Explained: What is the Michelin Guide Ceremony? Who is in the running for stars?
Eva Osborne
The Michelin Guide Ceremony will be held in Dublin on Monday evening.
The ceremony will see the announcement of Michelin stars, as well as the Bib Gourmands for great value dining, plus a selection of Special Awards recognising outstanding individuals and teams in hospitality.
This will be the first time Ireland has hosted the event, with the Convention Centre in Dublin acting as the venue for the ceremony.
Corinna Hardgrave with The Irish Times said the main question surrounding this year's ceremony is: Will this finally be the year Ireland breaks through to three Michelin stars?
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in the Merrion Hotel Dublin; Chapter One in Dublin 1; Liath in Blackrock, Co Dublin; Dede in Co Cork; and Terre in Co Cork are all on two Michelin stars.
They will be hoping to crack the code on three Michelin stars, while a plethora of high-quality restaurants will be seeking their second Michelin star.
These include:
- LIGÐUM, Bullaun, Galway
- Variety Jones, Dublin
- Aniar, Galway
- Bastion, Kinsale, Cork
- Campagne, Kilkenny
- Lady Helen, Kilkenny
- Chestnut, Ballydehob, Cork
- The Oak Room, Adare, Limerick
- Ballyfin, Laois
- Bastible, Dublin
- House, Ardmore, Waterford
- The Morrison Room, Maynooth, Kildare
- Glovers Alley, Dublin
- Homestead Cottage, Doolin, Clare,
- D'Olier Street, Dublin
- The Bishop's Buttery, Cashel, Tipperary
Of course, there are many restaurants hoping to get their first Michelin star. And while stars are only revealed at the ceremony, Michelin Guide Inspectors compile lists of restaurants worthy of recommendation.
So, here are some Irish restaurants in the running for their first Michelin star...
Kaldero, St Stephen's Green, Dublin
Michelin Guide Inspectors said that to miss out on Filipino restaurant Kaldero's warm atmosphere and flavour-packed cooking would be a crying shame.
"Situated in a welcoming basement, its best seats are near the open kitchen, where you can feel the infectious buzz of the chefs.
"The menu is designed for sharing, so bring a few friends and try as many of the Filipino-Irish chef’s dishes as possible; look out for big, punchy flavours in the likes of ‘Dynamite Lumpia’ – chillis stuffed with pork mince."
The Pullman, Galway
"A pair of lovingly restored Orient Express carriages dating back nearly 100 years are the impossibly elegant setting for Chef Angelo Vagiotis’ exquisite cooking.
"Settled on the Glenlo Abbey Estate, the views over the golf course and Lough Corrib cement this as a memory-making experience.
"Playing just as important a role is the food, showcasing the best Irish produce in beautifully balanced dishes like wild turbot with Oscietra caviar and a champagne and vanilla sauce.
"The service is equally delightful, as unstuffy as it is attentive. For an intimate celebration, book the individual 'Agatha Christie' compartment.
The Old Spot, Sandymount, Dublin
Michelin Guide Inspectors said the long-standing pub ticks all the boxes: traditional, immensely satisfying food; a buzzing atmosphere; and some of the friendliest, most genuine service around.
"Enjoy a drink in the cosy bar or take your seat in one of two spacious dining rooms, all of which boast plenty of character thanks to exposed brickwork, old engravings and patinated wooden furniture.
"The cooking includes the ever-popular likes of rib-eye steak and chips, while the desserts are a real highlight, especially if you get to try the excellently crafted bread and butter pudding."
Blackthorn, The Twelve Hotel, Bearna, Galway
"On the first floor of the personally run The Twelve Hotel, named after the nearby Twelve Bens mountain peaks, Blackthorn is a bright, airy spot with a Nordic influence.
"The dining room provides the ideal backdrop to a menu focused on grilling seasonal ingredients over charcoal, filling the air with wonderful smoky aromas.
"Whether it’s lamb with herb salsa, pheasant with cavolo nero or whole black sole with brown butter and capers, the ingredients are given a lick of fire in generous, carefully executed dishes."
BORGO, Phibsborough Road, Dublin
Transplanting the Italian osteria to the Irish capital, Michelin Guide Inspectors said this former bank has no trouble filling its large space with an "almighty buzz" from the many happy diners feasting on its simply delicious cooking.
"The enticing menu ranges from sourdough pizzette to homemade pastas and a wood-fired section showcasing prime fish and meat.
"The generous, well-priced plates have an honest simplicity to them, with recognisable dishes cooked with skill and packing in plenty of flavour. For dessert, consider the polenta cake with seasonal fruit."
Vada, Stoneybatter, Dublin
Michelin Guide Inspectors said you cannot help but fall for Vada, a rustic little restaurant with a warm, welcoming young team.
"Dark green walls and dried flowers are indicative of the nature-focused approach, with seasonal produce and a low-waste ethos key to its charms.
"In the day it’s a simple café serving particularly good coffee and viennoiserie, before the kitchen steps up a gear in the evening with cooking that is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.
"Influences from across the globe are poured into the flavour-packed dishes, like an original venison fattoush salad with baba ganoush."
Comet, Joshua Lane, Dublin
Inspectors said Comet is something of a hidden gem, tucked away in the city centre.
"The compact space is run with great skill by the experienced service team, while the chefs prepare dishes pulling influences from both the Mediterranean and closer to home.
"Dishes often shine at their simplest, like a bowl of plump baby tomatoes in their own juices, and it’s a good idea to start with sharing snacks like the robustly flavoured liver parfait with fermented blood orange.
"It’s a popular place, so you can expect a good buzz in the room."
Amai by Viktor, Harry Street, Dublin
Describing itself as ‘Brazilian Roots in Irish Soil’, this hidden-away restaurant offers something different to the Dublin dining scene, inspectors said.
"Set on the first floor of a former shoe shop, you ring the doorbell by the plain black door to enter, before being whisked up into the dining room.
"Foliage hangs from the ceiling, while a drawing of a favela pays homage to where Chef Viktor Silva grew up; the restaurant’s name, Amai, is a tribute to the women who raised him.
"The tasting menu fuses Irish produce with South American flavours in dishes that are packed with interesting flavours and textures."
Lena, Portobello, Dublin
"There’s so much going for this neighbourhood Italian restaurant in the Portobello district of Dublin," inspectors said.
"For one, its immense popularity means there’s a brilliant buzz to the place; add to that its canalside setting and appealingly simple interior, and the stage is set for a terrific night out.
"Start with a glass from their well-chosen list of fine Italian wines, before diving into the roll-call of classic dishes.
"The ossobuco with risotto Milanese is a good choice, as is the light and well-balanced tiramisu. The friendly team manage the busy room with aplomb."
HERA, Dorset Street Lower, Dublin
Michelin Guide Inspectors said: "Forming part of JUNO, a larger red-brick pub where you can enjoy a pre-dinner Guinness, this bustling gastropub comes with wood panelling, soft lighting and a subtle elegance.
"Its menu has a pub-cooking base but is given some enticing international twists. Take the classic Scotch egg, for instance, which might come in a lamb and harissa form, or perhaps a chorizo version with preserved lemon and basil aioli.
"High-quality Irish ingredients, from Carlingford oysters to Achill lamb, underpin the dishes’ success. To finish, the brown butter and miso tart is a real treat."
