While the produce of its dairy and meat sector are internationally renowned, the festival celebrates local artisan products and a vibrant local restaurant and café culture which has seen the area become a leading food destination.
The festival takes place over the October bank holiday weekend at the end of the traditional harvest season and draws tens of thousands of visitors to our county; increasingly it is now also a homecoming festival for local people living away from the Marble City.
The focus is on an informal gathering on the city’s medieval parade public space in front of the eight centuries old Kilkenny Castle.
Here people sample the fare from dozens of artisan food stalls and listen and watch demonstrations from leading Irish and international chefs and food personalities.
The packed programme of demos have featured leading figures like Darina Allen, Rory O’Connell, Steven Lamb of the River Cottage team, JP McMahon, Kevin Dundon and Kevin Thornton, Neven Maguire and Ireland’s latest Michelin sensation Takashi Miyazaki to name but a few. Local food stars the ever-popular Edward Hayden and Anne Neary ‘tread the Savour boards’ over the past 15 years!
Exciting and innovative dining events take place in local hotels, restaurants and eateries. The festival also features the fast-growing craft brewing and distilling industry locally and expert beer, wine and spirit tasting events take place across the city too as part of the packed festival programme. Be sure to come to Kilkenny for the vibrant culinary festival every October Bank holiday weekend.