LOVE Gourmet week 2012 – be part of it

THANKFULLY, we in Limerick are blessed with a number of good and great things. A magnificent river that we have been able to incorporate into a wondrous festival that celebrates what is good and great about the city. We have a love of sport that is second to none. We have an arts, cultural and historic repertoire that is renowned on many a world stage. We are littered with history at every turn and that is celebrated in some of the most picturesque and informative settings that our city can deliver and showcase.

We have a thriving community that is proud to put its best foot forward despite the negativity that sometimes rains on our parade – we have a resilience to dust ourselves down, pick up the pieces and stubborn as you like come back twice as good.
There is much to celebrate and an article that winged its way past my desk recently highlighted some 99 reasons to visit Limerick and while it created much debate about what was included and what was omitted, I hasten to add, it celebrated Limerick.
Number two on the list was the Milk Market and that was only toppled by the May bank holiday festival…… A festival, Parisian in style, European in delivery and family friendly while all the while Limerick to the core. And it is a celebration of food that comes to the fore for both of those top two on the listing.
That is what is great about Limerick. We have a food culture here and it is thriving and the restaurants and eateries the length and breadth of this green county are growing, evolving and enticing as ever.
Thanks to the work and promotion from the likes of messieurs Frawley and Mullane (above) and their committee et al, there is much to celebrate about Limerick’s food world. Add in the work of those dedicated to produce the finest produce and the ingredients are certainly there for further great success.
Love Gourmet week, which was launched in the Hunt museum, is a very fine example of two of those elements mentioned – history and food. And while the public and the celebratory punters of Love Gourmet Week might not get to dine in the fabulous surroundings of the Captain’s Room in the Hunt Museum, you can still visit and enjoy its worth. The venue evoked history and culture, the night evoked passion, tastes and flavour and all led by the drive that Limerick has. And it is from those past celebrations and following the success of last year’s, ‘Love Gourmet Week’ will run once again this year to encompass Limerick and the Shannon Region.
Superb menus priced from €35 per person will offer outstanding value for unique culinary specials with locally sourced produce during the event which runs from Friday, June 1st- Sunday, June 10th inclusive.
This year, 15 of the top restaurants in Limerick and the Shannon region will share the ethos of the event and again celebrate local produce, great Irish food and organic fare.
Padraic Frawley, chairperson of Love Gourmet Week said the event will once again raise the food profile of the Mid West, local producers and enhance Limerick’s reputation as a “foodie hub”.
“Limerick and the Shannon Region have some fantastic restaurants with quality food, wine and great dining options to choose from so we’re hoping to attract new visitors and foodies through Love Gourmet Week again this year, following on from last years success” said Padraic.
“We’re very excited about this initiative as it’s a chance for diners to get a wonderful fine dining experience at an incredible price and it helps promote Limerick and the Shannon Region as a culinary destination.”
Last week, a pop restaurant at the Hunt saw hosted the launch which was a tribute to the many producers and suppliers in the region whose hard work and dedication raises the bar of the local dining experience helping to promote Limerick and the Shannon Region as a culinary destination. Those efforts are celebrated throughout the menus of the 15 participating restaurants.
The arts joined with the history of food and Limerick and a 10 minute extract from Pigtown was performed by John Anthony Murphy. Highlighting another must for some of the Limerick public to check out as it runs in the Belltable for the next number of weeks.
So, visit the Hunt museum, or any of the magnificent historical locations and soak the nostalgia and capture the imagination of your taste buds and sample the fine fare on offer during the 10 days at the start of June where Limerick, a food destination, is celebrated.
See www.lovegourmetweek.com, follow updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lovegourmetweek and twitter #lovegourmetweek

See the launch video {youtubejw}hSuJ0L1JdqE{/youtubejw}

 

Sign up for the weekly Limerick Post newsletter
Advertisement