Have your say:The sixth annual Euro-Toques National Food Forum & Fair takes place at BrookLodge hotel, Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow, next Sunday, September 2nd. "Reconnecting: Farming, Food and Rural Communities" is the theme of this year's event, which is aimed at people involved in farming, food production, tourism and rural development but is also open to members of the public with a special interest in the topic.
Matt Cooper of Today FM will chair a panel of speakers including Trevor Sargent, Minister for State for Food and Agriculture; Helen Browning of the Soil Association; Gerry Scully of Teagasc; Peter Young, farmer and journalist; and Euro-Toques commissioner Ross Lewis (right) of Chapter One restaurant. There will also be a food fair, open to the public, running from 11am to 4pm, with 30 producers taking part. Attendance at the forum is free if booked in advance, subject to numbers, and it will be followed by a barbecue, with Champagne reception and wines, for which there is a €45 fee. Book tickets by phoning 01-6779995 or e-mailing info@eurotoquesirl.org.
Taste sensation
Five Irish food producers are in contention for the Great Taste Awards supreme champion 2007 title, which will be announced in London on Monday, September 3rd. Three-star golds, the highest accolade awarded in the competition, were earned by the five after four rounds of judging by food writers, critics, chefs, food buyers and restaurateurs. Drumgooland Smokehouse's hot smoked salmon, Boulabane Farmhouse Foods' apple with Calvados sorbet, Castle Leslie's balsamic reduction with sherry and fig, Java Republic's Sumatra Blue coffee and Solaris Herbs' organic Earl Grey tea will be vying for the UK and Ireland industry-wide accolade, which was claimed last year by Sally Barnes of Woodcock Smokery, in Castletownsend, Co Cork.