GALLERY: Taste of Kildare Food Festival at the KClub
PHOTOS BY AISHLING CONWAY
Renowned TV chef and author Rachel Allen led the line-up at the Taste of Kildare food festival today (Sunday August 19), with large crowds turning out for the inaugural event which also featured other top Irish chefs and a host of food producers.
Other leading Irish chefs, including seafood expert Martin Shanahan, Ross Lewis of Chapter One and the award-winning Thomas Haughton joined in a series of cookery demonstrations and discussions celebrating the best the county’s great restaurants and food producers and suppliers have to offer.
Taking place in the K Club’s Walled Garden, Taste of Kildare featured a vast array of food stands from Kildare’s leading restaurants, producers and suppliers.
"This was such a great food festival as it provided an opportunity to showcase the superb fresh Kildare farm to fork food offering, as well as providing a springboard to the public arena for new local talent," said Rachel Allen.
Local restaurants and suppliers also came together to host a gala lunch in the K Club’s Legacy Suite for 300 guests.
“Food is at the heart of Kildare’s tourist offering, accounting for €2 out of every €5 spent by visitors,” said County Kildare Tourism Development Manager Aine Mangan.
The event will also featured craft beer, wine tasting, children’s activities and music from renowned singer-songwriter Paddy Casey, with visitors also able to view the All-Ireland hurling final live on a big screen.
The festival took place in partnership with Ardstone Homes and Kildare Village with the support of Kildare County Council.
Barry Flanagan from Kildare Brewing at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Rachel Allen Cookery demo pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden.
Thomas Haughton Cookery demo pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden.
Thomas Haughton Cookery demo pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Eloise, Celeste and Marianne Cassidy pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden.
Martin Shanahan, John Healy, Rachel Allen and Ross Lewis pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club.
Tom Phelan, Barbara Sheridan (Editor Kildare Nationalist), Laura Coates (Editor Leinster Leader) and Marie Coates pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Shane Fox and Barry Liscombe from Hartes of Kildare pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Philip Maher (Brown Bear Twomile House) 
TD Fiona O'Loughlin with Mary Power, Helen Ryan, Catherine Flanagan and Niamh Swail 
Lina Zalyte and Pablo Bernardo from Vie de Chateaux pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Joe Flanagan and Brian Fallon pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Joe Boland and Nicola Zammit (Two Cooks, Sallins) pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Jana Samalova (Silken Thomas, Kildare Town) with Shirley Flanagan and Emer Flanagan) pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Jada Latifi (Bridgehouse Hotel, Tullamore) and Paula O'Rourke (Nature Made Ltd) pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Head Chef Nathan Diamond (Cliff at Lyons Estate) pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Orlaith,Elaine Dunne, Caroline Brady and Louise Meagher
Emer McCabe (Osprey Hotel, NAAS) pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Dorou Udovic and Tony Keogh from Fallons of Kilcullen 
Attracta and David Mongey
Ciara and Jim Phibbs pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
On the sofa with the Head Chefspictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden.
Martin Shanahan and Ross Lewis pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Martin Shanahan pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Rachel Allen and Nathan Diamond (Cliff at Lyons estate) pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Camila Grey from the Lemongrass Restaurant Naas alongside chefs Nazrul Faiz, Syed Faiz and Zabir Kusuan pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Breda, Aine, Mairead and Siobhan Mangan pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club.
Aine Mangan (Kildare Failte) with her family pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Aine Mangan (Kildare Failte), Rachel Allen, Gillian Pierce and Carlo Boersma from Carton House pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival gala banquet at the K Club. 
Aine Mangan (Kildare Failte) and Alison Johnston (Kildare Village) 
Thomas Haughton, Martin Shanahan, John Healy, Rachel Allen, Aine Mangan (Kildare Failte) and Ross Lewis pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Stephen and Oscar Walsh pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden. 
Sinead and Allan Shine with Roisin Crotty 
Sarah Coyne, Dee Nix (General Manager) Phil Gleeson (Head Chef) and Grainne O'Donnell) from Killashee House Hotel 
KCLUB Chefs Sam Courtney, Marie O'Connor and Daniel Ennis 
Sinead Mahony with her gran Maria Deegan y
KCLUB Chefs Sam Courtney, Marie O'Connor and Daniel Ennis
Rachel Allen and Hilary Cahill (Punchestown) 
Celebrity Chef Rachel Allen pictured at the Taste of Kildare festival in the K Club’s walled garden.
Chief Executive Kildare County Council Peter Carey and Catherine Carey 
Orlaith and Owen Edwards 
Niall Morrissey (Kildare Co.Council), Mayor of Kildare Sean Power and Chief Executive Kildare County Council Peter Carey 
Lina Zalyte and Pablo Bernardo from Vie de Chateaux, Naas 
Jim and Hilary Cahill (Punchestown Racecourse) 
Aine Mangan (Kildare Failte) with Deirdre Hanley, Eileen Scullion, Alison Johnston, Jisell Mansfield, Sinead Grace and Paula Ward from Kildare Village
Celebrity Chef Rachel Allen and Nathan Diamond (Head Chef Cliff at Lyons Estate) 
Brian Donovan, Sallyann Shaw, Mark Shaw, Noirin Donovan and Ann Shaw 
Amy O'Neill from Kildare Brewing, Sallins 
Allan Shine, Roisin Crotty, Aine Mangan (Kildare Failte) and Rachel Allen SEE MORE IN NEXT WEEKS KILDARE POST
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