The House Restaurant, at The Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford, was the only new recipient of three AA Rosettes in the AA Ireland hospitality awards announced yesterday. The Celllar Restaurant at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin was the only new recipient of two rosettees.

The judges said The House, led by chef Martijn Kajuiter, was “a celebrated gourmet destination” where “ingredients were sourced with evangelical pride”.

According to the judging process, three rosettes are awarded to restaurants that produce cuisine at a standard that demands recognition throughout the industry.

The Cellar Restaurant, where the chef is Ed Cooney and the Manager is Damian Corr,  was the only new recipient of two AA Rosettes, which rewards additional technical skill in the cookery of food and attention to the selection of ingredients.

Fifteen restaurants were new recipients of one AA Rosette. This award recognises good quality ingredients, cooked with care and understanding. The awarding of 17 new Rosettes was a 50 per cent increase on the 2010 season. Some 109 properties now hold AA Rosettes.

Conor Faughnan, director of policy at AA Ireland, said inspectors were looking for kitchens that surpassed expectation and stood out from others within their field .

During the judging process, AA hotel inspectors noted that early bird menus had become “old hat” in many places with a large number of restaurateurs developing value options right throughout weekday evenings and up to 7pm on weekends.

New winners of one rosette are:

Lime Tree Restaurant, Springfort Hall Hotel, Mallow, Co Cork; Rolf’s Country House and Restaurant, Baltimore, Co Cork; Gorman’s Clifftop House and Restaurant, Ballydavid, Dingle, Co Kerry; Inch House Country House and Restaurant, Thurles, Co Tipperary; McLaughlin’s Restaurant, Carlton Castletroy Hotel, Limerick; O’Connell Restaurant, Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co Kerry; Islands Restaurant, Hotel Westport, Westport, Co Mayo; West Restaurant, the Twelve, Barna, Co Galway; Classiebawn Restaurant, Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo; Rock Pool, Carlton Hotel, Kinsale, Co Cork; Touzai Restaurant, Crowne Plaza Northwood, Santry, Dublin; Brabazon Restaurant, Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath; Ghan House, Carlingford, Co Louth; Wilde, Westbury Hotel, Dublin; The Dining Room, Castle Leslie, Glaslough, Co Monaghan.