Aimsir, a 24-seat restaurant in Co Kildare serving a tasting menu created using only Irish indigenous ingredients, has been named Restaurant of the Year 2020 at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food & Hospitality Awards.
Cornish-born chef Jordan Bailey and his Danish wife Majken Bech-Bailey opened Aimsir in May, having spent more than a year planning it and renovating a stone cut building which was formerly a cookery school on the Cliff at Lyons property in Co Kildare.
Marlfield House in Co Wexford took the Hotel of the Year award. The country house property, run by the Bowe family, last year celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Finnish chef Mickael Viljanen of The Greenhouse, in Dublin 2, was named Chef of the Year, an accolade that was also bestowed on him at the recent Food & Wine online magazine awards.
Launching the awards, Georgina Campbell remarked on the contribution made to Irish hospitality by the late Myrtle Allen, and others of her generation, who she described as “the pioneers of the genuine hospitality, sustainable food sourcing and innovation that Ireland is gaining a reputation for today”.
However, she also warned about lack of training in the hospitality industry and disappointing standards, at the top end of the hotel market. “When carrying out our independent and anonymous assessments around the country, we have encountered disappointments once again, and particularly with some four- and five-star hotels, where there really should be no excuses,” she said.
“There is a worrying lack of a sense of hospitality in some cases and poor training– or indeed no apparent training at all – and it is baffling that there are still issues with standards at top establishments every year.”
Rising hotel prices were also flagged, and Campbell warned that Ireland was “losing the competitive edge that was so hard won during the recession.”
An award was also presented to Belfast chef and restaurateur Michael Deane, who was named Ireland’s Hospitality Hero of the Year. The Lodge at Ashford was named Ireland’s Pet-Friendly Destination of the Year.
Five food producers received Natural Food Awards – Carlow Free Range Chicken; Goatsbridge Trout Farm; Drummond House Garlic; Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers, and Longueville House Beverages.
GEORGINA CAMPBELL IRISH FOOD & HOSPITALITY AWARDS
NATURAL FOOD AWARDS (Poultry | Fish | Vegetables | Dairy | Drinks)
Carlow: Carlow Free Range Chicken
Kilkenny: Goatsbridge Trout Farm
Louth: Drummond House Garlic
Tipperary: Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers
Cork: Longueville House Beverages/Longueville Apple Brandy
B&B OF THE YEAR
Winner: Glasha Farmhouse, Waterford
Highly commended: Sheedys, Doolin and Fergus View, Clare
GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Perryville House, Cork
Highly commended: Pembroke Townhouse, Dublin and Teach De Broc, Kerry
COUNTRY HOUSE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Ballyvolane House, Cork
Highly commended: Coopershill House, Sligo and Temple House, Sligo
STREET FOOD OF THE YEAR
Winner: The Garden Café Truck, Ballymaloe
Highly commended: The Hatch, Castlewellan and The Market Kitchen, Dublin
CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
Winner: Waterford GIY café
Highly commended: Country Choice, Tipperary and Kelly's Café, Wexford
CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Winner: James St, Belfast.
Highly commended: Jacques, Cork and Dunne & Crescenzi, Dublin
ETHNIC RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Winner: Grano, Dublin
Highly commended: Ananda, Dublin and Wa Café, Galway
ATMOSPHERIC RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Winner: Overwood at Balloo House, Down
Highly commended: 1826 Adare, Limerick and Greenes Restaurant at Hotel Isaacs, Cork
HIDEAWAY OF THE YEAR
Winner: The Hideaway at Dromquinna Manor, Kerry
Highly commended: Newforge House, Armagh and Ardtara Country House, Derry
PET FRIENDLY DESTINATION OF THE YEAR
Winner: The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Mayo
Highly commended: Ardilaun Hotel, Galway and Warehouse No 1 Bistro & Café, Derry
FAMILY FRIENDLY HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Winner: Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny
Highly commended: Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan and Killashee Hotel, Kildare
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Killeavy Castle, Armagh
Highly commended: Restaurant Lady Anne, Kilkenny and No. 14 The Georgian House, Down
PUB OF THE YEAR
Winner: The Roadside Tavern, Clare
Highly commended: Tavern Bar & Restaurant, Mayo and Ballymore Inn, Kildare
WINE & DRINKS EXPERIENCE
Winner: Chapter One, Dublin
Highly commended: Paradiso, Cork and Sheridans Wine Bar, Galway
BUSINESS HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Winner: The Shelbourne, Dublin
Highly commended: Ballygarry House Hotel & Spa, Kerry and Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo
HOST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Castle Grove, Donegal – Mary Sweeney
Highly commended: Viewmount House, Longford – Beryl Kearney and Glen House, Donegal – Sonia McGonigle
OUTSTANDING GUEST EXPERIENCE
Winner: Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites, Galway
Highly commended: BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, Wicklow and Quay House, Galway
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Winner: King Sitric Fish Restaurant & Accommodation and East Café Bar, Dublin
Highly commended: Eithna's By the Sea, Sligo and Vaughans Anchor Inn, Clare
A TASTE OF THE WATERWAYS AWARD
Winner: Wineport Lodge, Westmeath
Highly commended: The Cottage, Leitrim and Larkins, Tipperary
"JUST ASK" RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner: The Wilds Enniscorthy, Wexford
Highly commended: Flanagan's Gastro Pub, Mayo and Dunmore House Hotel, Cork
'TASTE THE ISLAND' INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Tartare, Galway
Highly commended: W8 Centre & Osta@W8, Leitrim and Killary Lodge & The Misunderstood Heron, Galway
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Winner: Mickael Viljanen, The Greenhouse, Dublin
Highly commended: Andy McFadden, Glover's Alley, Dublin and Stephen Toman, OX, Belfast
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Winner: Aimsir, Kildare
Highly commended: MacNean House & Restaurant, Cavan and Liath, Dublin
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Winner: Marlfield House Hotel, Wexford
Highly commended: No. 1 Pery Square, Limerick and Castle Leslie, Monaghan
GEORGINA CAMPBELL 'HOSPITALITY HERO' AWARD
Winner: Michael Deane
