane Country Fair
Tuesday 10th September: Macroom Market
Friday 13th September: Clonakilty Farmers Market
Friday 13th September: Bantry Market
Friday 13th September: Skibbereen Country Market
Saturday 14th September: Skibbereen Farmers Market
Saturday 14th September: Bandon Farmers Market

Towns and Villages in Taste of West Cork 2019

Almost every town and village in West Cork is participating in some way in this great food festival. Food tasting, special menus, celebrity chefs, markets, talks ,walks, workshops,and seminars are among the events during the festival.
If you pass through Bantry, Clonakilty, Skibbereen,, Baltimore, Kilcrohane, Leap, Dunmanway, Ballydehob, Castletownshend, Courtmacsherry, Bere Island, Bandon, Ahakista, Durrus, Glengarriff, Allihies, Macroom, Sherkin Island, Drimoleague, Schull, Castlehaven, Heir Island, Ballingeary, Rosscarbery, Goleen, Timoleague, Inchigeela, Glandore, Ballineen, Union Hall, Inish Beg Island, Ballyvourney, Bere Island or Cape Clear Island you will find some event or tasting to your liking.

For more information about a Taste of West Cork 2019 click here.
or download the progamme here.