Tourists and travellers, all over the world, are seeking out locally sourced dishes and the stories of the people and the production behind the food. This growing interest in experiencing local food presents an ideal opportunity for Irish Visitor Attractions to create and deliver more authentic food experiences that are reflective of the area in which they are located.
Fáilte Ireland, is today rolling out a new food innovation programme ‘Taste of Place’ for Ireland’s Visitor Attractions, including sites of historical or cultural interest, museums, national parks, and interpretive centres, to improve and enhance the food and drink on offer at these sites and bring it into line with the standards of modern Irish Food that is being offered in Ireland's best restaurants and hotels.
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| Modern Irish Food by JP McMahon at Aniar, Galway |
This new programme has been developed by Fáilte Ireland, to ensure that visitors to Ireland get a real Taste Of Place at national visitor attractions and it will also help encourage businesses in the Irish Food sector, who's food offering may be lacking Irish Food provenance on their menus, to up their game.
The programme aims to support catering teams at high density attractions in delivering an authentic and quality food and beverage experience that is rooted in place by:
- Introducing more menu options that reflect the culinary traditions of a local area.
- Sourcing ingredients from local Irish suppliers.
- Linking elements of the food offering to the wider destination brands.
Food Services who commit to the changes outlined in the charter will complete an intensive three day programme with cookery demonstrations from renowned Irish chefs, JP McMahon in Galway, Paul Flynn in Waterford and Domini Kemp in Dublin. The locations and dates of these Cookery demonstrations are:
- Wild Atlantic Way: Aniar Restaurant, Galway, October 2, 16 & 23.
- Ireland’s Ancient East: Tannery Cookery School, Waterford, October 10, 11 & 12.
- Dublin: Cooks Academy, Wicklow Street, October 11, 18 & 25.
The three-day workshops will include an introduction to how food motivates the tourist with participants discovering the latest tourist trends and culinary concepts together with best practice examples of where local authentic food offerings drive revenue growth in business and enhance value perception. Participants will also get a variety of cookery demonstrations and take part in working sessions to inspire change and deliver a renewed food and beverage offering.
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| Modern Irish Food by Colin McKee at Harveys Point, Donegal |
"With visitors to Ireland spending some €2.2 billion on food every year, it is our job as the tourism industry, to ensure we put our best foot forward when it comes to giving them the experiences they want," said Sinead Hennessy, Food Tourism Officer with Fáilte Ireland.
She added, "From the tourist’s perspective, the food and beverage offered at visitor attractions is a core part of the entire experience and should be viewed as a critical revenue driver and not ancillary to the visit. This new ‘Taste of Place’ charter is the first step in ensuring that visitors to Ireland’s attractions encounter an enhanced offering that is reflective of Ireland’s growing food reputation.”
To be eligible for the ‘Taste of Place’ charter, participating attractions must:
- Complete a baseline survey detailing current sourcing practices.
- Successfully complete Failte Ireland’s Taste of Place development programme.
- Verify commitment to sourcing 50% of food items from Ireland and/or the local area.
- Verify commit to sourcing 25% of drink items from Ireland and/or the local area.
- Identify provenance of local food and drink on the menu.
- Include one signature dish dedicated to the destination brand on the menu.
- Undergo an evaluation to verify the commitment.
Participating attractions on the Wild Atlantic Way include:
Kylemore Abbey, Galway
Lisadelle House, Sligo
Glenveigh National Park, Donegal
Westport House, Mayo
Foxford Woolen Mills, Mayo
Glenkeen Farm, Mayo
Bunratty Castle, Clare
Ailwee Caves, Clare
Tralee Bay Wetlands, Kerry
King Johns Castle, Limerick
Participating attractions in Ireland’s Ancient East include:
Wicklow Gaol, Wicklow
Hook Lighthouse, Wexford
Jameson Experience, Cork
Bru Na Boinne, Meath
Waterford Treasures, Waterford
Newbridge Silverware, Kildare
Castlecomer Discovery Park, Kilkenny
House of Waterford Crystal, Waterford
Participating attractions in Dublin include:
National Botanic Gardens
Kilmainham Gaol
Glasnevin Cemetary
Dublin Zoo
Trinity College
Abbey Theatre
National Library
Teelings Irish Whiskey Distillery
GPO - Witness History
Richmond Barracks
This is an excellent step forward by Fáilte Ireland to raise the standard of Irish Food on offer at national Irish Visitor Attractions and to create and deliver more authentic food experiences and food memories for international visitors to Ireland.
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| Guests on an Irish Food Tour to Donegal Craft Bakery in Donegal Town |
Online images of modern Irish food from these internationally recognised visitor attractions will help change the traditional perceptions that international tourists have of Irish food and will certainly assist the further development of Irish Food Tourism.
Zack
