When you work with food, you're hungry a lot. "Is it too early for lunch?" has become a staple of the Recipe Guru office. This usually happens not long after 11 am, and it's the reason I found myself standing outside the Heinz Beanz Café at 12:01 pm (one minute after they opened to the public) today.
Celebrating 50 years of 'Beanz Meanz Heinz', this café is proof that there is such a thing as a free lunch. The concept is simple. Choose your favourite Heinz Beanz packed dish from the menu and post about your experience on social media using #HeinzBeanz50 to receive your food for free. The communal tables help make it a real-life social event, in case you think you're in danger of spending your time with your nose buried in your phone.
For lunch, choose from Chorizo Cassoulet with Guacamole, Irish Brie, Mushrooms and Chives, or Chilli Con Carne with Sour Cream. Everything comes with a generous helping of Heinz Baked Beanz, and is served on a baked potato, a bread bowl or toast. (Who doesn't love beans on toast?)
I chose the chilli in a baked potato (what a classic) and it was incredibly tasty. Meaty, savoury chilli pairs perfectly with the sweet baked beans and the sour cream cools everything down.
The Heinz Beanz Café is open from April 24th-30th on Wicklow Street, Dublin and in Cork from May 2nd-7th and it's completely free. Pop in if you're in the area, just like I did!
If you're looking for more information, you'll find the Heinz Beanz Café on Twitter and Instagram.