‘Feed on the Farm’ Pigtown Festival 2019 has an amazing line-up!

The Pigtown Culture & Food Series, which celebrates Limerick’s food culture and heritage, trots out for its third year this September 2019. Inspired by the history of Limerick’s famous bacon industry, it is a programme of themed food and cultural events taking place in various venues in Limerick city and county, starting on Culture Night, September 20^th with the popular Pigtown Parade. The Pigtown Festival 2019 is developed by the Limerick Food Group and supported by Limerick City and County Council, LEO, and LIT. The Festival runs until October 25.

To launch this year’s festival, Pigtown organisers, Limerick Food Group, collaborated with New Leaf Urban Farmers to bring a pop-up ‘Feed on the Farm’ event led by chef Keith Pigott of new Adare restaurant Oak and Apple.

‘Feed on the Farm’ launch of the Pigtown Culture; Food Series festival 2019 in Crokers Farm, Ballyneety, Co Limerick.
Pictures: Brian Arthur.

The venue was Crokers Farm in Ballyneety where New Leaf’s Kevin Wallace grows all his chemical-free vegetables and herbs. Guests dined directly from the County Limerick farm in a sustainable gourmet feast which also featured a ‘pig in a pit’ reared by John Grisewood of Crokers Farm. John gave guests a tour of the farm on arrival, followed by an introduction to the farm’s honey by John’s brother and beekeeper Paul Grisewood, and Kevin brought the tour around his plots and polytunnels showcasing the impressive Limerick produce he supplies to a number of local businesses.

The zero food miles dinner was the concept of Oak and Apple chef Keith Pigott, also a member of Limerick Food Group and the Pigtown festival committee, who explained the inspiration behind the launch event:

“Pigtown is a celebration of our rich food past but also our rich food present. The ‘Feed on the Farm’ launch event is all about celebrating local food culture, and local people, and the amazing produce we have on our doorstep.

“As a chef, my job is made exciting and easier by great produce. Twice a week Kevin from New Leaf walks through our door in Adare with what can only be described as world-class produce and he creates it here in Ballyneety. Where better to celebrate it than right here on the farm.

“Food brings people together, it creates community and tonight is proof of that. We’re looking forward to more Pigtown events bringing people together and developing the Limerick food community.”

The gourmet menu consisted of a Hakurei Turnips starter butter roasted, pickled and carpaccio served with nasturtium pesto, or, Baby Beets beetroot soup served with barbequed baby beets and sheep’s yoghurt; the main was pit-roasted free-range pork served with that morning’s vegetable harvest; and dessert of baked rhubarb and honey, or spiced courgette cake and honey mascarpone.

90% of the ingredients on the menu were sourced on Crokers Farm with the remaining 10% sourced locally or from a neighbouring county, as an example of the amazing food bounty we have on offer in the Limerick region and demonstrating how we can return to more sustainable food culture.

Other events during the Pigtown festival series include food tours, cookery demos, themed restaurant events, lectures and talks, foraging walks, and a food industry networking event.

The Pigtown Food Series takes place from September 20th 2019 across Limerick.

Events this year include:

PIGTOWN PARADE

–       Family fun at the Pigtown Parade on Culture Night (Sep 20^th) through the streets of Limerick City followed by after party at the Limerick Milk Market

GUIDED TOURS & WALKS

–       Guided food tours with Teacht Linn Tours of the famous Saturday morning farmer’s market at the Limerick Milk Market, meeting stall holders and tasting along the way (Sep 21^st, 28, Oct 5^th, 12^th)

–       Guided food heritage tours winding from Limerick’s Georgian Quarter to the market area giving insights into the life of times past (Sep 21^st, 28, Oct 5^th, 12^th)

–       The Brewer, Baker & Cheesemaker Tour craft beer trail through six of Limerick’s finest public houses tasting elements of a deconstructed sandwich on the way and finishing up in Bia bistro (Sep 21^st)

–       Urban Foraging Walk in Limerick City with Theresa Story of The Green Arpon (Sep 22^nd)

–       #eatinlimerick food and drinks walking tour with Olivia O’Sullivan tasting and sampling at several local stops, finishing up with a tour of Treaty City Brewery (Sep 27^th)

–       All About IPA talk and tour with Stephen Cunneen at Treaty City Brewery (Sep 28^th)

COOKERY DEMOS

–       Free weekly Cookery Demos over four Saturday mornings with chefs Eoin Sheehan (Country Munch), Dominique Majecki (Glenlo Abbey Hotel), Bryan McCarthy (Greenes Restaurant), and Ciara Brennan (Happy Food At Home vegan cooking) (Sep 21^st, 28, Oct 5^th, 12^th)

–       Cooking demo with Rachel Allen for Leon’s Lifeline charity campaign (Sep 25^th)

THEMED DINING

–       Limerick Food Mile – one evening meal over four venues starting in the Limerick Strand Hotel, taking in Treaty City Brewery, the Green Onion, and No1 Pery Square with executive transport included (Sep 26^th)

–       The Veggie BBQ six courses, zero miles at New Leaf Urban Farm with Chef Keith Pigott of Oak & Apple Adare (Sep 29^th)

–       Themed restaurant events including Family piggy picnic on the terrace at No1 Pery Square Hotel (Sep 21^st); Foraging & 4-Course Lunch at The East Room Restaurant (Sep 25^th) and Food Meets Science 7-Course tasting dinner (Sep 26^th); Pigtown Dinner at the Mustard Seed (Oct 10^th), Swine & Wine at Limerick Strand Hotel (Oct 25^th)

THEMED EVENTS

–       The Art of Pigtown Fair with 40 artists under the market canopy (Sep 22^nd)

–       Pigtown FoodWorks industry event sponsored by Limerick LEO (Local Enterprise Office) with guest presentations from the Irish food industry at Fitzgerald’s Woodlands Hotel Adare including lunch at Fielding’s, Limerick’s first organic restaurant with onsite tour of Mary’s Organic Garden

–       ‘Queen Victoria & Limerick Ham’ free lunchtime lecture at St Mary’s Cathedral by Limerick Museum’s Dr Matthew Potter

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