Wade Murphy of 1826 Adare has been named Chef of the Year at this year’s Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards.
Now in their fourth decade, these are the longest-running awards of their kind in Ireland.
In her citation, Ms Campbell noted that the recipient moved away from cooking at the highest level “to offer something more relaxed.”
“And this is exactly what he has done at 1826 Adare, the charmingly atmospheric restaurant he opened with his wife Elaine in 2013, where his approach might best be described as fine dining without the fuss.
“Served by a warmly professional team in a comfortable setting, his technically assured, deeply flavourful cooking ensures that the ingredient – and the customer – always comes first.
“But, as well as demonstrating how fine dining can evolve into a more customer friendly experience – and encouraging the fortunate young chefs who work alongside him to think that way – Wade has served as Commissioner General of Euro-Toques Ireland, where a commitment to Irish food culture is central – provenance matters, suppliers are valued and named, and Ireland’s excellent meat, poultry, fish, seafood, vegetables and farmhouse produce are treated with respect – and he continues to play an important role in Ireland’s wider professional food community.
“And something that makes Wade’s cooking especially memorable is its generosity – there is refinement, certainly, but never at the expense of pleasure and he is a great example to others.
“Familiar ideas are elevated rather than deconstructed beyond recognition, and value remains part of the restaurant’s appeal. Consistency over many years is one of the hardest achievements in hospitality.
In conclusion, she said: “Wade has combined it with leadership, integrity and an enduring enthusiasm for Irish ingredients, making him an exceptionally worthy Chef of the Year.”
Meanwhile, Chef Charlie Ward of Rathkeale claimed a brilliant bronze in the culinary arts category at the WorldSkills Championship in Shanghai at the weekend. Sporting the tricolour, he shared the podium with the representatives of Thailand and China.