"Tasty" is a pilot food tourism project that is unique to Donegal with elements of 'Master Chef' meets the 'The Apprentice'. Top Chefs from seven of our leading 4* & 5* Hotels & Restaurants in South Donegal have teamed-up with the Abbey Vocational School Transition Year Students. Together, they are set to cook up a storm and have been challenged to produce a new "Tasty" food dish that features locally sourced ingredients.
Following an interview process, 42 budding young food-industry entrepreneurs selected from TY Students in the Abbey Vocational School, Donegal were split into 7 Teams of 6 Students. Each TY Team has been assigned a local Hotel & Restaurant who will mentor the TY Student Teams over an 8 week period.
During the course of the project, each of the participating AVS TY Students will get the opportunity to work alongside tourism industry professionals and learn 'first-hand' about Food Origin and Sourcing, New Product Development, Culinary Arts, Food Packaging, Marketing, PR and Presentation Skills.
Sponsored by Donegal Town Credit Union, the project is overseen by a voluntary Steering Committee with includes:
Ms. Geraldine Diver, Principal of The Abbey Vocational School
Dr. Sean Duffy, Head of School of Tourism, LYIT Killyebgs
Mr. Conor Daly, H!VE Donegal
Mr. Enda O'Rourke, The Village Tavern, Mountcharles
Ms. Emily Browne, Smuggler's Creek Inn, Rossnowlagh
The Final Judging Panel is confirmed as.......
Neven Maguire owner of MacNean's Restaurant, Blacklion
Gillian Nelis, Food Writer, Sunday Business Post
Anne McHugh, Chef Executive, Donegal ETB
Joan Crawford, Failte Ireland
Paul Hannigan, President LYIT Letterkenny & Killybegs Campus
The Gala Night is to be held in Solis Lough Eske Castle, Donegal Town on Tuesday, 16th May 2017.
Enda O'Rourke came into studio to talk to Pauric about the project:
