It’s Irish Restaurant Awards time again.
Nominations opened today for the 2018 Irish Restaurant Awards with nominations available through the Irish Times website.
Now in their tenth year, the Irish Restaurant seek to recognise the best of every angle of the restaurant trade in every corner of Ireland (including pubs and cafés). You can nominate someone for Best Restaurant, Chef, Newcomer and everything from Best Gastro Pub to the Local Food Hero award, Best Seafood Experience to the Best Digital Marketing.
See also: Yes, there’s now a toasted sandwich festival in Ireland
One new category this year is Best Free From, going to “the establishment offering mouth-watering ‘free from’ options within their menus – meals free from the main list of allergens and whose presentation highlights the unique qualities of the ingredients”.
One nomination for the Irish Restaurant Awards is enough to be considered, but that’s only part of the process. The more nominations, the better, with nominations making up 20% of a restaurant’s score in the judging process. Judging panels meet in early spring to determine the county winners, before regional awards are announced.
Winners at county level will have a “mystery inspection” that add up to another 40% of scoring heading into the overall awards.
Irish Restaurant Awards Winners 2017
The actual awards night itself is one of the most anticipated in the Irish restaurant industry. The Clayton Hotel in Dublin hosted the grand finale in Dublin last May, the ceremony returning to the capital for 2018.
Among 2017’s winners were Ross Lewis’ Chapter One, named Best Restaurant, and the Michelin-starred Danni Barry of Belfast’s Eipic picking up the Best Chef award.
Vote in the Irish Restaurant Awards
Nominations close at midday on 24 January and if you submit a nomination, you’re automatically entered into a draw for a two night stay at Aherne’s Townhouse, Cork or a stay at Viewmount House in Longford – tasty stuff.
Comments 2