16 November 2010

Members of the Good Food Ireland organisation were honoured for their achievements and commitment to supporting Irish food and for being the ‘best of their types’ at the Good Food Ireland 4th Annual Awards Ceremony in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel.

Over 250 key representatives from the food and tourism sectors including chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, farmers, fishermen and food producers from the four corners of Ireland were in attendance at the highly respected industry ceremony. Guest of honor for the evening was T.D. Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, who presented over 16 awards to members along with Founder of Good Food Ireland, Margaret Jeffares and Chairman, Redmond O’Donoghue.

Guests and leading industry figures enjoyed a fabulous dinner, which included fresh produce from a select number of Good Food Ireland artisan producers. Many famous faces from the foodie world stepped out last night to lend their support to Good Food Ireland, such as Hugo Arnold and Darina Allen..

The winner of the coveted Best Overall Member Award of Good Food Ireland was awarded to The Old Convent, Clogheen, Co Tipperary, which is owned by Dermot and Christine Gannon.

Below is a list for the award categories and winners:

Best New Member of the year award: The Silver Restaurant, Newbridge Silver, Co Kildare Natalie Collins

Best Next Generation Award: McGrath’s Butchers of Lismore Co Waterford, John McGrath

Best Use of Sustainable Fish: Caviston’s Seafood Restaurant & Food Emporium, Peter Caviston

Best Producer Award: M&D Bakery, Waterford City, Dermot Walsh

Best Farmers Market Award: Mahon Point, Cork, Rupert Hugh Jones

Host of the Year: Louise Clark Nude Food, Dungarvan, Waterford, Louise Clarke

Best Innovation and Enterprise Award: James Whelan Butchers, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Pat Whelan

Top Regional Member Shannon Region: Larkin’s Bar & Restaurant, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Maura Boyle

Top Regional Member East & Midlands: Fallon’s of Killcullen, Killcullen, Co Kildare, Brian Fallon

Top Regional Member North: Brown’s Restaurant and Champagne Lounge, Waterside, Co Derry, Ian Orr

Top Regional Member West: Café Rua & Rua, Castlebar, Co Mayo Aran McMahon

Top Regional Member North West: The Oarsman, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Leitrim, Ronan Maher

Top Regional Member South East: The Old Convent, Clogheen, Co Tipperary, Dermot and Christine Gannon

Top Regional Member South West: Gorman’s Clifftop House & Restaurant, Dingle Co. Kerry, Sile and Vincent O’Gorman

Top Regional Member Dublin: Chapter One, Ross Lewis

Founder and Managing Director of Good Food Ireland Margaret Jeffares comments, “The objective of the awards is to promote the philosophy of Good Food Ireland members in offering a high quality food experience by being the “best of their type” and in their commitment to supporting Irish farmers, fishermen and food producers. The awards are based on consumer nominations over the last 12-month period and an independent judging panel of six quality assurance representatives”. 

Good Food Ireland is the only all island organisation that brings together a network of like-minded, people across all sectors of the hospitality and food industry.

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To learn more about Good Food Ireland please log onto www.goodfoodireland.ie

For further information please contact:
Linda Thomas, Press Officer, Good Food Ireland. T+353 53 9158693 E lthomas@goodfoodireland.ie
Margaret Jeffares, Managing Director, Good Food Ireland. T+353 53 9158693 M+353 87 6674654
E mjeffares@goodfoodireland.ie

Note to the editor:
Good Food Ireland is an industry organisation that brings together under one umbrella good food places all over the island of Ireland that are committed to using local food and supporting our Irish farmers, food producers and fishermen. Our growing membership, currently 263 businesses employing some 5,000 people include B&B’s to 5 star hotels to restaurants, pubs, cafes, cookery schools, food shops, food producers and farmers markets. It is our objective to grow Ireland as a destination for good food and direct international visitors and Irish consumers to our member establishments so as to guarantee a quality Irish food experience. We want Good Food Ireland to become the all island icon for good food in Ireland and be the one stop shop for everyone who simply loves good food.