Burren – Ireland’s top foodie spot

by Bruce McMichael
Burren takes top spot! Pictured (l-r) receiving The Restaurants Association of Ireland Foodie Towns 2015 Award was local business from The Burren Martin Waldron (Burren Escape), Tina O’Dwyer (The Burren Trail coordinator), Brid Fahy (Linnalla Pure Irish Ice Cream), Deborah Evers (Clareville House Kitchen Garden) and Donal Monaghan (Gleninagh Burren Lamb). © Conor McCabe Photography.
Burren takes top spot! Pictured (l-r) receiving The Restaurants Association of Ireland Foodie Towns 2015 Award was local business from The Burren Martin Waldron (Burren Escape), Tina O’Dwyer (The Burren Trail coordinator), Brid Fahy (Linnalla Pure Irish Ice Cream), Deborah Evers (Clareville House Kitchen Garden) and Donal Monaghan (Gleninagh Burren Lamb). © Conor McCabe Photography

Congratulations to Burren, Ireland for taking top spot in this year’s Restaurants Association of Ireland ‘Foodie Towns 2015’.
The Burren “has turned what was once thought of as a desolate National Park into a thriving foodie destination. Any town, community or region interested in developing their food product should take a field trip as soon as they can,” said Pól Ó Conghaile, Travel Editor of The Independent newspaper.
The area has a rich variety of artisan food producers including ice cream makers Linnalla from their herd of shorthorn cows; smokers The Burren Smokehouse and their famous salmon and Ireland first stoneground bean to bar chocolate makers Hazel Mountain Chocolate who are pairing their chocs with intriguing flavours such as juniper and violet petals.
Along with the winner The Burren and the runner-up Derry, the remaining eight finalists, included Boyne Valley, Dungarvan and Howth.

Check out burren.ie/food-dining and Restaurants Association of Ireland.

Tags:             
Bruce McMichael

Food writing, discovering food stories, meeting producers, chefs and food enthusiasts are all part of desire to inspire, inform my readers and fellow food lovers. I am a freelance writer, journalist and published author focusing on the international world of food and drink, culture and travel. In 2019 I graduated from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy with a Masters in Food Culture, Communication and Marketing. I am now a visiting Professor at the university teaching Food & Drink Writing. Based in London I travel widely, particularly across western Europe. I have chaired many conferences and meetings, spoken at conferences and events and often appear on radio and TV talking most about food, the business of food and being an entrepreneur. In 2017 I won an episode of the ITV (the UK-based national television channel) cooking competition show, 'Gordon Ramsay's Culinary Genius'. I took my children on holiday to Sicily with the prize money. As an experienced farmers' market manager and operator of a small marmalade/ preserves company, I am very familiar with the issues surrounding local food, farming, enterprise and the environment.