Meath Food & Craft Affair sets up stall in Ashbourne

Following the huge success of last year's inaugural event in Trim, Meath Tourism has announced details of its second Meath Food & Craft Affair, which will be held this year at the Ashbourne Marriott Hotel on Thursday 24th February from 5.30pm to 9pm. The county's leading chefs and craftworkers are lined up for one of the most eagerly awaited culinary and craft events of the year, which attracted hundreds of people to Trim Castle Hotel in 2010. An extra dimension will be added to this year's event as the Meath Craftworkers will also be exhibiting and undertaking craft demonstrations on the night. Celebrating Meath's love of good food and crafts, the event is open to the public with free entry on the night. Attendees will be able to rub shoulders with all Meath's culinary and craft masters at one venue for one night only, watching and learning from their live cookery and craft demonstrations which will take place every 30 minutes throughout the evening. There will be free tasters of local restaurants' signature dishes throughout the evening. The chairman of Meath Tourism, Cllr John V Farrelly, said: “Food and craft is a very important part of the tourism experience in Meath. We are fortunate to have some of Ireland's finest chefs and craftworkers working in our county. This is a unique opportunity to meet and mingle with them under one-roof. We want to encourage visitors and locals to experience our great restaurants & craft and 'Buy Meath'.†The showcase event will feature some of the county's top restaurants and food establishments, including Jules Restaurant at Trim Castle Hotel; the Mornington Restaurant at CityNorth Hotel, Gormanston; the Signal Restaurant at The Station House Hotel, Kilmessan; the Vanilla Pod, Kells; Brabazon at Tankardstown House; Grill 21 at the Ashbourne Marriott Hotel; the Bridge Restaurant at the Newgrange Hotel; As You Like Caffé, Ratoath; An Troman, Trim; Shanks Mare Pub & Restaurant, Moynalvey, and Harvest Home Bakery, Trim. Craftworkers appearing on the night will include the multi-award wining wood-turner Seamus Cassidy, renowned landscape photograhers Robert and Cathy Ardill, artist Colette Gough, Thomas Diem Pottery and stone-carver Paul Gaggins. The Meath Food & Craft Affair aims to encourage as many people as possible to visit the restaurants and craft workshops of Meath after the event. For more details, contact Meath Tourism on (046) 909 7060, email info@meathtourism.ie or see www.meathtourism.ie