The highly anticipated Cork on a Fork Festival opened yesterday with an exciting lineup of events that celebrated the best of Cork’s food culture. From an early morning business breakfast to a long-table dinner on MacCurtain Street the festival’s first day was a resounding success, drawing crowds from across the city and beyond.
The day began with the ‘What is the Future of Irish Food? Business of Food Breakfast’, co-hosted by the Irish Examiner and KPMG at Jacobs on the Mall. The morning event saw industry leaders and interested parties gather to discuss the future of Irish food, exploring trends, challenges, and opportunities in the evolving culinary landscape.
A little later the Marina Market buzzed with excitement as children flocked to the Children’s Pizza Party Demo with Oakfire Pizza. Young aspiring chefs got hands-on experience making their own pizzas, guided by the expert team from Oakfire Pizza. While the afternoon offered a touch of elegance with the ‘Maharani Gin x The Met Afternoon Tea’ at The Metropole Hotel.
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- VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Soprano Majella Cullagh entertaining the crowd including Jonathan Finn and Maria Murray at the VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival.
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- VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Underscore Orkestra at VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival 2024. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Rob Cashman, Jordan Hallissey, Graham Jeffrey’s and Ani McGrath of Thompsons pictured at the VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Festival. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Enrico Magtrantoni, Oak fire chef with Ellen Power pictured at the Children’s Pizza Party Demo at Marina Market with Oak Fire Chefs Cork as part of Cork on a Fork Festival. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Alfie and Polly O’Mahony pictured at the Children’s Pizza Party Demo at Marina Market with Oak Fire Chefs Cork as part of Cork on a Fork Festival. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Hannah Murray (aged 9) and Olivia Klaibuk pictured at the Children’s Pizza Party Demo at Marina Market with Oak Fire Pizza Chefs Cork as part of Cork on a Fork Festival. Photo Joleen Cronin
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- Fergal Reidy, Cork City Council, Maria Young, Green Spaces for Cork, Hanna Beckmore, Hanna’s Bees and Niall O’Sullivan, LEO Cork City pictured at the breakfast business meeting “What is the business of Irish Food?, hosted at Jacobs on the Mall, in partnership with the Irish Examiner and KPMG as part of Cork on a Fork Festival.
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- Breakfast business meeting “What is the business of Irish Food?, hosted at Jacobs on the Mall, in partnership with the Irish Examiner and KPMG as part of Cork on a Fork Festival.
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- Maire Ni Mhurchu of Activity Days (in red) who hosted a Cork City Food History Tour as part of Cork on a Fork with visitors Amy McDonnell from Dublin, Hilde Dergerdal, Randi Brandvold Lemp, Essen
In the early afternoon photography enthusiasts gathered at L’Atitude 51 for the ‘Food Phone Photography Workshop’ with festival photographer extraordinaire Joleen Cronin. Attendees learned tips and tricks to capture the beauty of food with their smartphones. Next the festival celebrated international flavours with ‘Discover the Flavour of Picanha’ at Sabor Brazil restaurant on Washington Street.
The evening brought 400 diners to the table as the much-anticipated VQ (Victorian Quarter) Shared Table got underway. This 550 ft long dinner table seated 400 guests dine on a closed off MacCurtain Street. Following a drinks reception diners enjoyed a menu collaboratively prepared by 22 chefs from restaurants and hotels in the VQ and served by 50 wait staff decked out while listening to local live music acts. Sponsored by locally brewed Birra Moretti the sold out event emphasised the joy of communal dining and working collaboratively and featured a menu that highlighted the best of Cork’s local produce.
The day culminated in two standout events. First, the ‘Pop-Up Harvest Feast’ at Glenbrook Farm, where Chef Pamela Kelly from The Farmgate served up a farm-to-table dining experience that celebrated the harvest season. The picturesque setting at Glenbrook Farm added a rustic charm to this intimate gathering. Simultaneously, movie lovers enjoyed a unique culinary experience at the Marina Market’s ‘Eat-In Cinema’ featuring a screening of “Mamma Mia” paired with delights from the market’s varied food stall vendors.
The opening day of Cork on a Fork Festival was a true celebration of food, community, and culture, setting the stage for an unforgettable week ahead. The festival continues to offer a packed program of events, promising more exciting experiences for all food lovers which will include tasting trails, demos, dining events, family fun and more!
Check out the full festival programme on www.corkonaforkfest.ie or follow on social media @corkonaforkfest. Brought to you by Cork City Council and local businesses, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, Cork Airport, Cork Business Association, IHF Cork branch.