Wild Atlantic Way Attractions Putting Irish Food and Drink at the TOP of their Menu
Bringing the finest in local culinary practices to the menu is one of the aims of the ‘Taste of Place’ programme run by Fáilte Ireland for attractions on the Wild Atlantic Way. As part of the programme, the National Tourism Development Authority this week held a workshop in the Good Things Café Cookery School in Skibbereen to highlight how providing visitors with locally sourced food can drive revenue growth.
The programme includes an introduction to how food motivates the visitor with participants discovering the latest in tourist trends and culinary concepts together with best practice examples of where local authentic food offerings drive revenue growth in business and enhance value perception. They will also get a variety of cookery demonstrations from industry leaders and take part in working sessions to inspire change and deliver a renewed food and beverage offering.
The programme aims to support catering teams to deliver an authentic and quality food and beverage experience that is rooted in place by:
• Introducing more menu options that reflect the culinary traditions of a local area.
• Sourcing ingredients from local Irish suppliers.
• Linking elements of the food offering to the wider destination brands.
Sinead Hennessey, Food Tourism Officer at Fáilte Ireland said:
“Taste of Place is a certification programme that recognizes tourism attractions that are committed to sourcing local Irish food and drink. We can all accept that food is more important than ever as consumers continue to become more conscious around their choices and it is great to see so many visitor experiences capitalizing on this growing trend. Since its inception, Taste of Place has worked with over 70 visitor attractions all across our programmes including Ireland’s Ancient East to advance the local offering, making a significant impact on visitor satisfaction and revenue growth”
Food and beverages are integral to the overall tourism experience in Ireland and Fáilte Ireland research shows that 80% of visitors believe it is an important part of their visit and has a significant impact on their overall satisfaction levels in a destination.
List of Participants:
Mizen Head Visitor Centre
Clonakilty Distillery
Clonakilty Black Pudding
Allihies Copper Mine Museum - The Copper Café
Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Meditation Centre
Louis Mulcahy Café
Dun Beag Fort
Burren Smokehouse
Wild Kitchen
Julia's Lobster Truck
The Burren Centre, Kilfenora
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