Galway city’s Michelin star restaurant Anair added yet another accolade to its ever increasing list after its Boutique Cookery School scooped the Innovative Cookery Course award at the Good Food Ireland Awards.
The awards ceremony, which had RTÉ’s Kathryn Thomas hosting and An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, presenting the awards to the winners, recently took place following an all day food tourism conference in The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
The Good Food Ireland Awards held in association with Kerrygold have now become the most coveted honour in the world of food and tourism. The event was attended by 350 guests from agri food and tourism hospitality businesses. This was a gathering of individuals all determined to put Ireland on the global stage for food lovers.
Speaking at the awards, Margaret Jeffares, founder of Good Food Ireland said: "We are a committed group that want to change Ireland's food reputation by giving the visitor one trusted guarantee for the very best food experience that builds a culinary picture of our country. Aniar Restaurant and Cookery School have succeeded in delivering this Good Food Ireland Experience to supreme levels of excellence."
Speaking at the Awards, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “I am delighted to present these awards which recognise the efforts of those who are producing, retailing, and cooking food to the highest quality and standard. Whether it is in restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, markets or accommodation, customers and visitors can have a truly memorable food experience because of the wonderful produce and talent we have in this country. These awards help to make Ireland synonymous with good food and this reputation is vital to supporting our €9 billion of food and drink exports and the 160,000 jobs in the agri-food industry."
Mount Juliet, Co Kilkenny, swept the boards taking the Good Food Ireland Supreme Award sponsored by Kerrygold, the Restaurant of the Year Award, and the Outstanding Place to Stay Award. Other winners on the night included Inch House Traditional Black Pudding for Producer of the Year, URRU Culinary Store in Bandon for Local Food Shop of the Year, The Oarsman won the Food Lover’s Choice Award, this award was voted on by the public. Newforge House, Co Armagh, won Culinary Haven of the Year, and Toacana Restaurant in Dublin won the newly introduced Grow It Yourself Award.
