The Food Coast Harvest Feast

This fell into my inbox last week and I thought some of you might be interested in it.  On Sunday, September 26th 2010, four of Donegal's best restaurants will be joining forces to serve up a harvest feast using Donegal's finest ingredients.  The feast will take place in the beautiful historic setting of the Battery, Rathmullan.  For more information you can check out http://www.thefoodcoastharvestfeast.com/ or read the press release that I have included below. 

"On 26 September 2010, four Bridgestone recommended restaurants – Rathmullan House, Harry's Restaurant, An Bonnán Buí, and The Beach House – will be joining forces to serve 300 guests a sociable harvest feast against the backdrop of Lough Swilly and Rathmullan's historic Battery. What¹s on the menu? Donegal's best local ingredients turned into a four-course, communal lunch by Donegal's best chefs. 

We're planning it around the best and freshest ingredients we can get here in Donegal at this time of year, says Mark Wheeler of Rathmullan House, one of the drivers behind the event, and are actively recruiting any and all local producers we can to supply us with seafood, meats, dairy, baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables. The diversity of products out there once you start looking is tremendous. We already know we have some of the world's best quality seafood, lamb, and potatoes, but there are some nice little surprises out there too like local honey and rapeseed oil, cheeses and organic dairy, and heritage breed pork.


The event is taking place under the umbrella of The Food Coast, a new programme designed by the Donegal County Enterprise Board to make Donegal a food county, a place with a vibrant food culture and food economy. We see great potential for job creation in the food sector in the Donegal, says Danny McEleney, the programme's manager. For it to thrive, we need to put Donegal on the good food map as a place for quality products and a destination for a quality experience – The Food Coast.


While one side of the initiative provides local producers with the supports they need to develop and improve, the other side focuses on building consumer awareness for local food products. The Food Coast Harvest Feast brings both sides together in one. What better way to support local food producers than to create outlets for their produce, says Donal Doherty of Harry's Restaurant and a co-organiser of the event.  And what better way to raise consumer awareness than by serving them great food in a great location.


Rathmullan's Battery, a napoleanic-era defensive fortress, sits on the shore of Lough Swilly, one of Donegal's most beautiful stretches of sheltered coastal waters.  The Battery¹s courtyard makes the perfect backdrop to the ultimate social dining experience, Claire McGowan of the Beach House Bar & Restaurant says.  Hopefully the sun will be shining, and we'll have Donegal's incomparable autumn light and colours to complement the meal and the historic setting. This being Ireland, though, we're leaving nothing to chance. The entire courtyard will be covered and weatherproof if necessary.

The organisers want The Food Coast Harvest Feast to become a staple event on Donegal's annual food calendar.  We see it as a full-day, family event, where food and community meet, says Martin Kelly of An Bonnán Buí.  We want people to come out for a leisurely walk on the beach, or to partake in some of the activities planned for the day, before joining their friends and neighbours – or even complete strangers – at communal tables for what will hopefully be an unforgettable Sunday afternoon feast.


Some of the activities on the agenda include boating excursions on Lough Swilly, mushroom foraging in Rathmullan Wood, live jazz and traditional music in the village's pubs, as well as guided cycle and walking tours. A final menu and list of activities will be announced on 15 September 2010.

The Food Coast Harvest Feast
26 September 2010
2pm – 4pm
The Battery in Rathmullan
Adults 25 Euros / Children 15 Euros
Contact any of the participating restaurants to book:


Rathmullan House 074 915 8188
An Bonnán Buí 074 915 8453
Harry¹s Restaurant 074 936 8544
The Beach House 074 936 1050"