The first Ballymaloe International Literary Festival of Food and Wine takes place May 3-6

Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry is to host the first Ballymaloe International Literary Festival of Food and Wine from 3-6 May.

Leading figures from the world of gastronomy will converge on East Cork for the first Ballymaloe International Literary Festival of Food and Wine, to be held at Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork, 3-6 May.

Hosted by celebrated cook and author Darina Allen, the festival promises to delight lovers of food and wine with a feast of over 40 events, big and small, over a three-day period. Its densely packed programme incorporates cookery demonstrations, wine tastings, panel discussions, garden and foraging walks, book readings and much more, showcasing the talents of a galaxy of gastronomic stars.

Among those flying in to participate are:

Madhur Jaffrey, world-renowned for her books and television programmes on Indian food

Claudia Roden, acclaimed expert on Middle Eastern and Spanish food

Alice Waters, trailblazing founder of the famous Californian restaurant Chez Panisse

David Thompson, restaurateur, author and eloquent ambassador for Thai food

Stephanie Alexander, one of Australia’s best known and best loved cooks

Claus Meyer, founder of Copenhagen’s Noma, voted No 1 restaurant in the world

David Tanis, prominent American chef and New York Times cookery writer

Joanna Blythman, leading British investigative food writer and broadcaster

Stevie Parle, dynamic head chef at London’s Dock Kitchen

Jancis Robinson MW, one of the worlds’s most respected wine writers

Rory, Rachel and Darina

This glittering international cast will be matched by a strong Irish presence including cookery queen and bestselling author Rachel Allen; restaurateur and record-breaking television chef Neven Maguire;TV cook, food writer and blogger Donal Skehan; virtuoso vegetarian chef Denis Cotter; authoritative food commentator John McKenna; food and farming expert and Ear to the Ground presenter Ella McSweeney; broadcaster and historian John Bowman; and Irish Times wine writer John Wilson.

‘We are thrilled that the festival should attract such an exciting line-up,’ says Darina Allen. ‘It will give lovers of food and wine an unrivalled opportunity to meet internationally acclaimed writers in these fields face to face – and it is sure to result in a wonderful fusion of ideas.’

The programme for the weekend incorporates over 40 strikingly diverse events, ranging in scale from major cookery demonstrations to intimate tea parties. In addition to the main programme, there will be a fringe festival in The Big Shed at Ballymaloe, offering food enthusiasts of all ages an array of other activities. Gardeners will rub shoulders with cooks; foragers with food historians; critics with musicians; artisan producers with bloggers in a continuous melting pot of eating, drinking, speaking and thinking. It will be a place for new ideas, inspiration, learning and fun.The Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine is a unique event in a very special place.

We are delighted to welcome Bord Bia, Irish Distillers, and Kerrygold as our Premium Sponsors for this event.

For more information and tickets please visit www.litfest.ie or call 021 4646785. Updates are available onwww.facebook.com/BallymaloeLitfest or @BallymaloeLit .

ENDS

For more information, images or interviews with Darina Allen, please contact Doreen O’ Mahony, 00353214949876/00353864172304 or email Doreen@mediamanager.ie