Female chef named best in Ireland

Danni Barry, the only female chef in Ireland to have a Michelin star, has been named Best Chef 2017 at the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) awards.

The 31-year-old, from Mayobridge, Co Down, is head chef at Deanes Eipic in Belfast. She previously worked with UK chef Simon Rogan at L'Enclume , as well as running the kitchen at Rogan & Co in Cartmel.

Chapter One in Dublin, owned by chef Ross Lewis, was named Best Restaurant at the awards, which were attended by restaurateurs, front of house and kitchen staff, at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin 4 on Monday night.

Six chefs, all previous winners of the regional titles, plus a representative of the hotel hosting the event, were each responsible for one course at the awards banquet, served to more than 900 industry figures.

Last week, the RAI came in for criticism for having no women on the panel chosen to cook at the event. The imbalance was highlighted by Athrú, the movement founded last year to empower women in the culinary arts and address gender imbalance in the industry in Ireland.

A planned protest at the awards ceremony, intended “to highlight the fact that we reject the all-male panel”, according to Athrú co-founder Hilary O’Hagan Brennan, was averted late last week. The group will now meet with representatives of the RAI to discuss the issue.

There were two national awards on the night for Dublin restaurant Forest & Marcy, which took Best Newcomer and Best Emerging Irish Cuisine. The restaurant’s head chef, Ciaran Sweeney, was also named best chef in Dublin.

Frenchman Alain Kerloc’h, joint-owner of Ox in Belfast, was named Best Restaurant Manager, and Ox also won the Best Wine Experience award.

The Local Food Hero for 2017 was awarded to Michael Kelly, founder of the Grow It Yourself movement and the driving force behind the GROW headquarters in Waterford.

A new award, for Pub of the Year, was won by Morrissey's of Co Laois, with Best Gastro Pub going to Walled City Brewery, Co Derry.

Riot Rye Bakehouse & Breadschool in Tipperary was named Best Cookery School, and Phibsborough coffee shop Two Boys Brew was singled out for best use of digital marketing.

AWARD WINNERS

Best Restaurant

All -Ireland – Chapter One, Dublin

Dublin – Chapter One, Dublin

Connaught – Kai Café & Restaurant, Galway

Leinster – Sha-Roe Bistro, Carlow

Munster - Wild Honey Inn, Clare

Ulster– MacNean House & Restaurant, Cavan

Best Chef

All -Ireland – Danni Barry of Deanes Eipic, Antrim

Dublin – Ciaran Sweeney of Forest & Marcy, Dublin

Connaught – Shamzuri Hanifa of The Cottage Restaurant, Leitrim

Leinster – Gary O’Hanlon of VM Restaurant at Viewmount House, Longford

Munster – Keith Boyle of The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford

Ulster – Danni Barry of Deanes Eipic, Antrim

Best Restaurant Manager

All -Ireland – Alain Kerloc’h of Ox, Antrim

Dublin – John Healy of Suesey Street, Dublin

Pub of the Year

All -Ireland – Morrissey’s, Laois

Dublin – The Long Hall, Dublin

Connaught – John Morans Bar, Mayo

Leinster – Morrissey’s, Laois

Munster – Davy Macs, Waterford

Ulster – The Coach House & Olde Bar, Monaghan

Best Hotel Restaurant

All -Ireland – The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel, Clare

Dublin – The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin

Connaught – Wildes at the Lodge, Mayo

Leinster – Ballyfin Demesne, Laois

Munster – The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel, Clare

Ulster – St Kyrans Country House Restaurant, Cavan

Best Newcomer

All -Ireland – Forest & Marcy, Dublin

Dublin – Forest & Marcy, Dublin

Connaught – Cian’s On Bridge Street, Mayo

Leinster – No. Three Old Bar & Restaurant, Louth

Munster – Holy Smoke, Cork

Ulster – Bull & Ram, Down

Best Gastro Pub

All -Ireland – Walled City Brewery, Derry

Dublin – The Exchequer, Dublin

Connaught – Keenans of Tarmonbarry Gastro Bar, Roscommon

Leinster – Mary Barry’s Bar, Wexford

Munster – Morrissey’s Bar and Restaurant, Clare

Ulster – Walled City Brewery, Derry

Best Customer Service

All -Ireland – The Maigue Restaurant at Dunraven Arms Hotel, Limerick

Dublin – Chapter One, Dublin

Connaught – Library Restaurant at Belleek Castle, Mayo

Leinster – Lennons @ Visual, Carlow

Munster – The Maigue Restaurant at Dunraven Arms Hotel, Limerick

Ulster – MacNean House & Restaurant, Cavan

Best Casual Dining

All -Ireland – The Muddlers Club, Antrim

Dublin – Etto, Dublin

Connaught – Bar One, Mayo

Leinster – Wild and Native, Wexford

Munster – Momo Restaurant, Waterford

Ulster – The Muddlers Club, Antrim

Best Wine Experience

All -Ireland – Ox Cave, Antrim

Dublin – Ely Wine Bar, Dublin

Connaught – Sheridans Cheesemongers Wine Bar, Galway

Leinster – Greenacres, Wexford

Munster – L’Atitude51 Wine Café, Cork

Ulster – Ox Cave, Antrim

Best Kids Size Me

All -Ireland – Café Rua, Mayo

Dublin – Farmhill, Dublin

Best World Cuisine

All -Ireland – Wa Café, Galway

Dublin – 777, Dublin

Best Café

All -Ireland – Lost & Found, Derry

Dublin – Meet Me in the Morning, Dublin

Local Food Hero

All -Ireland – Michael Kelly of GROW HQ, Waterford

Dublin – Brid & Colm Carter of Honest2Goodness, Dublin

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine

All -Ireland – Forest & Marcy, Dublin

Dublin – Forest & Marcy, Dublin

Best Digital Marketing

Two Boys Brew, Dublin

Best Cookery School

Riot Rye Bakehouse & Bread School, Tipperary

Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant

Pullman Restaurant at Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Galway

Best Seafood Experience

Fish Shop Queen St, Dublin

Best Cocktail Experience

Candlelight Bar at Siam Thai Dundrum, Dublin