The Jersey Hospitality Association and its partners and sponsors have launched Jersey’s new year-round celebration of local food and drink at an industry event.
Hospitality industry professionals joined representatives from government, arm’s length organisations and other industries for the launch of Delicious Jersey.
The launch marked the start of 12 months of events that will include initiatives aimed at food education, cutting food waste, improving the island’s soil health, public health and championing our local farmers, fishers and producers.
The first event, Delicious Dine-Out Festival, starts next month with members of the Jersey Hospitality Association featuring local products on specially designed menus and dishes.
Ana Calvani, Co-CEO of the Jersey Hospitality Association, said: “When we started this project in the late summer, our aim was to bring together all the elements that make our food so good in Jersey. We are so lucky that we have farmers, growers, fishers and producers who are so passionate about their produce that our wonderful restaurants, cafes and caterers are spoilt for choice when they are sourcing food for their menus.
“It has been a huge privilege to work on this with our partners at All Island Media and with all of those in the industry who have given it their wholehearted support. We are delighted that the Government of Jersey is also supporting the event with seed funding in the first year of Delicious Jersey.”
At the event, Deputy Kirsten Morel, the Economic Development Minister, announced that the Government of Jersey would be providing £35,000 to cover some of the costs of putting on the programme of events. Over 80 businesses are directly taking part in the month-long festival and a supplement featuring those menus, dishes and products will be delivered to every address by Jersey Post’s ‘Delicious Concierges’ at the beginning of the festival.
Marcus Calvani, Co-CEO of the Jersey Hospitality Association, said: “Jersey Post is already out in the community and when delivering mail and parcels they are often the only people that some islanders see and talk to during the day. In return for delivering the Dine-Out Festival supplement, we’ve organised for all postal workers to be given vouchers that they can use at participating businesses during the festival. It’s another wonderful element of bringing our entire community together to celebrate our local food and drink. Who better than our much-loved posties to be our official Delicious Concierges?”
Pictured: Ana and Marcus Calvani
