LCN award winner among new NI restaurants added to Michelin guide
Three Northern Ireland restaurants have been named in the latest Michelin Guide, including LCN Award winner Blank.
The Malone Road favourite, owned by Johnny and Christina Taylor, (above) takes its place alongside Fontana in Holywood and Derry’s Artis. They are among 24 new additions from across Britain and Ireland.
The guide, which celebrates high-quality food and service, has been published since 1900and the honour marks a first for new venues Blank and Artis.
Blank ‘s Christina Taylor , who also picked up her LCN gong said in September, said the award proved there was an appetite in Belfast “for a high-end food offer based entirely on ingredients sourced from within the island”.
The business’s ‘no menu’ concept made headlines when it launched. Diners do not order. Instead, the kitchen prepares dishes using whatever seasonal Irish produce suppliers deliver on the day.
“[You] simply choose the number of courses, as well as the wine-pairing package, and sit back and relax,” Ms Taylor said.
“That concept has truly caught on. Our offer of local foods, carefully curated and proudly presented, has proven to be a hit with our customers from Belfast and well beyond.”
Two restaurants in the Republic were also added to the list — the Terre restaurant at the Castlemartyr Resort in Co Cork, and the Bishop’s Buttery at the Cashel Palace Hotel in Co Tipperary.
The guide will be officially launched in Northamptonshire, England, on March 27.
“After two years without being able to organise a physical event in Great Britain and Ireland, we are thrilled to be back with what should be a warm, exciting and friendly gathering,” said Gwendal Poullennec, Michelin Guide international director.
“The team is busy organising a celebration to fully reflect the talent, commitment and resilience of the British and Irish gastronomic scenes — a celebration all the more welcome in the current challenging economic climate.”
