A Taste of West Cork Festival

Of the many reasons to visit West Cork apart from the stunning scenery and the sense of tranquillity it brings to mind, is the chance to sample the fine food the region is famous for, available in the many farmers markets and in the many award winning restaurants, hotels and pubs scattered throughout the region.

West Cork as a destination of choice for food lovers and gourmands has been well documented and Skibbereen with its many restaurants of note and its popular and large farmers market (held every Saturday morning throughout the year in the old mart carpark) is at the epicentre of the areas slow food revolution. This week the much esteemed food festival “A Taste of West Cork” has been doing much to highlight the many ways food impacts upon life in west cork.

Part educational, part innovative and always entertaining, west corks premier food festival mixes our regions rich food producing heritage with its many scenic attractions in a number of fun, interactive, innovative and not to mention appetizing ways. Running from 5th till the 14th September, the festival is an all round celebration not only of food but of west cork itself. Visitors to the villages and towns of West Cork that are in search of things to do in West Cork are in for a treat with a festival programme to whet the appetite and the imagination.

Since kicking off last Thursday the 5th September the festival has thrown up a range of food related events in many villages, towns and star attractions in west cork among them many tours to organic farms, plenty of scrumptious food tasting and many open air markets showcasing the best of local produce. Food lovers and families may note the interactive workshops and cooking demonstrations (that cover all ages) held in many of the regions popular cafes and restaurants. Along the way typical scenic adventures take on a gastronomical feel with events such as sea shore foraging whilst historical tours and walks of locales in West Cork will be sweetened with post walk/tour lunches in local eating establishments of note. And that’s not forgetting the many award-winning restaurants and eating establishments (including our own here at our hotel in West Cork) who have and will be offering special food themed evenings and events throughout the 10 day festival.

Over the years the food festival has run, we here at our Cork Hotel have held numerous food related shows and events at the core of the festival and this year is no different as we host a number of different events where food is the star attraction. Taking place Thursday 11th September from 7:30am the West Cork Magazine Business Breakfast will take place, where two small West Cork artisan food producers in the food industry (Tom Fehily from Wild Berry Bakery and Paul Philips from West Cork Pies) will give an informative and helpful talk on how they developed their food business from scratch. Perfect, for anyone interested in starting up their own food business. Booking is essential with room for 50 guests. Tickets cost €10 and include full Irish breakfast at our hotel.

And on an evening entertainment note this upcoming Saturday (13th September) starting at 7pm we will be hosting an innovative and special fine dining experience that brings food and the magic of the theatre all together in one place. One can enjoy a delicious three course meal showcasing the best of West Cork produce to be immediately followed by a spot of theatre as ‘Theatre in the Round’’ a highly entertaining comedy written by Tina Howe and presented by Skibbereen Drama Society will take place in the hotel grounds. Again booking is essential to avail of this event with tickets priced at €20.

These two events at our west cork based hotel are only a taster of what the festival is about. Whether a serious gourmand, a would be food entrepreneur or a curious visitor and lover of West Cork with a hearty appetite, west cork is the place to be this week for an overall experience second to none. After a busy day exploring what's on offer at this wonderful festivals, Kennedy Restaurant in Skibbereen offers the ultimate in locally sourced gourmet produce. After being wined and dined, for pubs in Skibbereen, the Ilen Bar is a cozy welcoming bar, complete with snug!

When it comes to B&B Skibbereen, has a range of accommodation options to choose from, so all you need to do is relax unwind and enjoy the range of locally sourced produce on offer. These many special food related events mixing the scenic and traditional draws of the region with the rich and diverse range of food practices makes this food festival one of the best ways to see all that the region has to offer: scenery, rich culture and heritage and most importantly a food tradition and heritage that is hard to miss.