An Epicurean Seafood Tour hosted by Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board

November 21, 2019: I visited the residence of His Excellency Aidan Cronin, Irish Ambassador to the UAE for an epicurean Seafood Tour hosted by the Irish Food Board

Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), His Excellency Aidan Cronin (Irish Ambassador to the UAE), and Chef James Coffey (one of Ireland’s most esteemed chefs) showcased the best of Irish food to celebrate the quality of Irish produce and its growing popularity here in the UAE.

Chef Coffey is the Head Chef of the renowned Park Hotel Kenmare in Ireland. He and his team gave us the true taste, sound, and spirit of Ireland through a journey of Irish seafood, beef, and cheese.

The menu of the night encompassed a variety of high-quality seafood specialties imported from Ireland. We started with Kelly’s Oysters (supplier of fresh Oysters from Galway Bay, Ireland) upon arrival and moved onto Atlantic Brown Crabs (one of the most valuable crabs from the Irish Coast) with Mr. Good’s Smoked Salmon (smoky and silky Organic Smoked Salmon from Ireland) for our starters.

For our mains, we sampled Hake (Irish saltwater fish) coated with a lemon and pine nut dressing. The dessert showcased Killowen Yogurt sorbet (award-winning live yogurt farm in Wexford, Ireland) served over a tangy lemon tart. We ended the night with a beautiful cheese board and the world-famous Irish Coffee.

About Irish Food in UAE

Irish seafood is widely known and respected in the UAE due to the clean water it is fished in, the unparalleled taste, and the freshness of the produce. This year, Ireland has exported nearly AED 50 billion of Irish food and drink worldwide.

In addition to seafood, Bord Bia announced the growth of dairy exports from Ireland to the UAE with a 23% increase between January and July 2019.