FOOD CHAMPION – Sponsored by Úduarás na Gealtachta

Winner Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Burren Smokehouse, Co Clare

This award honours a person who has worked to drive and influence the Irish food scene within the last ten years.  A passionate and committed individual,  who through their work in growing, farming, producing or cooking with Irish food, has also made an outstanding contribution to  raising the profile of Ireland as a  top quality destination for discerning food lovers.

Shortlist:

• Evan Doyle, BrookLodge & Wells Spa
• JP McMahon, Aniar
• Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Burren Smokehouse
• Howard Hastings, OBE, Hastings Hotels
• Dermot Walsh,Walsh’s Bakehouse

INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR OF THE DECADE – Sponsored by EPIC Ireland

The Ambassador of the Decade Award highlights an individual or group who has  joined Good Food Ireland in volunteering to promote Irish food at home and abroad. This award highlights efforts which have gone beyond the call of duty, to help gain recognition for Ireland as a first class culinary destination.

Group Honourees honoured on the night:

• Sean Kelly, Kelly’s of Newport
• Darina Allen and Rory O’Connell, Ballymaloe Cookery School
• Eamonn and Mary Gleeson, Gleeson’s Restaurant and Rooms
• Peter Ward, Country Choice
• Robert Ditty, Ditty’s Bakery
• Kay Harte, Farmgate Café
• Nora Egan, Inch House & Restaurant
• Anthony Creswell, Ummera Smokehouse
• Declan Ryan, Ryan’s Arbutus Breads
• Ed Cooney, The Merrion Hotel
• Martin Shanahan, Fishy Fishy Café
• Jack McCarthy, McCarthy’s of Kanturk
• Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Burren Smokehouse
• Maurice Keller, Waterford
• Tom O’Connell, O’Connell’s in Donnybrook

RISING STAR – Sponsored by Shannon Heritage

Winner – Highbank Organic Orchards, Kilkenny

The Rising Star of the Decade highlights an individual, business or team which has adapted and added value over the last ten years, to bring a new dynamism to business, which in turn has had a direct result in increasing business and raising awareness of Ireland through its food.

Shortlist:

• Ballyvolane House
• Poacher’s Inn
• Urru Culinary Store
• Highbank Organic Orchards

SAVVY SOCIAL – Sponsored by House of Waterford Crystal 

Winner: Lemon Tree Restaurant, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

The Savvy Social business must think in terms of their specific business on this level playing field where size doesn’t matter, rather a combination of time, quality content and engagement does. The Savvy Social award will go to a member who has not only grasped the concept of using modern social media platforms in the professional arena, but who fully understands the power of technology to get the word out about their business and connect with people, integration of channels, use of different formats such as video, podcast, blog posts etc., and most importantly offers constant and consistent delivery of different types of content to their audience. A savvy social would also ensure they have integrated their social platforms to their website and instore/inhouse and printed materials.

Shortlist:

• The Butler’s Pantry
• Lemon Tree Restaurant
• ely Wine Bar
• Dublin Cookery School
• Faithlegg House Hotel

GOOD FOOD IRELAND HALL OF FAME – Sponsored by TrekkSoft

Mrs Veronica Steele – Milleens Cheese, Co Cork

The Good Food Ireland Hall of Fame honours individuals for their consistent, sometimes behind the scenes, beyond the call contribution and dedication to good Irish food and tourism at home and abroad. It also recognises the next generation, those who have influenced, inspired or effected change amongst Ireland’s youth, and those who will take forward with diligence a unanimous love of Irish food and hospitality. Past Honourees include Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe House, Good Food Ireland  Chairman Redmond O’Donoghue and Paddy Cosgrave of Web Summit.

Honouree being Awarded 

Mrs Veronica Steele, Milleen’s Cheese

“an iconic cheesemaker who created Ireland’s first farmhouse cheese, and has also spent years educating many young cheesemakers in the art, as well as travelling abroad to help  women in impoverished areas learn how to make cheese so they can  make a living and support their families. Veronica is a world class educator, a woman with a huge sense of humour and enormous sense of responsibility to her profession. She has enriched the lives of the many people who have crossed her path, always ready with advice or helpful tips for anyone in the food industry, cheese maker or not. A worthy Good Food Ireland Hall of Fame honouree, Veronica has made over forty years of contribution to Irish food production and to raising the profile of Irish farmhouse cheeses at home and abroad”