Dreaming of the day when your food is once again cooked by a chef, your wine is poured by a waiter and you don’t have to do the washing up?

Restaurants will open again (sometime!) and in the meantime, you can start compiling your ‘must-visit’ list, on the back of the Michelin Awards announced on Monday night in London.

Newcomer triumph

Overall, 21 Irish restaurants received the esteemed accolade, 18 in the Republic and three in Northern Ireland, with one newcomer being added to the list.

Proving that rural Ireland continues to serve up excellent food, Dede at the Customs House in Baltimore, Co Cork, led by head chef Ahmet Dede was awarded a Michelin Star.

Speaking to Irish Country Living about his newcomer success, Dede said: “I’m over the moon to win a Michelin star for Dede. The first time, winning a star at the Mews in Baltimore was great. Winning it for my own restaurant though, is more personal, more intimate-more special. It’s a much bigger feeling this time around.

“After such a difficult year, it feels like we really earned it. It would have been so easy to quit but I’m so proud of the staff and our hard work. There’s always something good even in these terrible times.

“It’s so nice for the people of west Cork and Ireland and my home country of Turkey as well. In the next few weeks, we will regroup and look at our next move, whether that means doing takeaways again, or getting ready to reopen when restrictions lift. Whatever happens, we’re ready and going to continue our work.”

Two star success

Just three restaurants in the country have two stars: Patrick Guilbaud and The Greenhouse, both in Dublin city along with Aimsir in Celbridge.

Aimsir at Cliff at Lyons in Celbridge, Co Kildare made big news last year when the husband and wife team of Jordan and Majken Bech Bailey were awarded two Michelin stars, just seven months after opening. No restaurant had received the award in such a short space of time and retaining the two stars proves not just their potential but their longevity.

Jordan says: “It’s been a crazy year for everyone in the industry, including us. We have had to pivot on many occasions but I’m thrilled that Michelin has seen that no matter what we put our minds to it’s always of extremely high quality, provenance and we deliver a consistent product. It will take a lot more than a world pandemic to rock our boat and steer us off course.”

Aimsir have also just started Aimsir at Home boxes for delivery in Kildare and Dublin.

Sustainability

A new award, the Green Star distinction, highlights leaders in sustainability practises. Just three restaurants in Ireland received this award, and all three of them are in Galway: Kai and Loam Restaurant (both Galway City) and Inis Meáin Restaurant and Suites on the Aran Island of Inishmaan.

Check out next week’s [6 February] Irish Country Living when we will be featuring these restaurants in more detail.

Michelin Bib Gourmand awards

There were also four new Irish Bib Gourmand award recipients. The awards are aimed at recognising establishments offering good food at affordable prices. These include: Spitalfields in The Coombe, Co Dublin; Volpe Nera in Blackrock, Co Dublin; Goldie in Cork city and Table Forty One in Gorey, Co Wexford.

One stars

Now, we’re off to plan our foodie adventures after restrictions are lifted. The list of establishments that have retained their one star Michelin awards include:

• Chapter One, Dublin.

• Variety Jones, Dublin.

• L’Ecrivain, Dublin.

• Liath, Blackrock, Dublin.

• Aniar, Galway.

• Loam, Galway.

• Campagne and Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Hotel, Kilkenny.

• Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare.

• House Restaurant at Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Waterford.

• Ichigo Ichie, Cork.

• Chestnut, Ballydehob, Co Cork.

• Bastion, Kinsale, Co Cork.

• The Oak Room at Adare Manor, Limerick.

• Eipic, Belfast.

• Ox, Belfast.

• The Muddlers Club, Belfast.