Everything We’re Buzzing To Try At Taste Of Dublin
Words: Hannah Lemass
A veritable smorgasbord of culinary creations, gourmet goodies, and sexy little tipples, Taste of Dublin is the epicurean event of the summer. The only other item on the Irish calendar as synonymous with the heralding of summer is the Leaving Cert. But Taste sure is a lot yummier and a lot less traumatising.
Of course, with 16 restaurants and a wide variety of cuisines at Taste this year, visitors will have over 60 menu options to choose from. While that’s a delightful predicament to be in, it can be a smidge overwhelming. But have no fear, your buddies at Char are going to talk you through some of the must try dishes on offer so you know where to start. Just remember, what we list here is only the tip of the tasty iceberg.
Now before we get into the yummy bit let’s talk logistics. If it’s your first time at Taste, here is a rundown on how it works. Each of the amazing restaurants will have 3-4 Signature Dishes on offer. These will cost you 7 quid a piece. Most restaurants will also offer an Icon Dish, which will run you a little bit more at about €8-12 each. The restaurants and bars are contactless, but if you’re a cash king or queen, don’t worry, you can nab some currency vouchers at the Box Office. Plus, some of the artisan producers on site will accept both cash and card payments. With all that in mind let’s dive into some of most exiting bits that will be up for grabs at Taste of Dublin brought to you by JYSK, from Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th June. View the full menus, M&S Food Chef’s Kitchen line-up, masterclass schedules and more now on tasteofdublin.ie.
Bovinity
28-Day Dry Aged Rump Steak
Bovinity is the darling of Capel Street. The team here opened against all odds in the aftermath of COVID lockdowns, and today they are thriving. With a concise selection of curated cuts, dynamic wine, and expertly crafted cocktails, Bovinity offers a beloved city centre dining experience.
They’ve captured their essence in their Taste of Dublin menu. Their Signature Dishes include prawn pil pil, beef tartare, and tostada al pastor. But the star of the show, and what we absolutely cannot wait to get stuck into, is the 28-Day Dry Aged Rump Steak. Steak for €12 is a steal on its own but this beauty is also paired with a crispy potato gratin and manchego cheese. I’m drooling on my keyboard typing these words.
Neighbourhood
Roasted Scallop
A taste of Kildare is coming to Dublin, and what a taste it is. Neighbourhood uses only the most exceptional locally sourced ingredients to create their beautiful and delectable dishes.
This is where to stop when you want to try something a little bougie. Tipperary beef short rib croquette and a mussel escabeche make for Signature Dishes that will have you doing a fancy pants dance all over Merrion Square. They are not playing around with their Icon Dish either. Roasted scallop served with scallop roe, nduja, chicken fat, white beans, and lemon foam. Excuse me? That sounds like it’s going to ascend me to another plane of existence.
The Salt Project
Rathgarogue Jambon
The Salt Project Food Trailer is absolutely slaying the game when it comes to uber-local Irish street food. Not only are they a taste sensation, but they are also sound as a pound when it comes to the environment. They are working towards a zero-waste target, guided by an ethos of sustainability.
Their menu at Taste has our heads spinning. We will for sure be munching on the Rudds all-day breakfast croquette and the picnic box is calling our name too. An crudité selection with goat’s curd and posh crisps. Sounds ideal with a glass of vino in the sunshine, no? But if you can only have one thing from The Salt Project stall, make it the Rathgarogue Jambon. Yes, the humble jambon is finally getting the VIP (Very Important Pastry) treatment she deserves. The little baby is no ordinary jambon. Shes an organic bacon & Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese jambon. Served with nettle and wild garlic pesto, crackling crumb, and little cress microgreens. It could bring a tear to your eye.
Daata
The Famous Afghani Chicken
Daata is a family-run business serving up authentic Pakistani food since 1999. The food here is a comforting blend of fresh ingredients and tantalising spices, merging East and West in a harmonious embrace.
On the menu at Taste is a delightful selection of street foods. Samosa chaat, prawn pakoras, and seekh kebabs make for a perfect walking nibble situation. The Icon Dish is more of a two-hander: The Famous Afghani Chicken. Made from tomatoes, fenugreek, black pepper, and a hint of zesty lemon, it’s a creamy, spicy chicken curry packed with flavour. It’s so delicious you’ll want to dive headfirst into a bath filled with it.
Nomo Ramen
Shiitake Yaki Soba Fused with Grana Padano
Nomo strikes a brilliant balance between authenticity and experimentation. Never afraid to push the boundaries and create unique takes on Japanese classics. Their menu at Taste is no different. They’re bringing their signature Chicken Karaage and Mushroom Karaage (an absolute must-try), plus one of their newer innovations, the Mozzarella Char Siu Croquette.
Their Icon Dish is a mind bending fusion of shiitake yaki soba and grana padano. The dish wonderfully captures Nomo’s genius ability to merge flavours and cultures into a cohesive symphony of fusion. Yaki soba is one of the most popular street foods in Japan. It’s also a fixture at traditional summer festivals there so it makes perfect sense for it to become a feature of Dublin’s favourite food fest.
NAN Chinese
Golden Char Siu Pork Bun
Nan is one of the country’s most cherished Chinese restaurants, specialising in Huaiyang cuisine, one of the Four Great Traditions in Chinese cooking. Its authentic flavours and luxurious ambiance make it standout as a gem in the Dublin food scene.
They are tantalising and thrilling us with their BBQ offerings. Imagine sinking your teeth into fresh hot, BBQ chicken, slathered in sweet soy sauce and served on a pillow of scallion bread. Sticky, charred, and mouth wateringly delicious. And that’s only the beginning. Crispy king prawns and melt in your mouth braised pork belly are also on the menu. But the scene stealer here is sure to be the Golden Char Siu Pork Buns. Juicy pork encased in a fluffy bun they’re an irresistible flavour and textural combo.
