TOP RESTAURANTS IN ULSTER ANNOUNCED AT

IRISH RESTAURANT AWARDS 2014

OVER THIRTY RESTAURANTS, HOTEL RESTAURANTS & CHEFS

 HONOURED AT PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

April 8^th 2014, Belfast.

The Ulster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards, in association with Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine, took place in The Merchant Hotel Belfast last night and named the top restaurants in the nine counties 2014.

Over 300 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Ulster, turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Speaking at the awards last night, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said; “The Irish Restaurant Awards celebrate their sixth year this year and have become the Island’s biggest food awards. The credibility that these awards have is reflected in the amount of nominations they received this year- over 19,000 votes were cast across nine categories, showing that these are the awards that everyone wants to win.

“The Irish restaurant scene is internationally recognised for its high calibre of restaurateurs and chefs. These awards celebrate the people that make the restaurant sector the dynamic and exciting industry it is. They are the people who provide 64,000 jobs to our economy and generate revenue in excess of €2 billion. We’re recognising the talent, hard work and commitment that everyone here gives to the food industry. Tonight, everyone is a winner.”

Having won the Best Newcomer Award in 2013, OX took home the award for Best Restaurant in Antrim, Best Chef in Antrim for Stephen Toman and Best Wine Experience for Antrim. OX Manager Alain Kerloc’h also took home the Award for Best Restaurant Manager in Ulster. For a full list of winners, see below.

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Best Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Hotel Restaurant, Best Casual Dining, Best Gastro Pub, Best Customer Service, Best Wine Experience and Best Kids Size Me.

All County winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Dublin on Monday 9^th June, 2014.

There are 3 components to phase two of the process. Each element is independently assessed by Ernst and Young.

1. Mystery Guest Visit (55%) This component of the awards is conducted by Prism Consulting headed by Hugo Arnold, independent food writer and consultant. All County Winners and Dublin Shortlist receive a mystery guest visit throughout the month of April and May.

2. National Awards Academy (35%) Our National Awards Academy is made up of representatives from each of the regional judging panels and will meet in May to Judge the County Winners and Dublin Shortlist. The Academy members include food writers, journalists, academics and hospitality magazine editors.

3. Menu Judging (10%) All County winners and the Dublin Shortlist in each category are asked to submit a copy of their food menu and wine list for judging. These menus are then independently reviewed by Bord Bia.

Voting in the Industry categories has been extended until Friday, 11^th April. Voting in these categories is exclusive to Restaurants Association of Ireland members only, with members competing for:

Industry Categories 2014

The winners of the Industry Categories will be announced at the All-Ireland event on 9^th June, 2014.

Tickets for the All-Ireland Event can be bought directly from the awards team on (01) 677 9901 or awards@rai.ie.

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Dalcassian & Wakefield Wines

v  Antrim- OX

v  Armagh- Uluru Bistro

v  Cavan- MacNean House and Restaurant

v  Derry- Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge

v  Donegal- The Mill Restaurant

v  Down- The Boat House Restaurant

v  Fermanagh- Watermill Lodge Restaurant

v  Monaghan- Courthouse Restaurant

v  Tyrone- Black Cat Restaurant

Best Chef – Sponsored by La Rousse Foods

v  Antrim- Stephen Toman, OX

v  Armagh- Sean Farnan, The Moody Boar

v  Cavan- Neven Maguire, MacNean House and Restaurant

v  Derry- Ian Orr, Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge

v  Donegal- Remy Dupuy, Castle Murray Restaurant

v  Down- Joery Castel, The Boat House Restaurant

v  Fermanagh- Noel McMeel, The Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort

v  Monaghan- Conor Mee, Courthouse Restaurant

v  Tyrone- Brian McMonagle, The Brewer’s House

Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Total Produce

v  Antrim- The Morning Star

v  Armagh- Sally McNally’s

v  Cavan- The Big Apple

v  Derry- Mary’s Bar

v  Donegal- The Water’s Edge

v  Down- The Hillside

v  Fermanagh- Blakes of the Hollow

v  Monaghan- Andy’s Bar and Restaurant

v  Tyrone- The Brewer’s House

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Bunzl McLaughlin

v  Antrim- Hadskis

v  Armagh- The Moody Boar

v  Cavan- Murph’s Bistro

v  Derry- Browns in Town

v  Donegal- La Bella Donna Restaurant

v  Down- Vanilla Restaurant

v  Fermanagh- Café Merlot at Blakes of the Hollow

v  Monaghan- Bistro Restaurant at The Fiddlers Elbow

v  Tyrone- Deli On The Green

Best Hotel Restaurant – Sponsored by Pallas Foods

v  Antrim- River Room @ Galgorm Resort

v  Armagh- Newforge House

v  Cavan- The Courtroom Restaurant @ Cabra Castle Hotel

v  Derry- Ardmore Restaurant @ Beech Hill Country House

v  Donegal- Castle Murray Restaurant @ Castle Murray House Hotel

v  Down- Rayanne House

v  Fermanagh- The Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort

v  Monaghan- Snaffles Restaurant @ Castle Leslie

v  Tyrone- The Kitchen Restaurant @ Tullylagan Country House Hotel

Best Customer Service- Sponsored by TheDiningRoom.ie

v  Antrim- Shu

v  Armagh- The Moody Boar

v  Cavan- The Olde Post Inn

v  Derry- Thompson’s Restaurant at City Hotel Derry

v  Donegal- Lakeside Restaurant at Harvey’s Point Hotel

v  Down- Vanilla Restaurant

v  Fermanagh- Dollakis

v  Monaghan- Courthouse Restaurant

v  Tyrone- Oysters Restaurant

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Classic Drinks & Hungerford Hill Wines

v  Antrim- OX

v  Armagh- Uluru Bistro

v  Cavan- MacNean House and Restaurant

v  Derry- Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge

v  Donegal- Lakeside Restaurant @ Harvey’s Point Hotel

v  Down- The Boat House Restaurant

v  Fermanagh- Watermill Lodge Restaurant

v  Monaghan- Snaffles Restaurant @ Castle Leslie

v  Tyrone- Oysters Restaurant

Best Kids Size Me – Sponsored by Heinz

v  The Olde Castle Bar & Red Hugh Restaurant, Donegal

Best Restaurant Manager (Ulster) – Supported by the Restaurants Association of Ireland

v  Alain Kerloc’h, OX, Antrim