Riga’s best restaurants will bring their tastiest dishes to the masses in two weeks, at a special event called the Riga Restaurant Festival to be hosted by one of the city’s arts centers.

On Saturday, August 16, the central square of Spīķeri close to Riga Central Market will be the venue for the event, in which 15 of the city’s finest and cutting-edge restaurants and cafés will offer anyone and everyone a chance to try seasonal dishes made only with local products.

Among the cooks demonstrating their cooking skills will be Latvian “celebrity chefs” such as Mārtiņš Rītiņš, Mārtiņš Sirmais, Ingmārs Ladigs, Māris Astičs and Valters Zirdziņš. Alongside each master of cuisine will be a local food producer whose ingredients the chefs typically use on a daily basis to prepare their delicious meals.

A unique restaurant atmosphere is guaranteed during the open-air event, involving food tastings, master classes, musical performances by Laimis Rācenājs and Daumants Kalniņš, lotteries and quizzes.

In a press release, the promotional agency Live Riga named 12 of the participants: Vincents, Three Chefs Restaurant, Burkāns, Dārzs, Valtera restorāns, Vairāk saules, Le Dome, Innocent Café, Avalon, Muusu, KID, and Ostas Skati.