Ashford Castle, Mayo, has been awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for May. The award recognises Ashford Castle’s use of local produce and inclusion of this detail on the menus at the castles four restaurants – The Drawing Room, Cullen’s at the Dungeon, Cullen’s at the Cottage and the George V Dining Room. The menus of executive Head Chef Stefan Matz are a tribute to the wonderful produce available in the West of Ireland, notably its wonderful fresh Seafood and Connemara lamb.
The George V Dining Room dedicates a full page at the front of its menu to introducing all the food suppliers to Ashford Castle. The more contemporary informal Cullen’s menus provide diners with a more intimate descriptive style, inviting visitors to ask questions about the producers who are named on every dish.
Just Ask! is a Bord Bia campaign which aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food comes from when eating out and encourages chef’s to provide the information on their menus. According to recent research from Bord Bia, 81% of Irish diners believe it’s important that restaurants use local produce with 72% deeming it important that the origin of meat is listed on the menu.
Commenting on his win Stefan Matz said, “I have a passion for the wild and artisan food of the West. My well trained staff like nothing better than to chat to guests about each and every ingredient named, which sets the food in context and makes a wonderfully evocative culinary introduction to the region for visitors”.
Georgina Campbell congratulated Ashford Castle on becoming the Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for May adding, “While there may be a hint of artistic license to the Ashford Castle motto ‘Excellence since 1228’, there is no questioning the excellence offered today, and every time food is served in this magnificent place it showcases the produce with the area with pride”.
As part of Bord Bia’s Just Ask! programme, restaurants listed on Georgina Campbell’s independently assessed ireland-guide.com website are invited to submit copies of their menus and sourcing statements.
On a monthly basis, a Just Ask! winner is chosen by Georgina Campbell in agreement with Bord Bia. In addition, an overall Just Ask! annual award winner is selected as part of the Georgina Campbell Awards which take place during October.
To get involved in Just Ask! or to find out more, see www.bordbia.ie. With so many great value restaurants right on your doorstep, eating out is still on the menu!
For more information on Ashford Castle visit http://www.ashfordcastle.ie.
