Irish Times magazine food columnist Jess Murphy has been named Blas na hÉireann Producers' Champion 2019. The award is made annually in recognition of support for and promotion of Irish food producers.
It is voted on by members of the Blas na hÉireann network which includes food producers in every county in Ireland. Previous recipients include Tánaiste Simon Coveney, chef and broadcaster Neven Maguire and food writers John and Sally McKenna.
Murphy, a New Zealand-born chef who has been in Ireland since 2003, runs Kai restaurant in Galway with her husband David. She was voted Best Chef in Ireland in the 2018 Irish Restaurants Awards.
“Our suppliers have become our friends and our extended family,” Murphy said at the presentation of the award in Dublin on Wednesday morning. “I am proud to have been voted Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champion 2019 by people I have such respect and admiration for – it is a pleasure to work with them and their fantastic produce.”
The award was presented by Artie Clifford, chairman of Blas na hÉireann, who himself was the recipient this week of the Restaurants Association of Ireland's Mike Butt award, in recognition of outstanding contribution to the Irish food industry.
The Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards are judged and presented annually in Dingle, Co Kerry in October.
