News Blog - Hotel and Catering Review

Top Medals for Ireland at Young Chef Olympiad

TU Dublin Culinary Arts student, Ryan Malone was awarded the Gold medal for Young Chef Ambassador along with a Silver medal in the Cook Off category at the recent fifth World Young Chef Olympiad. In total, student chefs from over 55 countries competed in this international competition which was run over a five day period in four of India’s major cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Pune and [...]

Healthy ever after

With customers looking for more nutritious, health-conscious dishes, restaurants are adapting their menus to fit the bill. Hotel & Catering Review takes a look at some popular healthy food from around the country Food that benefits us nutritionally and promotes our wellbeing, both physically and mentally, is having its day. Restaurants are responding to customers’ requirements by adding wholesome yet tasty dishes to their menus so much [...]

Last call for plastic straws

A plastic straw, which is only used on average for 20 minutes, can take more than 200 years to break down into smaller pieces. Quite often, it doesn’t even fully disintegrate. Although other countries have already taken action on this issue, with the UK reportedly set to ban plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds, Ireland still lags behind. Last year, the Restaurants Association of Ireland [...]

Minister Richard Bruton switches on the green lights at Niagara Falls

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton switched the green lights on Niagara Falls last night (9 March), as part of this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Canada. Minister Bruton is in Canada as part of a "Promote Ireland" programme around St Patrick's Day – helping to promote tourism to Ireland. The famous falls are just one of hundreds of famous landmarks and iconic sites around [...]

Sweet deal for Flynn Family Newpark Hotel for International Women’s Day

The Flynn family name is synonymous within the Irish hotel industry, and 2019 will mark a year of significant developments for the trio of brothers in a number of their landmark properties. Poignantly, the story of the hoteliers began in Dungarvan, West Waterford when the brothers late mother Elizabeth (Dottie) Flynn firmly established the family name within the local hospitality industry in 1965. The Flynn family group [...]

First of its Kind Food-to-Go Summit to Examine Future of Market

A first-of-its-kind international conference and trade show, in association with one of Europe’s leading food innovators, Kepak, is set to examine the future of the rapidly growing and evolving Food-To-Go market. Taking place in the Round Room at Dublin’s Mansion House on 21 May 2019, the immersive, full-day event will gather together a panel of expert speakers, award-winning retailers and industry specialists. The conference will also include [...]

Conrad Dublin reached out across the globe encouraging sister 5 star hotels to “Go Green” on St. Patrick’s Day with tremendous success

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of Conrad Dublin, the first Conrad globally to reach and celebrate this milestone and for the first time ever, turned their lights to green for the St. Patrick’s Weekend festivities. To celebrate, they launched a marketing initiative, reaching out to sister Conrad and Waldorf Astoria luxury properties around the world, inviting them to ‘go green’ on St. Patrick’s Day. The idea was inspired by Tourism [...]

2018 Winners Announced

Adare Manor Named Supreme Winner at 2018 Gold Medal Awards Following a stunning refurbishment, Limerick’s Adare Manor was named Supreme Winner and Ireland’s Five Star Hotel (sponsored by Astoria Partnership) at the 2018 Gold Medal Awards, in association with Hotel & Catering Review. Celebrating a remarkable 30 years, the Gold Medal Awards are the leading independent awards for the Irish hospitality industry and aim to recognise [...]

Ballina welcomes Food Fleadh

Above: Food Fleadh Ballina Mixologists by the Moy. The annual Food Fleadh Ballina returns to the Mayo town for its fifth year this month. A four-day programme is planned, running from September 27th to the 30th, with visitors and locals set to enjoy a variety of family-friendly events ranging from foraging sessions along the Wild Atlantic Way and children's cookery classes to art-inspired workshops and a [...]

Mid-West welcomes Irish Quality Food Awards

Above: Joe O'Connor from Truly Irish and Caroline Rigney from Rigney's Farm in Curraghchase, at the showcase in Limerick. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22 Judging of the upcoming Irish Quality Food Awards moved from Dublin to its new location at Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT). Three weeks of judging were held at LIT during the month of July, culminating in a networking showcase of the best produce in [...]

Minister Griffin launches Irish Tourism Industry Awards

Above: Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Brendan Griffin TD; Conor Hennigan, MD, Hennigan Hospitality Services; and Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO, Irish Tourism Industry Confederation at the launch of the Irish Tourism Industry Awards. The biennial Irish Tourism Industry Awards are set to return in February 2019, launched yesterday by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin. Organised by the Irish Tourism Industry [...]

Irish whiskey industry calls for advertising restriction rethink

The Irish Whiskey Association – part of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland – has called for last-minute changes to be made to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in a bid to protect Ireland's whiskey tourism sector and the country's small distillers. Under the current Bill, a ban would be enacted on free-standing way-marking or directional signage with the name of a distillery or alcohol brand [...]

The Monasterboice Inn renovation EXEEDs expectations

By Mark Conroy Based in Drogheda, the Monasterboice Inn had a bit of problem. They wanted to extend their premises but also understood the increased energy costs and impact on the climate that can come with expansion. Being aware of this, they sought support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). With the SEAI’s assistance, The Monasterboice was able to reduce energy costs while extending [...]

