Taste of Denmark – Exploring and Enhancing Danish and Waterford Connections
Celebrate Waterford and Danish Food as part of the Irish Presidency of the
Council of the European Union
The Danish Embassy in Ireland and the Irish Embassy in Denmark in partnership with Waterford City and County Council and Europe Direct Waterford are delighted to invite you to Taste of Denmark – Exploring and Enhancing Danish and Waterford Connections on Wednesday, September 23rd from 11am to 1pm in Garter Lane Arts Centre.
Meet Danish chef and restaurateur Emilie Qvist, Waterford chef and SETU Lecturer in Culinary Arts Michael Quinn, and sample Smørrebrød with a Waterford twist!
Attendees will be for a treat with special guests Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Liam Brazil, Ireland’s Ambassador to Denmark, H.E. Kyle O’Sullivan, Chargé d’Affaires a.i of Denmark to Ireland, H.E. Ole Egberg Mikkelsen and Tina Nielsen, gastronomic journalist.
Emilie Qvist is the chef and owner of Restaurant Lyspunktet and creative chef studio Hengemt in Hanstholm, on Denmark’s rugged and beautiful northwest coast spoke about how much she is looking forward to visiting Waterford.
“I am really looking forward to experiencing Ireland and exploring the food pantry that exists in county Waterford. It will be a great experience to travel around, visit the individual producers, and see the variety of ingredients that are available. I am looking forward to cooking with these ingredients and creating a lovely lunch in collaboration with the SETU Culinary Arts students. It will be a great experience to explore Ireland from a gastronomic perspective”
Emilie was raised on an organic farm and her approach to cooking is rooted in respect for ingredients, seasonal produce and the people who grow and produce them. While many ambitious young chefs are drawn to Copenhagen, Emilie chose a different path. During the pandemic, she left her formal chef training to open her first restaurant, Medvind, on the harbour in Hanstholm beside Denmark’s largest fish auction. She went on to build a menu around sustainably caught seafood and locally sourced ingredients and proved that world-class dining could thrive far from the country’s culinary capital. She later opened Lyspunktet, housed in the historic Hanstholm Lighthouse, where she continues to celebrate the region’s fishing, farming and natural landscape.
Through her restaurants, Emilie is a passionate advocate for rural food culture, supporting local producers, strengthening the local economy and creating welcoming spaces where the community and visitors can gather.
Waterford Chef and SETU Culinary Arts Lecturer, Michael Quinn, is looking forward to introducing Emilie to Waterford food producers and cooking with her and his students, saying, “This is a perfect opportunity to showcase Waterford producers on an international stage. We have fantastic food in Waterford be it seafood, vegetables, meat, cheese… it’s all here. As a proud Waterford man, I am delighted to show it off and hopefully create an awareness at how good we are here.”
Taste Waterford, a county-wide initiative that celebrates the producers, growers, chefs, hospitality businesses and food champions who make Waterford such a special place to eat and drink will also be there on the day with many members showcasing their products in the menu on the day.
This event is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Communicating Europe Initiative. Waterford is paired with Denmark for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July – December 2026.
Join us for Smørrebrød in partnership with Taste Waterford and the SETU Culinary Arts Students showcasing authentic Waterford ingredients and culinary traditions
Information stands from Taste Waterford, Visit Waterford, The Danish Embassy, Waterford City and County Council, Waterford Rotary Club, Europe Direct Waterford and more.
This event is free to attend but booking is essential via Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/taste-of-denmark-exploring-and-enhancing-danish-and-waterford-connections-tickets-1996096301772
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