Blas Na Gaillimhe, A Taste of Galway, is a new food network that celebrates the unique hospitality that Galway offers throughout the year. An initiative by a small group of city restaurateurs with support from the wider community as well as Galway County and City Councils, the network was set up to promote the year-round food scene and food stories of Galway.
This month sees the city’s best come together with a mouth-watering schedule of food events taking place between now and the end of May. The festival is named Blas Na Bealtaine, A Taste of May.
Upcoming events include Savour the Wild Atlantic Way, a five-course dinner highlighting producers along the Wild Atlantic Way including Killary Mussels, Connemara spring lamb, fresh Atlantic cod, Irish cream liqueur and more. The evening takes place on May 18th in Tom Sheridan’s Bar and Restaurant, Knocknacarra. Tickets are priced at €49.95 per person.
Also, May 18th, is With Cheese Please: Galway Food Tours Gets Cheesy! It is a unique ‘Meet The Maker’ evening where Teresa Roche of Kylemore Cheese will give a talk about her journey while sampling some of her cheeses. Galway Food Tours will then take you on a short walk to one of Galway’s favourite restaurants for a dinner with wine pairing and finish the evening off with a nightcap in a very special local bar. Tickets are €100 per person, May 18th, 6 pm.
Another very tasty event is Phi * Schiano Pop Up, by Phi, the fine dining at home experience, founder Damian Martin and Aniar Restaurant’s Claudio Schiano. The menu will have a strong focus on sustainable cooking and zero waste while also having a fun ‘Sunday Dinner’ theme. The date is May 21st. Sittings at 4 pm and 7 pm, priced at €75 per person, or add a wine pairing for an extra €50 per person.
Irish Cheese and Piedmontese Wine Tasting and Talk takes place in Sheridan’s Wine Bar, Market Street, on May 24th from 7 pm to 9 pm. Funded by Galway City Council / EU50
Friday, May 26th is a special event Feeding European Young Minds: High-End Dinner From Food Waste, hosted by Kai Restaurant – in collaboration with Student Pantry. Taking place in Massimo’s: Soul Garden. The tickets are €55 per person. Funded by Galway City Council and EU50. Proceeds will be donated to The Student Pantry, University of Galway.
A lunchtime event, A Taste of Galway Bay at Galway Bay Seafoods is from 12:30 pm until 2 pm on May 27th. A talk by Galway Bay Seafoods on sustainable fishing will be followed by a visit to the Galway Hooker Restoration Workshop, finishing with a lunch prepared by chef and author Martin Ruffley and chef Gavin Gleeson. You’ll get to sample a seafood taster menu including a seafood taster lunch, with lobster, crab, shellfish and a glass of wine, while learning about some of Galway’s most treasured history, as well as practices used by local fishermen to preserve and protect Galway Bay’s natural habitats. The price is €15 per person, with all proceeds donated to RNLI Galway. Starting at 12:30 pm until 2 pm. Funded by Galway City Council and EU50.
If you want to continue the learning, also taking place afternoon of May 27th, head over to Beechlawn Organic Farm in Ballinasloe for a Biodiversity Walk with Beechlawn It will consist of a brief welcome and walk through their farm focussing on organic farming methods that encourage and protect pollinators, wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Tickets are €10 for adults, €5 for students and OAPs. Children are free admission.
The following day, May 28th, there is a Pop-Up Bao Bar in Aniar between 12 pm to 8 pm. No booking is necessary for this one.
If escaping from the hustle and bustle is more your scene, Connemara Retreats are holding a seaweed-infused weekend away, Indulge Your Senses In South Connemara, in partnership with Galway County Council, taking place May 19th to 21st in Lettermullen.
Founding Member and Galway restaurant owner, JP McMahon said “Blas Na Gaillimhe, the new food network for Galway, grew out of the previous Galway Food Festival initiative, as a way to cement Galway’s vibrant food and hospitality scene. It hopes to build on the legacy created by the previous food festival and establish a fertile space for future food enthusiasts. We see Blas Na Bealtaine as being an integral part of that vision and hope every year that the May festival gets bigger and better.”
For details on all events and booking information please visit www.atasteofgalway.com or email [email protected].
