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This blog is primarily cake-recipe based, but, from time to time, I will include some savoury ones too. I also like to write about my travels and encounters, especially if they involve great food. I speak as I find. Opinions expressed are my own, and not sponsored, requested, or paid for by others, unless specifically stated.

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Sunday 27 November 2011

Taste of Christmas Exhibition - Dublin

So, my winning streak continued last week, when I was lucky enough to win two tickets to "Taste of Christmas" from The Irish Food Bloggers Association recent Give-away. Babs and I headed off on the train for our day out in the City.


After walking from Connolly Train Station, we found ourselves at the Convention Centre in Dublin, and headed in to sample all that was on offer.


While browsing around just to get our bearings, an alarm was activated, and an announcement to "Evacuate the Building" was triggered.  Thankfully, after a few minutes, what ever drama had ensued, the order for staff to "Stand Down" was given, as it had been a false alarm, and normal service resumed!


Exhibitors were offering goods and foods, from Poultry to Chocolate, hampers, wines, cakes and crafts, and surprisingly, some totally non-food related items. As it was billed as "Taste of Christmas", I did expect there to be mainly food producers exhibiting, and, perhaps, more than were actually at the show.


Crean's Lager from Dingle Brewing Company, Cupcakes and the fabulous Dog cake from Bake My Cake, and Chocolates from Cocoa Atelier

I spoke to some of the producers and asked them if their products were available to purchase where I live.  Disappointingly, each time, the answer was no. Still, some of the products are available online, so that will have to suffice for the moment.
Free range turkeys and chickens from Carlow Foods Ltd.
Cooley Collection of Independent Irish Whiskeys from Cooley Distillery, and Keogh's Crisps
Edward Hayden
Oliver Dunne
I wanted to see some cookery demonstrations before we left.  We sat in for Edward Hayden's Meringue Roulade and Oliver Dunne's Chestnut Soup with Soft Poached Hen's Egg recipes respectively.  Both of these dishes will grace my Christmas table this year.

As our tickets expired at 2 p.m., we made our way back to Dublin City Centre, where we landed into the middle of an Austerity Demonstration, but, that's another story.....

Taste of Christmas was not as well attended by food producers, as I had hoped, but there was another food exhibition running in Dublin at the weekend.

I enjoyed finally meeting and chatting with Edward Hayden.  Hopefully, next year's show will be bigger and better.

8 comments:

  1. Well done on winning your tickets. Great bonus in not having to pay in. We were also disappointed that there wasn't more food producers at the event. But still worth the trip to get two Christmas recipes to bring home! Adrienne

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  2. It looks lovely. I'm happy to hear you got a nice time. I missed it this year.

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  3. Thanks for your comment, Adrienne. I really thought it would be a bigger show too. Not sure they should be charging so much as an entry fee either. Lovely recipes from Edward and Oliver Dunne were a bonus :)

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  4. Thanks for your comment, Magda. It wasn't a big as I thought, but a nice day out, after winning the tickets!

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  5. Ok - you really are on a winning streak! Looks like you had a lovely time and that event looks like it was very well laid out. I heard grumblings from a few friends that drove up for the day and were a little disappointed at the size of it too. Did you try Keoghs crisps?

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  6. Thanks for your comment, Móna. I heard similar grumblings, regarding entrance fee, etc. Keoghs Crisps were certainly tried, and we bought 4 bags, and a canvas bag with "I Love Spuds" emblazoned on the front! They are really good crisps.

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  7. Colette, I won tickets to Taste too. I would have been severely disappointed if I had paid all that money to go. Not half as good as Taste of Dublin is. A day out nonetheless!

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  8. Thanks for your comment, Claire. I was glad to win the tickets, but the entry fee, I thought was a little excessive, for the times we live in. Anyway, as you say, a day out, which is always good.

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