Ok, well, it’s not really a bonanza as such, but I do have one pair of tickets to give away for this year’s Bloom In The Park.
Taking place in Phoenix Park on the June Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday the 2nd and Monday the 6th of June from 10am to 6pm daily, this year promises to be the festival’s best yet. I know festivals say that every year, but truly, Bord Bia are bringing together some of the loveliest food and foliage folk in the country for this year’s Bloom.
If you would like to enter a draw to win one pair of one-day tickets for Bloom, please leave a comment by next Wednesday the 25th of May telling me who is your favourite Irish food producer and why.
I will pick a winner at random on the 26th of May, so there’ll be lots of time for your tickets to arrive in the post.
Tickets for the festival are a brilliantly reasonable €15 for a day ticket and weekend tickets if pre-booked. They’re €20 if bought on the day so it’s worth booking in advance. Kids under 16 go free all weekend!
If you were going to choose between Taste of Dublin and Bloom, I’d say Bloom wins hands down for value for money. Without a shadow of a doubt.
Have a look at the Bloom In The Park website for details of all the fabulous events that will be taking over the park on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
***UPDATE***
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ENTERING THE COMPETITION AND SHARING TIPS ON THEIR FAVOURITE IRISH PRODUCERS. CONGRATULATIONS TO STEF FOR WINNING THE PAIR OF TICKETS BY HAVING HIS NAME PICKED OUT OF A HAT!
Categories: Blog Trips
May 18, 2011 at 1:40 pm
My favourite Irish Food Producer of the moment is Jack McCarthy Butchers in Kanturk as I had some of his fabulous beef on saturday night in The Old Convent!
However I also love lots of other Irish food producers ..
May 18, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Hi SJ – I have to agree. Jack is the bomb! I love his North Cork pancetta. It’s completely amazing. Also agree though that there are too many Irish food producers to pick from. It was a mean question!
Your name has gone into the draw for the day tickets!
May 19, 2011 at 10:18 am
YAY!! thanks
May 18, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Murphy’s Ice Cream, hands down.
They’re just a good example for how to run a food business. Not only is their product ridiculously good, but they seem to really value their customers. From the recipes on their blog to the free samples, to the constant experimentation…
Although maybe I just go starry-eyed for free ice-cream.
May 18, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Hi Dave, you’re not wrong about Murphy’s Ice Cream, what a great business! And great ice cream too.
Your name has gone into the draw for the day tickets!
May 18, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I love old McDonnell’s yoghurts, dips and goats cheeses (Kilmacanogue, Co. Wiclow). Beautifully flavoured and all natural ingredients.
May 18, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Nice choice Aileen!
Your name has gone into the draw for the day tickets!
May 18, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Knockdrinna Gold Goats Cheese from Kilkenny – oh god so good – can only buy it occasionally at the farmers markets or I’d eat way too much .
May 18, 2011 at 8:13 pm
I hear that Ariane!
You’re in the draw!
May 18, 2011 at 7:51 pm
I don’t know what I’d do without Glenisk yoghurts!
May 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Same. I eat them every day
You’re in the draw!
May 18, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Rachel Allens yoghurt is absolutely delicious and she is a great ambassador for homemade Irish food.
May 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Her whole family are the shiz, that’s for sure.
Thanks Crena, you’re in the draw!
May 18, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I’m currently loving Brady Family ham. I had a taste at “Taste of Christmas” and have been buying it for lunches ever since!
May 18, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Ooh I’ve never tried it. Thanks a mill, I’ll keep an eye out for it.
You’re in the draw!
May 18, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Just reading the posts above – must try out the Murphy’s Ice cream it sound delicous – where can I buy it in Dublin? Thanks
May 18, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Actually, they have a shop on Wicklow Street! Just across the road from Cornucopia off Grafton Street. Definitely pop in there for a scoop. They even have brown bread ice-cream! I think they sell tubs there too. Definitely check it out – and report back
May 19, 2011 at 5:58 am
Has to be Murphy’s Ice Cream for me. They are a small Irish company producing some of the best Ice Cream in the world.
May 19, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Love Murphy’s too, good choice
You’re in the draw for the tickets!
May 19, 2011 at 9:21 pm
David Tiernan from Glebe Brethan for finally giving people a chance to buy unpasteurised milk in the shops.
May 22, 2011 at 8:00 pm
I love the Glebe Brethan cheese, it’s so insane. It’s the craziest cheese I’ve ever tasted.
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 9:23 am
I have to vote for Murphy’s Ice Cream as well. Best ice cream in Dublin, and such lovely staff. But I also need to mention the Connacht Gold Chocolate & Honey spread, yummy!
May 22, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Ooh I haven’t tried the Connacht Gold choc and honey – sounds amaze.
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Glenisk are my favourite Irish producer, products are delicious and nice competitions, free offers etc for the kids.
