Taste of Ulster Members Smash It at the Ulster RAI Awards 2023!
There were several happy members of Taste of Ulster at the Ulster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on Tuesday 21st March, 2023.
Wine and Brine in Armagh got the county’s Best Chef (Chris McGowan), Best Restaurant and Best Wine Experience. Best Restaurant in Antrim went to OX, while Alain Kerloc’h from OX got Antrim’s Best Restaurant Manager award. Best Chef in Antrim was Gareth McCaughey, The Muddlers Club. Best Newcomer in Antrim was Roam while Edo took Best Casual Dining, Newforge House in Armagh won Best Customer Service and was also named the county’s Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant.
Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant awards went to the Galgorm in Antrim, The Salty Dog Hotel and Bistro in Down, and the Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne, Fermanagh. Clenaghans in Armagh won Best Emerging Irish Cuisine and The Cuan took home that award for Down.
Four members won in the Best Sustainable Practices category. They were the Academy Restaurant, Ulster University for Antrim; Killeavy Castle Estate in Armagh; the Manor House Country Hotel in Fermanagh and Corick House Hotel and Spa in Tyrone.
The Smugglers Table in Down won Best Free From for that county, whilst The Tailor’s House took it home for Tyrone. Also in Down, Brunels won Best Customer Service. All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 15th May in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4.
