Ireland's Food Culture More Cosmopolitan Than Ever Taste of Dublin to Bring 'Flavours of the World' To Ireland This June

Ireland’s food culture is more diverse than ever before and, having become more outward looking, has become deeply influenced by international cuisine over recent years, according to the people behind Taste of Dublin. Pointing to the increased range of international restaurants throughout the country and the impact of foreign flavours on Irish menus, Taste of Dublin believes there is now greater diversity and a stronger cosmopolitan element to the Irish food scene.

This trend will also be reflected in Taste of Dublin, in partnership with Electrolux, with ‘Flavours of the World’ set to be this year’s theme when the event returns to Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens from Thursday 15th – Sunday 18th June. Over 32,000 people are expected to attend Dublin's favourite culinary event over four days, where the best of the Irish food and drink scene will be celebrated. To reflect this year's ‘Flavours of the World' theme, there will be a strong international dimension - with all chefs and restaurants being asked to incorporate a foreign cuisine element into their menus.

“Irish tastes have been changing so much over recent years,” according to Taste of Dublin Managing Director, Avril Bannerton. “To see that all you have to do is look at the menus on offer in any quality Irish restaurant. Going through the dishes you are sure to notice a much wider variety and greater international influence than you would have seen in the past, from foreign ingredients or dishes associated with different cuisines to cooking techniques more commonly used in other countries. We now have a far more cosmopolitan food culture than ever before.

"This trend is also reflected in the growing diversity of restaurants in Ireland. It wasn't too long ago that our choices were very limited when it came to international cuisine. You might have been able to find a Chinese takeaway or an Italian or French bistro, but the choice beyond that would have been limited. However, if you look around now, there are restaurants which offer food from every corner of the world and which reflect our increasingly diverse domestic population who now call this country home.

“The growing multinational community has played a major role in bringing new flavours and taste experiences to these shores, as have those returning from living and working overseas. They have seen what is on offer in other countries they have brought these international dimensions back to Ireland. That change in approach has been reflected in Irish restaurant kitchens and on Irish taste buds over recent years. Irish cuisine has always been open to new ideas, and this has been just as true with the internationalisation of our cuisine choices.

“That is why we wanted to highlight how outward looking Irish food and drink can be through our choice of theme for this year’s Taste of Dublin. As well as the many favourite dishes that people have come to know and love they will also have the chance to taste some new internationally inspired Flavours of the World - be it a foreign twist on an Irish classic or simply an international favourite cooked by some of the greatest chefs and restaurants operating in this country. As always, all dishes will be of the very highest quality, and we think everyone who attends this year will be in for a uniquely special experience," Ms Bannerton added.

Taste of Dublin, in partnership with Electrolux, will see a vast array of restaurants, producers, bars and exhibitors providing the best sights, smells, sounds, tastes and culinary experiences on offer in Ireland. Among the restaurants who will be participating this year will be Ely, Suesey Street, Deane’s EIPIC, Greene’s Restaurant, KLAW, Pickle, San Lorenzos, Jaipur, Saba, China Sichuan, the Port House, the Wild Goose Grill and more to be announced over the coming weeks.

There are over 30 leading chefs providing exclusive live demonstrations and cooking of the highest calibre, including Clodagh McKenna, Danny Barry from Deane’s EIPIC in Belfast, Darina Allen, Ed Cooney from the Merrion Hotel, Gill Meller of River Cottage, Edward Hayden owner of Hayden’s School of Cookery in Kilkenny, to Jean Christophe Novelli, Kevin Dundon, Kwan Ghi Chan, Neven Maguire, Patrick Powell from the Chiltern Fire House in Marylebone in London and Robin Gill from Clapham in London and the Irish Master Chef judge. Some other popular chefs, including Ross Lewis, Stuart O’Keefe and Simon Lamont will be there as well and for 2017 Taste of Dublin has added several new chefs, including Aoife Noonan, who is the executive pastry chef from John Farrell’s Dublin restaurant empire comprising 777, Super Miss Sue, and The Butcher Grill; Ciaran Sweeney from Forest and Marcy in Dublin and Enda McEvoy from Loam in Galway……and that’s just a small morsel of who will be participating at this year’s Taste of Dublin.

There will also be several new feature experiences, including the Style Afternoon on Friday hosted by Pippa O'Connor, "Make Life Delicious" a new cookery school feature, family afternoons on Saturday and Sunday, including activities for parents and children, Producers' Row and much more.

To get even more of a flavour of everything on offer at this year’s Taste of Dublin and to purchase tickets on sale from €15 please go to www.tasteofdublin.ie.