Derry hotels pick up awards at Hotel Restaurant of the Year awards
Two Derry hotels have picked up awards at the Hotel Restaurant of the Year awards.
As part of the Year of Food and Drink, the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation hosted a competition to find the best Hotel Restaurant in Northern Ireland.
Leading hotels gathered in the Galgorm Resort & Spa to find out which establishment would collect the prestigious accolade of ‘Hotel Restaurant of the Year 2016.’ Leigh Thurston, from Beech Hill Country House, was voted runner-up in the popular Best Main Course category while t team from Bishop’s Gate Hotel scooped third place in the ‘Hotel Restaurant of the Year’ category.
Explaining the competition aims and the importance of using local products Ciaran O’Neill, president of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation and operator of Bishop’s Gate Hotel said: “As a Federation we are keen to highlight the complex role of the modern chef and celebrate the great people we have in our businesses.
“We have a growing tourism industry in Northern Ireland and food is playing an increasingly large role in this. In the culinary world, the hotel restaurant is often seen as the poor cousin. “Hotels have a long history of great food and drink. Many modern dishes like Caesar Salad and Eggs Benedict were invented in hotels along with cocktails such as the Pina Colada and Singapore Sling.
"This competition provides a platform to showcase local Northern Ireland produce and to help us celebrate some of the exceptional local ingredients on offer.
"Events like this will help us to recognise the great people we have in our businesses and highlight the great service we give.” He concluded: “There has been a lot of coverage relating to skills shortages, particularly chefs, and it is important that we recognise the fantastic job they do. I started my career as a chef and I believe that there are great opportunities for our young people in the kitchen and front of house. Tourism is growing and offers an excellent career path.” The title of ‘Hotel Restaurant of the Year 2016’ went to Lough Erne Resort, where the dining experience was descried as “a faultless evening with local ingredients taking centre stage”.
At the awards ceremony guests were treated to a fine dining menu with wines from J.E.McCabes. Support was also provided by Stephens Catering Equipment, the Food Standards Agency, Flogas and Henderson Foodservice. Photo shows compete, UTV’s Pamela Ballantine, congratulating the team from the Beech Hill Country House and Leigh Thurston was awarded runner-up in the in the Best Main Course category.