Two Dublin restaurants have won the main awards in the Jacob's Creek Reserve Restaurant Awards.
Chapter One, in Dublin's Parnell Square received the best restaurant award, while the best chef award went to Eamonn O'Reilly who owns the One Pico restaurant in Molesworth Place, Dublin. He began working as an apprentice chef when he was just 14 and now runs three restaurants in the capital.
Two other chefs were nominated for this award - Neven Maguire of MacNeans Bistro in Blacklion, Co Cavan, and Lorcan Gribben of Bang in Dublin's Merrion Row.
Martin Corbett, co-owner of Chapter One, said he had not expected to win the best restaurant award. "It is getting so competitive and we cannot afford to get complacent," he said. "Nobody was more surprised than ourselves when we won."
Other restaurants nominated for this award were: the Olde Post Inn in Co Cavan, Dunbrody House in Co Wexford, Vina Mara in Galway city and the Cherry Tree in Co Clare.
The best restaurant service award went to the Park Hotel, Kenmare, while the best wine list award was presented to the George V Room, Ashford Castle in Cong, Co Mayo.
O'Briens Good Food & Drink House in Navan won the best newcomer restaurant, voted for by viewers of TV3's Ireland AM programme.
Zuni Restaurant and Townhouse in Kilkenny received the most stylish restaurant award from the readers of Image magazine.
The BIM best seafood restaurant was presented to Mackerel Restaurant at Bewley's, Grafton Street, Dublin.
The restaurant awards run by the Restaurant Association of Ireland are now in their eighth year and are voted for by restaurant owners from all over the State.
The nominees are then assessed by the Irish Restaurant Awards Academy, a group of independent practitioners, who make the final decision.
"We call them the Oscars of the restaurant world," said association president Aidan MacManus.
The association also launched its Jacob's Creek Restaurant and Event Guide for 2006/2007 yesterday.
The guide, which costs €6, lists almost 350 awards from the island of Ireland. It also contains a calendar of events, exhibitions and festivals.Chapter One
Parnell Square, Dublin
Starter: A charcuterie trolley with dishes such as ballotine of foie gras and pigeon and Gubeen and chorizo salami. €19.50
Main course: Monkfish with white asparagus and smoked bacon, red wine sauce and pomme mousseline. €32
Dessert: Warm chocolate mousse, orange and campari jelly, coffee cream, vanilla ice cream. €9.50
The Cherry Tree, Ballina, Co Clare
Starter: Diver-caught scallops with crisp black bacon, cauliflower mousseline and a fresh apricot jam. €16
Main course: Garlic butter-roasted chump of spring lamb with a spiced roast carrot puree and organic basil pesto. €29
Dessert: A tasting plate of fresh Irish strawberries. €8
The Olde Post Inn, Clover Hill, Co Cavan
Starter: Bacon and cabbage terrine with baby leek sauce. €10
Main course: Pig's trotter with a braised pork belly and a poteen sauce. €28
Dessert: Chocolate truffle beignets with vanilla ice-cream. €9
Dunbrody House, New Ross, Co Wexford
Starter: Arthurstown smoked salmon with dill blinis and a seaweed creme fraiche. €15
Main course: Loin of bacon with Irish Mist honey glaze and colcannon potato cake. €35
Dessert: Grand Marnier ice-cream in an orange-zested pastry case with Wexford strawberries. €10
Vina Mara, Middle Street, Galway
Starter: Roulade of rabbit with chorizo paired with foie gras in parma ham served with truffle and purple potato.€15.50
Main course: Selection of local seafood in a rich tomato and garlic sauce served with a prawn and pineapple skewer. €26.50
Dessert: Mango, orange and cinnamon panna cotta with coconut and lemongrass sorbet. €8.50
And the nominated chefs . . .
Neven Maguire of MacNeans House, Blacklion, Co Cavan
Eamon Reilly (overall winner) of Dublin's One Pico
Lorcan Gribben of Bang, Dublin
