6 Must-Eat Dishes to Scoff at Taste of Dublin
Words: Hannah Lemass
June, glorious June. It truly brings the absolute, undeniable thrills of summer and, of course, everyone’s favourite Dublin foodie fest: Taste of Dublin.
When you arrive at Merrion Square for the big day (or days), the sheer amount of choice can feel totally overwhelming. Frankly, it’s hard to go wrong here, but to give you a solid jumping-off point, we’ve rounded up some of the dishes we’re most excited to get our gobs around this year so keep this list handy if you’re heading to Taste this weekend.
Beef Empanada
When you arrive at Taste, don’t go too crazy straight away. You’ll want to pace yourself with a few snack-sized morsels first. The beef empanada from Parrilla is unassuming, but the depth of flavour and succulence is unmatched. A runner-up for the Compass Ireland Best in Taste Awards Best Dish, this little dish has one heck of a stamp of approval.
Buttery, rich pastry encases a melt-in-the-mouth blend of tender barbacoa beef and cheese, all topped with a bright and tangy chimichurri. An absolute belter that’s small but mighty. You won’t be able to get it out of your head for weeks.
Cacio e Pepe
If there’s one thing that always satisfies, it’s a hearty bowl of carbs, especially when it’s smothered in cheese. Bar Italia has a real talent for taking humble pasta dishes and executing them with elegance and flair.
Their cacio e pepe is a masterclass in Italian simplicity and comfort. Instead of pasta at Taste of Dublin they will be using fresh, handmade gnocchetti (adorable little baby gnocchi). These are dressed in a simple but immaculate cacio e pepe sauce. Really it’s just cheese and pepper, yet somehow it tastes criminally good. It’s almost unfair how delicious something so basic can be. This is exactly the kind of carboloading you need to fuel your day of fun at Taste.
Gunpowder Masala Dosa
Another runner-up for the Best Dish Award, this is the ultimate in comfort food and a true must-try at Taste. It’s unbelievably satisfying to bite into that crisp, flaky dosa batter. Inside is a soft, warming medley of gunpowder-spiced mashed potatoes, perfectly contrasting with the crunch of the outer shell.
It’s delicious on its own, but Dosa Dosa doesn’t do things by halves. On the side, you’ll be served a sambar (lentil curry), a tomato chutney, and a coconut chutney so you can customise each bite. Every element is tasty, and they’re so light and moorish that you might find yourself coming back for seconds (and thirds).
Cheesy Macroom Buffalo Churros
The Salt Project has four offerings on their menu this year, each representing a different province of Ireland. They all look delectable, but we’ve got our eyes on Munster: Cheesy Macroom Buffalo Churros.
The perfect handheld festival snack, these little babies are what deep-fried dreams are made of. Drizzled with Hanna Backman’s Hot Honey, they hit that sweet-and-spicy note perfectly, ideal if you’re torn between continuing your savoury snack mission or heading straight to dessert.
Good news for plant-based foodies too, as a vegan version is available.
Bangers N’ Mash
Honestly, the novelty of eating a classic pub-grub dish at an open-air food festival is enough to lure us in but since it’s Bovinity involved, we’re confident it’ll be delicious too. Known as one of Dublin’s best and buzziest steakhouses, Bovinity doesn’t mess around.
This isn’t your granny’s bangers and mash. We’re talking Dexter beef sausages, Dijon tear-drop peppers, and the creamiest, most luxurious mash imaginable. Naturally, it wouldn’t be complete without gravy and Bovinity knows a thing or two about that. Their gravy is a 48-hour bone reduction, making it the most luscious, savoury splash you could ask for.
VIP Grill
The VIP Grill tasting platter features chicken taouk, lamb kofta, and kibbeh mesh (lamb and bulgur patties stuffed with pistachios) skewers. Cooked on the grill, these are your summer BBQ dreams brought to life. Smoky, savoury, tender and incredibly juicy, it’s the ultimate dish to enjoy in the lush surrounds of Merrion Square.
And it’s not just about the meat. These skewers are served on chilli bread with a tangy sumac onion and parsley salad, plus a spicy molasses drizzle to cut through the richness. It’s no surprise that Shaku Maku took home the Best in Taste Award this year so be sure to stop by their stand and give it a go.
Taste of Dublin, brought to you by JYSK, kicks off in Merrion Square this Thursday June 12th and runs through to Sunday the 15th. Head over to their website to book your tickets.
