The Menu: Four of my upcoming highlights from Cork on a Fork food festival

From Cork Opera House transforming into a drinks emporium to Rachel Allen's special pop-up dinner at Isaac’s, Joe McNamee shares his picks from the schedule

Nascimento Nunes, Head Chef at Paladar; Brian Murray, Chef and Owner of The Glass Curtain; and Alexandre Petit, Group Executive Chef of Trigon Hotels, at the launch of Cork on a Fork Festival. Picture: Joleen Cronin

Suitably chastened after a very long weekend of helming Grub Circus at All Together Now, The Menu is now girding his loins for the upcoming Cork on a Fork food festival (Aug 14-18) which, in its third year, is shaking off the initial legginess of the young foal and is now a highly promising young colt that could develop into a serious thoroughbred in years to come and, though some of the premium events such as the VQ Long Table Dinner, running the length of MacCurtain St, are now sold out, there are still plenty of opportunities to dive headlong into this five day fiesta celebrating Rebel County food and beverages, with events to suit all ages and tastes.

Here are some of the highlights...