From most inventive to the warmest welcome, Lucinda O’Sullivan reveals her food and hospitality winners for 2021

The Oscars may still be a few months away, but you don’t have to wait a moment longer for the highlights of the culinary year, as we present ‘The Lucindas’

From left, Fota Island Resort concierge manager John Coleman, director of sales and marketing Finola Twomey, general manager Carmel Guihen, and senior concierge Sean Collins. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

Lucinda O'Sullivan

MOST INVENTIVE Damien Grey is a master magician when it comes to conjuring up ideas for keeping the show on the road at his bijou Michelin-starred Liath restaurant in Dublin’s Blackrock Market. Since Covid-19, he’s shifted from sublime food boxes to street food served through a hatch, to Bhonn, his most recent venture. Adjoining Liath, Bhonn is a day-time deli with creative street food and soon-to-be night-time wine bar. The Insta brigade are out in force for that all-important pic. liathrestaurant.com

BEST COLLABORATION  Setting up Chapter One in 1992 in a basement on Parnell Square in Dublin was a brave venture for the young chef Ross Lewis and maître d’ Martin Corbett, but Ross’s amazing cuisine and Martin’s famous greeting, “It’s an honour to have you,” won through, and the Michelin man finally found it in 2007. Martin retired, but this year Ross caught the restaurant world by surprise by announcing his clever collab with Mickael Viljanen, who achieved two Michelin stars at The Greenhouse in Dublin. chapteronerestaurant.com