Fun Food Fact #1: In general, raw vegetables have a much higher nutrient value than cooked, though there are a few exceptions, such as cooked tomatoes. Cooked artichokes are very high in overall antioxidant value

Fun Food Fact #2: The smaller the size of a berry, the sweeter its taste.

Fun Food Fact #3:There is evidence that honey is the only food that cannot spoil. Archaeologists have tasted honey discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs, reporting that it’s edible.

Fun Food Fact #4:If you could eat only one vegetable for the rest of your life, eat spinach; it’s one of the highest ranking vegetables as far as overall antioxidant capacity, yet so versatile in recipes.

Fun Food Fact #5: Formaldehyde is the stinky liquid that’s used to preserve dead laboratory animals. This chemical is what the artificial sweetener, aspartame, breaks down into after being eaten.

Fun Food Facts #6: The closer a food is to its natural state, the healthier it is for you: An apple is better than apple sauce which is better than bottled apple juice which is better than apple pie.

Fun Food Fact #7: Saffron, which is made from dried stamens of crocus flowers, is the world's most expensive spice.

Fun Food Fact #8:Diet soda has yet to be proven as an aid in effective weight loss. Some studies in fact have shown the beverage as actually increasing appetite or hunger.

Fun Food Fact #9: In the US, more tomatoes are consumed everyday than any other vegetable or fruit.

Ashford Castle's executive chef Stefan Matz has been named 'Best Chef' in Ireland in the 2010 Ireland Good Eating Guide; it was announced recently at an awards banquet held at Dublin's Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. The event, hosted by Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin, was attended by the "who's who" of Ireland's restaurant and hospitality scenes .

Chef Matz was appointed executive chef for Ashford Castle in 2003 and oversees the property's celebrated George V Room, Cullen's at the Cottage and the Connaught Room - available for private functions – where he has created food adventurers with local ingredients.

A native German, Stefan Matz has worked in several of the world's most prestigious kitchens and has received over 20 awards and accolades, including a star rating in the Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland.

Ashford Castle, which dates back to 1228, is set on 350 acres of County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, with a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river and mountains. In addition to the 2010 Gold Medal from the Green Hospitality Awards, other recent awards and recognitions include Trip Advisor's 2010 top ten picks for European castle hotels and inclusion in Conde Nast Traveler's 2010 Gold List.

For more information on Ashford Castle or for other special offers, visit www.ashford.ie .