City set to embrace LegenDerry month of food and drink
27 November 2024
The City and District‘s fabulous food offering will be celebrated and showcased as part of Love LegenDerry Food Month next February, when a mouthwatering menu of events and experiences will be held across Derry and Strabane to promote the regions outstanding food and drink, and the people who produce it.
Details were revealed today of Love LegenDerry Food Month programme that is set to take the city and district by storm next February, when the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, joined with leading local hospitality industry figures to provide details of the fantastic range of events that will showcase the fantastic culinary expertise and talent the North West has to offer.
The campaign aims to shine a spotlight on the unique and authentic food and drink related products and experiences available locally. The celebratory month of events are being led by the LegenDerry Food Network with the support and collaboration from Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Department Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs NI Regional Food Programme (NIRFP).
Among the key events scheduled to take place this year is a Taste of LegenDerry Media Event on February 20th, when food critics, media influencers and food writers will experience a Taste of LegenDerry thanks to the efforts of the finest local chefs who will collaborate to produce a 6 course tasting menu paired with local drinks with an opportunity to meet with local food and artisan producers. One of the highlights of the evening will be the launch of the by the Walled City Brewery’s of their new brandy ball flavoured poitin, –‘“Snifter’”.
The programme includes a range of unique events created by food producers and chefs to showcase the high-quality produce that can be found throughout the region including a Dart Mountain Cheese tour & taste experience which will take you into the heart of the Sperrins to visit Derry’s award-winning artisan cheese producer. Learn about the craft and science of cheese making, visit the cheese maturing rooms and finish off with a unique tasting experience of their range of products. You can also sign up to be part of the Sperrin Goat Cheese Experience which is ideal for families and will involve goat cheese sampling and cheesemaking tour followed by a visit to the Craigbane Goat Farm to meet the baby goats.
Food lovers can also enjoy music and activities at the Walled City Brewery and taste the wonderful Lough Foyle Native Oyster and the city’s totally unique Foyster Stout. The Oyster & Stout Festival that will see local seafood company Foyle Bia Mara shucking fresh oysters accompanied by other local seafood dishes and complemented by the efforts of local brewers to create Ireland's most diverse local stout collection from a Tabasco Stout to a Chocolate Chipotle Stout!
Another highlight event worth marking the calendar for is the launch of the city’s newest food tour which will explore the rich culinary heritage of Derry on a guided food tour through its historic streets. Derry By Fork will take you on a flavourful journey, sampling iconic local dishes crafted by the city’s finest chefs and producers.
Seafood lovers can join Moore’s on the Quay, Derry’s only fishmonger as they team up with Pyke n Pommes in a celebration of local seafood or hop aboard ‘Big Decky’ for a unique dining experience overlooking Lough Foyle, featuring five courses showcasing the regions local fish and shellfish.
And as February is also the month for romance, couples looking to enjoy a night of cooking or dining together will be able to join unique dining and cooking experiences throughout the month.
Speaking at the official launch, Mayor Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr said she was truly excited at what was on offer and spoke about the importance of promoting the fantastic food offering that is available in the local area.
“It is truly wonderful to launch details of the Love LegenDerry programme of experiences. I am fully supportive of the fantastic work the hospitality sector do in their ambition of developing the region as leading food destination as well as their contribution to supporting our local economy. The range of experiences organised for the month of February is just brilliant – it offers a real tantalising array of experiences for food lovers. Our LegenDerry Food Network is going from strength to strength, and I am delighted that their strong collaborative approach is so successful in bringing this programme together, it truly is an opportunity to highlight the work of the many talented producers and chefs we have here as well as the abundance of quality locally sourced ingredients available from across the North West region.
“I’m looking forward to sampling some of the many delights on offer and I would encourage people to take the opportunity to find out more about local food heritage and provenance and come out to support our local hospitality sector during the month of February.”
Looking ahead to February, Co-Chair of the LegenDerry Food Network, Shauna Froydenlund, said: “We are so excited to launch Love Legenderry Food Month for the third year running. It really does celebrate the incredible culinary talents of Derry and Strabane from mouth-watering menus to unforgettable events and experiences. It's a real showcase of our region's outstanding food, drink and the passionate people who bring them to life."
Tourism Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Jennifer O Donnell said the Love LegenDerry Food Month is the perfect way to get out and enjoy the local food scene, and sample of the diverse array of events and experiences that have been arranged to showcase the wealth of food and drink choices we have locally.
“As a visitor destination we have made great strides in establishing a vibrant and dynamic food culture, that is appealing to our global visitors, and it’s important that we celebrate that with programmes such as the Love LegenDerry Food Month,” she added.
Full details are available on www.legenderryfood.com/events