“WE REALLY WANTED to give people a new reason to visit Dublin 8, and to give them an opportunity to experience something they won’t get anywhere else.”

As Assistant Experiences Operations Manager at Roe & Co Distillery in Dublin 8, Colin Martin is used to creating incredible occasions inside the doors of the historic building, which was once home to the Guinness Power Station. This summer though, for the second summer running, the focus is on the outdoors – and on showcasing food from local chefs and restaurants.

D-8te, a summer-long food pop-up, kicked off at Roe & Co’s Cocktail Village back in June. Every fortnight, the menu is set by a new chef, and each course is paired with a mouthwatering Roe & Co whiskey cocktail.

It’s a unique dining experience that celebrates flavours from around the world, while creating an opportunity to bring new tastes to Dublin 8. And importantly, it’s also providing a space for restaurants who would otherwise be shut right now:

“Offering a platform to these chefs was a huge part of our mission statement with D-8te,” says Martin.

The majority of restaurants we’re working with wouldn’t have an outdoor space, or at least not a large one. But they have huge passion, incredible food, and a really loyal customer base who are dying to taste their food again. 

So far, D-8te has showcased three restaurants, with more to come, including Japanese flavours from Matsu Ramen and vibrant Caribbean food from Lil Portie. “Each restaurant is so different in what they’re offering, and how they’re offering it,” says Martin.

“So far the reaction has been amazing. People can’t make it to festivals this summer and I think D-8te is giving people some of that outdoor energy again. It’s somewhere people can gather and catch up over great food and drinks, and discover flavours they mightn’t have tried otherwise.”

So what kind of dishes can you expect at D-8te over the coming weeks? Here’s a sneak preview of August’s restaurants…

Matsu Ramen (Aug 5th – 8th and 12th – 15th)

Chef Ken Komatsu's Nigiri Sushi Moriawase. Roe & Co Roe & Co

Chef Ken Komatsu’s cooking is inspired by his granddad’s own ramen restaurant in Yamagata, Japan. Diners at D-8te can expect Ken’s flavour bomb Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen, his fresh Nigiri Sushi Moriawase, his Karaage Gushi (a fried chicken skewer that’s a take on on classic Japanese street food), along with Roe & Co cocktail pairings inspired by the precision and detail of the Japanese craft.

‘It is a real privilege for me to be able to bring a real taste of Japan to D-8te,” says Ken. His favourite dish on the menu?

Ramen… when it’s done right, it’s like food for the soul.

Lil Portie (Aug 19th – 22nd and 26th – 29th)

Nico Reynolds of Lil Portie in the D-8te outdoor kitchen. Roe & Co Roe & Co

“My love for cooking was inspired by my grandmother,” says Nico Reynolds of Lil Portie. “She taught me not only about depth of flavours but about the variety and playfulness of spice that you can have in Caribbean cooking.”

If you like the sound of Cuban mojo pork patacones (slow cooked pork shoulder with spiced black pudding over crispy fried plantain), jerk chicken with okra and Dublin Bay ceviche – with vibrant Roe & Co whiskey cocktail pairings too, then get booking.

Savour some of the most exciting food in Dublin at D-8te, hosted at Roe & Co’s outdoor Cocktail Village. Sit down to a delicious tasting menu for €40 per person, paired with Roe & Co whiskey cocktails for an additional €30 per person. Bookings for Matsu Ramen and Lil Portie at D-8te are now open here. 

You can cancel or amend your booking free of charge up to 48 hours ahead of your booking. After that, cancellations are €25 per person to cover our food partners. Please note, as Roe & Co is a working distillery and an alcohol experience, the minimum age requirement for visitors is 18 years old.