TOM Flavin, executive head chef at the Limerick Strand Hotel is one of the new food champions chosen by Failte Ireland to build Ireland’s food tourism reputation which is worth €6bn in overseas revenue each year.
This Wednesday, Fáilte Ireland announced the named Tom Flavin along with 15 other new emerging food champions who will represent the importance of food to tourism and visitors to Ireland.
Tom and his fellow new food champions will join six existing food champions as part of the Food Tourism Network Development programme to work together on sourcing and activating ideas to encourage visitors to stop more, spend more, and stay longer.
Tom said that he was delighted to be nominated as a emerging food champion.
“It makes me very proud when you know that the produce we have in Ireland, both food and in hospitality is by far the best in the world, then it is very easy to stand up and shout about it”, commented the Limerick chef
John Mulcahy, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Hospitality, Food and Standards, said that “there was a phenomenal response in our quest to find Ireland’s food champions. In fact we received over 400 nominations from a diverse group who are members of wider food tourism communities, committed to playing a role in the continuing development of Ireland’s food tourism proposition and reputation from across Ireland.
“The ‘emerging’ food champions have already been working hard in their regions and can now become a part of our network which we will support and guide as they continue to develop food tourism experiences.
FOOD CHAMPIONS LIST:
Wild Atlantic Way
Áine Maguire;The Idle Wall, MAYO (Westport)
Gabriel Faherty; Aran Islands Goats Cheese, GALWAY (Aran Islands)
Chris Molloy; The Lemon Tree, DONEGAL (Letterkenny)
Tom Flavin, The Strand Hotel, LIMERICK
Mark Murphy, Dingle Cookery School, KERRY (Dingle)
Jacinta Dalton; Dept of Culinary Arts, GMT, GALWAY
Ruth Healy; Urru Culinary Store, CORK
Brid Torrades; Osta Cafe SLIGO
Ireland’s Ancient East
Anthony O’Toole; Culinarean Press, WEXFORD (Ferns)
Claire Dalton; Dungarvan Brewing, WATERFORD (Dungarvan)
Gearóid Lynch; The Olde Post Inn, CAVAN (Cloverhill)
Judith Boyle; Beer Sommelier, Publican, KILDARE
Patrick Ryan; Firehouse Bakery, WICKLOW (Delgany)
John Relihan; Holy smoke, CORK
Kevin Ahern; Sage, CORK (Midleton)
Olivia Duff; The Headfort Arms Hotel, MEATH
Dublin
Garrett Fitzgerald; Brother Hubbard, DUBLIN, Capel Street
Ivan Varian; Dalkey Food Company, DUBLIN, Dalkey
Niall Sabongi; Klaw Restaurant, DUBLIN, Temple Bar
Ketty Elisabeth; French Foodie in Dublin Ltd, DUBLIN
Seáneen Sullivan; Mulligan Grocer, Stoneybatter, DUBLIN
Pádraic Óg Gallagher; The Boxty House, DUBLIN (Temple Bar)
As they embark on their role as Fáilte Ireland food champions, the candidates will be offered a unique opportunity to attend an international benchmarking trip later this year to learn how food is promoted in competing destinations and to assist in the development of new food experiences in their area.
