Following on from the success of last year's Food Festival, the Curragh announced today that there will be a Good Food Ireland Village at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival on June 25th - 27th 2010.
Good Food Ireland Restaurants, Hotels, Food Shops, Cookery Schools, Cheese Makers, Artisan Bakers, Master Smokers, Chocolatiers and many more of Ireland's favourite artisan food producers will be on hand selling signature dishes, barbequed meats, pig on a spit and quality local food. In the Good Food Ireland Kitchen Theatre, racegoing guests will join Good Food Ireland Food Heroes to cook off the best of Irish food.
Situated in the heart of the action beside the Parade Ring, the Good Food Ireland Village will be open from 4pm on Friday and from noon on Saturday and Sunday, so racegoers can come early, enjoy lunch and graze throughout the day.
Margaret Jeffares, Managing Director, Good Food Ireland said: - “The Good Food Ireland Village is such a wonderful addition for those attending the racing festival. It really is the best of Irish Racing with the best of Irish Food. Good Food Ireland is about discovering the best and that requires having standards. We choose the best places to stay, eat, cook and shop that passionately pledge their commitment to local food to bring you the freshest, highest quality food experience".
Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, said: - "Along with Horse Racing Ireland, the Curragh received tremendous feedback about the gourmet food village last year and we're delighted to be working with Good Food Ireland for the 2010 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival. There will be a wide variety of food on offer from well known chefs and artisan producers, so the 40,000 racegoers expected over the three days can watch the best Flat horses in the world whilst feasting on some exceptionally good food and soaking up the atmosphere and glamour of a wonderful weekend's racing in our new garden area".
There is no additional admission charge to the Good Food Ireland Village which will be located in the new garden area beside the Bollinger Champagne Bar and adjacent to the parade ring.
Additional Entertainment:-
There will be fashion over Dubai Derby Free Irish Derby weekend which is sponsored by Kildare Village. On Saturday 26th June there is a prize for the Kildare Village Best Hat, 1st prize is a €1,000 shopping spree and €500 for two runners-up. And on Sunday 27th June there is a Kildare Village Most Stylish Lady who will win a €3000 shopping spree and there is €1,000 for two runners-up,
There’ll be music from The Saw Doctors on Friday evening after racing and then Crystal Swing will play as part of the closing ceremony at the end of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day.
For further information and to book admission tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival featuring the Good Food Ireland Village, see www.curragh.ie