Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work. Slow Food works to defend biodiversity in our food supply, spread taste education and connect producers of excellent foods with co-producers through events and initiatives.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Mushroom Forage in Wicklow - Irish Times article
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/property/2011/0922/1224304514975.html
Petersburg Forage
Wind and rain failed to dampen the spirits at the most recent and one of the most ambitious outings of Slow Food Galway.
On Sunday, 11 September 2011, Slow Food Galway had its annual forage at the Petersburg Outdoor Centre near Clonbur, Co Galway. The event ran between 11am and 5pm and included demonstrations on cooking mushrooms (thanks Maria), making cider vinegar (thanks Ciara), preparing jams and preserves (thanks Barbara) smoking mackerel (thanks Kobi), barbecuing lamb (thanks Richard) making fruit alcohol drinks (thanks Cait) and mushroom gathering (thanks to Lenke and Stan).
One of the highlights of the day was the lamb on the spit and indeed the talk on the rearing of Connemara lamb and how it achieved its European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. For more information check out their website http://www.connemarahilllamb.ie/ - the lamb is available from Joyce’s supermarket in Knocknacarra and Athenry.
Towards the end of the day the group split up into wild fruit foragers, mushroom foragers and the non-foragers who were content to watch the sheep dog demonstration by Joe Joyce from Joyce country sheep dog. Thanks to Roy the border collie and the second border collie whose name escapes me (sorry “Lassie”) for showing the sheep who is boss. Check out their website at:
http://www.joycecountrysheepdogs.ie/index.html
Big thanks to Padraic who led one walk and Sarah Hughes who led another herbal walk. Dolores also deserves a shout out for devising the scavenger hunt.
A really superb day with an overwhelming array on food and drink on offer with a special mention for the smoked mackerel, spit roasted lamb and clay oven pizza (thanks Geraldina and her team) in no particular order.
Big thank you to Kate, Deirdre, Barbara and all others who organised the day, all who brought along bread, desserts and chutneys and everyone who braved the elements to turn out on the day.
Check out our facebook page for photos from the day
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.258191494213574.68847.221844304514960&type=1
and if anyone has any recipes from the day feel free to post on our facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Food-Galway/221844304514960
See you all at the next event!