Some 25,000 tickets have already been sold for the Taste of Dublin food and drink festival, which opened in the Iveagh Gardens off St Stephen's Green yesterday.
The first Taste of Dublin event was held in Dublin Castle last year but was moved to a bigger venue this year because of the large crowds. The Iveagh Gardens has a capacity for about 32,000 people.
The four-day festival gives people an opportunity to sample popular dishes from 23 Dublin restaurants. They include Michelin-star holders Chapter One, L'Ecrivain and Thornton's. The recently reopened Shelbourne Hotel will be represented by its Saddle Room restaurant, while celebrity chef Richard Corrigan's new restaurant at the Lyons Estate will also provide sample dishes.
Some 8,000 people attended the opening day of the outdoor festival yesterday, despite the inclement weather.
Demonstrations by celebrity chefs were very popular last year and there is a bigger line-up of chefs this year.
They include Gordon Ramsay's protege Angela Hartnett, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Kevin Thornton, Ross Lewis, Antony Worrall Thompson, Kevin Dundon and Rachel Allen.
In a new event this year, a number of food critics will be put to the test when their cookery skills are judged by top chefs on Sunday.
More than 80 exhibitors are taking part in Taste of Dublin, including artisan food producers. The festival will also feature wine tastings and tutorials from wine experts from around the world. The "Mickey Finn cocktail flair shows" will demonstrate how to create the perfect cocktail, while there will also be a number of bars at the event.
Ticket prices range from €25 for entrance only to €134 for a "VIP platinum" ticket, which comes with a range of perks, including a three-course meal from Derry Clarke of L'Ecrivain, meet-and-greet opportunities with celebrity chefs and access to the Lillie's Bordello night club after the event.
Further details of the festival can be found on the website, www.tasteofdublin07.ie
