THREE Cork restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars at a ceremony in London.
Ireland took a total of 14 Michelin stars at last night’s 2019 Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland ceremony in London.
However, it was Cork that emerged as purveyors of the finest cuisine with three restaurants taking stars back to the rebel county.
The three Cork recipients were Japanese restaurant Ichigo Ichie in the city and Mews and Chestnut, both located in West Cork.
It was the first time all three restaurants received the prestigious award.
Ichigo Ichie won for its fusion of traditional Japanese cooking with Irish ingredients.
Head chef Takashi Miyazaki is credited with having brought “kappou-style dining to Ireland”.
Baltimore’s Mews Restaurant, located on the coast, earned its star “for the fine craftsmanship of chef Ahmet Dede”, while Chestnut Restaurant’s Rob Krawczyk was awarded for having “the confidence to know when to leave a dish alone”.
The Ballydehob eatery is an intimate 18-seater with a focus on delivering a unique experience to the diner and is only open Thursdays to Sundays.
A number of other Irish restaurants held onto their Michelin Star from previous years. They are the two-star Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud and Chapter One, L’Ecrivain and The Greenhouse in Dublin City and Heron & Grey in Blackrock village.
Elsewhere, other one-star restaurants are Aniar and Loam, Galway City, Campagne and Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Hotel, Co Kilkenny, Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, and House Restaurant at Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford. In the North, two Belfast restaurants — Eipic (Howard Street) and Ox (Oxford Street) — have also retained their Michelin Star status.
