A strong West Cork flavour to the Picnic

By Kate Ryan

THERE will be a strong flavour of West Cork at this year’s Electric Picnic festival in Co Laois.

As in previous years, EP’s Theatre of Food programme, which runs from September 4th-6th, has been carefully and lovingly curated by Ireland’s best-known food writing duo, West Cork locals John and Sally McKenna.

The McKennas’ passion for the region is legendary and this year there is a great selection of West Cork’s best on display.

Martin Shanahan of Fishy Fishy in Kinsale will be waxing lyrical about the culinary treasures from Ireland’s crystalline seas, while Jim and Maria Kennedy of Atlantic Sea Kayaking will give an insight into wild sea food foraging and kayaking seaweed tours.

Caitlin Ruth of Deasy’s restaurant in Ring will be giving a workshop of how to cook gourmet-style, but gluten-free; and Courtmacsherry’s MasterChef Ireland reigning champion Diana Dodog will be letting us in on some of her secret tips on how she creates beautiful tasting and nutritious meals from her food truck.

Shannen Butler-Keane of Diva Boutique Bakery & Café in Ballinspittle, will also be making the journey to Laois. Shannen will be teaching us not to be afraid of cocktails, mixing up some classic combos and how to be a cocktail King or Queen at home.

There will also be a focus on artisan bean-to-bar chocolate producers, such as Clonakilty Chocolate, and how it can be paired, not just with wine, but also with craft beers too.

Food writer and critic Joe McNamee will be on a panel discussing food waste and how to reduce it, and Bridget Healy, veggie supremo and Lettercollum foodie, will be revealing her favourite tunes for cooking. It really is going to be a great showcase for the region, and just as the Taste of West Cork 2015 begins.

Kate will be tweeting from the Picnic @flavourIE