Ahead of the Michelin star revelation next week, the Michelin Guide has announced new Bib Gourmands for 2022.
After a few tumultuous years, the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland opted for a bit of a shake-up ahead of its 2022 revelation, which will take place virtually on February 15th and 16th. Over the past few months, the Michelin Guide has slowly revealed the names of the establishments that will be joining the guide this year without specifying whether they will receive Bib Gourmand or Michelin Star status.
Today, ahead of the full revelation next week, the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland has revealed 16 new Bib Gourmands, three of which were already recommended in the Guide and 13 that are brand new additions for 2022. The Bib Gourmand award, which was established in 1955, is different to a star but, as is explicitly noted by the Guide, is "most definitely not a consolation prize". The Bib Gourmand award highlights restaurants that offer a high-quality three-course meal at a reasonable price, usually around €36 in most European cities.
In great news for Irish restaurants, three incredible establishments have been awarded a Bib Gourmand: Cush in Ballycotton, Éan in Galway, and Everett's in Waterford.
Family-owned restaurant Cush was described by the Michelin Guide as a "smart, modern restaurant [that] sits in a pretty coastal town; there's also a traditional pub and stylish, comfy bedrooms, with views out over the rooftops to the fishing boats in the harbour. Regional produce features in hearty, seasonal, modern dishes, with locally caught seafood naturally to the fore: choices might include grilled fillet of haddock with leeks, haddock fishcake & Ballycotton Queens in seaweed butter."
Helmed by chef Dan Guerin, who took home highly commended in the Best Young Chef category at our 2021 Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards, and restaurant manager Doireann Flynn, Cush is a must visit thanks to Guerin's commitment to sustainable, local ingredients.
Owned by Enda McEvoy of Michelin-starred restaurant Loam in Galway, Éan has been receiving rave reviews since it opened in 2020. Offering superb baked goods during the day and sharing plates in the evening, Christine Walsh runs the kitchen at Éan, highlighting housemade charcuterie, grilled veg, and meat and fish from local suppliers. The combination of McEvoy's backing - he holds a Michelin Green Star for sustainability - and Walsh's remarkable skill has made this beautiful spot one of Galway's best restaurants.
In addition to the new Bib Gourmand, McEvoy and Walsh were some of the big winners at our recent awards: Loam was named Best Restaurant Connaught, Walsh took home Best Chef Connaught, with McEvoy highly commended, and Éan was awarded Best Casual Dining Connaught.
Rounding out Ireland's new Bib Gourmand awards is Everett's in Waterford. According to the Michelin Guide, "this unpretentious, welcoming bistro in the heart of the city is run with great pride". Everett's, which was shortlisted for Best Restaurant Munster at our recent Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards, serves up a menu full of delicious local ingredients paired with an interesting wine offering. Owned by chef Peter Everett and Keith Noonan, Everett's is one of Waterford's best known restaurants due to its fine food and historic setting - the building dates back to the 15th century.
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Speaking about the new Bib Gourmand awards, Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides said: “We are excited to reveal these 16 new Bib Gourmand awards ahead of the full presentation of our 2022 selection. Bib Gourmands are an important part of our selection and are particularly popular with our readers and users, who are always on the lookout for wonderful food at great prices. All these restaurants are to be congratulated for what they have achieved in these very challenging times.”
Across the pond, the new additions include:
- Brutto, Clerkenwell
- Manteca, Shoreditch
- Humble Chicken, Soho
- Imad's Syrian Kitchen, Soho
- Pali Hill, Regent's Park and Marylebone
- Andrua, Devon
- Burnt Orange, East Sussex
- Kintsu, Essex
- Sargasso, Kent
- Sculthorpe, Norfolk
- The Hollist Arms, West Sussex
- Ka Pao, Glasgow, Scotland
- Celentao's Glasgow, Scotland
The Michelin Guide will reveal its special awards - chef mentor, young chef, service, sommelier and newcomer - on Tuesday, February 15 at 10am, while the Michelin Stars and Green Stars will be awarded on Wednesday, February 16 at 10am.
