Yes, there is such a thing as too much good food. So many tastes of wonderful jams. So much good bread and pie. Too many tables of cheese. Far too many tempting pastries. Oceans of cider and juices. Oh, wait…I’m getting carried away.
And it was difficult to keep from being carried away with all the samples on offer when we attended a Farm Food Festival on a side trip from our visit to Dublin. Not complaining, really—it was fun and delicious.
We were there almost by accident. While on a foodie walking tour of Dublin, we were taken to Sheridan’s Cheesemongers for a tasting and a discussion about Irish cheeses. As we were leaving, we noticed a poster for the event the following Sunday at Sheridan’s headquarters on a farm in County Meath.
Since we had nothing in our calendar (we like to leave some blank days to see what comes along) we decided to go, even though we had no real idea where it was or how to get there. It actually turned out to be easy; an hour’s bus ride from Dublin, and a mile walk along a lovely country lane.
These treats were being sold to benefit a dog-rescue charity
I can’t tell you how many dozens of vendors were there, as we wandered from table to table and tent to tent. Many were local farm producers; others were small producers looking to find wider distribution. And attending along with us and a few other ‘outsiders’ were not only locals from nearby, but shopowners and distributors looking at products they might sell.
Plenty to drink, including Irish wines and ciders as well as cold refreshers…
And almost every stall had enthusiastic people, waiting to tell us and the world about what they make and sell, and to offer tastes, and ask opinions. Some were particularly interested in whether we thought their products would sell in America. One of those most interested was the man behind a local ketchup flavored with poitin, the ancestor of Irish whisky.
Of course, we had our own particular interests; I’m known to easily fall in love with bread, especially honest crusty loaves. The day’s tragedy: by the time we were ready to leave and went to buy one of these, they were all gone!
Among the biggest categories at the Festival: jams and jellies made with local fruit. We tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, and then finally realized we’d have to make a choice and a careful one, because we couldn’t take it all home. In the end, we took advantage of this offer and picked three favorites to bring home to New York.
But there were so many great contenders! Here are some more…
Well, you get the idea… But wait! There’s more: a cheese and jam table, and then one featuring an apple butter infused with Armagh brandy. Goes by the name of Irish Black Butter, and it was amazing.
And various kinds of meats, both fresh and cured…
At the head of the cheese offerings, Sheridan’s own version of cheesecake. They make them for special occasions, and we were told that they are currently a wedding trend. Not sure how you’d cut or serve it, though…
Of course, there were plenty of other cheeses of all kinds, including cow, sheep and goat milk varieties.
And at this next table, a ‘guilty secret’ that was not that secret. Under EU rules, only Greece can make feta cheese, or rather, only Greece can call it that. The offering here was tasty and tangy and delicious no matter its name.
And, another Irish country product: music!
A stall offering fermented delights made with local vegetables and assorted spices makes a good lead-in to one of my favorite fusion moments of the day: a stand offering Irish products made up in Mexican-Korean style. It was only a few doors away from the crepe truck and a stand called ‘Once Upon a Thai.’ And while we’re on punnish names, there’s The Birds and the Teas.
And if all that food makes you feel guilty, why, here’s a table of treats that claims to be ‘deliciously healthy.’
And, for a cuppa before hitting the road back, there was an ancient VW bus, still earning its keep.
We ended the day exhausted and satisfied, but we still had to make the walk back to the bus stop. We were part way up the road when we were picked up by a woman returning from the fair who gave us a ride to Kells, where we caught up with the bus. A truly pleasant day!
