Ballinacurra House to Launch Kinsale Gourmet Academy

26th September 2014

Ballinacurra House will launch the Kinsale Gourmet Academy this October which will be a unique cookery school that will offer corporate team building opportunities to come and learn how to cook like a pro in a positive, creative and stress free environment. It will showcase the skills of award winning Head Chef David Rice in the private and exclusive environment of Ballinacurra House, against the backdrop of Kinsale with its rich history and culinary heritage.

The Kinsale Gourmet Academy will be officially launched Tuesday, October 14 2014, with Chapter One Celebrity Chef Ross Lewis and Mayor of Cork Alan Coleman in attendance as well a number of other names from Ireland’s Food Industry. The Academy will also feature a new Cuban Cocktail Lounge – which was opened earlier this year by Arsenal Legend Liam Brady.

Balllinacurra House has been operating as an exclusive use private estate for private premium weddings and corporate events to great acclaim for 10+ years. And Ballinacurra House & Kinsale have become synonymous with fabulous food for many years.

“The new Gourmet Academy will further strengthen Kinsale’s reputation as the ‘culinary’ capital’. It was one the key factors missing in Kinsale’s bid as ‘Foodie Capital of Ireland’ and we feel it’s the final piece of the jigsaw which will further add to the prestige of the town,” said Ballinacurra House owner Des McGahan.

“Food tourism is a growing sector within Failte Ireland’s remit and this puts Kinsale firmly on the map to be able to offer gourmet tour groups a further reason to visit and stay in Kinsale, whilst incorporating a food demonstration or hands-on session as well as all the other elements on offer. It’s going to be different in many ways with David’s expertise and the added ingredients of our private property and the reputation of the town and the ambience that both offer. ”

The 40 acre Ballinacurra House offers all the luxuries you would expect in any 5 star setting, with prime location, unique themed rooms, great service, world class activities locally including Old Head Golf Course. It has attracted a blue chip clientele that is looking for that special unique ambience and quality that you cannot get by other standard offerings. The new Kinsale Gourmet Academy will compliment that.
Before joining Ballinacurra House, David spent 2 years working as head tutor at Dublin’s premier cookery school, Cooks Academy. This enabled him to extend his skills beyond just cooking, and develop further his people and teambuilding skills.

Prior to this, David worked as a senior chef at Dublin’s Michelin star restaurant Chapter One. Before that he was head chef at the Mustard Seed restaurant in Adare, Co. Limerick for three years. Whilst at the Mustard Seed he won Best Chef in Limerick at the Restaurant Association of Ireland awards 2010. In addition, the Mustard Seed won Country House of the year in 2008 and Best Use of Local Ingredients in 2009 at the Georgina Campbell awards.
The modern, industrial chic cookery school will become a hub of fine food in the west of Ireland and it will create a place where foodies can come to cook, relax and learn in Gourmet capital of Ireland.

The Academy is fitted out with the best equipment on offer and with sponsorship from German company Neff. Neff has built a global reputation for producing appliances that not only look good but cook brilliantly, with continuous innovation over the years to make the kitchen experience even more pleasurable.

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