The 37th Kinsale Gourmet Festival in October is COMPLETELY SOLD OUT according to festival organiser Maria O’Mahony. Demand for this year's event is unprecedented and tickets were sold out at the beginning of August – she said "the waiting list is like being in line for Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory and waiting for the golden ticket."

Good Food Circle Chairperson Roman Minihane said "we are thrilled with the volume of enquiries and publicity that the event has received.  Every year it goes from strength to strength giving proof to our customers and sponsors alike of the fantastic local product on offer."
The dates for this year's event are 11th – 13th October and although the ticketed programs are already fully subscribed to, patrons visiting Kinsale will be treated to 'Surf & Turf' with a twist - Martin Shanahan of Fishy Fishy said that each of the 11 Good Food Circle member restaurants will be offering a "Mad Hatters Special for €20" for the month of September with a different variation of the dish in each premises – early booking is advisable.

Clona Dairies and Pallas Foods are the sponsors of the Friday afternoon 'Surf n Turf Cook Off' between the original creators of the popular RTE series, Martin and Paul's Surf n Turf - Paul Flynn & Martin Shanahan with visiting national and international chefs lining up alongside them.  This event taking place at Actons Hotel will be a fantastic kick start to the festival and is completely free! 
Patrons who are lucky enough to have event tickets will move on to the Trident Hotel at 6.30pm for an 8 course 'Taste of West Cork' Dining Experience & Black Tie Ball. Sponsors Laurent Perrier will be providing champagnes and fine wines with radio & TV personality Derek Davis acting as Master of Ceremonies. 

The ever popular and much in demand Mad Hatter's Taste of Kinsale, sponsored by Thermomix, leads the running order on Saturday morning at 11.30am at Actons Hotel. This event begins with a sparkling reception compliments of Christy's Wines & Spirits. Ticket-holders can join Alice and friends for an escorted 'Alice in Wonderland' themed foodie walking tour around each of the tasting venues to sample fine cuisine, complemented by selected wines from the Festival wine sponsors, Barry Fitzwilliam, Findlaters, Karwigs, Longueville Wines Searsons. Beer is available for non-wine drinkers, and water is supplied courtesy of Tipperary Water. Diners are encouraged to wear a 'Mad Hat' as a tribute to the special guest, the Mad Hatter; the best Mad Hat will win a prize, compliments of HATTITUDE, Kinsale. Afterwards, guests with stamina can return to the White Lady for live music and an afternoon nightclub!

The grand finale to the festival is the Fruits De Mer luncheon on Sunday where the Members of the Good Food Circle will present a mouth-watering four-course lunch to include lobster, oysters, crab, prawns and all the freshest seafood Kinsale has to offer. The food will be accompanied by the finest wines and freshly roasted coffee sponsored by Bewleys. Derek Davis will host the afternoon's entertainment of fun, games and spot prizes. The annual charity auction in aid of Kinsale's Pink Ribbon Walk will also be held here, to raise funds for Breast Cancer awareness. Afterwards, patrons can enjoy live music from The Magnetics.
 
Participating restaurants in this year's Festival include Restaurant d'Antibes @ The White House, The Blue Haven, Crackpots, Jim Edwards, Max's, Man Friday, Fishy Fishy, Pier One @ the Trident Hotel, Toddies @ The Bulman, Sidney's @ Actons Hotel and White Lady.
For further information on the festival contact : 021 4773571.
www.kinsalerestaurants.com    / www.facebook.com/Good.Food.Circle

Picture shows the launch of the Kinsale Good Food Circle Surf n' Turf on The Dock beach with chefs:
Martin Shanahan (Fishy Fishy), Tommi Ispan – Jim Edwards, Lajos Banyai – White House, Peter Zatloukal – Blue Haven, Peter Maypoter – Crackpots, Philip Horgan – Man Friday, (Chair) Roman Minihane – White Lady. Pic: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision.