Congratulations to all our winners at the second Irish Food Writing Awards which took place last night (Thursday 13th October) in Fallon and Byrne in Dublin city centre, with a later reception hosted by the Merrion Hotel in their Cellar Bar. It was an exceptional event for the community of food journalists and writers in Ireland with Blasta Books publisher Kristin Jensen winning not only Cookbook of the Year from Jay Rayner and Annie Gray for her first series of Blasta books but also the Outstanding Achievement award. Over 75 award finalists attended from throughout the island of Ireland, competing for the 20 awards on offer covering Irish food and drink journalism, cookbooks, feature writing, blogging, podcasting, photography and social content. The awards were attended by some of our international judges including the U.S.-based award-winning writer Colman Andrews, writer and columnist at The Telegraph Xanthe Clay, food writer and TV personality Andy Clarke, and Charlotte Pike, Chair of the UK Guild of Food Writers. Other judges included Rene Redzepi, Tom Parker Bowles, Jay Rayner and Fiona Beckett.
Irish Food Writing Awards founder, and journalist Suzanne Campbell, said “We were overwhelmed with the amount of entries in this, our second year of the awards. It's been a great experience again working with our international judges and Irish food and drink sponsor companies without which the awards couldn't happen. Myself and colleague Paul O’Connor set this up just last year to recognise excellence and the hard work of writers and food media.”
Irish Food Writing Award Winners
IRISH FOOD PRODUCERS – Caroline Hennessy
Judged by Diana Henry. Sponsored by Certified Irish Angus
INTERNATIONAL CUISINES – Jordan Mooney
Judged by Anjula Devi. Sponsored by Safco Fine Foods
COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR - Blasta Books Series One
Judged by Jay Rayner and Dr. Annie Gray. Sponsored by Gathered Ireland
INVESTIGATIVE WRITING - Niall Sargent
Judged by Dan Saladino. Sponsored by Drummond House Garlic
BEER WRITING - John Duffy
Judged by Richard Croasdale - Sponsored by BRÚ Brewery
EMERGING VOICE IN IRISH FOOD WRITING - John Mulgrew
Judged by Charlotte Pike. Sponsored by Clayton Hotels
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Kristin Jensen
Sponsored by James Whelan Butcher
IRISH FOOD MAGAZINE/SUPPLEMENT AWARD - Food & Wine
Judged by Esterelle Payany. Sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland
IRISH FOOD OR DRINK PODCAST - That’s Bangin’ Podcast, Marcus O’Laoire and Chris Mellon
Judged by Nigel Barden. Sponsored by Sharon Noonan
FOOD WRITING AWARD - Kate Ryan
Judged by Colman Andrews. Sponsored by Bord Bia
IRISH FOOD BLOG AWARD - The Irish Food Guide, Zack Gallagher
Judged by Bill King. Sponsored by Pestle+Mortar
COOKERY WRITING AWARD - Lilly Higgins
Judged by Trish Deseine. Sponsored by Ardkeen Grocery
COOKERY WRITING AWARD - Jess Murphy
Judged by Trish Deseine. Sponsored by Ardkeen Grocery
WRITING ON SUSTAINABILITY IN IRISH FOOD AWARD - Niall Sargeant
Judged by Rene Redzepi and Catherine Mack
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY (PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY) - Katie Quinn
Judged by Joann Pai
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY (AMATEUR CATEGORY) - Macu Higueras
Judged by Joann Pai
CULINARY STUDENT AWARD - Anissa Mokhtari -Technology University Dublin
Judged by Jess Murphy and Gar Mullins. Sponsored by Kerrygold
IRISH FOOD ON INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK AWARD - Dublin Foodie Twins
Judged by Andy Clarke. Sponsored by Coole Swan
RESTAURANT WRITING AWARD - Corinna Hardgrave
Judged by Xanthe Clay and Tom Parker Bowles. Sponsored by Fallon & Byrne
WINE WRITING AWARD - Susan Boyle
Judged by Fiona Beckett. Sponsored by Whelehan’s Wines
DRINKS WRITING AWARD - Aoife Carrigy
Judged by Rachel McCormack. Sponsored by Powerscourt Distillery
The awards, established in 2021 by Suzanne Campbell with Paul O’Connor, are kindly sponsored by Certified Irish Angus, Safco Fine Foods, Gathered Ireland, Drummond House Garlic, BRÚ Brewery, Clayton Hotels, James Whelan Butcher, Invest Northern Ireland, Sharon Noonan, Bord Bia, Pestle + Mortar, Ardkeen Grocery, Kerrygold, Coole Swan, Fallon & Byrne, Whelehan’s Wines and Powerscourt Distillery. Also kindly supported by Tourism Ireland and hotel partner The Merrion Hotel.
The Irish Food Writing Awards were established to recognise and celebrate the high quality of food and drink writing from throughout the island of Ireland, across print, broadcast and online. In all categories, entries were accepted by the nominees themselves, or by a third party and were open to writers, journalists, podcasters, bloggers and photographers.
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