Jp McMahon & Luis Martin at Mara
A One-Night-Only Tasting Experience
Waterford Harvest Festival 2026
Welcoming One of Ireland’s Most Respected Chefs and Culinary Voices
Join us September 5th for this year’s Waterford Harvest Festival as we welcome Jp McMahon for a rare culinary collaboration celebrating food culture, provenance and a shared passion for meaningful dining experiences.
Jp McMahon
Jp McMahon is a chef, restaurateur and author, and the owner and culinary director of one of Ireland’s longest-running Michelin-starred Restaurants, Aniar in Galway. Alongside award-winning Cava Bodega, Aniar Cookery School and Kombu Ramen & Bao Bar in Galway, he is the founder of Food on the Edge (FOTE), an international food symposium. Over ten years Food on the Edge has built a global network of people committed to improving food for everyone and has helped shine a light on Ireland's food culture.
A tireless advocate for Irish food identity, Jp is committed to sourcing the best local and free-range produce, working directly with farmers and producers. He is founder of Blas na Gaillimhe, Galway's food network and an ambassador for Irish food internationally. He’s just as passionate about Spanish food in Ireland, promoting wines from Galicia and Jerez - just down the road, relatively speaking, from Luis’ hometown of Santander.
Luis Martin
Originally from Santander in northern Spain, he trained in the kitchens of Cenador de Amós, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Cantabria under Head Chef Jesús Sánchez, before moving to Ireland, where he worked in a number of five-star properties before settling in Waterford.
Voted Waterford's Best Chef for three consecutive years since 2024 by the Irish Restaurant Awards, Luis' growing influence on the region's food scene reflects a philosophy built on ingredient-led cooking, meaningful producer relationships, and a belief that every element of the dining experience should be considered, intentional, and alive with the character of the landscape that surrounds it, with influences coming his native Spain and is home in the South East of Ireland.
When approached by Waterford Harvest Festival about hosting an event for this year's festival, Luis straight away knew what he wanted to do and why.
What to expect
This event will be the centrepiece of this year's festival, as Luis and Jp are putting together an 11-course tasting menu at €150 per person, with an optional wine pairing available for €75.
Spaces are limited to ensure a personal and memorable dining experience for every guest. We recommend reserving your table in advance to avoid disappointment.
September 5th from 6:00pm - 9:00pm
