Some of Ireland’s most exceptional food producers were honoured at the 2024 Euro-Toques Food Awards, held at Airfield Estate, Dublin, on September 23rd. Since their inception in 1996, inspired by the legendary Myrtle Allen, the Euro-Toques Food Awards have annually recognised and celebrated the finest food produced across Ireland. The event provides a unique platform for chefs to acknowledge and commend the dedication and craft of small artisan producers. The Awards are supported by Cully & Sully this year, as a tribute to Mrs Allen’s work.
Hosted by renowned food writer and author Caroline Hennessy, the ceremony saw the presentation of six awards by Euro-Toques Ireland across the categories of Water, Land, Farm, Dairy, Artisan Produce, and Craft.
This year’s award winners are:
WATER: Rossmore Oysters
For their exceptional native Irish oysters and their significant contribution to regenerative aquaculture in Ireland.
LAND: The Apple Farm
For their outstanding apples and their contribution to the protection of Irish heritage and biodiversity.
FARM: McGeough’s Butchers
For their superb charcuterie meats and mastery of traditional methods, creating products that capture the unique flavours and character of the Irish landscape.
DAIRY: Coolattin Cheddar
For their remarkable raw milk cheddar and their commitment to championing Ireland’s rich and flavoursome dairy bounty.
ARTISAN PRODUCE: BKultured
For their outstanding Water Kefir and their dedication to advancing the artisan production of fermented drinks.
CRAFT: Blackwater Distillery
For their outstanding spirits and their contribution to protecting the tradition and skill of the age-old craft of distillation in Ireland.
Following the awards, a wonderful garden feast brought together 100 chefs and producers for a celebration of Irish food. Over 30 producers’ offerings were showcased on a beautifully presented communal Harvest Table. This event, curated by the Euro-Toques Food Council to spotlight some of the finest produce Ireland has to offer, featured winners, nominees, and Euro-Toques members.
This year’s awards underscore a shared commitment to sustainable and traditional food production practices. Each category honours producers who excel in preserving and promoting the natural environment, heritage, and traditional methods within their specific domains—whether in aquaculture, agriculture, charcuterie, dairy, or artisan products. The emphasis is on the importance of environmental stewardship and the revival of traditional crafts, all of which contribute to maintaining and enhancing Ireland’s culinary heritage.
The 2024 Euro-Toques Ireland Food Awards particularly highlighted: producers of native oysters, to underscore the significance of regenerative aquaculture in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems; advocates of regenerative agriculture and the circular economy; makers of charcuterie meats highlighting the revival of this ancient craft and its deep connection to the Irish countryside; producers of raw milk cheeses, for preserving the natural microflora of the landscape, which imparts unique flavours and maintains traditional cheese-making practices; producers of Irish low-or-no-alcohol fermented drinks reflecting the resurgence of traditional fermentation methods; and independent distillers reviving the ancient craft of spirit and whiskey production in Ireland.
Chef Conor Halpenny, Head of the Euro-Toques Food Council, emphasised the vital role of small artisan producers in shaping Ireland’s culinary landscape. He stated, “Our mission is more than just celebrating excellence—it’s about raising awareness of the incredible work being done by small producers who are the backbone of our food culture. These are the people who commit to local, seasonal produce, ensuring that what we eat is grown, farmed, and crafted with care here in Ireland. The sense of community that brings chefs and producers together is at the heart of Euro-Toques. It’s about building a sustainable future where the dedication of our artisans is recognised, their traditions preserved, and their innovations embraced. Together, we’re creating a culinary landscape that honours the past while inspiring the future.”
Manuela Spinelli, Head of Community at Euro-Toques Ireland, emphasised the importance of engagement and shared values within the organisation. She said, “Our long-term strategy is about more than just connecting chefs and producers—it’s about building a community rooted in shared values. We welcome all who are committed to local, seasonal produce and prioritise short supply chains. Becoming a member of Euro-Toques means becoming part of something bigger. Our goal is to foster a community that thrives on collaboration, and our message is clear: we take immense pride in celebrating Ireland’s finest produce and are equally committed to nurturing the next generation of Irish culinary talent, ensuring that the future of Irish cuisine is both innovative and deeply rooted in the country’s rich culinary heritage.”
Hashtags: #ETFoodAwards #Chefsmeetproducers
Euro-Toques Ireland – The European Community of Chefs & Cooks
Tel: 085-8520760 www.euro-toques.ie
Euro-Toques Ireland is a nurturing community of chefs, producers, educators and food writers that celebrates and preserves the culinary heritage and food culture of Ireland today and tomorrow.
The key ingredients of our community are our deeply engrained values that emphasise a high set of principles within the kitchen, from sourcing to serving. This means striving for excellent culinary standards and always working with quality local produce, in season where possible.
Euro-Toques Ireland is part of a wider European network of like-minded Chefs. Founded in Brussels in 1986, Myrtle Allen is one of the European founding members who then went on to establish Euro-Toques Ireland.
EURO-TOQUES FOOD AWARDS NOMINEES AND WINNERS 2024
Category Water – The Island Nation Award to represent produce from our seas, lakes, and rivers, with a focus on sustainable sea and river fish; shellfish; salts; seaweeds; sea vegetables.
Achill Oysters – Hugh O’Malley
Cromane Bay Shellfish – Patrick & Joseph O’Sullivan. Jennifer Boyle
Harty Oysters – Joe, Ray, & Shay Harty
Rossmore Oysters – Rupert Hugh-Jones
Category Land – To honour our heritage – the forests, nature, the wild and above all, our soil with a focus on the growing of varietal herbs, edible flowers, vegetables, fruits, and grains in a sustainable way; caring for bees to produce honey; foraging for mushrooms, edible fruit, herbs, and vegetables; culling wild game sustainably.
The Apple Farm – Con Traas
Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil – Richard & Leona Kane
Lisheen Greens – Bradley Putze
Moy Hill Farm – Fergal & Sally Smith
Category Farm – To honour the best and more sustainable way to rear animals with a focus on rare breed and native animal production; small farmers; sustainable production of meat, poultry, eggs, and game.
Broughgammon Farm – Charlie & Becky Cole
McGeough’s Butchers – Justin McGeough
On the Wild Side – Olivier Beaujouan
The Wooded Pig – Eoin Bird
Category Dairy – To honour Ireland’s rich and flavoursome dairy bounty with a focus on a sustainable approach to the production of milk, butter, cream, yoghurt, cheese, and ice cream.
Coolattin Cheddar – Tom Burgess
Leitrim Hill Creamery – Gypsy Gifford & Lisa Gifford
The Lost Valley Dairy – Mike Parle, Darcie Mayland
Mike’s Fancy Cheese – Mike Thomson
Category Artisan Produce – To honour a product which requires a traditional and handmade process, with a focus on the production of a product like oils, vinegars, flours, beer, cider, juices, spirits, jams, chutneys, pickles, smoked meat, and fish.
BKultured – Niamh Hegarty
King of Kefir – Gerry Scullion & Keith O’Reilly
Kombucha Na Dálaigh – Marianne O’Donnell
Category Traditional Craft/Skill – To honour the people behind the product who protect and preserve our culinary skills, technique and craft, while inspiring the future, with a focus on a person (or people) who has an unique skill that needs to be championed and/or protected.
Blackwater Distillery – Peter Mulryan & Caroline Senior
Boann Distillery – Patrick & Marie Cooney
Killowen Distillery – Brendan Carty
Sliabh Liag Distillers – James &Moira Doherty
