Darina Allen, celebrity chef and food writer, received the ‘2023 Listowel Food Fair Lifetime Achievement Award’ for her significant contribution to Irish food.
Allen started giving cookery courses in the 1960s and has since become a leading chef, TV presenter, and food author.
She hosted the successful RTE TV cookery show ‘Simply Delicious’ and has published several culinary books on Irish food.
Allen was recognized for her dedication to Irish food and her influence on a generation of chefs who trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School.
The winners of the Listowel Food Fair ‘2023 Best Emerging Artisan Food Awards’ were also announced, with ÉaLú Foods winning the overall award for their Chocolate Bon Bon product.
The Listowel Food Fair honoured Kate Ryan as the ‘2023 Food Storyteller of the Year’ for her work as a food writer and content creator.
Five other categories recognised winners in baking, free from, condiments, dairy, and other products:
- Chocolate Bon Bon from ÉaLú Foods, Dingle by Kallam and Cliona Moriarty (emerging artisan).
- Farmhouse Cheese Fenugreek from Bó Rua Farm, Fermoy, by Norma Dineen (dairy)
- Miso Sesame Tofu from OTOFU by Méabh Mooney, Kilbrittain,
- Peach chutney from Trusted Friend by Peter Hinchcliffe (condiments).
- Sourdough Bread from The Cookie Crumble Bakery by Christine Purcell, Listowel, (baking & baked goods)
