450 diners toast start of Cork on a Fork fest

Cork on a Fork Fest, the Cork City Council-led festival, opened on Wednesday with several events, including the sold-out Victorian Quarter Shared Table.

The event, sponsored by Birra Moretti, brought together 450 diners, with others attending a Business of Food breakfast, a Community Garden Party, whiskey tastings, and a pig-on-a-spit dinner, with storytelling on Glenbrook Farm, on the first day of the festival.

Originally planned as an open-air feast along MacCurtain St, the event was moved indoors because of an unfavourable weather forecast.

The shared dining experience, which brought together 20 chefs; more than 40 front-of-house staff; and the best of Cork’s food, drink, and hospitality, raised funds for Cork Penny Dinners, with €5 from every ticket going to the charity.

Speaking on the evening, Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork, congratulated all of the businesses and staff across Cork.

“Food is central to Cork’s identity, and Cork on a Fork Fest celebrates our incredible food and the creativity, collaboration, and spirit of an industry that makes Cork really special,” he said.

“Food connects us all, and you’ll see the programme reflects that — with free events, opportunities for migrant communities to share exciting new influences, donations to the Food Bank, and partnerships with Down Syndrome Cork, to name just a few initiatives.

“This is an inclusive festival for an inclusive city.

“And it also has huge potential to attract visitors back to us time and again.”

The menu included lots of Cork produce; Clonakilty Blackpudding, Coolea cheese, Glenilen butter, Macroom buffalo feta, Castletownbere crab, Glenbrook pork terrine, Fitzgerald Black Angus striploin, Horizon ‘Cope Foundation’ garden herbs, Maharani Gin from Rebel City Distillery, West Cork Whiskey, and wine from MacCurtain Wine Cellar.

Participating venues included The Glass Curtain, The Metropole Hotel, Greenes, Isaacs Restaurant, Da Mirco, Gallaghers, Paladar, The Dean, Cask, The Address, Thompson’s, Moxy Cork, The Shelbourne Bar, Gabriel House, and Son of a Bun — each contributing dishes that reflected their own style.

Surplus food was redistributed via FoodCloud.

Liam Maher, chairman of the VQ business district, said: “We are delighted to host the opening night of Cork on a Fork Fest, once again, with an evening that not only showcases the food and flavours of Cork, but also highlights what can be achieved when we all work together to put a spotlight on this fantastic city, which we all love.”