PICTURES | The best restaurant and hospitality business owners in Longford honoured at 2023 Irish Restaurant Awards

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The best restaurants and hospitality business owners in Longford were honoured at the Leinster Regional Final of the 2023 Irish Restaurant Awards in the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on Tuesday, March 14. 

All of the Longford winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All-Ireland Final on Monday, May 15 in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times 
•    Longford - Ed McGoey, Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule  

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland  
•    Longford - Fiona Egan, Cloghan Farm & Cookery School  

Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo  
•    Longford – Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule 

Free From  
•    Longford - Indian Sizzlers, Longford town  

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance 
•    Longford -Mac's Shack, Kenagh  

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group 
•    Longford - Shiva Bhargav, Indian Sizzlers, Longford town   

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland 
•    Longford - Aubergine Nua, Longford town  

Best Café Sponsored by Illy 
•    Longford - Moments Café & Restaurant, Longford town  

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino  
•    Longford - Spice India, Longford town  

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square   
•    Longford - The Bailey Café, Granard  

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni 
•    Longford - Duignan's Tallyho, Longford town  

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace  
•    Longford - Vocella's, Longford town    

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite  
•    Longford - The Richmond Inn, Clondra  

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen 
•    Longford - The Bailey Cafe, Granard  

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS 
•    Longford - PVs, Longford town

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice 
•    Longford - Satish Jothi, Aubergine Nua, Longford town  

Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel 
•    Longford - Tus Nua, Newtownforbes 

Over 1000 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards. 

Speaking at the Leinster Regional Awards President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; “Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record breaking number of public nominations (over 130,000). This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it.

"The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland.

"We are delighted to be here in the Killashee Hotel for the Leinster Regional Events for 2023 and look forward to welcoming all winners in Leinster to the All Ireland Awards on May 15.”  

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2023 Innovator of the Year.