Irish National Anthem, IFG style, on Google Les Paul Guitar!

My first foray into uploading to youtube ...
is the Irish National Anthem played on the Google "Les Paul" Guitar Doodle !

This Google Logo doodle has become the most popular that Google has ever had and they have decided to
give a permanent Link
http://www.google.com/logos/2011/lespaul.html
to the Google Les Paul Guitar so that you can try out your own tune. Strum with the mouse or use the Keyboard to play notes and chords! Enjoy...

Don't forget to Feed the Fish at the bottom of this post!
zack

KINSALE, Ireland, - to Host National Seafood Chowder Championships

KINSALE TO HOST NATIONAL CHOWDER ‘COOK-OFF’

TOP CHEFS TO COMPETE FOR TITLE OF NATIONAL CHOWDER CHAMPION

Kinsale, Ireland’s seafood capital, has announced that it is set to host the first ever National Chowder Cook-Off, in a bid to find Ireland’s most talented chowder chef.

The event, which will take place on Sunday May 22nd 2011 will also incorporate a ‘celebrity chef chowder cook-off’ – where three of Ireland’s best known chefs will go head to head in a public cook off in the grounds of Actons Hotel in the town.



Martin Shanahan of Fish Fishy, Kinsale and ‘RTE’s Martin’s Mad About Fish’ and the upcoming follow up programme ‘Martin’s Still Mad About Fish’; Ross Lewis, Michelin starred chef at Chapter One Restaurant in Dublin; and Paul Flynn, The Tannery Restaurant in Waterford, winner of Egon Ronay Restaurant of the Year and Georgina Campbell Chef of the Year will compete against each other in a fantastic, not to be missed, cook off contest.

This event will be MC’d by broadcaster Derek Davis, ambassador for the Failte Ireland National Food Strategy and lifelong ambassador for Kinsale itself!

The National Chowder Cook-Off will see 20 top professional restaurant chefs, or those producing popular commercial chowders throughout the country, compete for the coveted title of
National Chowder Champion.

Each competing chef will be hosted by a local Kinsale restaurant who will offer their facilities, support and even their own brown bread as an accompaniment. The chefs will then serve the chowder from individual stalls in the grounds of Actons Hotel for judging.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to vote by purchasing a ballot card for €5 allowing them to then to sample each of the 20 chowders and cast their vote!

The winning chef will not only be crowned National Chowder Champion, but will also receive a customised trophy and an all-inclusive package stay in Kinsale for the renowned Kinsale Gourmet Food Festival 2011 – including tickets to all events, meals, plus accommodation for two people for two nights during the festival.

The October event, now in its 35th year, is one of the highest regarded and most popular festivals on the Irish events calendar.

Hal McElroy, Chairman of Kinsale Chamber of Tourism, the organisers of the event said “Being renowned as Ireland’s seafood capital, Kinsale offers the perfect platform to showcase the wealth of talent that exits amongst Ireland’s chefs when it comes to chowder recipes. This event is not just a contest but an entire festival supported by local businesses, offering an array of activities for people to participate in. Not to mention the delicious chowders they will be able to enjoy along the way! On behalf of all the people of Kinsale, we look forward to welcoming both new and returning visitors to the town in May for this fantastic series of events”.

The town will also host its annual Sea Sunday Service on May 22nd, – an ecumenical and inter-faith setting to commemorate those who have died at sea, to pray for the safety of those who work at sea, and to remember all those who work and are involved in rescues at sea.

For press enquiries contact:
Gina Kelly, Fuzion, gina@fuzion.ie, (086) 788 7318

First posted at:
http://kinsale.ie/national-chowder-cook-off/

Chef Joe Clinton wins the New National Irish Dish Competition

A Donegal Based Chef has Won the 'Failte Ireland' New Irish National Dish Finals

at the So Sligo Food Festival 2011.

In celebration of Irish food and the talent of our people and the glorious ingredients that are natural to us, amateur and professional chefs fought in the kitchens of Sligo today to create a new signature dish for Ireland. 

The aim of this competition was to create a new Irish national dish, suitable for service in all of Ireland's  finest restaurants.

This prestigious competition was open to all chefs and cooks – professional and amateur and the winner of the New Irish National Dish Final was Joe Clinton, who works with his wife Dee, out of the kitchens at Smuggler's Creek Rossnowlagh, in County Donegal.

Chef Joe Clinton

Two hours were allowed to prepare, cook and present an innovative modern Irish dish, two portions of each, of competitor’s choice.

Local produce had be used in the completion of the dishes, proof of ingredients sourced locally had to be submitted prior to the competition with the chef's competition application. Competitors had to provide all ingredients and service plates.

Joe Clinton's dish consisted of Saddle of Venison with a fresh horseradish & prune cheese, marinated Venison Liver with a wild mushroom stew, mustard seed infused celeriac cream

and an orange flavoured roast beetroot.

The Winning New Irish National Dish created with Wild Irish Venison

Marks were given for creativity, plate presentation and proper professional, preparation, presentation and service of the dishes.

Joe, a long time member of the Irish Culinary Team Leader won the World Professional Irish Stew Championships last year and has been a leading, though sometimes controversial, member of the Panel of Chefs of Ireland for over a decade.

He has been a Multi-winning Gold Medal achiever for many years on the International Culinary Championship Circuit and is recognised as one of the world's top competition-level masters of the culinary arts.

Don't forget to feed the fish at the bottom of this post!