Five days of fabulous food

The five-day festival will kick off this year with the opening symposium on Feeding Cork the Sustainable and Healthy Way with Cork Food Policy.

Now in its second year, this year’s festival has doubled in scale with many new events added to the lineup that are well worth checking out. Favourites include Celebrity chef Rachel Allen of Ballymaloe and zero-waste chef Orla McAndrew cooking demos at the 100 seater cooking-demo marquee on Emmet Place, which will take place on Saturday 19 August.

If molluscs are your bag, why not head to The Metropole Hotel, which will host the Cork Oyster Shucking Championship? Masterclasses will be available for amateurs earlier in the day from Guinness World Record Oyster Shucker, Paddy McMurray. Definitely one for coffee lovers, Izzeddeen, owner of Izz Cafe, will take you through the process of roasting green coffee beans to make 3 different types of coffee.

There will also be a unique vegan trail, where a vegan guide will bring visitors and locals alike to some great places to eat in Cork city using the very best of Irish produce found in Cork. Other daily food trails will take place in Cork city over the week, including a wine and tapas trail on MacCurtain Street.

Numerous street events will take place, and community gardens around the city will host events over the week - including a Bees Bohemian Picnic and Soundbath at St Luke's Community Garden on 19 August.

And if you are looking something to do with the kids this year’s festival programme also caters to families with ticketed and free events including a bread and butter making demo at Cork Butter Museum, pizza making workshops, and sensory cooking classes with the Cool Food School at St Peter's.

The full programme can be found on www.corkonaforkfest.ie.