Taste the Island Buyers Guide 2020

Accolades and Awards Restaurant Association of Ireland awarded Waterford as Ireland’s Foodie Destination of the Year 2019, while Donegal Town was named ‘Ireland’s Foodie Town 2019’ National Geographic UK recognised The Boyne Valley as one of the world’s best food destinations in 2019 International travel and tourism awards named Northern Ireland as theWorld’s best food destination in 2018 Great Taste Awards 2019 run by the Guild of Fine Food in the UK – out of almost 13,000 products submitted for judging, 208 were awarded three stars, 10 of which were from the Republic of Ireland and eight of which were from Northern Ireland. 5 Irish restaurants were awarded Michelin Stars in 2019 to bring the country’s total number to 18 Michelin- starred restaurants in 2019: 15 one-star restaurants and 3 two-star restaurants. 5 Irish restaurants received Bib Gourmand status in 2019 bringing Ireland’s total number to 27 Bib Gourmand restaurants. Coveted throughout Europe, the EU Label of PGI recognises geographical and traditional specialists of products. Ireland has seven such PGI labelled products: Clare Island Salmon, Timoleague Brown Pudding, Connemara Hill Lamb, TheWaterford Blaa, Lough Neagh Eel, Armagh Bramley Apples, Comber Early Potatoes. 9 I RELAND’ S FOOD HER I TAGE