Cork’s finest honoured at takeaway awards
Geraldine Fitzgerald
The Round Room in Dublin’s Mansion House was abuzz with food lovers last week as it hosted the eight annual Just Eat Takeaway Awards.
The event, presented by comedienne and convenience food enthusiast Joanne McNally, was a glamourous black-tie affair, despite the more casual attire usually worn in the nation’s favourite takeaways being fêted on the night.
A total of 188 restaurants and convenience retailers were nominated by Just Eat in 26 different categories, and the winners in each were decided by public vote.
Over 68,000 votes were cast across Ireland in recent weeks as loyal customers got the chance to support their favourite local Makers of Greatness.
Cork’s own Jump Juice Bar in Douglas bagged the top slot in the Best Lunch Category, and coveted accolades were scooped by two more Cork favourites, Istanbul Kebab Restaurant of Oliver Plunkett Street and Lennoxs of MacCurtin Street.
The success of Jump Juice Bar, who had to fight off stiff competition in this expanding category, was celebrated by Cork’s hybrid workforce. Fans of Jump Juice fare voted for the delicious lunchtime menu of fresh fruit juices, smoothies, crepes and snacks, available for delivery straight to home or office desk.
Our penchant for spice was reflected in the win of Istanbul Kebab. The popular eatery on Oliver Plunkett Street is committed to dishing up the finest Turkish cuisine around, and won the Silver Award for Best Middle Eastern, with the Turkish restaurant lauded as a real stand-out for the wonderful array of flavours on their menu.
Serving a wide range of classic chipper favourites to city slickers, the much-loved Lennoxs of MacCurtin Street was the celebrated runner-up in the Best of Munster category, narrowly missing out on the top spot.
The night was a true showcase of the diversity of choice and range of options available to Irish people via the Just Eat online food delivery marketplace.
The highest accolade of the night was the Best of Ireland Award, won by popular Irish owned diner Ruby’s Pizza & Grill, Swords.
Amanda Roche-Kelly, Managing Director at Just Eat Ireland said: “Recognising excellence is important as it sets a clear benchmark for quality in the industry, but now more than ever we need to celebrate resilience, innovation and diversity as we navigate the post pandemic road ahead.”
She commended the responsive efforts of people in the restaurant and convenience retail sectors, but also the local communities who engaged in record numbers with this year’s Just Eat Takeaway Awards, showing their admiration for the quality of food, range of options and scope of service over the last two years.