Weather fails to rain on the parade as five-day Cork on a Fork food festival kicks off

In spite of a move indoors, it was a tremendous evening and a superb celebration of the best of Cork food

Chefs put the finishing touches on the salad course during the VQ 'long table' dinner, which opened the five-day Cork on a Fork festival. Picture: Chani Anderson

In a city with an Irish name that translates as “marsh” or “bog” and in a county with the second-highest rainfall rates in the country, choosing to gamble with the weather gods is invariably one of the longest shots of all.

On foot of forecasts of heavy evening downpours, the decision was made to bring the outdoor long table dinner on MacCurtain St, Cork on a Fork food festival’s flagship event, indoors into the Metropole Hotel.