Three new stars of Irish cuisine prove Michelin judges have great taste!
THREE Irish restaurants have received their first Michelin star, while another has been elevated to two-star status. The awards, announced at a ceremony in Manchester last night, saw Homestead Cottage in Co. Clare, the Bishop’s Buttery in Co. Tipperary and D’Olier Street in Dublin all given the nod of approval by the renowned restaurant guide.
There was joy also for Terre in Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, which earned a second star, having taken one on its debut last year.
French chef Vincent Crepel was commended for his ‘powerful and sophisticated cooking’, with guests enjoying a tasting menu lasting three and a half hours for €180.
‘Receiving two Michelin stars, Terre provides original, modern cooking worthy of its setting inside the breathtaking Castlemartyr Resort,’ the judges said.
The restaurant describes itself as ‘contemporary and intimate’, with the ‘best larder in Ireland’ focusing on local, seasonal produce.
Ms Crepel said: ‘At Terre, my aim is for the dining experience at Terre to bring pleasure to your being and joy to your soul’.
Those retaining their two stars included Dublin restaurants Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen and Patrick Guilbaud, together with Dede in Baltimore, Cork.
The judges noted that the new one-stars were an ‘interesting and diverse’ selection, and the Irish recipients were no exception.
Robbie and Sophie McCauley opened Homestead Cottage in Doolin, Co. Clare last summer, and went on to be named ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at the Food & Wine awards last November.
Located in a 200-year-old former fishing cottage, it serves an €80 tasting menu three nights a week, with lunch available Thursday to Saturday and an all-day Sunday lunch for €45. It seats 35 diners, and is described by Mr McCauley as ‘almost hyper-local’ in its approach to food.
The judges said: ‘The terrific cooking at Homestead Doolin brings one Michelin star to Ireland’s rural west coast... It is pretty remote but well worth the journey for perfectly judged cooking.’
The luxurious Cashel Palace hotel now has a one Michelin star restaurant, thanks to the team at the Bishop’s Buttery.
The restaurant reopened in 2022 after the hotel received a multimillion-euro refurbishment from its owners, billionaire Coolmore boss John Magnier and his wife Susan. It offers a dinner menu priced at €110 per person that includes dishes like east Cork crab with oscietra caviar, sika deer with Jerusalem artichoke, and roast chestnut soufflé.
It is not the Magniers’ first brush with hospitality and their various interests include Sandy Lane in Barbados, a glamourous resort popular with soccer stars and reality TV stars.
But the hotel was said to be their first solo project with a personal interest.
Susan’s father, Vincent O’Brien, the renowned horse trainer and six-time Derby winner, once owned the property, and the couple had their first date by the fire in its sumptuous entrance hall. D’Olier Street in Dublin city centre is owned by chef James Moore, frontof-house manager Jane Frye, and Anthony Smith, who is also behind Mr Fox on Parnell Street. It serves a 12-course tasting menu for €96, with a five-glass wine pairing priced at €68 per person.
The Michelin Guide judges said: ‘One Michelin Star goes to D’Olier Street in Dublin, where the dishes are as beautiful as the building.’
One star awards were retained by Aniar in Galway; Bastible in Dublin; Campagne in Kilkenny, Chestnut in Ballydehob, Cork; Glovers Alley, Dublin; House, Ardmore, Waterford; The Oak Room, Adare, Limerick and Variety Jones, Dublin.
Meanwhile the Michelin Chef Mentor Award went to Michel Roux, whom the judges said had ‘helped nurture so many talented chefs over three decades in the kitchens of Le Gavroche’.
The Masterchef: The Professionals star closed his two-star restaurant in London last month, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and focusing on other business ventures.
He received a standing ovation at the awards ceremony, saying of his last service: ‘It was hard, it was tough, but we had a big glass of Champagne or two with all the team there.’
Last week, five restaurants around Ireland were awarded Michelin Bib Gourmands: La Gordita, Amy Austin and Lottie’s in Dublin, Ichigo Ichie Bistro in Cork, and Solas Tapas in Dingle. The Bib Gourmand scheme highlights restaurants offering great-quality, great-value cooking.