Food File: Table for two at top Dublin restaurants in aid of a good cause

Would you like to have a guaranteed Saturday night table for two at one of Dublin’s hottest restaurants, without having to book weeks in advance, or join a mad scramble for a reservation release? Chef Daniel Hannigan’s Food for Thought initiative, which supports the 3TS suicide prevention charity, is staging a Big Night Out on Saturday, September 3rd, which is being supported by many of Dublin’s top restaurants.

Michelin two-star Liath, critics’ favourite Uno Mas, hot table Library Street, and Orwell Road, where Hannigan is head chef, are among the restaurants that will be putting aside one table for two on that night, to served guests a “premium menu”. Tickets (€150 for two) will go on sale on Eventbrite on Monday, August 15th, at 10am. And there’s a twist. Once the tickets are purchased (and they’re sure to be snapped up quickly), the restaurant reservations will be allocated randomly.

Food for Thought was started by Hannigan in 2017. “The pandemic was really hard on everyone, and specifically on restaurants and the hospitality industry. Now more than ever, it’s important for restaurants to be mindful of how their teams are doing and looking at ways of decreasing the stresses and strains that are all too present in the pressure cooker that can be kitchen life,” he said. “All monies raised from this initiative will go directly towards providing SafeTalk, which has been described as ‘first-aid training’ for those at risk of suicide, self-harm and mental strain, to all of the participating restaurants.”

The participating restaurants are: Liath; Library Street; Charlotte Quay; Orwell Road; Woodruff; Locks; Michael’s; Uno Mas; Richmond; Note; Variety Jones; Host; Mister S; Mr Fox; Delahunt and Rosa Madre.

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Cork on a Fork

Cork on a Fork is a new food festival that will take place in the city centre next week (August 17th-21st). Street events, food trails, cooking demos, family activities and tasting masterclasses are on the extensive programme, which can be explored at corkcity.ie/corkonaforkfest. You can also check out a map there that lists all of the venues hosting events or offering Cork on a Fork tasting plates or menus highlighting local produce.

On the opening night of the festival, Princes Street will be transformed into an open-air dining room, with 200 guests sitting down for a long-table dinner. In a nice touch, the Market Lane group, which includes Elbow Lane Smokehouse & Brewery and Market Lane restaurant, is working with the food bank on Lower Oliver Plunkett Street to ensure Cork on a Fork is a food festival for all, by providing a freshly made nutritious main course to their users throughout the week of the event.