Food and hospitality businesses in the west dominated last night’s Good Food Ireland awards, with the supreme prize going to Aniar Restaurant in Galway city. It won its first Michelin star last month and is the only establishment in the west to hold a Michelin star.
The other businesses in the west to take home awards included family-run farmhouse bakery the Foods of Athenry; the Food Store in Claremorris; Cafe Rua in Castlebar; Kai Cafe and Restaurant in Galway city; Renvyle House Hotel in Connemara and, farther north, Hargadon’s pub in Sligo town.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the food sector was critical to the economy and the key role that locally produced and artisan foods would play in the economic recovery.
“More and more, Irish counties, towns and villages are becoming associated with their locally produced and artisan food and these are a unique selling point to our visiting tourists,” he said.
Winners:
Ambassador of the Year: Ed Cooney, The Merrion Hotel, Dublin;
Cafe of the Year: Cafe Rua, Castlebar, Co Mayo;
Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: Farmgate, Midleton, Co Cork;
Cookery School of the Year: Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co Cork;
Culinary Haven of the Year: Renvyle House Hotel, Co Galway;
Culinary Hotel of the Year: BrookLodge, Co Wicklow;
Food Lovers’ Choice Award: Kai Cafe and Restaurant, Galway city;
Food Pub of the Year: Hargadon’s, Sligo town;
Local Food Shop of the Year : The Food Store, Claremorris, Co Mayo;
Newcomer of the Year: Aniar Restaurant, Galway city.
Newcomer regional winners:
South: (Joint winners) Sage Restaurant, Midleton, Co Cork, and Mount Juliet, Co Kilkenny;
West: Aniar Restaurant, Co Galway;
North: Balloo House, Killinchy, Co Down;
East: Harte’s Bar and Grill, Kildare town;
Restaurant of the Year: Restaurant FortyOne at Residence, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin;
Producer of the Year: The Foods of Athenry, Galway;
“Come and See” Producer of the Year: The Apple Farm, Cahir, Co Tipperary;
Supreme Award of the Year: Aniar Restaurant, Galway city.
