Ulster Regional Winners for the Irish Restaurant Awards 2012

The Ulster Regional Final For The Restaurant Awards 2012 sponsored By Santa Rita / Sunday Independent Life Magazine took Place In The Merchant Hotel, Belfast Tuesday 27th March 2012.

The List of Winners in each of the following categories were:

Best Customer Service

Antrim                          Berts Jazz Bar@ The Merchant Hotel

Armagh                         Pot Belly Restaurant

Cavan                            Mac Nean House & Restaurant

Derry                            City Hotel

Donegal                         Harveys Point Hotel

Down                             Cullodon Hotel

Fermanagh                   Dollakis

Monaghan                    Snaffles Brasserie@ Castle Leslie

Tyrone                         Oysters

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored By Faustino

Antrim                         The Morning Star

Armagh                        Digbys

Cavan                           The Blackhorse Inn

Derry                            Badgers Bar

Donegal                        Harrys Bar

Down                            Currans Bar

Fermanagh                  Customs House

Monaghan                    Andy's Bar

Tyrone                         The Brewers House

Best Casual Dining Sponsored By Joseph Drouhin

Antrim                         Il Pirata

Armagh                       Zio Restaurant

Cavan                          Pol O D's

Derry                           Flaming Jacks

Donegal                       The Harbour Restaurant

Down                           Strudle Bistro

Fermanagh                 Dollakis

Monaghan                   Conors Bar At Castle Leslie

Tyrone                        Deli On The Green

Wine Experience - Ulster - Sponsored By Thomas Barton

Harveys Point Co. Donegal

Kids Size Me – Ulster- Sponsored By Heinz

The Old Castle Bar & Red Hugh Restaurant

Best Hotel Restaurant

Antrim                        River Room Restaurant At Galgorm Resort & Spa

Armagh                      Newforge Country House

Cavan                         Setanta Restaurant At The Slieve Russell

Derry                         Ardmore Restaurant At Beech Hill Country House

Donegal                      The Weeping Elm Restaurant At Rathmullan House

Down                          Portaferry Hotel

Fermanagh                The Catalina Restaurant At Lough Erne Resort

Monaghan                  The Restaurant At Nuremore Hotel

Tyrone                       The Kitchen Restaurant At Lylagan Country House

Best Chef Sponsored By Tipperary Water

Antrim                        Damian Tumilty, Cafe Vaudeville

Armagh                      Dean Coppard, Uluru

Cavan                         Gearoid Lynch, The Olde Post Inn

Derry                          Ian Orr, Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge

Donegal                      Kelan Mc Michael, The Weeping Elm At Rathmullan House

Down                          Joery Castel, The Boat House

Fermanagh                Noel McMeel, Lough Erne Resort

Monaghan                  Andrew Bradley, Snaffles Restaurant At Castle Leslie

Tyrone                       Hayden Gamble, Vanilla

Best Restaurant Sponsored By Santa Rita

Antrim                        James St South

Armagh                      Uluru

Cavan                          Mc Nean House & Restaurant

Derry                          Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge

Donegal                      The Mill Restaurant

Down                          The Boathouse

Fermanagh                Watermill Restaurant

Monaghan                  Snaffles Restaurant At Castle Leslie

Tyrone                       Vanilla

All County winners will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the Burlington Hotel Dublin on Wednesday 14th May 2012 2. www.irishrestaurantawards.com . 

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

1. Mystery Guest Visit (35%) This component of the awards is conducted by Prism Consulting headed by Hugo Arnold, independent food writer and consultant. (http://www.hugoarnold.com). All County Winners receive a mystery guest visit throughout the month of April.

2. National Awards Academy (55%) Our National Awards Academy is made up representatives from each of the regional judging panels and will meet in May to Judge the County Winners.

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.

For Further Details Please Contact:

Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive, www.RAI.ie - 086 8263311.

Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme 2011 / 2012 open for Funding applications

The Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme (NIRFP), funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has opened for applications for 2011/12.

This programme was established as part of the implementation of The Fit for Market Report, which was published by the Food Strategy Group in November 2004.

The programme provides financial support for initiatives which promote quality regional food and collaboration between members of the local agri-food supply chain.

The food industry plays a central role in contributing to the wider Northern Ireland economy. It accounts for nearly 20% of manufacturing output and employs 50,000 people directly. The NIRFP helps to deliver the quality food message to thousands of people each year, here and further afield.

Since its inception in 2007 the programme has assisted the formation and development of many well known food promotion initiatives; the Food Pavilion at Balmoral Show, Magherafelt’s Speciality Christmas Food Market, Taste of Ulster and the award winning Great Belfast Food Initiative which includes the Belfast Bred Walking tours. Applications will be accepted within four key areas; regional fairs/shows; information programmes; award ceremonies; and seminars/ workshops.

The aim of the programme is to promote quality regional food and increase its consumption within Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.  The programme encourages all sectors of the agri-food industry to work together and provides financial assistance for eligible additional activities. It is not designed to substitute existing activities already funded by applicants.

