Armagh Food and Cider Festival 2018
Date/Time
Date(s) - 20/09/2018 - 23/09/2018
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location
Armagh Visitor Information Centre
40 English Street
Armagh
BT61 7BA
Northern Ireland
Imagine the autumnal mists rising to meet the apple-laden branches as dawn breaks…
Image the heady aroma of a perfect oak barrel, fermented cider…
Imagine foraging for lunch and uncovering a bounty of secreted treats…
Imagine intimate 5-star dining with old friends (and new) under the canopy of elegant teepees…
Imagine creating your own story on painted canvas, nestled among the gnarled decade old branches…
Imagine top class produce and flavours in buzzing showcase, artisan markets…
Imagine no more… live our passion, hear our story and taste our tradition!
Welcome to the Armagh Food and Cider Festival promoting the best of Armagh cuisine combined with the delicious local apple juices and award-winning Ciders. The Festival features a blend of bespoke, site-specific Orchard events combined with taste experiences and lively city centre events all with the PGI Armagh Bramley Apple at their heart. The events are small scale, and intimate to enable the visitor to savour both the atmosphere and the amazing food.
In 2018 the Festival will deliver a programme of authentic, high quality experiences for visitors. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the apple orchards that produce the PGI Armagh Bramley Apple, seeing where and how it is grown.
Festival highlights will include:
- Artisan Food and Cider Markets – the Orchard Markets will be a highlight, bringing the best of fresh produce and taste sensations together in bustling markets in Armagh and Banbridge. High quality artisan food, beverage and craft producers will gather to showcase their exceptional products in a unique setting. The Armagh Bramley Apple will be given pride of place with growers showcasing their fantastic produce. The markets will be animated with music and entertainment befitting the occasion including talks and demonstrations.
- Crannagael House and Gardens: exclusive dining experiences throughout the weekend at this Grade II listed Georgian House with fantastic views over the apple orchards. These experiences will include wine and cider pairing, an Orchard Murder Mystery dinner and a foraged Wild Food lunch enabling you to deepen your knowledge of local plants and experiment with food preparation, carefully guided by local chefs.
- Meet the chefs: some of the area’s best chefs and bakers will teach visitors to create culinary excellence under their expert guidance. Visitors will learn how to cook with Armagh’s fresh produce. Some of the events you can participate in to develop and impress your guests with your kitchen skills include a Cocktail Mixology workshop at Uluru Bar and Grill, in which you can mix, muddle and shake like a pro learning all about the bartenders cocktail making tricks. For those who relish artisan cheeses, the Perfect Cheeseboard evening at The Yellow Door Deli in Portadown matches Ballylisk of Armagh cheese with a range of other fantastic local produce. For BBQ lovers, Head Chef John Whyte from the Armagh City Hotel invites you to learn BBQ techniques in a 4-hour masterclass. Not forgetting the budding younger chefs, a pizza-making workshop will teach all the tricks of the trade.
- Sample fantastic local produce: the Retox/Detox Open Air Breakfast in the grounds of the Franciscan Friary in Armagh will help to put the weekend to a great start. Orchard Afternoon Teas Vintage Style atop the Big Red Bus offer afternoon teas, vintage music and an unusual backdrop. The Beef Baron’s Dinner at Quails at The Gallery, Banbridge celebrates all things bovine. For those with a sweet tooth, a pudding evening at Wright’s Interiors in Armagh will be sure to satisfy any sweet cravings you might have. The festival doesn’t forget food and film lovers and two foodie film nights In Banbridge will offer both great films and great menus.
- Orchard Tours and experiences: Focussing on the Bramley Apple the tours will take place in the orchards where visitors can sample food and drink using and inspired by this product. Walking tours, coach tours and a cidery tour will showcase the picturesque orchard landscape right in harvest season. For budding artists, why not take part in Art in the Orchard sessions, learning from the professional tutors Deborah Malcomson and Bill Gatt. Budding or established writers can take part in Flash Fiction in the Orchard, reading excerpts from their works to a gathered audience. A Harvest Supper event will take centre stage at Armagh Cider Company in Portadown with a rustic menu prepared by Mervyn Steenson, Head Chef from Groucho’s in Richhill and the launch of the new festival cider “Orchard Bramble Cider.”
For further information and to book tickets please visit www.visitarmagh.com/foodandcider
Make sure to watch the Armagh Food and Cider Festival Youtube video to get more information
