Donegal County Council Logo
Home > Your Council > Communications Office > Press Releases > Donegal rising ranks as a top foodie destination

Donegal rising the ranks as a top foodie destination

 

 

Signature Dish 130 379 x 269

 

Signature Dishes served during the Donegal Signature Dish

event on Tuesday night

 

  

Up to 70 special guests were treated to a splendid display of Donegal food on Tuesday night when twelve top class chefs from all over the county came together in Harvey’s Point to showcase the very best of Donegal food. 

 

 

Signature Dish 24 379 x 269

Donegal chefs participating in the Donegal Signature Dish event

in Harvey’s Point Hotel on Tuesday night Standing left to right:

Brian McDermott, Guest host and MC; Paul Brady, Castle Grove

Country House Hotel; Marco Letterese, The Olde Castle Bar &

Restaurant; Gary McPeake, McGrory’s Hotel; Christopher Molloy,

The Lemon Tree Restaurant; Brian McMonagle, Arnolds Hotel;

Ian Orr, Browns on the Green; Karl Murtagh Silver Tassie Hotel & Spa.

Sitting left to right: Kamal Rai, McGrory’s Hotel; Anthony Armstrong,

Nesbitt Arms Hotel; Colin McKee, Harvey’s Point Hotel; Joe O’Hora,

Benny & Co Coffee Bar & Restaurant and Chris McMenamin, Harvey’s Point.

 

 

Mouth watering dishes were prepared by some of Donegal’s most talented chefs using local produce from local suppliers.  Guests, including high profile food writers and bloggers, where blown away by the high standard at what was the first ever Donegal Signature Dish event. 

 

Signature Dish 63 379 x 269

Chef Gary McPeake having fun in the kitchen during prep time

during the Donegal Signature Dish event in Harvey’s Point Hotel

on Tuesday night.

 

 

Among the invited guests was Irish celebrity chef, television personality, author and owner of Dunbrody House Kitchens and Cookery School Kevin Dundon; Assistant Editor with National Geographic Traveller Food, Farida Zeynalova; Chairperson of the Irish Food Writers' Guild, freelance journalist, author, restaurant critic and HolyMackerel.ie food blogger Aoife Carrigy; Fáilte Ireland's Food Ambassador, Irish Food Guide Blogger and Donegal Chef Zack Gallagher; Michelin trained chef, founder of ChanChan and ambassador with Bord Bia Shanghai, Kwanghi Chan; representative of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, Sean Redmond and representing Fáilte Ireland Máire Áine Gardiner.

 

Signature Dish 75 379 x 269

Noel Cunningham welcoming guests to the Donegal Signature

Dish event in Harvey’s Point Hotel on Tuesday night from

left to right Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnarcháin, LYIT School of Tourism;

Barney Mc Laughlin, Donegal County Council; Cllr Micheál

Naughton; Seamus Neely, Donegal County Council/Donegal

Tourism CLG; Celebrity Chef Kevin Dundon; Farida Zeynalova,

National Geographic Traveller Food; Aoife Carrigy, Irish Food

Writers' Guild; Chef Brian McDermott; Kwanghi Chan, Bord

Bia Shanghai; Iga Lawne, Donegal County Council; Dr Seán

Duffy, LYIT School of Tourism and Cllr Martin Harley.

 

 

In the ambience of the beautiful Garden Suite, the event started with a drink reception during which canapés were served.  Attending guests also had a chance to sample a selection of locally produced drinks including craft beers, gin and whiskey compliments of Bog Hopper Brewery from Muff, Donegal Brewing Company from Ballyshannon, Kinnegar Brewing from Letterkenny, Old Mill Brewing Company from Convoy and Sliabh Liag Distillery from Carrick.

 

Signature Dish 94 379 x 269

Chefs putting finishing touches to the dishes pictured with the

waiting staff lined up and ready for service during the Donegal

Signature Dish event in Harvey’s Point Hotel on Tuesday night.

 

 

The sit down tasting dinner consisted of 10 different dishes from around the county cooked on the night, which was a real feast for the stomach, as well as the eyes. The dishes were chosen by the organising committee in a selection process earlier this year. Each dish had to fulfil two criteria – consist of Donegal produce and be available on each establishment’s menu either currently or on a seasonal basis.

 

Signature Dish 98 379 x 269

Attending guest takes a photograph of the colourful Autumn

Beetroot Salad during the Donegal Signature Dish event in

Harvey’s Point Hotel on Tuesday night.

 

 

Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council said “we have outstanding, creative chefs in Donegal who utilise the delicious, locally grown foods produced by farmers and marine producers to prepare new dishes of cuisine that highlight our heritage and culture. We must tell a renewed story about Donegal food and drink experience, focusing on quality, authenticity, innovation and value for money and this is why we are here this evening’.

 

Signature Dish 105 379 x 269

Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill Cathoirleach of Donegal County Council

speaking with guests during the Donegal Signature Dish event

on Tuesday night.

 

 

Barney Mc Laughlin from Donegal County Council thanked the committee, the chefs who submitted their dishes, the guest host Chef Brian McDermott, table hosts, suppliers, Harvey’s Point staff and management and all the guests for their attendance and paid a special tribute to the chefs who took on a challenging task of cooking and serving their dishes, making it a very memorable evening for all attending.

 

 

Signature Dish 101 379 x 269

Harvey’s Point Staff delivering an impressive food service

during the Donegal Signature Dish event on Tuesday night

 

 

Signature Dish 102 379 x 269

Guests including Deirdre McGlone, Kevin Dundon, Caroline

Kerr and Aisling Arnold enjoying theDonegal Signature Dish

event in Harvey’s Point Hotel on Tuesday night

 

 

Signature Dish 126 379 x 269

A final thank you to all the chefs who took part in the Donegal

Signature Dish event on Tuesday night with staff from Harvey’s

Point who received a standing ovation at the end of the evening

 

Rate this Page

Select an option below

Map Services

Map Portal

  • winterweather Image
  • NWGreenway network icon
  • Donegal Tourism Logo
  • Rennet Image
  • NPPR Logo
  • Donegal Gathering Logo
  • Donegal Diaspora Logo
  • Public Art logo
  • Regional Cultural Centre logo
  • Spaceial logo
  • IrishWater
  • LEO