Awards will be made on a competitive basis and only those applications that are judged to have best met the programme objectives will receive funding. New projects/events/programmes will be supported at a more favourable rate than established projects/events/programmes that have received support in the past

The objectives of the programme are:

*to assist the NI agri-food industry to develop and expand profitable and sustainable markets;

*to develop a thriving rural economy by raising profile of NI quality food; and

*to increase co-operation and communication between all sectors and representative bodies/groups of the NI food industry, therefore providing a united front to buyers and consumers

*Not for profit Agri–food groups representative of producers and/or processors who have an NI membership/remit; or       
*Registered Charities who plan to run events which include regional/local food and have an NI membership/remit.                                                                      
*Not for profit regional development agencies
* Joint applications from agri-food groups and/or charities or regional development agencies

Individuals or companies cannot apply unless they fall into one of the above categories. For the purpose of this programme, the definition of regional food and drink is that it must be grown, processed and/or packaged in NI. It should meet at least one of the following requirements:
· Adhere to quality assurance schemes which are above minimum legal requirements.
· Exceed minimum national and EU legal requirements in relation to hygiene, traceability, animal welfare.
· Promote the EU Protected Food Name Scheme.
· Organic products

Successful applications to the NIRFP can obtain up to 40% financial contributions on eligible expenditure

Applications are particularly welcome for collaborative ventures involving two or more of these organisations working together to deliver the objectives of the programme.

Closing date for completed applications will be 12 noon on Wednesday 20 April.

An application form for funding can be downloaded here from the DARD website or obtained from:

Ms Una Hollywood
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Room 516A
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast BT4 3SB

Tel: 028 9052 4497
E-mail: una.hollywood@dardni.gov.uk

Don't forget to feed the fish at the bottom of this post!

zack

Ulster Regional Finals of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2011 #raiawards

The Restaurant Association of Ireland #raiawards11
The Irish Restaurants Awards for the Province of Ulster were held on Monday 4^th April 2011, in The Merchant Hotel, Belfast. Over 250 people from the hotel & restaurant trade attended the ceremony and came from all corners of the region.

Sponsored by Santa Rita / Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine the awards are organised by the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI). The event recognizes achievement and excellence in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry throughout the Island of Ireland and celebrates all aspects of the Industry.

Full List of Regional Winners for Ulster are:

2011 Best Customer Service Award Donegal            Harveys Point Hotel

2011 Best Customer Service Award Armagh             Pretty Marys

2011 Best Customer Service Award Antrim               Shu Restaurant

2011 Best Customer Service Award Cavan               The Olde Post Inn

2011 Best Customer Service Award Derry                Beech Hill Country House

2011 Best Customer Service Award Down               Jeffers By The Marina

2011 Best Customer Service Award Tyrone             Oysters Restaurant

2011 Best Customer Service Award Monaghan       Snaffles Restaurant

2011 Best Wine Experience - Ulster Winner              Alden's

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Armagh                  Yellow Door Deli

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Donegal                 Kealys Seafood Restaurant

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Antrim                    Boca Restaurant

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Tyrone                    Rue Bar & Grill

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Cavan                     Murph’s Bistro

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Derry                      Halo Pantry & Grill

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Down                     Coyle’s Bistro

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Monaghan             Conor’s Bar Castle Leslie

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Armagh             Newforge Country House

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Donegal            Castlegrove House Hotel

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Monaghan         Snaffles Restaurant

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Antrim               The Dunandry

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Cavan               Slieve Russell Hotel

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Derry                 Beech Hill Restaurant

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Tyrone              Tullylagan Country House

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Down                The Olde Inn

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Donegal                    Harrys Bar & Restaurant

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Armagh                     Digbys

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Antrim                       The Morning Star Bar & Restaurant

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Cavan                       The Blackhorse Inn

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Derry                         Metro Bar

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Monaghan                Andy’s Bar

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Tyrone                      The Coach Inn

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Down                        Boyles of Drumore

2011 Best Chef Award Monaghan                          Raymond mcArdle

2011 Best Chef Award Tyrone                                James Divine, Deli on the Green

2011 Best Chef Award Derry                                  Ian Oar, Brown’s Restaurant

2011 Best Chef Award Cavan                                Nevin McGUire, McNean House

2011 Best Chef Award Down                                 Joery Castle, The Boat House Restaurant

2011 Best Chef Award Antrim                                Brian Mc Cann, Shu Restaurant

2011 Best Chef Award Armagh                             James Neilly, Manor Park

2011 Best Chef Award Donegal                            Darren Iddon, Solis Lough Eske

2011 Best Chef Award Fermanagh                       Noel McMeel, Lough Erne Resort

2011 Best Restaurant Award Tyrone                     Oysters Restaurant

2011 Best Restaurant Award Fermanagh             No.6

2011 Best Restaurant Award Cavan                      McNean House

2011 Best Restaurant Award Down                      The Boathouse

2011 Best Restaurant Award Derry                       Browns Restuarant

2011 Best Restaurant Award Donegal                 The Mill Restaurant

2011 Best Restaurant Award Antrim                     Telfords Restaurant

2011 Best Restaurant Award Monaghan              Restaurant at Nuremore

2011 Best Restaurant Award Armagh                  Uluru Bistro

The County winners will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles in the Burlington Hotel Dublin on Wednesday 25th May 2011.

See www.irishrestaurantawards.com for more.

Congratulations to all those took part from Zack at the http://www.irishfoodguide.ie/