Brussels – Chocolate capital, Belgium by EverJean

Brusselicious

One of the most exciting culinary events of 2012 Brusselicious promises to be the food festival of the year. The city of Brussels is hosting a yearlong event to mark its exceptional food with the main events being held throughout the summer months. Brussels is famous for its Chocolate, pastries, Beer and food and the event promises to be truly spectacular. Before we dive into the details consider that Belgium is the most famous chocolatier country in the world and has an exceptional record for producing the world’s best and most unusual beers – from traditional wheat beer to fruit beer. This year though the capital is pulling out all the stops with food sculptures, live cooking demonstrations, a PiQniQ summer festival, a sumptuous banquet with hundreds of marquees in early September and a chocolate extravaganza as we approach the winter months. If you’re planning a trip you’ll definitely need a serious diet when you come back but this promises to be an incredible culinary experience.

Copenhagen Cooking

While Nordic cuisine isn’t to everyone’s taste the annual Copenhagen Cooking festival, held from t 24th of August to the 2nd of September, is always an incredible affair and brings the city alive with wonderful food. It focuses on Nordic cuisine and pays homage to both traditional and modern cooking practices. The gourmet restaurants put on incredible meals throughout the festival at heavily reduced rates while you can see a variety of show coking and live demonstrations throughout the city. There’s a lot of fish unsurprisingly but you’ll be amazed at what is on offer. Along the Nørrebrogade you can find the spectacular “Taste the World” street kitchen with hundreds of exotic and less exotic offerings. Alternatively you can visit the “Eat 10” food fair with its vast selection of produce and plenty fo displays and lessons on offer. Copenhagen is a beautiful city in its own right and well worth visiting; with the food being the icing on the cake!

Italy’s Slow Food Festival

The Slow Food movement has gained massive international traction in the last few decades and started in Italy when, in 1980, Carlos Petrini led a huge campaign against McDonald’s opening at the Spanish Steps in Rome. The crusade resulted in a worldwide campaign and birthed the slow food festival around the world. However, nowhere is this festival more entrenched than in its birthplace Italy and throughout the country you can find summer slow food events. One of the best destinations to experience the festival is undoubtedly Maglie in Puglia. Their 4 day slow food festival is the perfect chance to sample Italian cuisine at its finest with a whole square dedicated to wine and countless stalls serving the very best in local and not so local produce. The evening and day time meals on offer throughout the festival are simply incredible. Throughout the region you can find an incredible array of food festivals at this time of year and if you can take a longer break we’d heartily recommend a tour of all the best food festivals in the region; from the Mola di Bari’s octopus festival to the Sagra della Frisa e del Pesce Fritto see food festival in Gallipoli.

France’s Feria du Riz

The Feria du Riz festival (The festival of Rice) is a very strange French festival as it has a very Spanish feel. While the majority of traveller’s will head to France’s local food festivals and enjoy the wine festivals approaching towards the end of the summer months for something unique and different you should really consider Feria du Riz in Arles. The festival is held in mid-September but the weather is still warm making it a great time to enjoy this part of France. The rice festival celebrates the local harvest and offers an incredible mix of seafood, French food, Spanish food and, of course, plenty of the local red Carmague rice. It’s a food festival at heart but there’s a whole world of entertainment from parades, music and street theatre to bull runs and horses. The hundreds of stalls selling a strange mix of food is incredible and the tapas and seafood concoctions are out of this world. The festival is also incredibly lively and there are lots of late night events making this a raucous and fun event through and through.

David is a writer for Holiday Insurance Web, offering travel insurance products.

The post Summer Food Festivals Around Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by rebekah.grmela

Attend the Taste of Dublin

The Taste of Dublin is an annual event that takes place at Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens in the early summer. The Taste of Dublin is Ireland’s premiere summer food festival and attracts up to 30,000 visitors each year. A score of Dublin’s restaurants take part in this gastronomic feast. There are live acts entertaining on a variety of stages, and more than 100 vendors. You can actually take part in the cooking, as some of the sites offer interactive cooking classes. There will be some of the most famous chefs in Ireland on hand as well as internationally known chefs answering cooking questions in an intimate setting.

Enjoy a Trip to a Coastal Town for Gourmet Greystones

This festival takes place at a variety of venues in the coastal town of Greystones. It is a gala celebration that takes place in cafés, restaurants, and gourmet food outlets. You can enjoy eating at cafés on the street or spend time attending workshops, cooking demonstrations, or any number of other food-related events. You will be able to feast on the gourmet offerings of numerous local and regional chefs as they prepare local, seasonal creations.

The Irish Craft Beer Festival Is the Place to Be

This Irish festival takes place over five days surrounding St. Patrick’s Day. You can enjoy the best of Irish cuisine as you listen to music and dine on the offerings of various food vendors. The festival takes place at St. George’s Dock at the International Financial Services Centre, in Dublin. Of course, you can wash down the delicious meal with some of Ireland’s finest beer.

The Waterford Harvest Festival for Fall Fun

For nine days in September, in the Kilkenny section of the Republic of Ireland, you can enjoy fine food and loads of fun at the Waterford Harvest Festival. As you might expect, the event revolves around food. You can see food-related movies, enjoy cooking demonstrations, and go on food tours. You will be able to taste a variety of succulent foods and follow a restaurant trail. Entertainment will be ongoing throughout the festival and you will be treated to a variety of musical performances, including street musicians.

Go to the Limerick Riverfest for BBQ

The Great Limerick Riverfest is a treat for barbeque lovers. Nearly 100 teams will compete to see who can offer visitors the best combination of flavor, texture, and presentation of barbeque. The festival is a showcase for Limerick City. It highlights the arts, culture, music, and sports of the area as well as the food. Riverfest takes place at venues throughout the city. In addition to the BBQ competition, there is also a Continental Food Market, fireworks, open air concerts, and a plethora of other events designed to stimulate your appetite and help you enjoy the experience.

See the Beautiful Dingle Food and Wine Festival

For three days in October, the Dingle Food and Wine Festival will take place in Dingle, in the Republic of Ireland. It gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy the very best the Dingle Peninsula has to offer in respect to food and fun. One of the things you should consider taking part in is the Taste Trail, which has more than 55 vendors. The Dingle Food and Wine Festival is also home to the National Irish Food awards.

The Taste of Carlingford Is Fun

Near the end of May the historic Medieval Village of Carlingford, the Republic of Ireland, is engulfed in visitors and locals alike. The area is literally covered with food vendors in tents and stalls. In addition, the local restaurants, bars, and cafés offer a large assortment of food and drink. There will be music and other entertainment, as well.

Enjoy the Wexford Strawberry Festival

This festival takes place early in the summer and has been going on for more than 4 decades. It features street music, an outdoor marketplace, and a craft fair. The Wexford Strawberry Festival also offers an assortment of events to keep you busy, including amusements for the kids–and, of course, the Strawberry Queen. Strawberries are available everywhere, as you might expect.

The post 8 Irish Food Festivals appeared first on Europe Explored.