Don’t miss the return of the Tesco finest* Banquet at this year’s Electric Picnic

Stradbally Estate’s Electric Picnic is as famous for its fabulous street food as it is for music, but this year, in partnership with Tesco finest*, the festival’s foodie reputation is set to soar with the return of the Banquet at Electric Picnic.

This initiative, which will help to raise funds for Temple Street Children’s Hospital and Pieta House, brings a five-star flavour to the traditional music festival. l’Ecrivain owner and renowned chef Derry Clarke, who says the Banquet is “a funtastic way to have a gourmet dining experience in a festival setting” and Tesco finest* brand ambassador Mark Moriarty have created an unbelievable five-course menu that caters to vegetarians also.

Mark Moriarty (left) and Derry Clarke

Prepare to drool: the luscious menu consists of a starter of Irish smoked salmon or smoked cauliflower cigars with baked Orzo, chilli prawn and fennel. It’s followed by barbeque West Cork, dry-aged rib-eye beef or soy-glazed barbeque portobello mushroom and finishes with a salted lemon tart, pine nuts and frozen sorrel with Tuscan olive oil. How divine!

Moriarty describes this delectable menu as “food that is classically Irish-based, simple and confident, presented in a new way”. But the food isn’t the only five-star element to this banquet; silver service will also be part of this incredible experience.

The Banquet at Electric Picnic provides an entirely new dimension to the festival experience. But more than that, it is providing much-needed support to two incredible charities. As Denise Fitzgerald, chief executive of Temple Street Foundation, says, “While festival-goers will be enjoying the fun and sunshine of the Electric Picnic weekend, sick children and their worried families will continue to come through the doors of Temple Street around-the-clock in need of world-class treatment. The funds raised at this year’s banquet will help to ensure that these children continue to have access to the very best equipment and care, when they need it most.”

CEO of Pieta House Elaine Austin is equally effusive about the Banquet. “We are thrilled to be involved in such a positive and uplifting event, where the funds received help us to provide nationwide therapeutic and counselling services free of charge to people who are in suicidal distress, engaging in self-harm and to support people and families bereaved by suicide.”

The success of this event last year means seats are limited, with four sittings over the festival weekend, two on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and 5.30pm and each lasting around two hours. The dress code for the Banquet at Electric Picnic is “Black Tie come Festival Fabulous” so let your sartorial imagination go wild! Attire can be provided also.

Tickets cost €120. To buy visit  THIS LINK