Cork cooks up victory at food awards

CORK had the right mix of ingredients to sweep the boards at a major food marketing awards ceremony yesterday.

Food producers, hotel owners and restaurateurs from the city and county, who have a real passion for good food, wine and hospitality, walked away with nearly one-third of the Good Food Ireland awards.

Good Food Ireland is a marketing group which promotes and supports its members who have real passion for their businesses.

Of the 18 awards it dished out, five of the winners were from Cork:

*Gleesons in Clonakilty won the Café Restaurant of the Year.

*Café Paradiso on the city’s Western Road won the Regional Award.

*Mirco Walsh of the Farmgate Café in the city won the Wine Person of the Year award.

*Hayfield Manor Hotel won the Hotel of the Year award.

*Ballymaloe House and Cookery School won the Newcomer of the Year award.

Good Food Ireland supports its 170 members who have a real passion for their businesses. It champions the cause of people with discerning palates to ensure they will find good, wholesome and rewarding food in all its listed outlets.

Members source products locally which are then simply prepared and served with genuine warmth, said Good Food Ireland managing director Margaret Jaffares.

Despite the pace of modern life, there is no reason why people should compromise on taste to the extent that big business would like us to do, she said.

“Processed food will always be there, but for those of us who care and want good food, we need direction. To this end we have included food producers in our group and hope that by promoting them alongside our restaurants and accommodation providers there will a greater understanding and awareness of each other.”

During the awards ceremony, Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue paid tribute to her for her work and for contributing to Ireland’s tourism business.