Food / March 10, 2022

A D-8TE for your diary

Food / March 10, 2022

A D-8TE for your diary

Roe & Co whiskey distillery has brought back D-8TE for 2022 with a new lineup of local chefs. D-8TE will celebrate the best of modern Irish food through a unique series of food takeovers.

D-8TE is a gastronomical experience that celebrates flavour in the cultural heart of Dublin. This year will be an innovative series of menu takeovers paired with a selection of excellent whiskey cocktails. Last year’s tasting menus featured internationally inspired dishes from Pickle, Bahay, Night Market, Matsu Ramen and Niall Sabongi.

The Power House Garden at Roe & Co distillery, D-8TE, runs until 24 April. It will feature three restaurant menus at €40 per person. The option is to add specially curated Roe & Co whiskey cocktail pairings at €30 per person, with bookings made on Open Table.

The Salt Project

This year it’s all kicking off with the ‘starter’: The Salt Project. The Salt Project is a successful food truck pop up venture by Chef Caomhán de Bri. His tenure at D-8TE is showcasing hyper-local Irish street food with a seasonal focus. His playful plates include prawns on toast and chicken dumplings: these showcase McNally’s vegetables, Irish seafood and other nostalgic Irish ingredients. The Salt Projects Roe & Co bespoke menu features a Johnston Mooney and O’Brien cheese and onion Tayto tart that will pair exceptionally well with Irish Whiskey cocktails.

Cocktail pairings for the above dishes include a Roe & Co Cask & Keg Citra Edition, Fruit Salad Liqueur, White Vermouth with Apple Marigold and a Roe & Co Single Malt, Fermented Blueberry, Móinéir Irish Blackberry Wine, with a Cucumber and Fennel Foam. These corresponding Roe & Co cocktails are inspired by the tastes of the Irish coast and have been curated by Roe & Co’s talented bartenders.

The Salt Project will be followed by some creative Irish soul food from the guys behind Man Street Kitchen: Dan Howell and Catherine Keane, starting 24 March. Man Street Kitchen, inspiration from Asia, the Middle East and the USA, always cook with fresh Irish ingredients. At the core, they are a fusion restaurant with an Irish edge, such as their ever-popular smoked pulled pork sausage roll with spicy relish dip or their award-winning Blas na hÉireann hot smoked salmon served in crisp baby gem lettuce tacos.

The experience will culminate with Ireland’s first Dessert and Irish whiskey tasting menu curated by pastry chef Karen Smith from 14 April. Her dessert tasting menu will showcase the best of Irish ingredients with a whimsically nostalgic flare. Watch out for the Ferrero Rocher and Twix chocolate domes. 

What you need to remember

The Power House Garden offers tables for two or up to parties of eight people. Spaces are limited, so booking is advised to avoid disappointment but walk-ins also welcome. The area is open on Thursday and Friday evenings, Saturday afternoon until the evening, and Sunday afternoon until 16:00. Guests are recommended to check booking availability online for specific timeslots, but walk-ins also welcome.

As it’s all set up within the distillery, you have to be over 18 to eat here. However, anybody looking to come just for drinks can always avail of the Power House Bar, which specialises in unique whiskey-based cocktails.

There are, of course, veggie options available, and you can let them know when you’re booking so they can have all the bits in the kitchen ready and waiting.

Book a table for The Salt Project at D-8TE at Roe & Co Distillery’s Power House Garden. The following restaurants will be released later, so don’t miss out. Also, keep an eye on their Instagram for the latest news on all things D-8TE.

Please drink Roe & Co responsibly.

Visit drinkaware.ie for more info.

Elsewhere on District: The rise, fall, and rebellion of Irish Whiskey