Kelly’s Kitchen in Brunch of the Year top five
SHAUNA Kelly and her team from Kelly’s Kitchen in Newport were overjoyed when they reached the top five in Brunch of the Year at the 2020 Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards held in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland.
A great triumph for the small family café on Newport’s main street, the awards were presented by cookery celebrity Rachel Allen at the Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge.
“This is absolutely amazing, we are so honoured to be judged in the top five brunches in Irelandm” said a delighted Shauna Kelly. “I am so proud of everyone who works with me. It’s a team effort and this is a wonderful achievement for us all.”
Last month, the apple and cinnamon scones from Kelly’s Kitchen also hit a ‘top five’, appearing in The Sunday Times as part of John and Sally McKenna’s 100 Best Restaurants.
One of the most popular brunch dishes at Kelly’s Kitchen is the retro Meat Feast, which is their take on a traditional mixed grill. It’s a serious plateful of Kelly’s Butchers finest and isn’t for the fainthearted!
Some 150 cafés and restaurants from around Ireland were nominated for Brunch of the Year. This was whittled down to a shortlist of 30 and then down to the final five.
The public vote was an important part of the awards and Kelly’s Kitchen want to thank everyone who voted for them.
Speaking at the awards, Georgina Campbell said: “Brunch is now part of the fabric of Ireland’s food culture. People truly enjoy the quality and variety of dishes on brunch menus across Ireland. So much, in fact, that brunch is now considered one of the most popular meals for people to enjoy 'out'.
“It’s for this reason that we opened the Brunch Award to a public vote, and we were delighted by the hugely enthusiastic response from food lovers across the country.”
The overall winner was Arán Bakery and Bistro in Kilkenny, which is run by two chefs who previously worked in two-star Michelin restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. Stiff competition indeed.
The other Mayo winner was Rua, Castlebar, who won the Bread category and their carrot and dillisk bread was part of the delicious brunch served to all at the gala brunch event.