Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby partners with "FoodScape Kildare"
Celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna launches exciting new food tourism initiative by Kildare Failte.
The Miele Experience Centre in Citywest Dublin hosted the launch of the Foodscape Kildare Paddock on Tuesday 24thMay. This exciting culinary celebration takes place at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival at the Curragh Racecourse from the 24th to 26th June with the objective of showcasing the best restaurants and food producers based in County Kildare.
Well known celebrity chef, restaurateur and best selling food writer Clodagh McKenna helped host the event with key personnel from the Curragh Racecourse, Miele and Foodscape Kildare. Notably, the renowned Chef, judged a fun “Cook Off” between trainers Johnny Murtagh and Tracey Collins and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winning jockeys Seamus Heffernan and Kevin Manning using food sourced in the Thoroughbred County.
Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, commented “We are delighted to partner with Kildare Failte and the FoodScape Kildare’ project for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and we are excited that some of Kildare’s best known food heroes will be associated with the county’s equine heroes. We initially launched the food paddock initiative as part of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in 2009 and this has now evolved into one of the most popular elements of the event. The Miele Experience Centre is the perfect location to host this event as Miele is associated with some of Ireland`s leading culinary names and represents the best in class”.
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival takes place at the Curragh Racecourse from 24th to 26th June with an exciting mix of world class horse racing, style, food, music and fun with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday the feature of the three day event. For more information go to www.curragh.ie
Tony Lenehan, Chairman of Kildare Fáilte stated: “FoodScape Kildare” is a key initiative in our strategy to grow tourism in County Kildare. It .is destined to serve up a real treat for all visitors to the County. Now with the upsurge in artisan producers and the wealth of culinary talents all over the country, it is an ideal opportunity to reflect Kildare’s rich food heritage in our modern Irish cuisine and create our own unique response to Ireland`s Ancient East, through unique food experiences.The role of Kildare Fáilte is to cultivate the creation of Kildare`s Food Story, providing Tourists with “experiences that make memories supported by our new website….. www.kildarefoodscape.ie
County Kildare already has much to offer the consumer in terms of our food offering and the potential to build on that reputation and success is significant.
The core objective of Food Tourism in Kildare is to creative collaborations and synergies between all those entities that play vital roles in bringing local produce “from farm to fork”., Hotels, restaurants, cafes and pubs throughout the County are well positioned to maximise on this trend due to our abundance of local food producers, artisans, and suppliers who operate, grow or produce their product in this County.
The overall vision for Food tourism in Kildare is that the County be recognised by tourists for the availability, quality, and value of our local food experiences which evokes a unique sense of place, culture and hospitality
Ultimately, FoodScape Kildare is all about ” Food with a Strong Sense of Place”. To complete the experience, linkages need to be created and interwoven with the actual heritage of our County, thereby creating “Experiences that make memories.
Accordingly, we are delighted to announce the FoodScape Festival Paddock in association with a series of local food champions and the Curragh Racecourse, for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, 24th – 26th June”
