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September 30, 2008
Good Food Ireland Awards
Sadly URRU missed out at last night's Good Food Ireland Awards – we were nominated in the Top Regional Member category for the south of the country, along with The Blue Geranium Café at Hosfords Garden Centre, Café Paradiso, The Farmgate, Hayfield Manor Hotel, QC's Seafood Bar & Restaurant, The Poacher's Inn, The Tannery and the eventual winner – The Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore.
Still, there was more than enough good food, wine and company to keep us entertained in the Shelbourne Hotel and I got to catch up some old friends, including Anthony from Ummera Smokehouse – his award-winning organic gravadlax was on the menu, alongside Geraldine Bass' (Old Millbank Smokehouse) rich smoked salmon pâté – and Louise from Sowan's Organics, with her new spelt brownies. More information on the nominees and winners, highlighted in bold, below.
Good Food Ireland Best Local Breakfast Award
This award clearly maximises the use of local produce, home baking and sourcing and embraces signature and regional dishes. It also takes into account how the breakfast is presented and served.
Aldrige Lodge, Co Wexford
Ballyvolane House, Co Cork
Coolanowle Country House and Organic Farm, Co Carlow
Rigney’s Farmhouse B&B, Co Limerick
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin
Good Food Ireland Best Next Generation Award
There are a number of next generation operators within the industry, striving to follow or exceed in the footsteps of parents or young chefs/people growing and developing in the industry. This award honours and promotes their efforts in maintaining and raising standards and in highlighting innovation.
Graham Roberts - Connemara Smokehouse, Co Galway
Simon O'Hara - Coopershill House, Co Sligo
Fingal Ferguson -Gubbeen Farmhouse Products, Co Cork
Tim McCarthy - Jack McCarthy Meats, Co Cork
Kenneth Kelly - Kelly's of Newport, Co Mayo
Joe O'Flynn - Rathsallagh House, Co Wicklow
Good Food Ireland Wine Person of the Year Award
Not necessarily a sommelier, this award goes to somebody who is passionate about their subject, able to interact with customers and explain and work with their wine list in detail.
Colm McCann - Ballymaloe House, Co Cork
Sean Gargano - Eden Restaurant, Dublin
Paul Carroll - Ghan House, Co Louth
Pierre Toussaint - Hayfield Manor, Cork
Florian Lemercier - The Clarence Hotel, Dublin
Damian Corr - The Merrion Hotel, Dublin
Good Food Ireland Environmental Energy Efficiency Award
This award honours the member that has done something significant to improve their energy efficiency and identify the kind of savings being made either in terms of cost or energy use.
Gleeson's Artisan Food & Wine Shop, Roscommon
Kelly's Resort Hotel, Co Wexford
Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
Silver Hill Foods, Co Monaghan
Ummera Smoked Products, Co Cork
Good Food Ireland Most Innovative Use of IT Award
This award will be judged on how member’s best use IT to promote their business. The judges will look for innovate use of IT rather than simply using the electronic medium for delivery. Promoting the philosophy of prioritising farmers, fishermen and local and artisan food producers will be taken into account.
Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co Cork
James Whelan Butchers, Co Tipperary
Temple Country Retreat and Spa, Co Westmeath
The Apple Farm, Co Tipperary
Good Food Ireland Best use of Sustainable Local Fish Award
This award highlights those who use/catch and promote sustainable fishing and locally caught fish from Irish coastal waters. It is to single out a member who is instrumental in ensuring sustainability and best practice standards, which will ultimately have an influence on the Irish food/fishing industry and its culture.
Caviston's Restaurant & Food Emporium, Co Dublin
Fishy Fishy Café, Co Cork
Martyn's Lobsters, Co Waterford
Rathmullan House, Co Donegal
The Winding Stair, Dublin
Good Food Ireland Top Regional Member Awards
Top Regional Member North
Belle Isle School of Cookery, Co Fermanagh
Ditty's Home Bakery & Coffee Shop, Co Derry
Gardiners Restaurant, Co Derry
Lough Erne Golf Resort, Co Fermanagh
Newforge House, Co Armagh
Top Regional Member South
Café Paradiso, Cork
Farmgate, Cork
Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
QC's Seafood Bar & Restaurant, Co Kerry
The Blue Geranium Café at Hosfords Garden Centre, Co Cork
The Cliff House Hotel, Co Waterford
The Poacher's Inn, Co Cork
The Tannery, Co Waterford
Urru Culinary Store, Co Cork
Top Regional Member East
Aldridge Lodge, Co Wexford
Café Odhran, Co Laois
Fallons Bar & Café, Co Kildare
Rathsallagh House, Co Wicklow
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin
The Winding Stair, Dublin
Top Regional Member West
Admiralty Lodge, Co Clare
Café Rua, Co Mayo
Doonbeg Golf Club, Co Clare
Gregan's Castle, Co Clare
Mount Falcon Country House Hotel, Co Mayo
Good Food Ireland Host of the Year Award
In a highly focused and demanding service industry, this award honours the person who offers demonstrable evidence of care, passion, attention to detail and a focus on providing service that excels in every way.
Maurice Keller - Arlington Lodge Country House Hotel, Waterford
Gillian Ennis - Carrygerry House, Co Clare
Bernadine Mulhall - Coolanowle Country House & Organic Farm, Co Carlow
Kay Harte – Farmgate, Cork
Kay O'Flynn - Rathsallagh House, Co Wicklow
Good Food Ireland Members’ Best Producer Award
Using the Good Food Ireland network is central to the organisation’s philosophy. This award will go to the producer the judges feel has been most actively sought out and promoted by fellow members.
Connemara Smokehouse, Co Galway
G's Gourmet Jams, Co Laois
Gubbeen Farmhouse Products, Co Cork
Inagh Farmhouse Cheese, Co Clare
Kelly's of Newport, Co Mayo
Silver Hill Foods, Co Monaghan
The Burren Smokehouse, Co Clare
Good Food Ireland International Dietary Award sponsored by Silverhill Foods
The international visitor to Ireland and indeed the home consumer has varied dietary requirements from pork-free to alcohol free to hallal to coeliac. This award honours the member that is most innovative in the kitchen and in their menu in recognising individuals own lifestyle/daily routines and nutritional requirements.
Cornucopia, Dublin
Itsa4, Dublin
Temple Country Retreat and Spa, Co Westhmeath
The Bread Crumb, Co Kerry
The Kitchen & Foodhall, Co Laois
Good Food Ireland Top Overall Member Award
This award is given to the member who most represents the philosophy of Good Food Ireland and is a benchmark for all others.
Ballymaloe House & Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork
Good Food Ireland Person of the Year Award
A person who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help and secure the future of Good Food Ireland This award highlights the enormous work and commitment that is carried on behind the scenes – that may not be obvious to the members and indeed the public.
Sean Boland, Managing Director Hertz Ireland
Posted by Caroline at September 30, 2008 9:05 PM
