70 per cent of leading Irish restaurants have increased purchase of local goods in the past two years

Consumers increasingly looking for sourcing information on menus

A survey conducted among leading Irish restaurant owners and chefs from around the country has shown that 70% of those surveyed have increased the amount of local ingredients for use in their restaurants in the past 2 years. The survey was conducted among previous recipients of Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Award, a campaign that aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food comes from when eating out and encourages chef’s to provide the information on their menus.

Restaurant owners have also noticed that consumers are increasingly concerned about where their food is coming from and are actively looking for this information when dining out. Commenting on the results, Kay Harte from Farmgate Cafe, English Market in Cork, the 2012 Georgina Campbell Just Ask! Winner said “More and more customers are asking us where their food is coming from. People are no longer content with knowing what it is they are eating, they want to know the origin of the produce too. We include a list at the back of our menu and have a dedicated ‘supply chain’ section on our website which names all of our suppliers, many of which come straight from the market downstairs”.

Other key survey findings include:

• 85% of those surveyed feel that their business has improved because of their transparency regarding sourcing of ingredients
• 75% rate freshness as the most important reason for buying local
• 65% buy local to support the local economy
• 61% source the meat used in their restaurant from within their own county

The survey also shows that as a result of the increase in demand for sourcing ingredients locally, food producers are increasingly offering more unusual products, with those surveyed now claiming to be able to source ingredients such as Sweetcorn, Edible Seaweed, Sea Beet, Trout Caviar, Venison and Irish Buffalo Mozzarella in their locality.

Maureen Gahan, Food Service Specialist, Bord Bia added, “Recently commissioned Bord Bia research shows that eating out is still on the menu with Saturday remaining the most popular night for dining out. Since we launched the Just Ask! Campaign in 2009 we have seen an increased commitment from restaurateurs and their chef’s to inform their customers where the food they are eating was produced. It’s fantastic to see such a commitment by some of Ireland’s top restaurants to scouring products from local suppliers.”

About Just Ask restaurant of the month

As part of an ongoing initiative to highlight restaurants around the country that are demonstrating ‘best practice’ in providing their customers with information, Bord Bia invites restaurants listed on Georgina Campbell’s ireland-guide.com website to submit copies of their menus and sourcing statements. On a monthly basis, a Just Ask winner is chosen by Georgina Campbell in agreement with Bord Bia. These are restaurants that are committed to sourcing locally and passing this information on to their customers, so that they don’t even have to Just Ask. In addition, an overall Just Ask annual award winner is selected as part of the Georgina Campbell Awards which take place during October.

About the survey

The survey was carried out during June 2012 among previous Just Ask! winners. Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month has been running since 2009 and to date 35 awards have been announced.


VIEW ALL JUST ASK RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH WINNERS


Previous Just Ask! Winners
Date / Restaurant / Location

Apr-09 Longueville House Hotel, Mallow, Co. Cork
May-09 Itsa4, Sandymount, Co. Dublin
Jun-09 Over The Moon, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
Jul-09 Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
Aug-09 Fiacri House Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Sep-09 Coopershill House, Riverstown, Co. Sligo
Oct-09 O'Connells Restaurant, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Nov-09 Nash 19, Cork City
Dec-09 West at the Twelve Hotel, Galway
Feb-10 Café Rua, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Mar-10 The King Sitric, Howth, Co. Dublin
Apr-10 Harrys Bar & Restaurant, Inishowen, Co. Dublin
May-10 Lennons, Carlow Town
Jun-10 Ristorante Rinuccini, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Jul-10 Fallons of Kilcullen, Klcullen, Co. Kildare
Aug-10 Salt Restaurant, Lisloughrey Lodge, Co. Mayo
Sep-10 The Winding Stair, Dublin
Oct-10 The Lemon Tree, Co. Waterford
Nov-10 The Fatted Calf, Glasson, Co. Westmeath
Dec-10 Waterford Castle Hotel, Co. Waterford
Feb-11 Oscars Seafood Bistro, Galway
Mar-11 Jacques French Bistro, Wexford
Apr-11 The Farmgate Café, English Market, Cork
May-11 Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo
Jun-11 Avoca Garden Cafe, Mount Usher Gardens, Co. Wicklow
Jul-11 Richy’s Restaurant, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Aug-11 The Box Tree Restaurant, Stepaside, Co. Dublin
Sep-11 The Clifftop House & Restaurant, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Oct-11 Tankardstown House, Co Meath
Nov-11 O'Connells, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
Dec-11 O'Brien Chop House, Lismore, Co. Waterford
Feb-12 Viewmount House, Co. Longford, Co. Mayo
Mar-12 White Sage Restaurant, Adare, Co. Limerick
Apr-12 Ard Bia Restaurant, Galway
May-12 Thyme Restaurant, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Jun-12 EatGalway, Galway




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VIEW ALL JUST ASK RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH WINNERS

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“Just Ask!” is a public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers when eating out to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes from, and encourages chefs to provide this information on their menus. The programme supports both large and smaller artisan suppliers, encouraging both Irish diners and visitors from abroad to support restaurants that are in turn supporting their suppliers.

Here at Georgina Campbell Guides we have always been avid supporters of the ‘eat local’ concept, and we always enjoy reading menus that have a real sense of place. The dining experience is greatly enriched by knowing that the food on your plate is inspired by the produce and traditions of the area, and sourced nearby – and we would love to see more chefs sharing that precious information with their guests. 

If you are a visitor to the area, learning a little about local food and the people who produce it adds a special extra dimension to the visit – and, for residents, it reinforces a natural pride in the good things of their locality and makes a meal all the more enjoyable.

So, we are delighted by the high standard of menus that continue to be submitted for our ' “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month Competition', menus that really speak of the best of Irish foods – and the dedication of both the people who make them, and the chefs who select them to create wonderful dishes with real Irish flavour for our enjoyment.