Hospitality Exchange, October 13 and 14

Hospitality Exchange, October 13 and 14

Hospitality Exchange, Northern Ireland’s largest hospitality conference, is set to take place on October 13 and 14 in the Europa Hotel, Belfast.

 

This annual event has become a prominent feature in the trade calendar with well over 1000 people taking part each year. The theme for 2015 is ‘the future’ with a programme of seminars and workshops focusing on trends, industry development and future careers.

 

One of the most popular components of the Exchange programme is the celebrity chef demonstration which has attracted the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Raymond Blanc and Tom Kerridge in the past. The guest chef for 2015 is Ollie Dabbous, part of a new brigade of London-based chefs who are adding to the city’s reputation as a world culinary capital. Ollie opened his first restaurant – Dabbous – in 2012 and a second outlet called Barnyard followed in 2014.

 

He gained a Michelin star a year after opening Dabbous to rapturous reviews from food critics. This critical acclaim resulted in a need to hire somebody just to answer the restaurant’s phone and getting a table at Dabbous is still nearly impossible unless you’re prepared to wait six months for the reservation.

 

Ollie has described his cooking as “stripped back fine dining coupled with an understanding of seasonal ingredients”. His ethos is to create an experience for diners, exploiting the juxtaposed position of the industrial masculine interior of Dabbous with the softer feminine aspects of his food.

 

Dabbous, the cookbook, came out in 2014 and is an extension of Ollie’s food philosophy with clean design, exquisite photography and concise recipes. Leafing through its pages you can truly understand why this chef has been described as “the most gifted chef in Britain today” by his original mentor, Raymond Blanc.

 

Ollie Dabbous will be joined at the demonstration by local chefs Stephen McFarland and Brian McDermott. Stephen is an award-winning and internationally-renowned pastry chef who works alongside Nevin Maguire in the McNean Bistro, one of Ireland’s most lauded eateries. He hails from Ederney in County Fermanagh and his passion for patisserie began at the tender age of nine. Brian McDermott, also known as ‘the no salt chef’, advocates a healthy eating regime. A regular contributor to TV and radio, Brian runs a cookery school in Donegal and is passionate about his Triple A style of cooking – available, achievable and affordable.

 

With Northern Ireland’s first year of food just around the corner, food remains on the menu throughout the first day of Hospitality Exchange with an afternoon session on its future direction. The Future of Food will look at the trends influencing modern cuisine, focusing on the current vogue and revealing those food fashion trends that may be just around the corner. Food futurologist, Dr Morgaine Gaye, will give her expert opinion on developments in the 21st century. Oliver Peyton, Great British Menu judge and one of the UK’s leading restaurateurs, will speak about developments in dining, new food offerings and where he sees the restaurant business going in the next decade. There will also be an update on the exciting calendar for Northern Ireland’s Year of Food, as well as a round-up of the success of Scotland’s 2015 gastronomic programme.

 

ollie dabbous
Ollie Dabbous, special guest chef at this year’s Hospitality Exchange.

 

Other highlights of Hospitality Exchange will be an industry debate featuring key influencers from within the sector and a business breakfast with an economic outlook and a glimpse of future trends heading our way from progressive markets. The role of events and attractions will be explored, showing how they can be key drivers for business.

 

The official programme will be in the next edition of LCN with full details and booking on the Hospitality Exchange website hospitalityexchange.co.uk to follow.

 

An important part of Hospitality Exchange is the trade show and exhibition. There has been phenomenal interest in stands this year, with the exhibition almost sold out as we go to press. As well as giving suppliers the opportunity to showcase new products and technologies it is an opportunity to meet up with industry colleagues and friends.

 

Over the course of the two days, there are a number of social events giving additional networking opportunities, all culminating in the unforgettable Gala Ball.

 

With tourism and hospitality proclaimed as industries of the future, you should make sure to check out Hospitality Exchange this October.