Good showing for county’s pubs and restaurants
WEXFORD eateries did well the recent Irish Restaurant Leinster awards which took place in Trim and at which the region’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs were recognised for their commitment to top class cuisine.
Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said: ‘Now in their tenth year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the exquisite and admirable calibre of food available in our restaurants and pubs nationwide.
‘Online nominations have increased from 9,000 in 2013 to over 80,000 this year and with the increase in interest comes an increase in standards, making the judging process more difficult than ever,’ he said.
‘Our small island boasts everything from fine dining to high quality gastropubs, from the exotic taste explosions of world cuisine to the comfort of traditional dishes. We have an appreciation for what we eat, for the journey of our food from farm to fork, and for the dedication of those working in the food industry to serve up Ireland’s finest food.’
There was a double accolade in the Wexford honours for Paul Hynes who won the Best Chef award, with his restaurant La Cote Seafood Restaurant taking the top restaurant award.
The full list of Wexford winners: Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – The Kitchen at Gorey; Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – Aldridge Lodge Restaurant & Guesthouse; Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Whitford House Hotel; Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – Wild and Native Seafood Restaurant; Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Mi Asian Street Food; Best Restaurant Manager – Joanne Harding of the Aldridge Lodge; Best Wine Experience sponsored by Classic Drinks – Beaches Restaurant at Kellys Resort Hotel; Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – The Sky and The Ground; Best Café sponsored by Illy – The Wilds; Best Customer Service – Whitford House Hotel; Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – Katie Daly’s Bar and Restaurant Gorey; Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – The Duck Restaurant at Marlfield House; Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – PK Thai Cuisine; Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Paul Hynes at La Côte Seafood Restaurant and Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – La Côte Seafood Restaurant.