Cork on a Fork Serves Up a Feast of Culinary Delights
Chef Orla McAndrew at Cork on a Fork Festiva
With its rich culinary heritage, amazing artisanal produce and talented chefs, County Cork has emerged as one of Europe’s leading food destinations. And there is no better opportunity to experience its vibrant food culture and myriad gastronomic delights than at the Cork on a Fork food festival (12–16 August).
Featuring over 150 events, the five-day festival programme turns Cork city into a dynamic celebration of culinary excellence through premium dining experiences, live cooking demonstrations, chef collaborations, tastings, lively markets, and immersive food-focused events.
Indoors and outdoors, ticketed and free, the events give everyone the chance to explore traditional fare, taste extraordinary experimental cooking, indulge in high-end dining and savour sensational street food. Above all, the festival invites the connection to others that is at the heart of every shared meal.
This connection is the essence of one of Cork on a Fork’s stand-out events – the VQ (Victorian Quarter) Shared Table – which brings 500 people together for an outdoor dining experience that is a feast of local produce. SUPRA, held in historic St Peter’s Church, is another shared table experience, this time with a Georgian twist that combines food, drink and storytelling
Cork on a Fork, Food Festival, Market Table, Co. Cork
The atmospheric surroundings of Cork’s famous St Fin Barre’s cathedral provide the perfect setting for a Michelin-starred, black-tie event that sees Cork chefs Lewis Barker of restaurant Terre and Paul McDonald Bastion create an unforgettable small-plate supper showcasing local ingredients. It’s one of a number of opportunities to enjoy the exclusive results of collaborations between top chefs, including a fusion of styles from The Glass Curtain and Leo’s London, and the exceptional Chef Collaboration at Goldie Chapel.
While premium dining events are a festival highlight, there’s a wide range of food and entertainment to enjoy alongside them. A host of trails and tours invite lovers of fine food and drink to explore Cork’s culinary history, discover its culture through storytelling, and see behind-the-scenes at breweries and distilleries.
The English Market, Cork City
The English Market has long been the epicentre of Cork city’s food story and during the festival it will host live demos, tastings, and stories from Cork’s iconic traders, as well as a summer evening supper. Meanwhile, the Festival Cooking Demo Stage on the Grand Parade will host multiple demos and tastings with a multicultural vibe.
Sustainability is a key festival theme, with zero-waste dining concepts and a strong focus on local sourcing and seasonal ingredients. Flying the flag for sustainability, the Market Table is an English Market zero waste dinner celebrating seasonal cooking using surplus ingredients and featuring wine pairings from Bubble Brothers.
With lots of other gastronomic goings-on in the pubs, restaurants, historic buildings and streets, Cork on a Fork transforms the entire city into a vibrant food destination. Over five days, the festival blends the joy of fine food and drink with immersive cultural moments and a connection to local people who are passionate about the quality of their food and the lush County Cork landscapes that produce it.