The winners in the Irish hotel and restaurant of the year categories have been named.
The winners of the Good Food Ireland Awards were announced this week with a Dublin establishment taking home the Restaurant of the Year prize and a Kerry establishment being crowned Hotel of the Year.
Woodruff Restaurant in the capital was named the best restaurant while The Europe Hotel and Resort in Kerry was named best hotel.
Choosing Woodruff Restaurant, the awards said in a statement:
“A strong emphasis on seasonal Irish ingredients, whereby the Chef’s creativity consistently demonstrates an aptitude for bringing out the integrity of the ingredients and successfully marrying those flavours as a complete dish. Warmth of hospitality, exceptional.”
Meanwhile, the awards said of The Europe Hotel and Resort:
“A best-in-class hotel, delivering a high-quality dining experience, showcasing seasonal Irish ingredients and food and drink produce across all areas. Together with an approach that celebrates Ireland’s rich traditions and hospitality.”
In terms of the other winners, Cork took home the most awards. The Ballymaloe House Hotel in the county was named Culinary Haven of the Year and won the Excellence in Food Tourism award for its Cookery School Organic Farm and Gardens.
In terms of other Cork wins, Five Farms Irish Cream won Drinks Producer of the Year and The Lifeboat Inn won the public-voted Food Lovers Choice Award for the Wild Atlantic Way region. Meanwhile, Cork former chef, manager and hotel owner Declan Ryan was presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Speaking about how the winners were chosen Good Food Ireland said:
“Award winners were selected through mystery inspections and assessments of those businesses approved by Good Food Ireland and shortlisted by an independent panel of Irish and International leaders including Founder and Managing Director of Good Food Ireland Margaret Jeffares, journalists John Wilson and Amii McKeever, IFAC Consultant Stephanie Walsh and Executive Chairman and Owner of Odyssey International Kevin Shannon. Members of the public also cast their votes online for their favourite places across the island of Ireland in the Food Lovers Choice Awards.”
You can see the full list of winners below.
HOTEL OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY IRISH HEREFORD PRIME
- WINNER – THE EUROPE HOTEL & RESORT, KERRY
CULINARY HAVEN OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY WATERFORD
- WINNER – BALLYMALOE HOUSE HOTEL, CORK
CULINARY HAVEN OF THE YEAR SPECIAL AWARD
- WINNER – KILLEAVY CASTLE ESTATE, ARMAGH
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY WATERFORD
- WINNER – WOODRUFF RESTAURANT, DUBLIN
CAFÉ OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY BALLYMALOE FOODS
- WINNER – FARMHOUSE CAFÉ & BAKERY, DUBLIN
PUB OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY IRISHCENTRAL
- WINNER – MIKEY RYAN’S BAR & KITCHEN, TIPPERARY
SHOP OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY IRISHCENTRAL
- WINNER – FIRECASTLE, KILDARE
FOOD TRUCK OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY THE FIRM HOSPITALITY RECRUITMENT
- WINNER – SEABISCUIT AT THE STRAND CAHORE, WEXFORD
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – SPONSORED BY KERRYGOLD
- TOURISM HOSPITALITY WINNER – BROOKLODGE & MACREDDIN VILLAGE, WICKLOW
- FOOD PRODUCTION WINNER – O’SHEA FARMS, KILKENNY
MEAT PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY IFAC
- WINNER – MARKET HOUSE ENNISTYMON, CLARE
FRUIT & VEGETABLE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY IFAC
- WINNER – THE APPLE FARM, TIPPERARY
FISH & SEAFOOD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY ROE & CO
- WINNER – REALT NA MARA SHELLFISH, KERRY
DRINKS PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY THE K CLUB
- WINNER – FIVE FARMS IRISH CREAM, CORK
DAIRY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY THE K CLUB
- WINNER – KILLOWEN FARM, WEXFORD
JAMS & SAVOURY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY ROE & CO
- WINNER – WILD IRISH FORAGERS & PRESERVERS, OFFALY
BAKERY & CHOCOLATE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY ROE & CO
- WINNER – JINNY’S BAKERY & TEA ROOMS, LEITRIM
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY IFA
- WINNER – THE APPLE FARM, TIPPERARY
EXCELLENCE IN FOOD TOURISM AWARD – SPONSORED BY TOURISM IRELAND
- WINNER – BALLYMALOE COOKERY SCHOOL ORGANIC FARM & GARDENS, CORK.
FOOD LOVERS CHOICE AWARD –SPONSORED BY FBD INSURANCE
- WILD ATLANTIC WAY WINNER – THE LIFEBOAT INN, CORK
- IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST WINNER – BROGAN’S BUTCHERS, MEATH
- IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEARTLANDS WINNER – WILDE IRISH CHOCOLATES, CLARE
- DUBLIN WINNER – KEOGH’S FARM CRISPS, DUBLIN
- NORTHERN IRELAND WINNER – BUSHMILLS INN, ANTRIM
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FOOD PRODUCTION – SPONSORED BY NATIONAL DAIRY COUNCIL
- WINNER – EAMON SHEEHAN, BAWNLUSK DAIRY FARM, KILKENNY
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH FOOD AND DRINK INTERNATIONALLY – SPONSORED BY BORD BIA
- WINNER – ANNA HAUGH, LONDON, UK
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – SPONSORED BY PURE CORK
- WINNER – DECLAN RYAN, CORK
SUPREME AWARD OF THE YEAR – SPONSORED BY KERRYGOLD
- WINNER – THE EUROPE HOTEL & RESORT, KERRY
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
