2 days ago
Taste of Dublin at Merrion Square: the best things to do, see and eat
From tostadas to toasties, Pakistani cuisine to Po Boys, there's a cuisine or a dish at Taste of Dublin for even the pickiest of punters.
Celebrating its 20th year, the event is one of Ireland's longest-running food festivals. It kicks off on Thursday, June 12th, in Merrion Square.
The four-day event has two admission times per day: from 12pm to 4.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm. Tickets were still available for all sessions at the time of writing, although VIP tickets for Thursday and Friday evenings had sold out.
Ticket prices start at €20.50. However, a Häagen-Dazs VIP suite ticket, which includes unreserved seating with fast-track entry, a Häagen-Dazs ice cream, a glass of champagne, and a Glendalough Wild Rose Gin & Tonic, will cost up to €82.50 for the Saturday evening slot. And if you add two signature dishes, the price increases to €96.50.
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What to eat?
My first port of call will be The Salt Project for chicken & waffles with Feighcullen free-range Irish chicken tenders, Oak Forest flour and Carlow farmhouse cheese waffles (€7), or cheesy Macroom buffalo churros (€7).
Next up will be a visit to sandwich makers extraordinaire, Little Gino's, for a Philly cheesesteak (€12), the ultimate soakage sandwich.
Fanfavourite Bar Italia is back, serving up its renowned authentic cacio e pepe (€7) with fresh, handmade gnocchetti (small potato gnocchi). Braised beef cheeks in Montepulciano wine, herb, vegetable and tomato sauce (€12), will ward off any chill.
Other dishes worth queueing for include
Andhra Bhavan
's Hyderabadi chicken dum biryani (€12), Bites By Kwanghi's spice bag bao (€12), and Chimac's hella hot chicken tacos (€7). Don't skip the gunpowder masala dosa (€7) from Dosa Dosa.
Andhra Bhavan's vegetarian thali platter
If seafood is your jam, there are a few options to choose from. King Sitric will be shucking fresh oysters from the oyster bar daily, and Parilla has both crab tostadas (€7) and fish tacos (€12) on the menu every day. Bovinity will be serving up prawns pil pil (€7), and at Daata, prawn pakoras (€7) are the perfect vehicle for chutney dipping.
Bovinity's prawns pil pil
The award for the most indulgent dish of the festival must go to Big Fan for the Black Dragon, with typhoon shelter Irish lobster, in a toasted squid ink bun with lobster butter, Kewpie mayo, baby gem lettuce and a salted egg yolk (€12).
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Where can I find the best value?
If a guaranteed seat is important to you, the VIP ticketsare reasonable value, all things considered. Otherwise, pay €20.50 to get in and take your chances. Most dishes are priced at €7, although some are better value than others. The pasta and rice dishes are usually substantial, as are the sandwiches.
If you happen to get thirsty, avoid the endless queues by buying a bottle of wine to share – which usually offers better value than buying individual glasses.
What's new?
SuperValu
's new Real Food Kitchen is set to become a must-visit destination for food lovers at this year's festival, with a line-up of interactive cooking demonstrations led by some of Ireland's best known culinary talents. Expect crowd-pleasing sessions from The Happy Pear, Sarah Butler, Daniel Davey, Gareth Mullins and more, offering inspiration and a host of insider tips.
Also making its debut at the festival is an immersive Foraging Masterclass from Glendalough Distillery. Led by Geraldine Kavanagh, the brand's head forager, the experience will guide guests through the art of wild ingredient gathering. Participants will have the chance to create their own bespoke botanical tincture, perfect for adding a distinctly Irish twist to their summer soirées.
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This year's event also sees the launch of Taste of Dublin: The Recipes. The first cookbook from Taste of Dublin marks the milestone birthday with recipes from 20 Irish chefs who have taken part in the festival over the years. Contributors include Rachel Allen, Derry Clarke, Paul Flynn and Aisling Moore, to name but a few. The book is priced at €17.50, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Dublin Simon Community.
What to do when you're finally full?
The Food for Thought stage with Lovin Dublin is the perfect distraction when you exhaust your appetite. This year, the Lovin Dublin team will be hosting a range of tastings, panel discussions, masterclasses and producer showcases from an eclectic line-up of restaurateurs, chefs and artisan producers.
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Must-see events include Talk & Taste (the bakery edition) with Sceal Bakery,
Una
, No Messin and Medaluna on Thursday at 3:30pm, while on Friday,
JP McMahon
will take to the stage for a cookery demo involving all things seaweed, kōji and fermentation. On Sunday evening, award-winning food and drinks writer Shamin de Brún will be curating a Polish wine tasting with Maja Ignaczewska of Polish Wine Fest.
If you are in the mood to dance off the excess food, head to the Bulmers Live Music Stage and let loose with Spring Break, The Runaways and many more. If you plan to visit on Sunday, buy a ticket for the bingo party, Bingo Loco.
And finally, it goes without saying, comfy shoes and a brolly are a must. It is Taste of Dublin after all ...
