Any initiative to get kids more interested and aware of food – particularly Irish ingredients – is much-needed, so the latest move by JP McMahon of One Michelin Star Aniar in Galway is good news indeed.

For the months of April through May, all young diners aged 7-15 years of age can enjoy a 12-course Michelin tasting menu in Aniar when eating with an accompanying adult.

Jp and his team want to inspire the next generation of food lovers by introducing them to the essence of Aniar, wild and foraged Irish produce, fine dining, and the unique flavours of the West of Ireland

Owner and Chef Patron of Aniar, JP McMahon, says, “I would hope that by inviting young adults to dine with a parent or other adult we can educate them on the amazing foods that are native to where they are growing up or where they are visiting and that by exposing them to new flavours or flavours presented in a different way, that they might be as enthused about Irish food as people are about other cuisines”.

I also feel that the experience of dining in a more formal setting than the home tends to be is important, as it exposes the diner to the historic rituals around eating”

That said, Aniar is a ‘relaxed’ and personable fine dining setting, with interaction between our team and the diner, and we hope this initiative will see us welcome many more younger faces”.

The restaurant’s tasting menu draws on the terroir of the west coast of Ireland, with the natural course of the seasons dictating their ever-changing and evolving menu. Aniar’s mission is to showcase Irish food through its wild ingredients, from seaweed to game, which means it offers a unique experience in relation to Irish cuisine.

The 12-course Young Diners’ Tasting Menu has been a feature for a number of years at Aniar and is available year-round, while throughout April and May this year, young diners will eat for free.

Jp McMahon has long advocated for educating young people and children about making better food choices. Jp is often found giving talks and doing demos in schools and festivals around the country on the importance of food education and how it must begin at a young age.

In 2017, he launched a campaign at the international food symposium Food On The Edge to put food education on the curriculum of primary schools in Ireland and on the agenda of the Department of Education.