Fota’s head chef named Ireland’s Chef of the Year
Fota Island Resort have been awarded two top industry awards at the prestigious Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards which took place at Lyrath Estate Hotel, Co. Kilkenny on Tuesday, 22nd March, hosted by Ireland’s favourite radio presenter Marty Whelan.
The popular Cork hotel claimed the prestigious accolade of Ireland’s Chef of the Year for The Cove Restaurant’s Head Chef Maris Urbanovics, while also being awarded bronze in Ireland’s 5 Star Hotel Spa Experience category.
The Cove Restaurant is the Resort’s speciality restaurant with a seasonal set menu options and six-course tasting menu. The imaginative menus draw on Head Chef Maris Urbanovic’s love of nature and foraging.
Maris, from Latvia, has been with Fota Island Resort since 2018, and his passion for cooking started at a young age, growing up by the sea and spending his childhood foraging with his parents, learning about sustainability within cooking. Falling in love with Ireland, he made Cork his home 15 years ago.
Carmel Guihen, General Manager at Fota Island Resort, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded Ireland’s Chef of The Year, a fantastic achievement for our Head Chef Maris Urbanovics, who along with the culinary team at the resort have worked so hard to bring innovative ideas and wonderful dining experiences to our guests.
Carmel continued, “I’d like to congratulate our wonderful spa team who were awarded bronze on the night in Ireland’s 5 Star Hotel Spa Experience category, a brilliant achievement for all of the team.”
RECOGNITION
On the day, The Kingsley beat off stiff competition to win the prestigious accolade of being named Ireland’s Best 4 Star Hotel and were also awarded bronze in Ireland’s 4 Star Hotel Spa Experience category.
Celebrating a remarkable 32 years, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards are the leading independent awards for the Irish hospitality industry and aim to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the hotel and catering sector throughout the country over the past twelve months.