THE season of food festivals has arrived in Kerry and where better to set the table to treat the palette than Kerry’s Capital, home to Tralee Food Festival from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September.The 4th Annual Tralee Food Festival in association with Tralee Chamber Alliance and Taste Kerry has added a major family entertainment element to the programme of events which includes:
Taste Trail with 26 Tralee eateries offering taster items for €2 on Saturday
Exclusive Restaurant Menus
Cooking Demos
Two-day Food Market
Live Music on the Mall
Food Producers Expo
Family Fun Day in Bank of Ireland
Tralee Food Festival will begin with a Food Tasting Launch Event in The Ashe Hotel on Friday 21st followed by an Irish movie screening and free Colcannon in Maddens.
David Scott, Town Centre Coordinator with Tralee Chamber Alliance, said: “This year’s culinary extravaganza in Tralee will promote and showcase local producers and food establishments while providing something for everyone who loves food. Tralee is very fortunate to be able to celebrate the amazing food offerings in the region. Our Chefs and restaurants make the most of our local produce and are earning a strong reputation for their creativity and skill. Tralee Food Festival provides a major opportunity to present all that is good about local cuisine to a large and wide ranging audience over one weekend.”
The Market, the centrepiece of Tralee Food Festival with over 20 stalls, will showcase the best producers and artisans in the region, while the Food Producers Expo in the main Bank of Ireland Hall will feature some of Kerry’s best food producers who want visitors to sample their produce.
Garvey’s will host their Good Food Karma on Saturday and pubs throughout town will be laying on signature drinks at special festival prices on Saturday night.
Some of the new additions to this year’s Tralee Food Festival include Live Music under the Marquee in the Mall, Whiskey Tasting and an extra date for the Food Market in The Square on Sunday.
The Family Fun Day in Bank of Ireland Carpark on Sunday 23rd September will be a blast when Michael Healy-Rae takes on Aidan O’Mahony, in a LIVE Cook-Off. Presented by Radio Kerry’s Elaine Kinsella, the Cook-Off will take place under the expert scrutiny of celebrity chef Gary O’Hanlon, Culinary Director of BaxterStorey, and Chef on TV3’s ‘The Restaurant’.
Take 3 is a novel new approach to introducing diners to the wonderful menus available from three top Tralee restaurants in one evening, with a set course in each. Simply select from the menus and choose where you would like to start.
On Sunday in Bank of Ireland on Castle Street, there will be Kids Doughnut Decorating with John Dough’s, Gourmet burgers, hot dogs and Palmento from The Rustic Pantry. There’s also a Food Tasting Launch Event in The Ashe Hotel on Friday 21st followed by an Irish movie screening and free Colcannon in Maddens.
“We are grateful to everyone who has joined the team to present this year’s Tralee Food Festival, and we are particularly grateful to our sponsors who include Tralee Chamber Alliance, Taste Kerry, Bank of Ireland, Garvey’s Supervalu, Rural Food Skillnet, FloGas and Kerry County Council,” said David Scott.
For full details of the 2018 Tralee Food Festival from 21st to 23rd September, visit the Tralee Food Festival Facebook Page or www.Tralee.ie.
