GROWING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH… YEAR TWO AT THE YESCHEF AWARDS

The YesChef Awards 2016 took place at the Hodson Bay Hotel & Spa, Athlone last Tuesday, 20th October. This year’s much aniticpated event, which honours the work of Ireland’s hard-working chefs, both young and old, was a superb success with very deserving winners from across the island.
The main award on the night went to David Gilmour of James St. South, Belfast who was awarded Best Chef 2016, but also Best Young Chef went to Brian Murphy, The Talbot Hotel, Belmullet.

Last year’s 17 categories were extended to 36 to reflect the level of nominations, which reached over 5,000. “We honestly had little choice, but to extend the number of categories, we knew year two was going in one direction and that was bigger and better,” said Shane Smith, publisher of YesChef Ireland. “We are delighted to say that following the inspections and a very tough day for the senior independent judging panel in mid-September, the list of winners were truly deserving in our eyes and we were excited to honour them at the event.”

The food at the YesChef banquet was nothing less than one would expect from a team of well-trained professional chefs, except it was not a team of professional chefs, but what YesChef know as the future – a selection of Ireland’s culinary students. Teams arrived with produce from across the island, prepped and ready for the big night and they did themselves proud. “A huge thank you to Michael Quinn and his team from Waterford IT, Gabriel McSharry and his team from Letterkenny IT and Barry Smyth and his team from the Southern Regional College, Newry,” stated Shane Smith.

“The standards, the level of culinary excellence and the overall creation of a team that had never met before to come together and produce what any top class chef would be proud to put his name to was a superb achievement. Our thanks also goes out to Chef Simon Dougan of The Yellow Door Deli and Outdoor Catering and also to Executive Chef Munur Kara of Trump Turnberry who teamed up to oversee and co-ordinate the smooth running of the night.”

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Shane went on to say, “It is very clear to me as a foodie and the publisher of YesChef Ireland and Scotland that the level of commitment to the hospitality industry is superb and is clearly written in so many menus across Ireland and Northern Ireland. It’s all about the provenance and sourcing the best, thus allowing chefs and restaurants to deliver consistency on a plate, let it be a fresh seafood dish, lamb chops or even a great burger; without the farmers, producers and the people who service them, the levels of quality would surely diminish.”

“A word to our headline sponsors, Flogas, Brakes Ireland, Kettyle Irish Foods, The Panel of Chefs Ireland, Keenan Seafoods, Johnson Brothers Coffee and Fields Jewellers for their support and commitment to the awards from day one. Any assistance required was given with a heart and a half and we look forward to working with you and all of our other sponsors in the future. And finally, huge thanks go to each and every person at the YesChef HQ who put such supreme effort into what is going to be the go-to event each year.”

Special congratulations to SAFA Indian for winning the YesChef Reader’s Award

www.yeschef.ie

YESCHEF AWARDS RESULTS 2016

Best Newcomer, Connacht

Cox’s Steakhouse, Dromod, Co. Leitrim

Best Newcomer, Leinster

Tides Gastro Pub, Rosslare, Co. Wexford

Best Newcomer, Munster

Food Heaven, Ennis, Co. Clare

Best Newcomer, Ulster

Ochos Tapas, Portrush, Co. Antrim

Best Gastro Pub

Bar One, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Best World Food

Sol y Sombra Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Killorglin, Co. Kerry

Best Street Food

Pyke ‘N’ Pommes, Derry

Best Golf Club Dining

19 at Lucan Golf Club, Co. Dublin

Best Front of House, Connacht

Renvyle House Hotel & Resort, Connemara, Co. Galway

Best Front of House, Leinster

Ballyfin Demense, Ballyfin, Co. Laois

Best Front of House, Munster

Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork

Best Front of House, Ulster

Galgorm Resort & Spa, Ballymena, Co. Antrim

Best Indian

Ananda, Dundrum, Dublin 14

YesChef Readers’ Award

Safa, Belfast

Best Casual Dining

Paddy Coynes Pub, Renvyle, Co. Galway

Best Castle Dining

Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co. Leitrim

Best Country House

The Red Door, Inishowen, Co. Donegal

Best Seafood

La Côte Seafood Restaurant, Custom House Quay, Wexford

YesChef’s Rising Star

Rory Carville, Manor House Country Hotel, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh

Best Skill & Innovation

Bryan McCarthy, Greene’s Restaurant, Cork

Best Irish Culinary Experience

Joy Beattie, The Hot Stove, Dublin

Best Chef Connacht

Tim O’Sullivan, Renvyle House, Connemara

Best Chef Leinster

Barry Liscombe, Hartes of Kildare, Co. Kildare

Best Chef Munster

Wade Murphy, 1826 Adare, Co. Limerick

Best Chef Ulster

Joery Castel, The Boathouse Restaurant, Bangor, Co. Down

Best Hotel Restaurant

Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork

Best Fine Dining Restaurant

MacNean House & Restaurant, Blacklion, Co. Cavan

Best Newcomer, Ireland

Ochos Tapas, Portrush, Co. Antrim

Best Front of House, Ireland

Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork

Best Young Chef, Connacht

Brian Murphy, The Talbot Hotel, Belmullet, Co. Mayo

Best Young Chef, Leinster

Lorna Rochford, Brandon House Hotel, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Best Young Chef, Ulster

Wayne Elliott, Uluru Bistro, Armagh

Best Young Chef, Ireland

Brian Murphy, The Talbot Hotel, Belmullet, Co. Mayo