Cork on a Fork Fest announces first events for 2024 programme

 Cork on a Fork Fest announces first events for 2024 programme

Get a taste of Cork’s unique food culture at the 5-day food festival which returns from 14th-18th August 2024  ~

Nascimento Nunes, Head Chef at Paladar; Alexandre Petit, Group Executive Chef of Trigon Hotels; and Brian Murray, Chef and Owner of The Glass Curtain, at the launch of Cork on a Fork Festival See www.corkonaforkfest.ie for more. Photo: Joleen Cronin

Get ready to savour the unique flavours of Cork at ‘Cork on a Fork Festival’, returning from August 14-18 2024 throughout Cork City centre. This celebration of food brought to you by Cork City Council and local businesses will showcase Cork’s unique food culture, culinary excellence, dining experiences and quality local produce over five days of food, trails, events, talks, demos and festival fun.  

Cork on a Fork Fest has just unveiled the first events for its

2024 programme.  Programme highlights to date include:

• VQ Shared Table - Sponsored by Birra Moretti, this opening night event on MacCurtain Street will host 400 guests dining long-table style. Featuring a chef collaboration, delicious sharing plates, drinks, live music, and a festive atmosphere, it promises to be one of the hottest tickets of the festival. Supported by TS Events and Clonakilty Blackpudding. Tickets are priced at €150 per person, including drinks, and go on sale at 9 AM on Friday, May 24.
• Cooking Demo Marquee and Local Food Market - Located on Emmet Place, the weekend festivities will centre around a 100-seater marquee with exciting demos from renowned chefs such as Aishing Moore from Goldie, named Ireland’s Best Chef 2024, and Michelin-starred chefs Rob Krawczyk from Chestnut, and Takashi Miyazaki from Ichigo Ichie. Other notable chefs completing the all star lineup include Hell's Kitchen US winner Chris O'Sullivan, Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Cookery School, the Bean Queen Ali Honour, Meeran Manzoor from Rare 1784, Barbara Nealon of St Francis Provisions, Victor Franca of Nua Asador, Chris Braganza of Spice Genie, Shauna Murphy of Terre, and Harrison Sharpe of Elbow Lane.  Sponsored by Failte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.    
• Food Future Feast - Zero waste chef Orla McAndrew and Group Executive Chef Alex Petit will mentor young chefs (ages 16-23) who submit creative recipes from provided ingredients. Five selected chefs will receive mentorship, participate in farm visits and foraging expeditions, and refine their dishes for a 100-guest dinner at the Metropole Hotel on Sunday, August 18.
• Cork on a Fork Beerfest - Sponsored by the Franciscan Well, this new addition will feature a range of beer events, including free brewery tours, beer-infused dinners, late-night gigs with beer samplings, and even a beer ice-cream fest.
• Cork on a Fork at Marina Market - The Marina Market also has Cork on a Fork festival fever this year with a host of events taking place on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th August.  Look forward to The Marina Kitchen, which will have some fantastic cooking demos and talks at the pop-up Cork on Fork stage; Eat Cinema, an interactive food cinema experience; and Feastival, a night celebrating all the best of the Marina Market with a festival atmosphere.  
• An Evening with Ryan O Sullivan at The River Lee -  A 4-course tasting menu will be curated by the US Hell’s Kitchen winner alongside Executive Head Chef Paul Lane. Enjoy an evening of delicious dishes, paired perfectly with wines chosen by The Doyle Collection Group Sommelier, Phillip Dunne. Ryan will guide guests through each course while also sharing his experience on Hell’s Kitchen. 
• English Market Food History Tour & Tasting at Farmgate - Enjoy a special tour of the English Market guided by Regina Sexton, UCC's food and culinary historian.  Regina will give you a fascinating insight into the market, its food and its history, while the traders will share their own stories and that of their produce. You will then be treated to a tasting platter of the best local produce from The English Market's Farmgate Restaurant. 
• Spirit of Summer - Join Hayfield Manor and Rebel City Distillery for an evening of exceptional food and drink as they offer a taste of Cork on Thursday 15th August. 
• Wild Foraging Adventure & Tasting Dinner - go on a wild foraging adventure with Epi Rogan and Brian Murray of The Glass Curtain on Friday 16th August and then sample a taste of Cork at a delicious sharing dinner in the restaurant, with wine pairing.
• The full Irish flavour @ Gabriel House - Don’t miss on a gorgeous afternoon of local produce, garden tours and live music in the recently renovated organic gardens of Gabriel House, St Lukes, overlooking Cork City. 
• Exclusive Champagne Afternoon Picnic - in the Victorian sunken gardens at The Montenotte. Enjoy a Montenotte Gin & Tonic reception on arrival, followed by a Cheese, Charcuterie and Champagne picnic in association with “On the Pigs Back” from The English Market and Champagne Gremillet NV.
• Rebel City Distillery Tour with Founders - Embark on a behind the stills journey through the world of Rebel City on an exclusive co- founder-led tour, where every sip tells a story. With a Gin and Tonic in hand, enjoy a guided tour of the boutique craft distillery, learn about the process of distillation in this landmark building and finish with a choice of tastings. 
• I Soiled My Plants! Anyone with an interest in the future of food will love the talk, cookery demo, and tasting on the Cork Urban Soil Project (CUSP) with My Goodness, Green Cities for Health and Kate Ryan from Flavour.ie. Learn how food scraps become soil and become food again (CUSP), hear about Cork’s urban community gardens and why it’s important to grow more food in urban spaces and school gardens, and how together we can grow more delicious food utilising would-be-food-waste in the city. CUSP will donate compost created from food waste, and Green Cities will provide biodegradable pots and seeds collected from the community gardens and encourage kids and adults in the audience to come and plant some seeds to take home and mind, grow, harvest and eat!
• Eat With The Seasons - Mindful Eating Talk & Food Tasting - Get a taste of mindful eating and discover how it can transform your approach to food with Cathy Fitzgibbon aka The Culinary Celt at the the Hideout Café and Art Galley on Wellington Road.

There will also be a full family programme with a Children’s Food Trail through the city centre, kids cooking demos and child friendly dining events. In addition, there are loads of free and ticketed cooking demonstrations throughout the week and a host of food trails exploring the city.  

Further events are yet to be announced from farm tours to unique dining experiences.

Cork on a Fork celebrates Cork’s rich food heritage, combining local traditions with global flavours. It’s a chance to sample incredible food from the region’s talented chefs, farmers, and producers. 

Cork on a Fork Festival is organised and supported by Cork City Council in partnership with local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Pure Cork, Cork Business Association. Cork Airport and sponsors.

More events will be announced in the coming weeks on www.corkonaforkfest.ie or stay tuned on social media @corkonaforkfest for the latest updates.