Mid and East Antrim has been shortlisted as one of Ireland’s top Foodie Destinations for the second year running.
And you can help the area on its way to a tasty win by casting your vote.
Voting closes at noon on Tuesday 20 August.
Foodie Destinations is an initiative by the Restaurants Association of Ireland which celebrates Ireland’s food. The ‘Foodie Destinations 2019’ competition will see towns, villages, regions and communities from all over the country battle it out to be named Ireland’s top destination for a foodie experience.
This year, not only will there be a ‘Foodie Destination’ winner, there will also be the addition of a new category ‘Foodie Town’.
The winner will be a destination that actively promotes itself through joint promotional activities such as food festivals, gourmet trails or farmers’ markets as well as offering great dining experiences for locals and visitors.
They will have established a local producer/supplier network which is utilised and promoted by local businesses. Plans for future growth and investment into the food and hospitality industry at a local level will also be taken into consideration by the judges.
There are 10 finalists, chosen from the applicants, who will receive a visit from the judges. Online voting also takes place which counts for 30% of the overall score.
Last year, Kilkenny was rated the top Foodie Destinations for 2018.
President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Liam Edwards, presented the award to an elated bunch of Kilkenny representatives.
“It was incredible to see the high calibre of applications for this year’s Foodie Destinations. As food tourism grows in popularity – it is great to see so many places putting local food at the forefront of the visitor experience and like Kilkenny, enhancing their offering year on year.
“I would like to congratulate Kilkenny as winners of the 2018 Foodie Destinations award which is sure to further boost their profile as an outstanding food destination,” he said.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday 28 August.