By Barry Coughlan
Final preparations are being made for the upcoming Fork Fest, Cork City’s new food festival.
The event is now but a few weeks away with the organizers busily preparing for the launch of five days of feasting and fun in the city between August 16 and 20.
The “flavor-packed” festival program includes more than 100 food events, including tasting trails throughout the city, cooking demonstrations and classes, street events, bite size talks, symposiums, unique dining experiences and specials to appeal to all tastes, interests and ages.
Established by Cork City Council in 2022 as a celebration of dining and nightlife in the city and the world-class produce found in the wider Cork region, this year’s festival has doubled in scale with many new events added in.
The city’s iconic Metropole Hotel is to host the Cork Oyster Shucking Championship which doubles as an evenings of mollusk-related food, fun and frolics, open to all, from completely inexperienced amateurs to seafood lovers and all the way through to professional chefs.
Masterclasses will also be available for amateurs earlier in the day from two-time Guinness World Record Oyster Shucker, Paddy McMurray from Toronto, Canada, who will judge the competition on the night.
The event includes a sparkling oyster reception, the evening’s entertainment, a selection of finest seafood light bites and canapés and a complimentary drink.
In keeping with a desire to make it a family inclusive event, there will be a BYO Teddy Bears Picnic at Fixgerald Park on the Mardyke.
The lazy ones should note that lunches can also be purchased from The Natural Foods Bakery at the park and Cork-owned ice-cream company The Good Dairy Company will be there on the day. There will be free face painting, and photo opportunities with the festival’s life-size teddy bear.
Irish celebrity chef Rachel Allen, zero-waste chef Orla McAndrew and Farmgate at the English Market will be giving cooking demos at a special marquee in the city center Emmet Place.
Well known restaurants The Glass Curtain, Sage, and Cornmarket 51 will also take part in a fun mystery box cook off with food critic Joe McNamee, and the McKenna Guides will interview top chefs in Cork on the art of culinary sustainability. These events, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, are free to attend. There will also be food-free but food related calks including one that explores Cork’s Food Culture in Literature, History and Heritage with food with culinary historian Regina Sextant, Dr. Flicka Small and Dr. Tom Spalding from UCC.
There will be a unique vegan trail organized by Fab Food Trails especially for Cork on a Fork Fest. Their very own vegan guide will bring visitors and locals alike to some great places to eat in Cork City using the very best of Irish produce found in the city.
Other fun events featured include SoulCanvas – A Night of Yoga, Art, Music & Food with The Yoga Tree; Sailing Shucking and Shanties with Cork Harbor Cruises and renowned fish-monger Pat O’Connell; a nightly Hysterical Histories Comedic Dinner Theatre Experience at Amicus; Craft beer experiences; and Cork in a Paella – a NeighborFood event at L’Atitude 51.
Also not to be missed is the opening symposium on Feeding Cork the Sustainable and Healthy Way with Cork Food Policy; Zero-Waste Chef Conor Spacey’s ‘Wasted’ book launch and tasting dinner; Black Gold – Cork’s Blood Pudding Culture – a talk and tasting with Kate from Flavour.ie at Farmgate; demos and events at Rebel City Distilleries; a Corkchella festival picnic in the stunning gardens of Gabriel House St Lukes, and The Montenotte’s exclusive Summer Champagne Afternoon Picnic in its Victorian sunken garden.
The streets will also come alive with jazz and opera music while you dine, and numerous street events will take place, and community gardens around the city will host special events over the week – including a Bees Bohemian Picnic and Soundbath at St Lukes Community Garden on August 19.
Cork on a Fork Fest is putting a key focus on sustainability, and promoting local food and talent, and it features a range of talks and events focused on sustainability. There will even be a library barrel cookbook exchange.
Commenting, Fearghal Reidy, Director of Services, Strategic Planning & Development at Cork City Council said, “Cork on a Fork Fest is a five-day celebration of authentic food experiences in Cork City and the rich produce of our region.
“We are mindful of the importance of sustainability and reducing food waste, which you will see within the program content.
“Furthermore, we wanted the festival to be accessible to all so it’s a real melting pot of ticketed and free events, adult and family friendly things to do.”
Cork city today is packed with talented chefs, great places to eat, Michelin rated restaurants, fun pubs, a vibrant outdoor dining scene, and of course the famous English Market.
It has a treasure trove of unique dining spaces from historic buildings to rooftop gardens, waterfront venues, converted churches, old forts and jails.
It’s also a compact city that’s easy to get around and the Cork region boasts a significant number of Ireland’s artisan producers.
Cork on a Fork Festival is a Cork City Council Festival, supported by local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East, Pure Cork, Cork Business Association, Cork Airport, and Atlantic Clinical Trials.
The full program can be found on www.corkonaforkfest.ie or follow @corkonaforkfest for live updates.