Gastronomy experts to debate food issues at GMIT Symposium

International and Irish experts on gastronomy, and specialists in the food tourism and hospitality sector are to gather in GMIT on Thursday, 9 May, for the first major symposium on Gastronomy in the west of Ireland.

An exciting line up of topics will be discussed and debated including Best Practice in Food Tourism, The Effect of Diet on Depression, Policy around Genetically Modified Food, Fishism, Traditional Irish Food on Irish restaurant menus, Language Training for the Hospitality Sector, Good Practice for Farmers’ markets, and much more.

Speakers include Board Bia’s Marketing Director Una Fitzgibbons, award-winning restaurateur JP McMahon, Caoimhe Ni Dhuibhinn of Fáilte Ireland, Perry Share of IT Sligo, Hans Wieland of The Organic Centre, Irish Angler magazine editor David Dinsmore, Izaskun Zurbitu of the Spanish Embassy, GMIT lecturers Colin Gilligan, Anne Brindley, Maria Conboy, Ulrich Hoeche, and many others.

A special exhibition of photographs on the theme of food, by Galway-based food photographer Julia Dunin, will be displayed in the GMIT New Foyer as part of the symposium. The images range from portraits of chefs, still life of dishes and products, to restaurant interiors.

The event is open to students and the general public. To book your place, please go to http://gastrowest.eventbrite.ie

Martin Ruffley, one of the event organisers says: “This foodie day brings together an eclectic mix of speakers and topics, and will appeal to all chefs, restaurateurs, slow food enthusiasts, our local community and anyone with a passion for food.’’

Head of Department in the College of Tourism & Arts, GMIT, Gerry Talbot, says: “The College of Tourism & Arts, GMIT, is delighted to be hosting this symposium, the first of its kind in the West of Ireland. The symposium has been put together by an enthusiastic group of GMIT culinary, hospitality and language lecturers, and has been designed to appeal to food researchers and enthusiasts alike”.

The Gastronomy Symposium takes place in the GMIT Dublin Road (Galway) campus from 8.45am to 5pm in Room 941. To book your tickets in advance, or to see the full schedule of speakers, log on to: http://gastrowest.eventbrite.ie Tickets will also be available on the door in GMIT fropm 8.45am on Thursday. 9 May. For regular updates follow @gastrowest on Twitter, or contact the team on westgastronomy@gmail.com