Get your chowder ready for Drogheda maritime festival
All Ireland Chowder Champion Danny Fitzpatrick has been announced as head judge for The Irish Maritime Festival 2014’s Chowder Competition in Drogheda.
Danny and the team at Fitzpatrick’s Bar & Restaurant, Dundalk won the top accolade in Kinsale earlier this year and are now finalists in the World Championships. He will be joined by renowned Fishmonger Nicholas Lynch of Nicks Fish of Ashbourne and Master Chef and Author, Dermot Seberry.
The Chowder Competition is just one of the events taking place during The Irish Maritime Festival 2014 which takes place in Drogheda Port from Friday, June 13th to Sunday June 15th.
The competition will see both professional cooks try their hands at creating their own chowder fit for a champion, dished up at a designated judging area in the Festival’s Maritime Pavilion.
Danny in helping festival organisers announce details of the Chowder competition had a few handy tips for anyone interested in entering.
He says: “Always use fresh produce and remember Chowder doesn’t have to be a complicated dish.
“Too much seasoning and using out of the ordinary ingredients can spoil the dish. You don’t need something like shark, just good quality fish from Irish waters will do as long as you have seasoning that brings out the natural, beautiful flavour of your main ingredients.”
The closing date for entries to the Chowder Competition is June 10th. Entry is free. For further details, entries etc go to www.maritimefestival.ie or contact Olivia Duff at oliviamduff@gmail.com
The Irish Maritime Festival 2014 also includes a Maritime Museum, featuring the history of boats on the Boyne River through the centuries, a Photography quarter, Artisan Market and Classic Ships, amongst a host of attractions. Admission to the Festival is two euro per adult with children free of charge.