The winners of Ireland's longest-running food and hospitality awards were announced on Thursday, as the very best in Irish hospitality gathered at Bord Bia for the 2017 Georgina Campbell Awards.
Award winners include Harvey's Point Hotel, Donegal, Good Things cafe in Skibbereen, Co Cork, while Sebastien Masi of Pearl Brasserie, Dublin, was named top chef.
The awards set out to find food and hospitality “with heart”, said Ms Campbell. “What we seek is not perfection but real food and hospitality with real heart, and we’re finding it in clusters of excellence all over the country”
So where are the winners coming from this year?
Well, food outside of Dublin and in rural areas, seems to be stepping up. Campbell said, “We’ve had some especially good experiences in Northern Ireland again this year, and in areas such as The Burren and the northwest, including Derry, where communities work together to promote quality and bring different elements of hospitality together.”
Full list of winners
Hotel of the year: Harvey's Point, Lough Eske, Co Donegal
Restaurant of the year: Good Things at Dillon's Corner, Skibbereen, Co Cork
Chef of the year: Sebastien Masi, Pearl Brasserie, Dublin "Just ask!" restaurant of the year: 1826 Adare, Adare, Co Limerick. "Just Ask!" is a Bord Bia public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers when eating out to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes from.
A taste of the waterways award (in partnership with Waterways Ireland): Two Cooks Restaurant & Wine Bar, Sallins, Co Kildare
Seafood restaurant of the year: Jack's Coastguard Restaurant, Cromane, Co Kerry
Outstanding guest experience: Ballyvolane House, Fermoy, Co Cork
Host of the year: Kathleen O'Sullivan, Seaview House Hotel, Ballylickey, Co Cork
Business hotel of the year: The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin & Belfast
Wine award of the year 2017: Ely, Ely Place & IFSC, Dublin
Pub of the year: O'Dowd's of Roundstone, Roundstone, Co Galway
Newcomer of the year: Nook Café and Restaurant, Collooney, Co Sligo
Family friendly destination: Brigit's Garden, Rosscahill, Co Galway
Pet friendly hotel of the year: The Salty Dog, Bangor, Co Down
Hideaway of the year: Bishop's Gate Hotel, Derry, Co Londonderry
Atmospheric restaurant of the year: The Duck Terrace Restaurant, Marlfield House, Gorey, Co Wexford
Ethnic restaurant of the year: Pickle, Dublin 2
Casual dining restaurant of the year: 4 Vicars, Armagh, Co Armagh
Café of the year: An Fear Gorta/The Tea & Garden Rooms, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
Natural food award: Burren Glamping, Burren Free Range Pork Farm, Kilfenora Co Clare
Country house of the year: Viewmount House, Longford, Co Longford
Guesthouse of the year: Number 31, Dublin
B&B of the year: Carbery Cottage Guest Lodge, Durrus, Co Cork
Farmhouse of the year: Killiane Castle Country House & Farm, Drinagh, Co Wexford
Georgina Campbell award 2017 for services to irish food & hospitality: Peter and Mary Ward, Country Choice, Nenagh, Co Tipperary
