The shortlist for the Emerging Producer category, in association with Dunnes Stores Simply Better, at this year's Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year has been revealed.
The Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards take place in The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin on Sunday, November 7, and will recognise the resilience and enthusiasm of Ireland's food and drinks sector.
New to the awards for 2021 is the Emerging Producer of the Year category, in association with Dunnes Stores Simply Better. Small businesses are the driving force of the Irish economy, and with Irish consumers keener than ever to support local businesses, this is an exciting time to be involved in the food and drinks sector.
The winner of the Emerging Producer award will be offered the chance to develop a product line with Dunnes Stores Simply Better, and will receive mentoring advice from both the Simply Better team and from Gillian Nelis, editor of Food&Wine and chair of the judging panel for the Restaurant of the Year awards.
The Emerging Producer shortlist
The firms shortlisted for the inaugural Emerging Producer of the Year award are:
- Praliné Chocolatiers, Westmeath
- Braw Bakes, Limerick
- Cream of the Crop Gelato, Dublin
- Gourmet Tart Co, Galway
- Freezin Friesian, Waterford
- Mud Bakery, Dublin
- Blanco Nino, Tipperary
- The Cupcake Bloke, Dublin
"Our Irish food producers are intrinsic to the Simply Better brand and together we have worked in partnership to develop unique and exclusive products for our Simply Better Collection," said Darragh Lawless of Dunnes Stores Simply Better. "Our sponsorship of the Emerging Producer Award will allow us to connect with new Irish food producers and we hope to work with the winner of this award to develop a new Simply Better product for our customers around Ireland to enjoy."
The winner of the Emerging Producer Award in association with Dunnes Stores Simply Better will be revealed at the Food&Wine Awards at The Shelbourne on Sunday, November 7 2021. As always, tickets are in high demand for this event, with limited room capacity exacerbating this. Please note that in close partnership with the Shelbourne Hotel, the Food&Wine team is working hard to create a safe and convivial environment.
Tickets are priced at €150 per person, which includes a drinks reception, followed by a five-course meal prepared exclusively for the Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards by The Shelbourne's head chef Garry Hughes. Each course will be paired with matching wines from O'Brien's Wines, creating a perfect dining experience.
You can keep up with the countdown to the event via the hashtag #ROTYA2021 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. To purchase your ticket, head to restaurantoftheyear.ie now.
Please note, all guests will be required to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination status for entry.
