Taste of Ulster Members Triumph at the RAI Ulster Awards
Dozens of Taste of Ulster members took home plaudits at the Ulster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2022 which took place in the Slieve Russell Hotel, County Cavan on Tuesday 23rd August 2022.
Wine and Brine in Moira took Best Restaurant and Best Chef (Chris Magowan) and Best Wine Experience for Armagh while Deane’s EIPIC’s Alex Greene won Best Chef in Antrim and Stephen Holland from Lough Erne Resort was named Best Chef in Fermanagh.
The Best Restaurant in Derry/Londonderry was Brown’s Bonds Hill. The Derry/Londonderry award for Best Chef was won by Natalia Polo Mullan from Ocho Tapas Bistro in Portstewart.
The Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant category was awarded to the Grand Central Hotel, Belfast for Antrim. In Armagh, it was Newforge House. Derry/Londonderry was won by Ardtara Country House. It was The Cuan in Down. The Catalina at Lough Erne Resort was the Fermanagh winner while in Tyrone, the award went to the Corick House Hotel & Spa. Newforge House won Best Customer Service in Armagh. Best Customer Service in Antrim was Bushmills Inn. No. 14 at The Georgian House in Down won a new award category for Best Sustainable Practices.
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine in Armagh was won by Clenaghans. Best Wine Experience in Antrim was given to Ox Cave Belfast. Best Café in Down was Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, in Fermanagh, The Jolly Sandwich Bar won. The Hillside won the Pub of the Year Award in Down.
Local Food Heroes for each county included Simon Dougan from the Yellow Door Deli, Armagh , Indie Fude’s Laura Bradley in Down and Ric Dyer Symphonia Gin – Woodlab Distillery in Tyrone. In the Best Gastro Pub category, The Morning Star took the Antrim prize and the Walled
City Brewery won in Derry/Londonderry.
“It has been a tough time, as we all know, so extra well done to all these worthy winners and best wishes for the upcoming final” said Taste of Ulster CEO, Michele Shirlow. Speaking at the Ulster Regional Awards CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins, said; “Now in their 13th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns after the 2020 Awards were cut short. The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing and up
and coming talent in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without the dedicated and passionate staff in the industry.”
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 19th September 2022 in the Convention Centre Dublin(CCD).
Find out more here: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/
