Dates for the diary: Tasty things to book ahead
Time to get you autumnal eating calendar in order
Every week my ‘Dates for the Diary’ section gets busier and I want to make sure it’s useful and easy for readers to use and access. So from this week, I’m trying a new layout - I’ll carry over the events each week and put them in order of when they are happening. As I add new events each week I’ll highlight them in my ‘Fresh Ingredients’ section along with my other newsy bits. I hope this makes sense! As the newsletter grows I’ll be playing around with what works so feedback is always appreciated. As is any news and events you have to share.
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
I’m very excited that Graham Herterich aka The Cupcake Bloke is launching his second book Cook next week. This time he’s written all about traditional Irish cooking with modern twists and spoiler alert - it’s stunning! Come along and celebrate with Graham and grab a signed copy at Dubray Grafton St on Thursday 12th September at 6.30 pm or on Tuesday 17th September at 6.30 pm in Athy Library.
Eat the Streets is happening on September 14th at Richmond Barracks, an annual food festival celebrating local food culture, sustainable eating, and community engagement. As part of the event Dublin Food Chain will be running a short free event entitled “Cooking Up a Business- Top Tips For Those Thinking About Starting a Food and Drink Business”. Full details and free booking here.
Taste of Kildare kicks off September 20th to 22nd at Naas Racecourse celebrating the food and drink of County Kildare. The three-day event will host local breweries, food vendors and chefs, dining experiences and demo and talk stages. I’ll be hosting the stages along with my fellow food writer and good pal Dee Laffan. Tickets and more details are available here.
Majken Bech-Bailey has been working away on a brand new concept, Bæk, non-alcoholic beverages fit for Michelin dining.
The always-interesting Fondita Mestiza announced an open call for a Collective Art Exhibition: “Pan de Muerto”. They are inviting artists in Ireland to participate in their upcoming collective art exhibition centred around the theme of Pan de Muerto, a traditional Mexican bread that plays a significant role in Day of the Dead celebrations. Take a look at their post here to find out more, submission deadline is October 15.
I’m making plans to try GooLoong Polish Street Food after reading about them in the Dublin Inquirer.
And also eyeing up this new Mexican Chilangos in Rialto after All The Food’s two-minute review.
The multi-award-winning Bar 1661 has launched a new cocktail menu titled We Call This Power. The revamped menu is a celebration of ‘Collaboration, Community, and Cocktails’ paying tribute to partners and producers who have been part of their story over the last few years.
If you fancy a last-of-the-summer bargain lunch Hawksmoor is running their steak and a side lunch deal for €23 until September 18th.
The Devonshire in London’s Soho launched Guinness 0.0 on tap last week and guess who they got on the taps? Peter Crouch! Sidenote. The old-school Guinness tap with the blue logo looks great. Let’s hope we see more of that.
Autumn is peak foraging season in Ireland and there is loads we can safely forage ourselves but if you’d like a little guidance here are some bookable sessions in Dublin and beyond:
The brilliant Feebee Foran, of Forager.ie is hosting free seminars & masterclasses in September in collaboration with South Dublin Libraries covering topics from plant identification, plant medicine, folklore and foraging for food. See local libraries for details.
Howth Foraging is doing mushroom foraging for all levels from September, check out options here.
Wicklow Wild Foods runs weekly walks in the countryside near Aughrim and Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow. Book in here.
In Offaly, Wild Food Mary offers ‘All About Autumn’ forages on Sunday 15th and Saturday 21st of September. Book here.
Dates for the diary:
Tasty things to book ahead
SEPTEMBER
George Motz X Dash Burger at Guinness Open Gate Brewery - Saturday 7th, Dublin
Burger scholar George Motz was the inspiration behind Dublin’s Dash Burger so it’s very cool to see him back in town to cook up some tasty smash burgers with them. They are taking Guinness Open Gate Brewery for the day with three sessions available (one already sold out). I tried this collab the last time Motz was in town and it was sensational. Book ahead here.
Feast Cork - until Sunday 8th (Cork)
Feast Cork, The East Cork food and drink festival in Midleton is running until Sunday 8th and there are still lots of great events available to book including cocktail making, food culture chats and feasting. Find out more and book events here.
Perilla x Note - Sunday 8th
London’s Perilla Dining is taking over Note on Sunday, September 8th. Some tickets are still available here.