May 22, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I love Glenisk too, my fridge always has at least one of their products in it, whether it be yoghurt, milk or creme fraiche. Yum!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I love follain Jams.
May 22, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Good stuff, must keep an eye out for them.
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I agree with all the comments on Murphy’s, I love their Dingle sea salt with dark choc, great combo.
In the interest of variety, I will say Glenillen. I love their handmade butter and their cheesecake.
May 22, 2011 at 8:02 pm
I LOVE the Glenillen cheesecakes, they’re so good!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I have to agree with Michelle, Glenisk are my favourite Irish producer too. Their products are really great with lots of offers, so tasty. Their Greek style blueberry yogurt is a big hit in my house. Thanks to a Glenisk competition we got to see the movie preview of “Hop” and got lots of free yogurts!
May 22, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Yup, massive fan of that delicious blueberry yoghurt – so creamy!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I’m mad about Dubliner Vintage Cheddar. It’s so tasty and has those crunchy bits for texture too. As it’s dry I find it lovely on crackers with some organic honey and some Lakeshore Guinness Wholegrain Mustard.
May 22, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Good stuff – love a bit of that Guinness wholegrain mustard. Yum!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 20, 2011 at 4:55 pm
My Favourite Irish food producer is Gubeen near Schull, Co. Cork. They’ve been producing amazing cheese for years and have more recently began producing pork products too.
May 22, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Mmm, Gubbeen! Their chorizo is crazy good.
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 21, 2011 at 4:05 pm
I have to say that ‘Denny’ make the most delicious sausages, rashers and tasty pies! Can’t beat the Denny flavour of a full Irish breakfast!
May 22, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Good stuff!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 22, 2011 at 1:00 pm
I love llewellyn apple juice! Its a great Irish company with amazingly delicious apple juice!
May 22, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I had some of that in Dungarvan at The Tannery a few months back. You’re right, super delicious!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Murphy’s Ice Cream, off course! They are just so witty, fresh and delicious….
May 22, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Yum yum! Popular choice
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 22, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Glenilen Farm have a nice range and some yummy desserts !
May 22, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Yum! As I said to Sharon above, I love their cheesecake. So good!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm
I totally agree, Glenilen summer fruit cheesecake is yummy!
May 22, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Tomatoes from Grantstown Nurseries in Waterford. The tomatoes are picked and delivered the same day to my local supermarket which is about a 5 minute drive from the nursery and has high standards and big supporters of local and artisan produce and keep winning the CREST award. There are a number of varieties of tomatoes but they’re what tomatoes should taste and smell like not like the imported tasteless things that look like tomatoes.
May 22, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Wow, those sound great! So much amazing food stuff happening in Waterford – you’re very lucky to be a native
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets!
May 23, 2011 at 7:50 am
My favorite must be Glenisk – I’ve noticed them mentioned here. Their Greek style yogurt is the tastiest ever and very versatile – not just for breakfast, but it makes a nice addition to currys or to balance spicy vegetable stew… But recently I’ve fallen in love with Rossmore farm icecream – especially their Honeycomb is to die for!
May 23, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Good choices there!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the tickets, thanks!
May 23, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Love reading about all these great Irish food producers. Especially given the weeks that’s in it. My vote goes to a local cheese producer in my area that make Coolattin Cheddar. It’s one of the nicest nuttiest cheddars I know.
May 23, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Love that description – nutty cheddar! Sounds great, Vicky, will keep an eye out for that.
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets – thanks!
May 23, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I’m a huge fan of peanut butter so I’m going to go for Glór Peanutbutter made by Oliver Heffernan. They do a yummy variety with chocolate chips through it. Deelish!
May 23, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Yum – I love peanut butter, I will definitely be seeking out some of that Glór peanut butter!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the one-day tickets – thanks!
May 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I love Silverhill as they produce lovely succulent duck, they have a farm shop and provide jobs locally in county Monaghan what more can I say….? I also loved Bloom last year and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get to it this year……….
May 26, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Yum, they sound great!
Thanks for your comment, Theresa, your name is in the draw for the tickets!
May 24, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Glenilen Farm, their products are fantastic, ..no additives, preservetives, just natural goodness,, straight from the farm
May 26, 2011 at 2:51 pm
You’re right, Linda, great products!
Your name has been entered in the draw for the tickets!
May 26, 2011 at 2:57 pm
CONGRATULATIONS TO STEF ABOVE WHOSE NAME WAS PICKED OUT OF A HAT!
THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERING THE COMPETITION. HOPEFULLY YOU’LL ALL MAKE IT TO BLOOM ANYWAY, IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT WEEKEND!
May 17, 2012 at 8:49 am
my favourite right now is featherbed icecream. its yummy lots of flavours like roasted banana and Chai Tea. best of all they are only one mile up the road from me.
May 20, 2012 at 12:03 pm
I can’t wait for my visit to Bloom. The great selection of food and the wonderful garden designs.