Neven"s Cavan restaurant named best in Ireland

The head chef and proprietor of MacNean House & Bistro in Blacklion scooped three coveted awards at the ceremony in Dublin"s Mansion House on Sunday, which was attended by over 500 top chefs and restaurateurs from all over the country. Neven took the Ulster Best Chef 2008 title, while the MacNean House & Bistro was named the best overall Restaurant of the Year 2008, beating off stiff competition from Ireland"s top Michelin starred restaurants to claim this coveted accolade. The restaurant also took the Ulster title, an award it had won three times before, finally this year being named the best restaurant in the country. Neven was given a standing ovation by all attending the gala banquet on receiving his awards. 'I am thrilled to have won this award,' says Neven. 'This prestigious award is highly respected and recognises the hard work, commitment and dedication of my wife Amelda, my family, the team at MacNean House & Restaurant and the phenomenal achievement of my parents for founding the restaurant and keeping it going through tough times. "I really appreciate all their help and support and also that of my local suppliers for their hard work and the top quality produce they supply to my restaurant'. The Food & Wine awards, sponsored by Edward Dillon, were launched in 2001. Food & Wine Magazine is published monthly by Harmonia. The judging panel for the ceremony was made up of 16 of the toughest and most renowed food and wine critics and editors in the magazine from both trade magazines and national newspaper titles. Commenting on this year"s awards, Norah Casey, publisher of Food & Wine Magazine and chair of the juding panel said that a number of changes were made to the awards this year to help open them out to a wider group of restaurants. '(This) allowed the judges to assess establishments on a wide range of experiences - the décor, the ambiance, the level of service, standard of cooking, the skills of the sommelier and the quality of the suppliers they use.  "We also looked at restaurants that were being innovative and concentrated on finding those elusive gems that offer great cooking at great prices,' commented Ms. Casey. The latest three awards for Neven can be added to a host of others including Food & Wine"s Ulster Best Chef Award in 2007; Georgina Campbell"s Restaurant of the Year Award 2007; Georgina Campbell"s Natural Food Award 2006; Jameson Chef of the Year 2004; Best Restaurant in Ulster - Food and Wine Magazine Awards 2003 and 2004; Bushmills Chef of the Year 1999 and 2000; and Eurotoque Young Chef of the Year 1999. Neven also received a special award for culinary achievements and tourism promotion from Cavan County Council last year. He was also a Gold Medal Award Winner in 2001, a medal presented by Prince Charles in the House of Commons for people who have achieved success in their careers. Refurbishment The MacNean House and Restaurant in Blacklion, Co. Cavan, which has been open since 1989. The Restaurant and Guest House underwent extensive refurbishing in 2007, doubling its seating capacity and offering tastefully decorated guestrooms. The menus at MacNean House and Restaurant offer a range of dishes specially created by Neven using local, seasonal produce and an extensive wine list. The restaurant is booked out most weekends from now until Christmas. Neven has been exceptionally busy in 2008 with a new cookbook, his fifth, due in bookstores this November. He has also just finished filming his new TV series "Neven"s Food from the Sun", which will be shown on RTE early 2009 and was also recently appointed by an Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, TD, as a member of the Food Safety Authority.