Cork puts a fork in it
If Cork wasn’t already a must-go destination for food lovers, it must be now!
The latest Michelin stars were announced this week and 2 Irish restaurants have been added to the Michelin Guide - both from Cork. One new eatery secured 1 Michelin star and the other has gained a 2nd Michelin star.
Dede, the Turkish restaurant based in Baltimore has now been promoted from 1 star to 2 - 1 of only 4 eateries in Ireland to achieve that status.
Set in the town’s Custom House, and run by chef Ahmet Dede, the Michelin Guide described how the “sophisticated modern Turkish dishes dazzled our inspector”.
The new award is to Terre, based at the five-star Castlemartyr Resort, which was opened last September by Chef Patron Vincent Crepel. It’s his first restaurant in Ireland and his first star. He describes Terre as a modern and immersive dining experience using classical French cooking techniques coupled with a strong Asian influence.
The Guide said Terre was awarded one star for “making the very best of the local larder”.
Bastion in Kinsale, Chestnut in Ballydehob and Ichigo Ichie in Cork city all retained their Michelin stars this year.
Cork now boasts 4 1-star Michelin restaurants, one more than Dublin and Belfast. Excluding restaurants in Dublin and Belfast, the rest of Ireland has four restaurants with a Michelin star showing just how many high level eateries there are in Cork at the moment.
There are 4 2-star Michelin restaurants in Ireland, 3 in Dublin and the other in Baltimore.
Last week the very cosy Saint Francis Provisions in Kinsale was honoured by the guide with a Bib Gourmand distinction. Bib Gourmands are for restaurants offering “great quality” and “great value cooking”.
Saint Francis Provisions is the only restaurant in the Republic of Ireland to be newly honoured with the award this year.
The announcement was made on Monday evening, as the full list of this year's Michelin stars were awarded across the UK and Ireland.
Only 20 restaurants across the UK and Ireland were newly awarded one Michelin star, while just 3 restaurants were awarded 2 Michelin stars.
Chef Patron of Terre Vincent Crepel said: “Gaining one star after such a brief period of time is a source of immense pride to me and my team at Terre. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this level so quickly.
“It is a stunning and early reward for achieving our goals for Terre. I have been a devotee of the Michelin Guide since the very start of my career so to be awarded one star as Chef Patron is simply amazing, an achievement I have long hoped for.”
Co-owners of Castlemartyr Resort, Peng Loh and Dr Stanley Quek, first introduced the opportunity at Castlemartyr Resort to Vincent.
Peng Loh said: “For many years I have admired Vincent Crepel from his time working in Singapore. It was a pleasure to ask him to come work with us in Cork to shape a unique restaurant for the resort.
“I thank his team, both front and back of house, for their dedication and hard work. Gaining one star so quickly is an exceptional accolade for Terre, and I am proud of their achievements.”