New city food festival this weekend

A NEW food festival taking place this weekend is aiming to put Smithfield & Stoneybatter firmly on the culinary map.

Food In The City, which runs from Friday through until Sunday, is being organised by the Smithfield & Stoneybatter Business Association and the festival is hoping to reconnect Dublin with the area’s proud gastronomic legacy.

The historic part of the Northside has a long association with food and drink from the Cattle Markets of Stoneybatter through to the Fruit and Veg Markets of Smithfield and up to the new, world class Jameson visitor centre.

Then there’s the burgeoning local eating and drinking scene, and festival organisers have built up a tasty programme for the weekend ahead.

Events will be held in local premises, so visitors can walk well-beaten local paths from pubs and bars to restaurants and cafés, hopefully building a festive atmosphere over the three days and nights.

During the weekend there’ll also be lots of tastings, special menus, brilliant banquets and boozy brunches to tantalise tastebuds.

Highlights include:

• A vegetarian banquet in the newly opened Graze @ the Elbow Room;

• Viking tapas in Lilliput Stores; Oyster and Stout tasting at Dice Bar;

• Whiskey Tasting and Masterclasses at The Old Jameson Distillery;

• A celebration of Joyce banquet in the James Joyce House of the Dead;

• Gelato and Coffee tastings at Third Space;

• Craft Beer and Snack Boards at L Mulligan Grocer.

Minister for Transport and Tourism, Paschal Donohoe, who’s local TD for the area believes the festival will harness the best that local businesses in the area have to offer.

“Smithfield and Stoneybatter have seen real growth in the number of restaurants and cafes in recent years, much to the delight of local residents,” he said.

“With a view to getting the word out about all the area has to offer, the Smithfield & Stoneybatter Business Association is embarking on this new and exciting initiative which will see local businesses coming together to build on their strengths and raise awareness more broadly of what exactly the area has to offer.”

The festival is sponsored by Dice Bar, Fresh supermarket and Spade Enterprise Centre. Full details are available at www.smithfieldstoneybatter.com/food-festival.html.