Kilkenny triumphs in Irish Restaurant Awards

Six Kilkenny food stars and venues were lauded at the All Ireland Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023.

Almost 1,200 restaurant and hospitality business owners and sta celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs, hospitality business and sta turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Kilkenny’s winners on the night were:

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino

Leinster: Aroi Asian Fusion

Restaurant, Kilkenny

Best Café Sponsored by Illy

Leinster: Café La Coco, Kilkenny

Best Wine Experience

Sponsored by Bibendum

Ireland

Leinster: Ristorante Rinuc- cini, Kilkenny

Best Restaurant Manager

Sponsored by Halcyon

Group

Leinster: Aga Kubinska, Lady

Helen Restaurant at Mount

Juilet Estate

Best Free From Sponsored by the Restaurants Asso- ciation of Ireland

Leinster: e Cutting Vedge, Kilkenny

Local Food Hero Sponsored by e Irish Times

Leinster: Mag Kirwan, Goatsbridge Trout Farm

Speaking at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said: “Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a recordbreaking number of public nominations – over 130,000. is sheer number of votes highlights the support and appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it.”

“ e Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on o er in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. As an industry, the restaurateurs, pub-owners and entrepreneurs of Ireland, continue to defy the odds. You strive to create jobs, expand upon Ireland’s understanding of food standards and world cuisine, all while maintaining exemplary customer service. Your support of Irish produce has never been greater and for this you should be wholeheartedly applauded. Tonight, is a celebration of your unrelenting commitment, ambition and devotion to the Irish Food Industry.”

All of the Regional and All Ireland Winners were announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 15th May in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road.

More information on the Irish Restaurant Awards: https://irishrestaurantawards. com/faqs/

Anne Marie has had a successful career as one of Ireland’s top dressage athletes, competing in International Small Tour and Big Tour and was crowned Irish National Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kur Champion in 2016 and 2017. She brings a wealth of experience to the table and has played an in uential role in the growth and development of youth dressage in Ireland. She was appointed HSI Youth Dressage High Performance Director when the programme began in 2013 and will remain in this position. e immediate focus for the Irish Senior Dressage squad will be on the pool of athletes who have quali ed, or have yet to achieve quali cation, for the FEI Dressage European Championship for Seniors in Riesenbeck, Germany this year.

Speaking about the appointment, Anne Marie said: “I’m very much looking forward to taking up the position as the High Performance Director for Senior Dressage.

“We have some great combinations on the circuit at the moment and I am excited to be working with each of these athletes and building up a strong team.

“Alongside quali ed combinations some of our athletes secured the rst of their qualication scores for the European Championship recently and we will be putting a plan in place to maximise our potential for the European Championship and beyond.

“I would like to thank Johann for his work over the last number of years, I was fortunate to have observed and availed of his coaching during his tenure and we also had a number of very bene cial collaborations with my youth squads. Also thank you to Horse Sport Ireland for this opportunity.”