Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 4:53pm

1,000 attend first Meath Food Affair in Trim

by John Donohoe

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The first ever Meath Food Affair hosted by Meath Tourism at Trim Castle Hotel on Thursday evening last was a phenomenal success as close to 1,000 people attended to celebrate Meath's love of good food.

Exhibitors on the night were Jules Restaurant and the Bailey Bar at Trim Castle Hotel, the Signal Restaurant at the Station House Hotel, Rococo Restaurant at Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort, An Troman Café, Vanilla Pod Restaurant at the Headfort Arms Hotel, Harvest Home Bakery, Grill 21 at Ashbourne Marriott Hotel, the Mornington Restaurant at City North Hotel and Fairyhouse Food and Wine School.

Each of the exhibitors offered exquisite and mouthwatering tastings of their cuisine to the public throughout the evening.

The public rubbed shoulders with Meath's culinary masters as the county's top chefs, including Sean McDonald, Andrew Dillon, Billie O'Shea, David Mulvihill, Stephen Brown, Shane O'Neill and Brian Meehan cooked up a storm for the rapt audiences.

The Meath masterchefs gave live cookery demonstrations on the Flogas-sponsored cookery demonstration unit and some the their scintillating signature dishes included roast rack of lamb and seasonal vegetables, pan-fried sea bass with chorizo risotto, roasted red peppers and sherry vinegar and fennell and coriander-dusted guinea fowl escalope on a bed of rocket and spinach salad with orange and cider vanilla syrup.

The winners of the 'Mmm Word' prize were also presented on the night to much fanfare.

Kevin MacNamidhe was the overall winner and will now be put through his paces by Sean McDonald of Trim Castle Hotel as he prepares a five-course meal from scratch for six of his friends and family! Mary Martin won the second prize of cookery classes at the Station House Kilmessan's cookery school.

Michele Whelan of Meath Tourism commented: "We would like to pay tribute to the incredible quality of the restaurants exhibitor spaces, food and cookery demonstrations which quite simply blew the public away and reinforced the message that there is tremendous value and quality in our local restaurants.

"This night has certainly whetted the public's appetite to dine out in our restaurants over the coming weeks and months.

"We would also like to pay tribute to our media partners for this event, the Meath Chronicle, whose support was fantastic."

Visit www.meathtourism.ie to see the Meath dining special offers promoted on the night.