West Cork Artisan Food Awards Winners Announced

A TASTE of West Cork Food Festival, which recently took place from the 5th until the 14th September has just announced winners of the prestigious Belling West Cork Artisan Food Awards. Recognising excellence in artisan food production in West Cork, the awards went to Caherbeg Free Range Pork (Rosscarbery, Co. Cork) and Toonsbridge Dairy (Macroom) which produces Mozarella cheese.  Other finalists short-listed for awards included Claire’s Homemade Hummus (Union Hall), West Cork Pies (Schull), Glebe Gardens (Baltimore), and Durrus Cheese (Durrus, Bantry).

Of the many reasons to visit West Cork is the chance to sample the fine artisan food that the region is famous for. Our hotel in West Cork appreciates that West Cork is a destination of choice for food lovers and the Kennedy restaurant in Skibbereen offers guests includes locally sourced produce in every dish.

The TASTE of West Cork Festival saw 16 towns and villages involved with over 90 restaurants and pubs in Skibbereen and surrounding areas taking part in the festival. The festival saw numerous cork hotels and guesthouses welcome visitors from home and abroad. When it comes to B&B Skibbereen and its surrounding towns in Cork benefited from a host of new visitors to the town including many visitors from the UK.

The festival, which is now in its 11th year, is, according to Chairperson Helen Collins “enjoying fantastic take-up on bookings for events, with some events being repeated, such is the demand”.

She added, “Events such as ‘The Story of Milk’ running at Fields Old Bakery in Skibbereen, and West Cork Tasting & Music at the lovely Grove House in Schull are proving very popular, while the biodiversity and wonder of the estate – the Manch Project – is creating a frisson of excitement for visitors to Ballineen, to mention a few. There are so many culinary, educational, and fun events going Wests Cork region – there’s something for everyone”.