YesChef Awards in Sligo Sponsored By Flogas
Restaurant of the Year – Greenes, Cork
Chef of the Year – Chris McMenamin, Harveys Point, Donegal
Young Chef of the Year – Ciaran Smyth, Ghan House, Carlingford
The seventh annual YesChef Awards was held last night in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo. Over 500 hospitality professionals from across Ireland came together to celebrate the success of their friends and colleagues.
Shane Smith, Managing Director of NI Media, said; “This year at NI Media we celebrate our 20th anniversary, as a business our mission is to promote the hospitality industry across Ireland and to shout about the achievements of those who work tirelessly to deliver fantastic experiences for their customers. The YesChef Awards are the highlight of our year and it is both a pleasure and a privilege to deliver these awards to the deserving winners. Each and every one of our finalists has been visited by an experienced researcher and to recognise the quality of their visitor experience our researchers have awarded the YesChef ‘Great Food Here’ quality mark.”
The menu for this year’s Awards Dinner was created, prepared and delivered by;
- The students of Letterkenny Institute of Technology and Chef Mentor Tim Dewhirst
- The students of Coláiste ĺde, Finglas with Chef Mentor Derek Flynn
- With an amuse bouche created by Daniel Mullarkey from the Tara Hotel in Killybegs.
Shane said; “We’d like to thank the young chefs and their mentors for creating such an amazing menu. Jack Duffy - YesChef and Joe Shannon from the Radisson Blu, Sligo for all their help and support. A massive thank you also to our dinner sponsors who make such a difference to the quality of our menu – Dingle Gin, Britvic, Ballinwillin Farm, Traditional Cheese Company, Causeway Prime, Crossogue Preserves, Keenan Seafood and Lindt Chocolate.”
The team at YesChef were also pleased to add a new award to the programme this year. Nicci Smith Editor said. “With sustainability becoming increasingly important, we wanted to recognise those in the industry who are making real changes in their business’ that really are to the benefit of all. My job role enables me to speak to chefs and restaurateurs, to hear their stories and how they hope to make a difference. What really stands out, is that sustainability isn’t a new concept to the industry - it is what real chefs have been doing in their kitchens and restaurants for generations.”
The YesChef Awards is sponsored by Flogas, Lynas, Bunzl McLaughlin, CLASSICdrinks, Taste of Gourmet, The Panel of Chefs of Ireland and Johnsons Coffee. Their support is invaluable to the growth and development of the programme.