Sweet theme for Killyleagh fine food event
As thousands of chocoholics and foodies gear up for the highly-anticipated return of the biennial Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival, outstanding chefs from Northern Ireland and further afield are working with organisers to ensure that the three-day event offers a foodie experience not to be missed.
Downpatrick’s Finnebrogue Artisan is the festival’s overall sponsor this year and Finnebrogue consultant development chef, Chris Burt will lead the charge with an innovative line-up of chocolate and locally-focused food activities to span the entire weekend.
Kicking off with the Hans Sloane Chocolate Ball on September 23, chef Burt will join up with legendary local chef Simon Dougan of Yellow Door to present a meal that will delight guests. Utilising the finest of local produce including Finnebrogue venison and sausages, locally-farmed vegetables, eggs and butter, and even reindeer moss, this dinner will highlight the wide range of world-class ingredients available from across Northern Ireland.
As a dramatic end to the evening, chefs Burt and Dougan are brainstorming a show-stopping dessert which will act as homage to Sir Hans Sloane – the Killyleagh-born physician, naturalist and collector credited with bringing the recipe for drinking chocolate back to Europe –and turn heads as the extraordinary chocolate dessert is unveiled to guests.
The festival will continue on September 24 and 25 as guests at Killyleagh Castle can enjoy live cooking demos led by chef Burt alongside leading local chefs including Danny Millar, Balloo Inns; Roy Abraham, The Smuggler’s Table and Fernando Correa, Quails at the Gallery. Incorporating locally-grown and sourced produce paired with chocolate elements and even a chocolate stout from local Mourne Mountains Brewery, these chefs will bring home the theme of local cooking with a touch of chocolate in honour of Sir Hans.
In addition to the live kitchen demos, guests will also enjoy tasting freshly-made dishes and treats from over 30 local artisan producers including Great Taste Award winners S.D. Bells, Deli Muru, Abernethy, La Coquine, Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Finnebrogue, Krazi Baker and Mash Direct, among many others,” added Meave.
Founded in 2010 to celebrate Killyleagh’s most famous son, Sir Hans Sloane, who was born in the village in 1660 and later credited for bringing the recipe for drinking chocolate to Europe from Jamaica, the biennial festival has grown from strength to strength in recent years.
Our picture above shows chefs Roy Abraham, The Smuggler’s Table, Killyleagh and Danny Millar, The Poacher’s Pocket, Lisbane, who have teamed up to announce the chocolate-packed line-up for the 2016 Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival.
