Ahmet Dede has been named Chef of the Year at the Food&Wine magazine Restaurant of the Year awards, where Ireland's best restaurants were crowned for 2022.
Dede is principal at Dede at the Customs House restaurant in Baltimore, Co Cork and picked up his award at a ceremony in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
The Restaurant of the Year winner was Aimsir at the Cliff at Lyons, Co Kildare.
The awards ceremony menu consisted of Kish cured smoked salmon with Lambay crab, and a potato pancake alongside Firehouse sourdough and Guinness and treacle brown bread with Glenilen Farm farmhouse butter.
For mains, guests enjoyed treacle-glazed beef fillet with short rib and bone marrow tart, TJ O'Shea's new season carrot confit and red wine essence. To finish, there was a winter set brûlée with warm carrot and saffron French toast.
Food&Wine magazine, edited by Gillian Nelis, accompanies the Business Post newspaper on the first Sunday of each month and is available online at businesspost.ie.
Food&Wine Awards 2022
Casual Dining Leinster The Grain Store at Killruddery Highly commended: Dubh
Restaurant Leinster Aimsir Highly commended: Thyme
Casual Dining Connaught: Rúibín Highly commended: The Sea Hare
Restaurant Connaught: Lignum Highly commended: Éan
Casual Dining Munster: Goldie Highly commended: Sage
Restaurant Munster: Dede at the Customs House Highly commended: Pilgrim's
Casual Dining Ulster: Native Seafood & Scran Highly commended: El Tapas Grá
Restaurant Ulster: Ox Highly commended: MacNean House & Restaurant
Casual Dining Dublin: Margadh RHA Highly commended: Big Fan Bao
Restaurant Dublin: Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen Highly commended: Liath
Innovator: Kristin Jensen Highly commended: Annette Sweeney
Café: Pota Highly commended: Kaffe O
Emerging Producer: Bon Chocolatiers Highly commended: Scúp Gelato
Cocktail Experience: Cask Highly commended: Bar 1661
Newcomer: Saltwater Grocery Highly commended: Library Street
Hotel Restaurant: The Oak Room at Adare Manor Highly commended: Adrift at Dunmore House
Overall winners, in association with Rémy Martin
Casual Dining: Goldie
Chef of the Year: Ahmet Dede
Restaurant of the Year: Aimsir
Photo: Ahmet Dede, Food&Wine's pick as Ireland's best restaurant chef. (Pic: Andres Poveda)