Break out the bubbly: Michelin ‘Bib Gourmand’ award for three Irish restaurants

They are among 122 restaurants on both sides of the Irish Sea recognised by the food and travel bible for “offering good food at competitive prices” and being loved by their readers.

The family-owned Cush restaurant and guest house overlooking the pier in Ballycotton, Co Cork, was praised for its “friendly, welcoming team” and stunning location “with views out over the rooftops to the fishing boats in the harbour”.

It was also lauded for its “comfy bedrooms” and use of regional produce in “seasonal, modern dishes, with locally caught seafood naturally to the fore”.

Head chef Dan Guerin (28) who received a Highly Commended distinction at the 2021 Irish Young Chef of the Year Awards, said staff celebrated the good news with a bottle of champagne yesterday morning.

“The phone has been ringing off the hook since this morning,” he told the Irish Independent.

Things have really turned a corner since this time last year at the height of the pandemic when, he said, he looked out over the pier and it was “dark and gloomy”.

Thanks to the hard work of his team, whom he said deserved credit for the Bib – named after Michelin’s famed mascot Bibendum – the rural venue, located about 40km from Cork city, has weathered the storm.

“It’s great to be back open. After a couple of bad years due to Covid, it’s all happening. We’re delighted.”

Enda McEvoy said he was honoured that his Éan cafe in Galway city centre had received the Bib Gourmand designation.

The Michelin inspectors cited the artisan bakery-cum-cafe’s “approach to seasonality, sourcing and sustainability”, along with its “creative, confidently executed dishes” for dinner as well as the fact that it morphs into a wine bar at night.

“It’s great to be championed by Michelin,” said Enda, who also owns the 2021 Michelin-starred Loam restaurant, also in Galway city. “People respect their opinion.”

The fact that the cafe received the accolade just after signing the lease as Ireland went into the first Covid lockdown in March, 2020 was a credit to head chef Christine Walsh and the staff, he said.

“Any sort of a leg-up is great. Hopefully it will translate to bums on seats.”

He also hopes the cafe’s location beside the Druid Theatre in Galway will see a return to a busy summer season this year. “We’re delighted with the recognition.”

Peter Everett (38), head chef and owner of Everett’s in Waterford city, said he hoped the designation would drum up more mid-week trade after a difficult past two years.

The guide calls Everett’s an “unpretentious, welcoming bistro in the heart of the city, run with great pride”, adding “and so it should be, given the care they take with the cooking and the generosity with which it is served”.

But Peter insisted all the praise won’t go to anyone’s head. “It’s nice, but at the end of the day, you have to keep people happy.”