A LIMERICK man has been named Chef of the Year at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards.
Angel Pirev, head chef at the Mustard Seed restaurant in Ballingarry, was awarded the top honour for his work leaving “no stone unturned to ensure a wonderful experience”.
Georgina Campbell said the longtime head chef at the Ballingarry restaurant is “a quietly ambitious miracle worker in the kitchen who leaves no stone unturned to ensure a wonderful experience for guests and to keep the offering fresh”.
“The house tradition of excellent modern Irish cooking suits his style and, while not showy and with flavour always the priority, Angel’s consistent precision and attention to detail are a pleasure and clearly appreciated by guests, many of whom return often for special occasions.
“Each dish has its own thoughtfully considered garnish and the way that garden produce is showcased feels more modern with each passing year. A talent to treasure.”
Georgina Campbell Ireland operates a rigorous programme of anonymous assessment visits, an all-year-round process, and winners are nominated solely by an independent assessment team.
The Mustard Seed has won numerous awards since opening almost 40 years ago, and features in Ireland’s Blue Book, a who’s who of the top luxury hotels and restaurants across the country.
Proprietor of the Mustard Seed, John Edward Joyce, said: “Angel is richly deserving of this prestigious accolade and we are very proud to have him at the helm in the Mustard Seed kitchen.”
“He continuously strives to create new and unique dishes using ingredients from our kitchen garden as well as Irish artisans and his flavour combinations are always well-received by our guests.”
The independent Georgina Campbell Awards are Ireland’s longest-running food and hospitality awards. They recognise and honour Ireland’s standard-bearers in food and hospitality in Ireland with a particular focus, this year, on genuine hospitality, consistency, innovation, and good value.
