A little taste of Cavan

All the flavour and taste of Cavan is being poured into a new charity cookbook. Published under the banner Created in Cavan, the Cavan Food Network hope the publication will be a recipe for success for its members.

Michelle Taite reports:

It will feature recipes from some of the top food producers and chefs in the Breffni county; while members of the public are also being urged to contribute recipes that are native to this region or have a Cavan twist.

The project was the brainchild of Samantha Rogers, a member of the committee compiling the cookbook: “Cavan is becoming quite renowned as a food destination and we thought ‘what better way to, not only showcase Cavan’s produce, but also for the people of Cavan as well to bring home’.”

Contributors to the book comprise the 48 members of the Created in Cavan Food Network who feature recipes using their own products as ingredients, as well as including some of their back stories and photographs.

The recipes vary greatly. “From Tempura Snails from Inis Escargot, to Herd Butchery’s Chimichurri recipe,” Samantha gives a few examples (see recipe right).

She says people are being invited to submit their favourite recipes. “It’s not just going to be recipes from the Food Network members. We also wanted to include the people of Cavan. We’ve been asking them if they could participate by sending on their recipes and any photos that they could include into the book itself,” she appealed.

“We’ve got family recipes and family stories, it just gives that community feeling. We want to include things that will keep traditions and family stories alive,” continued Samantha.

The idea for the book was generated when members of the organisation were brainstorming ideas to promote the food industry in Cavan.

“I mentioned to the group that I had been in the Isle of Man and they created a recipe book for charity. It was only about £5, there were 70 pages in it. It included recipes from councillors and famous local people. They all chose their favourite local recipes and they added it into the book.

“I mentioned it as an idea and other people got on board with it. We put it forward to a board and it was approved for funding, that’s how it escalated.”

It’s hoped the cookbook will be available for purchase in late Autumn and Samantha believes it will be the perfect present for anyone living abroad who wants a taste of home. “If someone wanted to send the book to friends or family in Canada for example, it would be like a little taste of Cavan, and it will be released just in time for Christmas.”

The cover price has yet to be agreed but the proceeds will be donated to a local charity. “Donations from the sale of each book will actually go to a local charity, the chosen charity is yet to be decided,” said Samantha.

If you are interested in contributing a recipe, story or photograph to the cookbook, contact Patricia on patriciasmith@cavancoco.ie or Samantha on s.rodgershawthornlodgebnb@gmail.com