Taste of Ulster Members Triumph At The 2020 Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards
Taste of Ulster members from every county took home certificates at the Ulster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards. The ceremony took place at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan.
The winners on the night for Best Restaurant were Antrim – OX Belfast, Armagh – Wine and Brine , Derry – Brown’s Bonds Hill, Down – Noble and Fermanagh – 28 Darling St
There were Best Chef awards for Stevie Toman of OX Belfast, Antrim, Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine in Armagh, Sean Harrigan of The Sooty Olive in Derry, Pearson Morris of Noble in Down and in Fermanagh, Glen Wheeler of 28 Darling St
Best Newcomer in Derry was won by Sixteen22 Gastro Pub at Beech Hill Country House and the accolade for Down went to Copper.
There were four Best Restaurant Manager awards for Taste of Ulster members including Cristina Higginson of Square Bistro in Antrim, Davina McGowan of Wine and Brine in Armagh, Zara Adair of The Sooty Olive in Derry and Saul McConnell of Noble in Down.
Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant in Antrim was won by Taylor and Clay Grill at the Bullitt Hotel. Newforge House took the prize for Armagh and in Fermanagh it went to the Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort. It also won Best Customer Service in Fermanagh.
Best Gastro Pub in Derry was awarded to the Walled City Brewery, in Down to The Poacher’s Pocket and in Fermanagh, The TapHouse
Best Café in Down was The Café at Montalto Estate and in Fermanagh, The Jolly Sandwich Bar.
Best Wine Experience in Antrim was won by OX Belfast, in Armaghby Clenaghans, in Derry by Brown’s Bonds Hill and in Down by Noble.
Best Kids Size Me in Antrim went to Neill’s Hill and in Down to The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro.
The county category winners of Best Local Food Hero were won by Charlie Cole of Broughgammon Farm in Antrim, James Huey of Walled City Brewery in Derry, Laura Bradley & Johnny McDowell of Indie Füde in Down and Declan O’Donoghue of Erne Larder Preserves in Fermanagh.
Ulster Regional Local Food Hero was won by Johnny Cuddy of IspiniCharcuterie in Tyrone
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine in Down was won by Brunel’s Restaurant, Newcastle and in Fermanagh the prize went to 28 Darling St in Enniskillen.
Best Casual Dining for Antrim was won by Yügo and in Armagh it went to Groucho’s on the Square
All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards. These will be held in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin on Monday 18th May, 2020.
