Tipperary food celebratred at four sparkling dining experiences
A celebration of Tipperary's €23m local food industry was marked at four exclusive venues last week at the annual Long Table Dinner.
This year the table was divided between Cashel, Clogheen, Thurles and Nenagh as 250 guests enjoued the very best of Tipperary produced food.
Diners were transported back 1,500 years for the Long Table dinner but a futuristic element of filming by Tipperary Institute took place to link the four locations creating the longest virtual dinner table. This unique production will be available for viewing on www.tipperaryfoodproducers.com.
In keeping with custom, only food from Tipperary was served at the sumptuous traditional feast. Fresh, seasonal produce from over 30 food producers - all members of the Tipperary Food Producers Network – was used. The custom created menu read like a journey around Tipperary, combining the very best artisan food from throughout the county resulting in an outstanding feast for all the senses with the dishes looking every bit as good as they tasted.
The eventwas held at Chez Hans in Cashel, The Old Convent in Clogheen, Inch House in Thurles and Brocka on the Water in Nenagh.
Commenting on the event’s success, Pat Whelan of the award winning James Whelan Butchers in Clonmel and Chairperson of the Tipperary Food Producers group said - “This year’s Long Table Dinner has certainly been the most successful to date, we have had the largest number of diners attend and the food served was a real testament to what is produced here on our doorstep in Tipperary.
Award winning author and food critic John McKenna addressed the Chez Hans banquet and paid glowing tribute to the work of the Tipperary Food Producers.
He remarked that there was a real Tipperary ambience at the event. “Tipperary people know their food and it is one of their great delights”.
Mr McKenna highlighted the success of the multi-course tasting menu at the Old Convent in Clogheen and how such an innovative idea had become such a huge hit.
Ireland had some of the best food in the world and Tipp had some of the best food in Ireland, Mr McKenna told guests.
He said the producers had a pride in and passion for their food and that was very evident in their products.
Mr McKenna spoke on the importance of local produce and creating awareness amongst the public that really by buying local food does not only support employment and the local economy but that it really is the very best food one can purchase
The four venues served a unique eight course taster menus, all supplemented with music entertainment. Guests concluded the evening with an exclusive goodie bag which included Nuala Hickey’s award winning family brack, the recipe for which has remained a closely kept secret of the Hickey family for generations.
At Chez Hans, guests were treated to the Hans Matthiae's Family's sparkling Reisling reception. The starters commenced with Munster Mushrooms Fethard Chez Hans mushroom soup, Lovage Cappuccino followed by a Martin O'Dwyer Cashel rack of lamb herb crust and ratatouille.
The main courses consisted of Crowe's Meat Dundrum pan fried organic pork belly and black pudding, local watercress, Gribiche Sauce or James Whelan Butchers Clonmel fillet Of dry aged beef with button mushrooms, carrot cones and red wine sauce with J&L Grubb Fethard mature Cashel Blue cheese, plum chutney followed by O'Briens Farm Shop Cahir apple and mint sorbet.
Traas Apple Farm Cahir provided a selection of late summer berries served with vanilla ice cream, biscotti for dessert.
The Old Convent commenced with a Proseco reception in the drawing room on arrival followed by Munster Mushroom Veloute Argan Nut Oil or salad of Crowe's Farm barbecue organic pork mature Cashel Blue, candied pecans or Tipperary Organic sorbet Karmine fruit jelly as the starter tasters. Slow Cooked Whelan's Beef, O'Brien's potato puree, local organic summer vegetables was served for mains taster.
Cooleeney Camembert Crossogue preserves and marinated Traas summer berries warm meringue provided a sumptuous dessert followed by tea or Ponaire Artisan Coffee and homemade chocolates. Wines for the evening were supplied by Gary Gubbin's Red Nose Wines.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Clonmel
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
