Thursday 11 June 2015

Post LitFest High

We’re all still on a high from the Litfest. Apart from all the antics and stimulating talks, forums and panel discussions in the Grain Store and Big Shed, there was also a packed schedule at the Ballymaloe Cookery School with three and sometimes four events running simultaneously. We are overjoyed and beyond honored  to find ourselves on the Conde Nast Traveller list for The Best Festivals Around the World !




 Having invited many more of my food heroes to Ballymaloe, I had exactly had the same frustrations this year as before... I simply couldn’t get to many of the concurrent events but did get fantastic feedback. 

I want to take a moment to share some of my personal highlights. 



Allegra McEvedy has a cult following for her wholesome and gutsy food and her irreverent style further endears her to her fans. She gave a cookery demonstration of some of her best loved dishes.  The response to her delicious food was overwhelmingly delightful.



Arun Kapil told the fascinating story of Green Saffron and his book Fresh Spice in a packed Blue Dining room. A little while later multi award winning, Kevin Thornton spoke to a rapt audience about his travels in Ethiopia – the photographs in his book all styled and taken by Kevin himself showed another hugely creative side of this enormously talented chef.

Still staying with our Irish stars, Hugo Arnold and Leylie Hayes of Avoca gave a riveting three hour cookery demonstration of some of the iconic dishes that has made Avoca such a huge success. 




Later Jack Monroe, who shot to fame a number of years ago when she started a blog ‘A Girl called Jack’ on feeding herself and her son on £10 sterling a week. This was an interactive cookery demonstration where people could bring a child along free of charge.  Jack’s writing style is chatty and entertaining. Her food brilliantly creative and delicious, illustrates how well you can eat on a miniscule budget when one have the cooking skills to transform a few inexpensive ingredients into a yummy meal.

That's just a little taster of what was on this year. We hope you had a ball! 

With massive thanks to all our sponsors for their support...Kerrygold, Neff, Sodexo, Failte Ireland, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, Ballymaloe Country relish, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland and Cully and Sully.