Ireland’s seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), has teamed up with Chef Network to promote the seafood experience of Taste The Atlantic. Chef Network is a professional community which connects chefs across Ireland.
This particular partnership also aims to showcase the enormous potential for visitor seafood experiences, to promote and encourage the use of local seafood on menus by other chefs/hospitality operators and to encourage the partnership between producers and chefs to deliver this.
The first initiative, which took place this week, was a tour of north Connemara where a group of Chef Network member chefs toured, visited and met with local seafood producers.
Ruth Hegarty, who coordinated the trip on behalf of Chef Network, said: “Working with BIM presents an opportunity for Chef Network to broaden the knowledge of chefs, encourage mutual support between local businesses (producers & restaurants) which is needed now more than ever. This is important networking and peer-learning opportunity for chefs and they jumped at the chance to get together in this safe outdoor environment and to connect with local food producers, which is one of the things chefs are most passionate about.”
The tour which took place on Tuesday 22nd September, had 10 chefs travelling and visiting DK Oyster Farm Letterfrack, followed by a visit Killary Harbour to meet with Tom Doherty of Curraun Fisheries. They then went on to Killary Fjord Shellfish to visit their production of rope mussels, oysters and clams etc. The tour finished with a spectacular seafood lunch overlooking the fjord.
A spokesperson for BIM, Máirtín Walsh, said “We are delighted to be working with Chef Network and some of the most talented chefs in the industry. The passion Irish chefs have for local produce is world-renowned and this partnership allows us to ensure Irish seafood plays a part in the development of menus across the country. By educating chefs and introducing them to our seafood producers gives a deeper understanding of our often misunderstood resource of seafood. Ireland’s food heritage is intrinsically linked to seafood and the Taste The Atlantic initiative gives both the chefs, but also the public in general, an opportunity to experience this.”
BIM and Chef Network intend, through a series of events, to increase the profile of Irish seafood and increase awareness among Ireland's chefs to encourage more inclusion of it on menus throughout the country. The tours which will take place throughout the country (this first one being in Connemara) is also hoped to increase awareness on the food tourism element of visiting seafood producers by the public in general.
You can find out more and keep up to date with the latest news by following Chef Network at @ChefNetworkIRL on all social media or visit www.ChefNetwork.ie.