Cork Gourmet Trail set for September

Above: Sinead Ryan, Imperial Hotel; Alfonso Giugciano, Cornstore; Jennifer Lipinski, .Oyster Tavern, Bryan McCarthy, Greenes Restaurant & Cask; and Ronan Marshell, CoqBull, at the launch of the Cork Gourmet Trail. Photo: Joleen Cronin The Cork Gourmet Trail, a popular trail for food lovers, returns on Saturday September 22nd with a special black tie dinner in aid of a worthy cause. The day will begin with a [...]

Lyrath Estate gardens undergo revamp

Photo: Ken Walsh The gardens at Kilkenny's Lyrath Estate, which will host the upcoming Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards, have been redesigned by Caragh Nurseries. The revamp reflect the mix of old and new present at Lyrath Estate, featuring traditional urns, modern fibreglass planters, grape vines and pyramid-shaped trees. Contemporary bonsai formed trees welcome visitors at the new hotel entrance, while at the restaurant overlooking [...]

Adare Manor scoops global award

Above: Paul Heery, General Manager, Adare Manor and Anita Higgins, Director of Business Development, Adare Manor. Photo: Robert Stanzione Great news for Adare Manor – the recently rejuvenated hotel has won Hotel of the Year 2018 at the renowned Global Virtuoso Best of the Best Awards. The awards ceremony, which took place in Las Vegas on Thursday, marked the 12th annual awards, recognising Virtuoso Hotels and [...]

3Arena hosts one of the largest-ever sit-down catered events

Dublin's 3Arena hosted one of Ireland's largest sit-down dinners this week, with more than 2,240 international corporate tourists enjoying a gala dinner as part of their four-day trip. The large-scale event was managed by the 3Arena's Operational team, led by Cormac Rennick and Virginia Fortune, working with the team behind Odyssey International (which arranged the tourists' visit) and catered for by Eunice Power – the 3Arena's [...]

Irish Guild of Sommeliers announces World Contest candidate

Julie Dupouy-Young, the Irish Guild of Sommeliers' Best Sommelier of Ireland for 2018, will represent the Guild at the ASI World Sommelier Contest in Antwerp, Belgium next year. The announcement was made by the President of the Irish Guild Oliver Murtagh. Dupouy-Young has held the Irish Guild’s title of Ireland’s Best Sommelier since 2009. The deputy candidate Tomasz Szczepanski was also named for the contest. Dupouy-Young [...]

#BlackBushStories series joins Irish whiskey and leather craft

Above: Jason Karayiannis. Photo: Rob Durston If you've got an interest in whiskey and leather, you're in luck. The next event in the #BlackBushStories series will be hosted by Irish leatherworker Jason Karayiannis, in the form a hands-on workshop at Dublin's Drury Buildings in Dublin on Wednesday August 29th. Jason is the driving force behind Father's Father, a Belfast-based business that produces handmade leather goods combining quality [...]

Say I do with Deliveroo

The wedding catering business has got some new competition. Delivery service Deliveroo has joined the fray, working with restaurant partners to cater for couples' big day and offering a wide range of cuisine to suit all tastes and requirements. The company's wedding service will work outside of the app, with clients receiving a dedicated account manager to help them go through their options. Prospective couples are [...]

Airfield hosts food festivities

The annual Airfield Festival of Food returns to Airfield Estate in Dundrum on September 8th and 9th. Now in its fourth year, with over 15,000 people expected to descend over both days, the festival has been expanded to include a mindful and nature area, food demos, craft beers, a music stage, gardening zone (this year they're looking for the hottest chilli) and much more. This year's event [...]

Drumshanbo Gunpowder creator among EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalists

Above: Pat Rigney. Photo: Fennell Photography PJ Rigney, the creator of the internationally-acclaimed Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, is among the finalists of the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The 24 finalists were shortlisted from over 110 nominations from across the island, selected by an independent judging panel. The finalists are provided with the opportunity to connect, learn from and do business with the EY [...]

Chef Network Skillnet announces autumn schedule

Photo: Julia Dunin Chef Network Skillnet, the training arm of Irish professional chef community Chef Network, has announced a series of 34 training events taking place across the country this autumn. The events, which will be peer-led, will be designed to address key challenges across the hospitality and foodservice sectors. A focus will be placed on personal and leadership skills, business skills and culinary skills through [...]

Irish gold

Main image: Miss Mels Photography Peter McCloskey, founder of Collar of Gold, chats to Conor Forrest about how his natural Irish vegetable oil is making waves. For the most part, chefs have a choice of one of two edible oils – those that are chemically extracted and chemically refined (e.g. regular cooking oils), and those extracted using physical processes (cold-pressed oils and their extra-virgin equivalents). The [...]

Beating Brexit

With the date for Britain’s exit from the EU fast approaching, Hotel & Catering Review examines the current state of play in Ireland’s hospitality sector and assesses what those businesses should be doing to prepare beforehand. Although there is less than a year to go until the UK exits the EU, no definitive account of what Ireland’s relationship with our nearest neighbours will look like has [...]