Be a Good Spud and Come Along to the Comber Earlies Festival

If you are making plans for the weekend, you might want to pass on watching Glastonbury and head to the Comber Earlies Festival on Saturday 24 June, 12noon – 6pm at Comber Leisure Centre carpark.

The Comber Earlies Festival, recognises and celebrates the European Union protected geographic indicator (PGI) status of our most famous potato export from the local area.   And since it is something to do with food, SERC’s Culinary and Hospitality team (both students and lecturing staff) will form part of the ingredients of the weekend which will put everything ‘potato’ to the top of the menu.

SERC Chef Lecturer Brian Magill said, “We are delighted to be involved in the festival once again.   We have been super busy this week, preparing the Comber Earlies Afternoon Tea boxes - which included a vegan option - and all boxes have sold out!"

“We have also been making a chocolate potato cake with vanilla frosting to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival.   The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Cllr Jennifer Gilmour, will cut the cake at 12.30pm on Saturday."

He added, “We will be there on the day hosting demonstrations at the Comber Cookery School alongside Paula McIntyre, Lotte Duncan, and Poppy O’Toole.  So, if you want to discover how to best cook the prized potato to perfection, make a point of coming along.”

Pictured above: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, with Brian Magill, SERC Chef Lecturer and Richard Orr, Chairman of Comber Earlies Growers' Cooperative. Image: Graham Baalham-Curry