The Local Enterprise Office Limerick together with Limerick Food Group, LIT, and Limerick City and County Council are inviting entries from local chefs across the county to apply to represent Limerick at this year’s All Ireland Chowder Cook-Off. The first stage of the competition is a local heat to find Limerick’s Chowder Champion and will take place in LIT on Monday 16th March. The winning representative chowder on the day, as voted for by a discerning panel of judges, will go on to represent Limerick at the 8th All-Ireland Chowder Cook-Off on Sunday 5th April 2020 in Kinsale, Co. Cork.
The Limerick Chowder Champion will join over 25 entries from around the country to compete for the title of 'All-Ireland Chowder Champion'. The overall winner will be chosen from members of the public choosing their favourite chowder at the event. Limerick took the 2018 national title with Chef Danny Martinez Doyle, and the 2019 Limerick Chowder Champion was Chef Thomas Sparling.
Bernie Moloney, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Limerick, said: “This competition is a great event for local chefs to demonstrate their talent and skills, whilst also providing an opportunity for one of them to go on to represent Limerick in a national competition. We are delighted to have the event hosted by LIT in their Taste Restaurant.”
Tom Flavin of Limerick Food Group added: “The Chowder Cook Off is a brilliant opportunity for Limerick to showcase what we have on offer from a culinary perspective and put Limerick on the map as a quality food destination. I’ve been to Kinsale many times for the finals and it will be a fantastic experience for the Limerick winner. We brought home the national title for Limerick two years ago, we are now looking for the chef who can do that again. As well as that, the day of the local heat in LIT is a great opportunity to get local chefs together and showcase what we do.”
Places for the Limerick Chowder Cook Off are limited, and interested chefs are encouraged to apply for the competition as soon as possible. Closing date for applications is lunchtime Friday 13th March 2020. The winner of this local heat will receive a bursary sponsored by the Limerick Local Enterprise Office towards their participation at the All Ireland Chowder competition in Kinsale in April and will also benefit from local profiling and marketing.
Entry forms for the Limerick Chowder Champion can be requested by contacting Eithne Gavigan LIT at eithne.gavigan@lit.ie.
