On Thursday night last Good Food Ireland hosted a tributary launch in The Merrion Hotel Dublin for US Journalist Colman Andrew's new book "The Country Cooking of Ireland". This was in gratitute for featuring Good Food Ireland in the book along with many of its members around the country. He refers to the many food heroes in Ireland and thanks Margaret Jeffares "for bringing it alltogether and showing it to the world".

At the launch he stressed that good food is hit and miss in Ireland and that you need to know where to find it and this is why he compliments Good Food Ireland for developing a network of like minded people in the hospitality and food businesses for coming together under one brand for their commitment to using local food so that the consumer will know where exactly to go to find it.

Colman's book "The Country Cooking of Ireland can be purchased online at www.goodfoodireland.ie/colmanandrewscountrycookingofireland

Congratulations to all the Good Food Ireland Members who took part in Good Food Ireland Week Cork. This was an initiative from the Good Food Ireland Cork Regional Committee. Over 50 members and food producers from all over the county of Cork, all heads of their own businesses have come together as one through Good Food Ireland to promote their commitment to good local food and to shout about it to the consumer. This is an amazing achievement by all those involved and a benchmark example of how businesses can come together, co-operate, be innovative, get up and do things for themselves and package and price their offer to the consumer.

The week was launched with a Good Food Ireland Showcase of the members in the English Market on Monday night last. An overwhelming 800 guests attended the event including the Lord Mayor, Civic dignitaries, Presidents of Business Associations, Directors from Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, IFA, UCC and a large contingent from local and national media.

Congratulations and gratitude has been pouring into the Good Food Ireland office for such a wonderful event on Monday night and for the initiative of the Good Food Ireland Week Cork. This one I believe sums it up “I thought last nights Good Food Ireland Cork Week launch was a splendid event. A beacon of light in these dark days! Well done to all”, Mary Daly

Media coverage too has been overwhelming and our heartfelt appreciation goes to them for their continued support of Good Food Ireland. Not alone has this publicity promoted the members in Cork but it has hugely benefited all 250 businesses throughout the island of Ireland who are members of Good Food Ireland.

Keep up the good work and here's to the next one ... we hope to be coming to a town near you soon so do you have any suggestions?

To celebrate St Valentine’s Good Food Ireland members in Cork City and County have come together for Good Food Ireland Week Cork from Monday, February 8th to Friday February 12th 2010. Over 30 restaurants, hotels, country houses, cafes and pubs will offer the public a Good Food Ireland Producer Plate and Glass of Wine for €15.00 and/or 3 nights Accommodation for the Price of 2.
 
“The aim of the week is to showcase the best quality Irish food places in Cork and to highlight Good Food Ireland members’ commitment to local community in their prioritising of local food and in supporting local farmers, food producers and fishermen” says Margaret Jeffares Managing Director Good Food Ireland.
 
Good Food Ireland is a club of the best quality restaurants, hotels, country houses, B&Bs, farmhouses, cookery schools, food shops and food producers committed to local food, good practice and sustainable ethics. It has almost 250 members all over the island of Ireland. Members are independently assessed to ensure that they meet the brand criteria. Good Food Ireland operates as a not for profit organisation and its vision is to grow Ireland as a food tourism destination and make its members the number 1 choice for food lovers www.goodfoodireland.ie
 
Good Food Ireland promotes the link between the food producer and the hospitality sector so as to steer the 9 million visitors to this country to places that are committed to using local food. Cuisine and food produce satisfies new traveller demands for hands-on, interactive experiences. Good Food Ireland promotes the people behind the food from the chef to the cheese maker and highlights the cultural relationship between a country, its people and its food.

For more information on all our special offers and events taking place during Cork Week please click here>>>

Good Food Ireland, for everyone who simply loves good local food held its annual awards ceremony in its member hotel The K-Club on Tuesday, September 22nd at 12 noon.

The lunchtime Irish artisan picnic reflected members’ continuous commitment to offering consumers a local food experience. Over 300 key representatives from the food and tourism sectors including chefs, restrauteurs, hoteliers, farmers, fishermen and food producers from the four corners of Ireland were in attendance. Guests of Honour speaking at the Awards included Trevor Sargent TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with responsibility for Food and Horticulture and key guest Ian Walker, Skipper of the Green Dragon in the Volvo Ocean Race who attendance in recognition of Good Food Ireland’s voluntary efforts in travelling all over the world during the race to feed the crew and promote Irish food tourism.

“The objectives of the awards are to highlight places committed to local Irish food so that consumers can find out and make informed choices on where to go to eat out or stay. Good Food Ireland is the only all island organisation that brings together a club of like-minded, committed people across all sectors of the hospitality and food industry” says Margaret Jeffares, Managing Director, Good Food Ireland

We would like to thank all of the Media who have been amazing in covering the awards and all of our membership activities over the past year. It is with their encouraging support and the voluntary efforts of the Good Food Ireland Membership that our organisation can grow.

Congratulations to all of you who were nominated for awards and of course to all the winners.
Visit our Awards Area to view all the nominations and winners>>>