COLUMN: 'Off the eaten track' - My top food experiences throughout Tipperary

This is one for the food lovers out there. If you appreciate good food and would like to try something a little different, then a food experience may be just what you’re looking for.

This week nutritionist Laurann O’Reilly and owner of Nutrition by Laurann guides us through some amazing food experiences here in Tipperary and are unique and ‘off the eaten track’.

Food Tour Experiences

Cashel Blue Cheese Tasting Experience: Located in Fethard, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers is a 100% family owned and managed business. Cashel Blue® continues to be made in a traditional manner by the second generation, Sarah and Sergio Furno. They also make Cashel Blue Organic, Crozier Blue (Ireland’s only Sheep’s milk blue and Shepherd’s Store). Tours run on any Monday or Tuesday, from 10am to 4pm (excluding Irish Public Holidays) at €8 per person, with a minimum charge of €24 to run a tour and a maximum capacity of 14 people
To Book: cashelblue.com (please note this must be booked 5 days in advance)

Galtee Honey Farm - Group Visits: Located at Glengarra Wood, Burncourt, Cahir. The Honey Farm is situated at the heart of Ireland’s first voluntary conservation area for the Native Irish Black Bee. Here they have a couple of options which include
1) Taste & Compare 3 Honeys and their Honey Mead: Running from May to September and takes between. 50-60 minutes. The price for adults is €8 and Children is €4, with a minimum charge of €80 and a maximum capacity of 20 people and booking is essential.
2) Beekeeping Visits: Again, running from May to September and takes 2 hours. Why not put on a bee suit, open a beehive and see bees up close. You also get to taste and Compare 6 of their honeys (3 rare ones not for sale) have a glass of our Honey Mead (optional), whilst learning about Honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen, the life of bees as well as the story & heritage of beekeeping the price for adults is €40 and children is €25 with a minimum charge of €70 and maximum capacity of 10 people.
To Book: https://galteehoney. com/shop/

The Apple Farm: Located at Moorstown, Cahir, they have a couple of food experience options
1) The Apple Farm Tour: This runs from May to August. On this tour you hear a little about the history of apple growing in Ireland, how the farm came into being, the crops they grow, as well as ecology and environmental aspects of fruit growing. You will also see how they make juice, cider and vinegar on their farm, with product sampling also included as part of the tour. Tours available by prearrangement for groups of 24 or more people at a price of €5.00 per person and a minimum charge of €120.00 to run the tour
To Book: https://www.theapple farm. com/contact.html (please note that booking is essential)
2) Pick Your Own: When their fruits are ripe (keep an eye on their social media), they offer the opportunity to pick your own. This is a lovely activity to enjoy with family and friends, especially younger children. You are welcome to use their picnic area to eat what you pick or bring along a lunch and enjoy near the playground. For Strawberries: This is usually late June to early July at a price of €2 per adult and €1 per child for entry and €9 per kg for fruit picked. For Apples: This is selected weekends in September and Oct when fruits are ripe, at an entry price of €4 per adult and €2 per child and 80 cents to €1.20 per kg of fruit picked.

Marlhill Open Farm – Tour, Café & Play Areas: Tipperary’s Newest Open Farm 10 minutes from Cashel and Cahir, 25 minutes from Clonmel and 1.5 miles from New Inn Village. This is a family run business with indoor soft play, outdoor playground, covered sandpit & many animals to pet during your visit. This really is a great spot for birthday parties or children’s celebrations. Their Cafe serves everything from multi-ingredient salads, a variety of sandwiches, hot meals, fresh baked goods such as scones, exceptional barista coffees and a large selection of teas.
To Book or Information: Facebook and Instagram @marlhil_open_farm or phone 052-7462747

Tullahay Farm Tour: Located at Tullohea, South Lodge, nestled in the picturesque valley near Slievenamon. On your tour you can meet the family, see the dairy herd, milking parlour, farmyard and their cheese production unit. There you’ll get to see where they make our savoury soft cheeses and fruit flavoured whey drinks. You can end your tour with a tasting of these delicious cheeses and gut friendly drinks before viewing their range of products. The price is €10 per person with a minimum of €120.00 charge per tour. (1.5 hours) It is an ideal tour for small groups and families and will be mainly outside.
To Book: Contact Rosemary on 087 2062997 (booking by appointment only).

Food Market

I’ve chosen this market not only for its picturesque location next to Cahir Castle and close to a beautiful walk (perfect for those spring and summer days), but also because of its great array of food stands by local food producers.

Cahir Farmer’s Market - Cahir farmers market every Saturday from 9 to 1 in the Castle Carpark and offers a great variety of produce. All of our stall holders grow, rear, make or catch the freshest produce weekly. Established more than 19 years ago with some original stall holders still supplying loyal customers each week.
https://www.facebook. com/cahirfarmersmarket

Here are some of the fantastic food stands that you can expect

Butler’s Family Farm: Rear free-range chickens, outdoor rare breed pigs and bronze turkeys on their farm in South Kilkenny and sell fresh meat at Cahir and Clonmel farmers markets every Saturday and in Carrick-on-Suir every Friday. The welfare of the animals is of their utmost importance on this farm, where they live a natural and stress-free life. Although not organic, no chemical fertilisers are used on the farm and as the animals have so much space and access to the fields it means they are so much healthier and that they never get routine antibiotics. They also supply which potatoes are grown in soil enriched naturally by the organic fertiliser from the poultry and pigs
https://www.facebook.com/Butlersfamilyfarm

Wilson’s Orchard: Since 2004 Jim Trehy and Keith Wilson have sold home grown vegetables and fruits like Tomatoes and Grapes at Cahir Farmers Market. But Jim has since retired. Verona Wilson creates Cottage Garden Bouquets in summertime and sells eggs from their hens that range freely in their Orchard.
My Tasty: Have a wide range of award-winning plant-based foods, you will find anything from granola to a variety of hummus, salsa, pecan butter, hand dipped chocolates and much more.
https://www.facebook.com/ mytasty.ie

Mai’s & Kay’s Cafe: Sits up at the top of our Market in their beautiful converted Horsebox.
The selection of wheat free cakes and bakes, suitable for a wide range of dietary requirements, such as lemon drizzle and Achill Island salted caramel brownies to name a couple as well as a selection of hot drinks such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
https://www.facebook.com/ maiscafeclonmel

Windmill Honey Farm: Not only will their awesome honey help boost your immunity but they also have the cutest handmade beeswax accessories from candles to food wraps.
https://www.facebook.com/ WindmillHoneyFarm

The Apple Farm: Here you’ll find their dried apple crisps, made from just dried using cool air. They have all the goodness of apples, and are a great source of dietary fibre which is great for gut health.
https://www.facebook.com/ IrishAppleFarm

In Season Bio-Farm: Their motto is “Healthy Soil - Healthy Plants- Healthy People”. Growing food as nature intended, to top up our own Biome (gut bacteria), they manage the soil’s biome and produce nutrient dense super tasty food, such as salads, microgreens and baby veg. All naturally grown in Cahir Co Tipperary. They also stock a wide range of organic vegetables, flour and oats.
https://www.facebook.com/ InSeasonBioFarm

Hartley’s SeaFood: If you’re a fish lover like me, you’ll just love this stall. It’s also lobster season again so check them out at Cahir farmer’s market every Saturday 9/1pm
https://www.facebook.com/ HartleysSeaFoods