Introducing Young Diners to Michelin-Starred Flavour at Aniar

Throughout April and May, Aniar, the Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Galway’s West End, is inviting young diners aged between 7 and 15 to experience something truly special — a complimentary 12-course tasting menu when dining with an accompanying adult.

The initiative is the latest step in Chef JP McMahon’s ongoing commitment to food education and inspiring the next generation to embrace thoughtful, sustainable eating from a young age.

Encouraging curiosity and conversation around food

Chef JP McMahon, who also owns Galway's Cava Bodega, has long been a vocal advocate for introducing food education into schools and homes across Ireland. In 2017, he launched a national campaign calling for food to be placed on the primary school curriculum. Since then, he has spoken at schools and festivals around the country, promoting better awareness of where our food comes from and how to make more informed choices.

Bringing this vision into his own restaurant, McMahon is now welcoming younger diners into Aniar’s relaxed fine dining setting, offering them a rare opportunity to discover new flavours and ingredients in a space that encourages curiosity and conversation. "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," he says. "By exposing them to new flavours or flavours presented in a different way, they might be as enthused about Irish food as people are about other cuisines."

The tasting menu: wild, seasonal and uniquely Irish

Aniar’s ever-evolving tasting menu is built around the wild and foraged ingredients of the West of Ireland. From coastal seaweeds to local game, the dishes reflect the land, the season, and a deeply rooted sense of place.

The Young Diners’ Tasting Menu mirrors this ethos, offering younger guests the chance to explore Ireland’s native ingredients through innovative, beautifully plated dishes designed to surprise and delight. 

A space to learn, taste and enjoy

Though steeped in culinary technique, Aniar maintains a warm and welcoming atmosphere — something McMahon sees as essential to the experience: “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," he says. "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 Young Diners’ Tasting Menu is a feature of Aniar’s offering all year round, but during April and May, young diners can enjoy it completely free of charge when accompanied by one paying adult. Bookings are essential and can be made online.