IT is a remarkable testament to the skills and the creativity of Kevin Thornton that, every time a new food guide appears, we can bet confidently that his eponymous restaurant, in Dublin's Portobello, has scooped a new prize or a further accolade.
With stars and gongs from all the major books already under his belt after only 15 months back in business, Mr Thornton and his team have now added a selection as one of the Restaurants of The Year in Jim Ainsworth's Good Food Guide, an accolade shared with Ballina's Mount Falcon Castle.
The award goes to those places who have shown "particular merit or achievement" during the year, and Kevin Thornton's food is described as "near enough to perfection".
His autumn menu shows the style which so bedazzles the critics: magret of duck with girolle mushrooms and roasted baby turnip; loin of sika deer with pommes Maxim, salsify and baby leeks; fillet of ostrich with linguine of vegetables, shallots and wild mushrooms. Thrilling.
Thornton's 1 Portobello Road, Dublin 8. Tel: (01) 454 9067