Dorcas talks food

A wonderful celebration of Irish food and produce and a chance to improve your food writing skills with Dianne Jacob, author of “Will Write for Food”

Towards the end of last year I had an experience of Twitter at its best.  I had retweeted a message from Dianne Jacob, cookbook and food writing coach and editor, about a workshop she was running for food bloggers in the US with the question, ‘wouldn’t it be great to do this in Ireland?’.  Dianne then tweeted me back directly saying ‘I would love to come, let’s make it happen’, and now it is!  Dianne is coming over to Ireland for a two day event at BrookLodge, Macreddin in Wicklow on the 21st and 22nd of September 2012 for a very special workshop and celebration of Irish food and hospitality.

The event includes 1/2 hour one to one sessions with Dianne, the Big Table Dinner Experience with locally supplied artisan organic food at the Strawberry Tree restaurant, and a one day workshop to hone your food writing skills for recipe writing, cookbook publishing and engaging your readers as a food blogger.

Details are as follows;

Friday, 21 September 2012
2 – 5.00pm
6 half-hour slots available with Dianne Jacob for one-to-one
coaching.  (SOLD OUT)
5.30pm
Visit to Gold River organic farm with Evan Doyle from BrookLodge.
7.30pm
Bubbly reception followed by the Big Table Dinner Experience at the Strawberry Tree restaurant.  This is a very special event created by BrookLodge, where the food is served in the style of a feast.  The rule of the table requires that everyone serves each other from a fantastic range of dishes made only from locally supplied artisan organic food.  A highly interactive and memorable experience.

Saturday, 22 September 2012: 10.00am – 5.00pm
A one-day class and workshop for the food obsessed who love to write, an open event for bloggers, food writers and anyone with an interest in communicating about food. The event will be structured as follows:
9.30am
Food writing technique and writing exercises. Learn what makes the top food writers successful and stretch your skills and creativity. There will be a short break for tea/coffee.
1.00pm
Spit roast lunch in the apple orchard at Macreddin and networking.
2.30 – 5.00pm
Recipe writing, cookbook publishing and how to engage your readers as a food blogger.

Costs: Any event over the two days can be attended independently
One-to-one coaching with Dianne (must be pre-booked): €40.00 per half-hour session
Visit to Gold River organic farm: No charge
Long Table Dinner with wine & bubbly reception:  €70.00 per person
Bed & breakfast at BrookLodge Hotel: €62.50 per person sharing (single supplement €25.00)
All-day workshop including spit roast lunch: €75.00 per person

Contact 086 806 1383 or dorcasbarry@gmail.com to reserve your place
Contact BrookLodge at 0402 36444 for accommodation bookings
(please quote Irish Food Bloggers to avail of special rate)

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Kristin Jensen at the Irish Food Bloggers Association, Maeve Desmond at Bord Bia and Helen McDaid at Failte Ireland who all helped enormously in making this event a reality.

Looking forward to seeing you all there for a great weekend!