DCC launches new festival, Eat the Streets aimed at local eating

Dublin City Council has launched a new festival with Creative Ireland, called Eat the Streets – an initiative aimed at eating local.

Running until June 20, the festival is the creation of Michelle Darmody, a food journalist, food educator, researcher and former owner and chef of Cake Cafe and Slice.

“Eat the Streets! explores the answers by drawing attention to Dublin’s agriculture history as the vegetable basket of Ireland,” says the local authority.

“We are asking young people and their families to plant seeds and grow roots for a tastier tomorrow, while asking older generations for the recipes of yesteryear.

Participants can share photos and drawings of their growing projects and recipes through the Eat the Streets website and via social media with the #eatthestreets.

“By focusing on food and having young people talk to their grandparents and parents about recipes, we are fostering an intergenerational dialogue on eating local and stopping food waste, and tackling a climate change issue in a meaningful way.

“To accommodate any Covid restrictions, Eat the Streets! will culminate in a 10-day online festival in June from the 11th to the 20th that will bring together chefs, food experts, growers, and producers to cook, create and discover our rich food history.

“Participants will be equipped with tips and tricks to grow some of the best vegetables and herbs on their street,” says the council.

“Our chefs will wow you with their twists on family favourites that we’ve been collecting from primary and secondary students across Dublin City.

“We will also host a series of after-dinner chats to share ideas and talk about the future of food.”