Yesterday was one of my last official functions as Commissioner General of Euro-Toques which I hand over to Lorcan Cribbins of Bang Café in Dublin in February.
This was at The Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin and was the lunch to announce the Baileys Young Chef of the Year.
This is probably our most glittering occasion and as the food is superb-each course being produced by one of the prize winners- there aren’t usually too many refusals.
At the table with Sile and I were TD Ruairi Quinn and his wife and Her Excellency
the South African Ambassador Priscilla Jana, as well as the brand new CEO of Baileys, Sharon Keith also from South Africa. I can assure you that the conversation as well as the food was of the highest quality.
The food was indeed fantastic.
The fish course, and I quote from the menu here; was a Fillet of Wild Sea Bass, Savoy Cabbage, Smoked Gubbeen Bacon, Roast Beetroot and Orange Butter Sauce.
This was agreed by all of our table to be superb.
It turned out to have been cooked by the winner.
To my delight the same winner came from Waterford,( I was not one of the judges I should add!)
Peter Everett is working under the excellent Michael Quinn in Waterford Castle and I was enchanted to see this prize coming to Waterford for the first time.
All five finalists cooked delicious food and all as they were interviewed by the MC Colm Murray, managed to communicate their passion for food.
I was left with a tremendous feeling of optimism for the future of Ireland’s food.

And this is the picture that appeared in the local paper the following week.
Will you look at the big red head on me!
AND I had not a single drop taken as I had to drive back to Watetrford afterwords.