The Mayor Councillor Councillor Maolíosa McHugh serves up some local produce to Ciaran BreslIn from Primrose and Aeidin McCarter, Head of Culture with Derry City and Strabane District Council at the launch of teh LegenDerry Food Festival which is taking place on Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th March in Guildhall Square. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 14.02.18

DERRY’S most delicious event – the Legenderry Food Festival – is back this year March 17-18 for two mouth-watering days of street food, kitchen theatre, and tasty treats as part of the St Patrick’s Spring Carnival programme.

Voted ‘Best NI Food Event’ at the NI Year of Food and Drink Awards, the Festival has now firmly established itself as the annual highlight in the local foodie calendar and this year welcomes to the table some of the top names in Irish Cuisine.

Family TV favourite Rachel Allen will be joined in the massive marquee in Guildhall Square by acclaimed local chefs Brian McDermott and Emmett McCourt, who will be sharing some of their kitchen secrets.

Also taking to the stage in the Theatre of Food will be some of the District’s finest culinary talents from a host of local restaurants.

They will be rustling up their very own signature dishes adding some contemporary flourishes to the very best locally sourced ingredients.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh, said he was looking forward to another celebration of local fayre.

“We really are establishing our place on the food map, and this event is growing from strength to strength every year,” he declared.

“Its success is a tribute to the passionate and talented people driving our local food industry and is evidence of the growing appetite for local and responsibly sourced ingredients.

“Food tourism is an important contributor to the North West economy and event such as the Legenderry Food Festival provide an opportunity for our restaurants and producers to showcase their food and reach out to new audiences. It’s a fantastic experience for all ages and I would really encourage people to come along and support it.”

Head of Culture with Derry city and Strabane District Council, Aeidin McCarter, said the Legenderry Food Festival would be a major highlight of the St Patrick’s festivities taking place throughout the City and District.

“What’s great about the Spring Carnival is that the programme features something for everyone and the Legenderry Food Festival is a great draw for visitors.

“We are beginning to reap the rewards of successful events such as this with accolades including our Destination Delicious title in the NI Year of Food and Drink Awards last year. It’s fantastic to see the flair and imagination of our local chefs and artisan producers getting the recognition it deserves.”

There will be plenty of opportunity to sample some of the very best local food from hot off the pass restaurant favourites, to fresh ingredients to create your own culinary masterpiece.

Or indulge in a cornucopia of take home treats with an amazing array of artisan produce, from cheeses to confectionary, beef to bakery on offer.

And there’s loads on the menu for younger food fans too with family fun activities including musical performances, street theatre and LegenDerry themed activities. Get messy at the cupcake and jam tart decorating workshops, and join the singing chefs and tray-spinning waiters for some kitchen craic.

The Legenderry Food Festival will take place on Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th March, 12noon – 6pm in the Guildhall Square. Organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council, the programme is supported by Tourism NI and DAERA’s NI Regional Food Programme.

For more info go to www.derrystrabane.com/food