Earlier this year I wrote about working with a new food innovation group in Kilkenny. This group is comprised of food artisans who have developed new products over the last 8 months. The programme will finish on October 24th with an event to showcase the new products. Guests will sample the wonderful new tastes whilst listening to each producer talk about the story of his / her business.
I am constantly amazed at the energy, passion and enthusiasm that these food producers have in abundance. They are all exceptionally busy people who absolutely love what they do. Many of them made lifestyle choices to opt out of one rat race or another to be able to work from home or spend more time with their kids, and they really are an inspiration. With enough people like these in Ireland and the work ethic they demonstrate there should be no recession!
Recently I was in Las Vegas, the city of excess, and it occurred to my husband and myself how massive the carbon footprint must be for all the food that’s consumed there - it’s in the desert after all, and everything has to be shipped in. Compare that to the wealth and quality of locally produced food around the Kilkenny region and in other parts of Ireland - we really are incredibly lucky. Take Goatsbridge Trout Farm for example - run by Margaret and Ger Kirwan. They hosted an open day in August, and not only did we see the different stages of the fish rearing process, but we dined on delicious trout cooked in a variety of ways. To have food like this produced in Ireland is wonderful - with little or no carbon footprint!