From June 16 to 18, Beyond The Plate festival-goers will be able to feast on the best Irish street food. The lineup includes talks, tastings, chats, demos and craic on the dedicated food and drink stage.

This year, Beyond The Plate, will be curated and hosted by the gal, the myth the legend, food writer Ali Dunworth. The stage will focus on food folklore, feasting, and festivals. Ali is bringing in a wide and interesting range of cooks, chefs, thinkers, tastemakers, and creators over the weekend.

The Best Bits

There are many highlights to choose from. High up on CHAR’s radar is the scéal of feasting in Ireland with comedian, storyteller, and artist Hugh Cooney, aka Folklord. Another not to miss event is Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, and author JP McMahon’s live performance of an excerpt from his play Irish Food (with actors!) and a live cooking demo. Free JP food for the audience at a festival? How could ya say no?

Beyond The Plate will feature two live podcasts over the weekend. Emer & Esther’s Sunday Roast with Emer McLysaght and Esther O’Moore Donohoe will chat all about the joy of roast potatoes and carvery lunches. And my personal favourite The Creep Dive will also feature. Podcast legends Sophie White, Jen O’Dwyer, and Cassie Delaney will share weird, wonderful, and probably downright wrong tales about feasting and festivals. For anyone who has read Sophie’s Recipes for a Nervous Breakdown, you know she has some festival stories to share.

Around The World

Beyond The Plate will also explore parallel feasting cultures from around the world with Victory Nwabu-Ekeoma, editor of Bia! Zine sharing Nigerian festival tales. Sheelan Yousefizadeh from “Cook For Iran” will also explore Persian feasting. Food writer Vritti Bansal will also be there to delve into food rituals and faith. Plus, the brilliant trio of food writers and Blasta book authors Blanca Valencia, Dee Laffan, and Mei Chin will discuss (and taste) soups of the world.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without drinks and tunes! Marcus O’Laoire aka DJ Hollandaise, will bring a taste of his kitchen disco. There will be Irish drink chats with Aoife Carrigy, Rory Craig (Station to Station Wine) on winelore. Dave Mulligan (Bar 1661) on poitín. Expect tastings with Shane Murphy (Neighbourhood Wine), tasters from local Wicklow brewery Rí-Rá and plenty more TBA.

But let’s not forget about the food! Festival-goers will be kept fed and watered all weekend by a fun and tasty lineup of food and drinks. The White Hag making the trip over from Sligo to pour a delicious selection of beers. Craft Cocktails are back with their top-notch libations after their hugely successful debut last year. There will be plenty of feasting done. Some of Ireland’s top food names cooking over the weekend include: Happy’s, Órale, Bish Bosh, The Big Blue Bus, Little Dumpling, Kerala Kitchen, and lots more.

Tickets are available here and kick-off at two hundred and twenty-five euros.

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