Eatyard Harvest Day - Sunday 8th
Eatyard’s Harvest Day is back on September 8th to celebrate their spring & summer of growing herbs, fruit, veg & flowers across Bodytonic spaces, rooftops and backyards including The Lighthouse in Dun Laoghaire, Pot Duggans in Clare, The Back Page in Phibsbourough, Wigwam on Middle Abbey Street & The Bernard Shaw in Drumcondra. Expect a farmers' market, spoon making, focaccia classes, drinks, games, and lots more.
Dublin Climate Action Week - Monday 9th to Sunday 15th
There are lots of food-adjacent events like composting workshops happening as part of Dublin Climate Action Week. See the lineup here with more TBA.
Dublin Beer Festival - Friday 13th & Saturday 14th September
The Dublin Beer Festival is back in the RDS 13th & 14th of September with a busy lineup of local Irish brewers, visiting brewers, low and no options, a few cocktails and DJs.
Airfield Urban Harvest Festival - Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th
Airfield Estate in Dundrum is also celebrating harvest time with its Urban Harvest Festival happening on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of September. There will be lots of family-friendly activities including sheep-shearing, butter-making and farm-to-table food.
Kumar Klub Charity Fundraiser - Thursday 19th
DJ Tara Kumar is hosting a charity fundraiser on September 19th for a great cause (Dublin Rape Crisis Centre) at Wigwam on Middle Abbey Street with incredible prizes. Get tickets here.
Curragmore Whiskey Tasting at Mount Juliet - Thursday 19th
Whiskey lovers - Mount Juliet in Kilkenny is hosting Curraghmore whiskey tasting with the Earl of Tyrone, Mr Richard de la Poer Beresford on Thursday, September 19th. The Curraghmore Single Estate Pot Still Whiskey is made with oats and barley grown on his Curraghmore Estate in Waterford (home of All Together Now!), less than an hour from Mount Juliet Estate. Tickets are €35 and you can book here.
Culture Night - Friday 20th
Culture Night is on September 20th and will see a host of brilliant events happening all over the country including plenty of food-focused fun. Check out the Moore Street party featuring Afro-Irish music and dance plus a late-night food and craft market, pasta making in Sligo and lots more.
Earth Rising at the Irish Museum of Modern Art - Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd
Art meets activism at IMMA’s flagship festival Earth Rising dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through art, creativity, and community including a food forum curated by Jennie Moran on the theme of food and care.
Socafro Kitchen x Roe & Co - until September 21st
September is your last chance to book into the Roe & Co Summer Garden and what a tasty send-off it is. Chef Alistair Jeje of Socafro Kitchen is serving up a delicious Afro-Caribbean menu paired with excellent Roe & Co cocktails - take a look and book in here.
Galway Oyster Festival - Friday 27th to Sunday 29th
A weekend of fun and seafood in Galway celebrating oysters including the World Oyster Shucking Championship. Tickets and details here.
OCTOBER
Blas na hÉireann Awards - Friday 4th to Saturday 6th
Blas na hÉireann Awards are announced in Dingle on Thursday 4th and there is also a food showcase, networking and Eat Ireland happening. Which runs alongside…
The Dingle Food Festival - Friday 4th to Sun 6th
A gorgeous weekend in Dingle full of food stalls and fun. Details on bookable events coming soon.
Workship Connemara Photography Workshop - Friday 4th to Monday 7th
This photography workshop taking place in a stunning location has a big food slant to it. It’s run by food writer and photographer Cliodhna Prendergast, there’s a session with food conservationist and photographer Max Jones and the food all weekend is provided by Katie Sanderson. If you have the time (and money) grab your ticket here.
Savour Kilkenny - Friday 25th to Monday 28th October
The 16th annual Savour Kilkenny food festival takes place during the October bank holiday weekend, 25th - 28th October and there is plenty on including food markets, demos, feasting, and family fun. Find out more here.
NOVEMBER
The Dining Club at Whitestown House - Friday 9th & Saturday 10th
Long table dinners in a historic Irish home cooked by chefs Kelly Keogh (Whitestown House) and James Gabriel Martin (Leviathan) curating dining events
Samhain Festival of Food & Culture 2024 - Thurs 7th to Sunday 10th
Details coming soon
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
I’ve been reading (listening to really) A Waiter in Paris writer Edward Chisholm’s account of four years working in Parisian restaurants. It's brilliant and hilarious.
How Jay Rayner writes about eating out for a living and balancing ‘running fat’ is brilliant.
Interesting brand collab from Nike & London restaurant L’Escargot.
I’ll leave you with this:
Thanks for reading and subscribing, now it’s time for my weekly book plug, A Compendium of Irish Pints is out now, available from bookshops nationwide and from Nine Bean Rows.