Derry Clarke, proprietor L’Ecrivain Restaurant took the overall best chef award at the IMRO sponsored Good Eating Guide to Ireland annual award presentations in Dublin’s Conrad Hotel last week. Dublin born Clarke trained in the classical French tradition in the Man Friday in Kinsale. He came home to Dublin to continue his training under the direction of John Howard in Le Coq Hardi for four years. He then spent 8 years as Head Chef in le Bon Appetit Restaurant where his aspirations were always to open a place of his own. He and Sallyanne married in 1987 and opened l’Ecrivain Restaurant in July 1989. l’Ecrivain has been awarded many accolades over the past twenty nine years, including a Michelin Star first awarded in 2003. A highly popular television personality he has headlined a number programmes over past years and more recently he has teamed up with Paul Flynn and Catherine Fulvio for RTÉ’s series Lords & Ladles which takes the viewer on a historical journey to celebrate our past through the wonders of food and the glories of cooking. The award presentations were made by the Chairwoman of the Oireahtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government Maria Bailey TD.
Full list of Good Eating Guide to Ireland 2018 Award Winners
Best Restaurant Overall Shanahans
Best Restaurant Munster Ballymaloe House
Best Restaurant Leinster Ananda
Best Restaurant Connaught The Pullman Restaurant @ Glenlo Abbey
Best Restaurant Ulster The Old Inn Crawfordsburn
Best Chef Overall Derry Clarke ( Lecrivain )
Best Chef Munster David McCann ( Dromoland Castle )
Best Chef Leinster Kevin Arundel ( Chop House )
Best Chef Connaught Jonathan Keane (The Lodge @ Ashford Castle. )
Best Chef Ulster Noel McMeel ( Lough Erne Resort )
Best Gastro Pub Overall Fade Street Gastro Pub
Best Gastro Pub Munster The Courtyard
Best Gastro Pub Leinster Gleesons of BooterstownBest Gastro P
ub Connaught Buffalo Boy Carrick-on-Shannon
Best Gastro Pub Ulster Murphs Gastro Pub Butlersbridge
Best Seafood Overall Matt the Thresher
Best Seafood Munster O’Connors Bantry
Best Seafood Leinster Lobstar
Best Seafood Connaught Sage Westport
Best Seafood Ulster Olde Castle Bar
Best Hotel Restaurant Overall Coburg @ The Conrad
Best Hotel Restaurant Munster Faithlegg Hse
Best Hotel Restaurant Leinster The K Club
Best Hotel Restaurant Connaught Renvyle House
Best Hotel Restaurant Bushmills Inn
Best Newcomer Forno 500
Best Wine List Montys
Best Cocktail Bar Koh
Best Ethnic Overall Indie Spice Sandymount
Best Ethnic Restaurant Leinster Cinnamon Garden
Best Value Restaurant Rolys Bistro
Best Value Seafood Restaurant Klaw Seafood Café
Most Stylish Restaurant Peploes
Best Tapas Restaurant Salamanca
Best Tourist Venue Overall Oliver St John Gogarty
Best Tourist Venue Munster River House Cahir
Best Social Media Fade St Group
Best Front of House Amy O’ Brien ( Darwins )
Special Award 50th Anniversary Cavistons, Dalkey
