Foyle Maritime Festival: Culinary countdown begins for Clipper Race Kitchens

The culinary countdown is now underway for the Clipper Race Kitchens which takes place from this Thursday to Sunday, at Ebrington Square.

Internationally renowned French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will join NI culinary maestros Jenny Bristow, Paula McIntyre, Noel McMeel, Brian McDermott and Ian Orr, for the gastronomic gala as part of the wider Foyle Maritime Festival hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Clipper Race Kitchens, which is expected to be one of the highlight events of Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016, will feature popular local restaurants cooking signature dishes to try and buy from around £5, live cookery demos and sampling in the huge Clipper Race Kitchen marquee, which will also incorporate an impressive Flavours of the Foyle showcase.

Other elements of the four-day extravaganza include the Clipper Race Food Pavilion marquee showcasing top local artisan food producers, and the Clipper Race Village will be the ‘go to’ destination for the finest locally sourced street food.

Special guest chef Jean-Christophe Novelli (pictured) will be cooking at Clipper Race Kitchens from 1.30pm-5.00pm on Friday, while a host of local celebrity chefs and award-winning restaurant talent have demo slots.

There will also be a kids zone with arts and crafts, water boats, jungle playground, and chairoplanes.

Admission to the events is free. . Chefs taking part in the Clipper Race Kitchens include:

Thursday, July 14th

1-2pm Jenny Bristow 2-3pm Paula McIntyre 3-4pm Jenny Bristow 4-5pm Pier 59

Friday, July 15th

12.30-1.30pm The Everglades Hotel - Colman O’Driscoll 1.30-5pm Jean-Christophe Novelli

Saturday, July 16th

1-2pm Harry’s - Derek Creagh 2-3pm The Sooty Olive - Johnny Heaney 3-4pm Brown’s Restaurant- Ian Orr; 4-5pm The No Salt Chef - Brian McDermott

Sunday, July 17th

1-2pm White Horse Hotel- Noel Ward 2-3pm The Lough Erne Resort- Noel McMeel 3-4pm Feast or Famine- Emmett McCourt 4-5pm The Lough Erne Resort- Noel McMeel.