Taste the Island - A Celebration of Ireland's Food and Drink - 2019 Buyers Guide

Ireland’s Food and Drink Story Forget tired stereotypes of bacon and cabbage: rather unearth an ancient Irish food and drink culture that is being reimagined with extraordinary passion and originality by generations of new and old chefs and creatives, producers and purveyors. Our farmers and fisherman are pushing the boundaries as modern hunter gathers while respecting the landscape and sea, provide our food producers and chefs with incredible ingredients, to forge what is – for now – one of the world’s best-kept gastronomic secrets. If travel is all about discovery, today’s visitors will uncover a renewed appreciation for the natural ingredients offered by Ireland’s lush landscape. Matched by an ever-evolving cuisine, Ireland is transforming outdated clichés into singular experiences that challenge perceptions of modern and traditional.With its geographic mild climate, green landscape and coastal waters, confident chefs are eagerly reclaiming Ireland’s food heritage and proudly showcasing local fare, as Ireland is fast becoming Europe’s next big food destination. Easily traversed yet remarkably varied in its breath-taking landscape, Ireland’s diverse countryside gives true local flavour to regional gastronomic experiences. We are witnessing an explosion of exciting immersive experiences for visitors looking to unlock authentic Irish culture, from charming countryside cafés to stellar Michelin-rated dining, gastropubs to small-batch breweries, verdant farmlands to locally inspired tours and trails. All along theWild AtlanticWay it’s about the freshest seafood plucked straight from the Atlantic. It’s also about the men and women who mix age-old tradition with 21st-century techniques to bring it from tide to table and serve it just a few miles (or feet!) from where it was caught. Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands boasts a wealth of small-scale independent food and drink producers and honest-to-goodness fare. Here, slow food is exemplified by innovative farmers, award-winning restaurants, creative cafés, eclectic markets and proud local festivals. In Ireland’s Ancient East , the cuisine is ancient, simple and profound. Rich green pastures in this temperate region yield dishes rich in Irish tradition, from world’s famous grass-fed beef or a floury blaa or Irish soda bread hot from artisan bakeries. Savour a local whiskey and traditional music session fire-side in a country pub or step back in time to feast at a grand country house, to experience a true taste of Ireland’s living food culture. Dublin as a city of villages , surrounded by mountains and sea, is home to a new wave of inspired chefs, baristas and innovators that are taking their place on an international stage. Abuzz with new eateries and creative concepts, here visitors are spoiled for choice. Graze through a bustling food market, relax over brunch of locally sourced fare, pay homage at the legendary Guinness Storehouse, sample the explosion of Whiskey Distilleries or craft breweries and leave with an unforgettable flavour of what makes contemporary Ireland tick. 2 SECT ION 2 – IRELAND’ S FOOD AND DRINK STORY