So, what has Cork ever done for Irish food?
Cork's the Fork on the Irish table
So, what HAS Cork ever done for Irish food? Well…
First Country House Hotel
First Food Festival
First Irish chef to win a Michelin Star
First Farmhouse Cheese
First Covered Market
Greatest Vegetarian Restaurant
First Internationally recognised wine lists
First famous black pudding
First (and only) Drisheen
First butter markets
First food destination town, Kinsale
Let’s face it Cork = Food in Ireland, and always has.
Cork was a thriving port that sent butter and beef all over the globe whilst importing spices. It had the first covered market, which is now a thriving local market, not on the outskirts of the city, but serving locals and visitors in the major shopping quarter. When Cork wants a market, or other food development, it doesn’t need a committee, it doesn’t need reports, planning applications, it just goes right ahead and does it.
Cork remains a city where food comes first. Other cities might have hyper skilled chefs who rake in the stars, but Cork has the basic ingredients, the local products in the supermarkets, the world beating cheeses that have influenced so many. Everything in Co Cork tastes just so good, and that’s why Cork is an ideal place to celebrate Irish food, and why Cork On A Fork has become such an important festival for the city in double-quick time.
So get yourself to Cork from 12th-16th August, and come celebrate with the city. There will be big tables, and long tables, when the community of restaurants and customers share food together in the market, in the churches, in the gardens and on the city streets.
There are farm to fork, soil to plate and gill to fish experiences. Celebrate bee keeping, drinks pairing and taste trails. Celebrate Cork’s history, and meet the modern-day producers. Drink in the pubs, and feast in the harbour.
Over the next while, The Irish Stew will be celebrating Cork, unveiling its secrets, and looking at its characterful hotels. We’ll also link to our Cork restaurant reviews. Come join us all in August as we celebrate Cork food.
We’re going to be busy during Cork on a Fork weekend. Our schedule begins on Thursday when we will officially open Feolas:
Feolas Launch: Exhibition celebrating the connection of Art and Food
6.00pm-8.00pm, Thurs 13th Aug, Third-floor atrium of Dunnes Stores, St. Patrick’s St
This innovative art exhibition, titled Feolas, takes its name from a combination of the Irish words for meat (feoil) and knowledge (eolas). Sponsored by James Whelan Butchers and curated by Sample-Studios, the exhibition showcases the creative work of Cork-based artists, each of whom has taken food as their primary source of inspiration.
In collaboration with Network Ireland’s Cork Branch, a panel discussion will explore the strong connections between art and food, as well as the importance of sustainable food production and consumption with Jack O’Keeffe, Gather & Gather; sustainable food consumption expert Orla McAndrew; and participating artists, who will introduce their work and discuss the inspiration behind their pieces.
Free | Invite only. To express interest email corkonafork@gmail.com
Friday Sees us as part of a Live Fire event, curated by Samuel McKenna of Foodhaus. We can’t wait to work with Harrison Sharpe of Elbow Lane, Brian Murray of The Glass Curtain, Victor Franca of Nua Asador and Arun Kapil of Green Saffron Spices. We’re all going to be cooking with beef from Supervalu and the event is also supported by Hexclad. All will be showcasing live fire techniques and there will be Tastes!
On Sunday we’re part of the Theatre of Food Marquee, where, in an event co-ordinated by Samuel, we will be hosting none other than Aishling of Goldie, Barbara and Rebeca of St Francis Provisions, Dave and Anne from 51 Cornmarket, Dan Relihan from Soul, Mike and Paudie from Miyazaki Takeaway and Dave and Miguel from Paradiso. Wow. What a lineup of Cork talent!
All welcome, though limited seating.
For the full PACKED programme see Cork on a Fork. Congratulations to everyone for such wonderful organisation and curation.
Related:
