Le Gourmet Again Judged Amongst The 32 Counties 100 Best!
By: Christy Parker
Mary and JF Bernard celebrate The Bridgestone Best In Ireland Award at Le Gourmet, Youghal
The very many who have passed favorable comment on the food supplied by Youghal’s Le Gourmet have had their judgement highly vindicated for the second successive year. The River Gate Mall delicatessen is included in the 2008 Bridgestone Guide to Ireland 100’s Best Restaurants, thus retaining it’s rating from 2007. The rankings are not numbered.
Internationally renowned, the Bridgestone Guide is described by the Daily Mail as, “The Bible of Irish food.” Along with its companion review, The 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland,” it is compiled by Dublin food and accommodation specialists John and Sally McKenna. It is also considered in the travel guide genre. The duo personally traipse the Republic and Northern Ireland in their annual odyssey, covering outlets as diverse as city restaurants to tiny one-room rural eateries.
The book summarises Le Gourmet thus: “Jean-Francois Bernard’s shop is the star of the unprepossessing River Gate Mall, in the centre of Youghal. Excellent breads, stylish food-to-go for dinner and for the freezer, good sweet baking and good lunch treats make for a really valuable shop for busy people, and their catering service, which will take care of any and every occasion, is slick, professional and hard-working.”
JF Bernard proudly displays his two in a row award winning achievements
Jean Francois -or Jeff as he is know- runs Le Gourmet assisted by Knockanore’s Helen O’Neill and, when required, Jeff’s local-born wife, Mary. The business sources its food from west Waterford, east Cork and Cork city and its unique scones and brown bread are a local legend. An award-winning French chef whose working day begins at 4.30 pm, Jeff says, “We’re absolutely delighted with this accolade, which is testament to the efforts of us all throughout the year. This is our fourth year in business and this type of recognition everything worthwhile. The early mornings and long weekends have paid off when you’re included amongst the best.”
The team has no idea when the shop was visited, nor precisely what criteria they successfully met. “I suppose they looked for originality and fresh, healthy, tasteful food that is individual and not machine-produced,” Jeff speculates.
In constant demand for its outside catering service and delectable delicacies, 2007 saw Le Gourmet enjoy a varied year catering for very small gatherings to An Taoiseach, Ministers, GAA stars and weddings. It now taking bookings for events such as Valentine’s Dinner, Easter catering and private occasions like Confirmations and Communions. Why settle for 101 and beyond?
Contact: Le Gourmet, River Gate Mall, Youghal 024 20000 / 087 2319210
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