Arklow Chef Wins Gold Medal Catering Award Plating Up Wicklow

Tadgh Byrne's Críoch Catering won ‘Provenance Menu of the Year’ at The National Catering Awards

A Wicklow Chef is putting Wicklow and its quality food produce firmly on Ireland's catering map.

Tadgh Byrne won ‘Provenance Menu of the Year’ at The National Catering Awards in June at Clontarf Castle.

The award in particular recognises the sourcing of local Wicklow produce for their menus, featuring food and drink grown and produced by fellow Wicklow Naturally members.

His company Críoch Catering, founded in 2019, was also shortlisted for best public sector and small events catering, sustainability, and as a rising star.

The gold medal win recognises their use of local produce and their work with Wicklow Naturally.

Críoch Catering was also shortlisted for best public sector and small events catering, sustainability, and as a rising star.

The company recently took over running of the Mermaid Arts Centre café.

The inaugural Gold Medal Catering Awards was created to shine a spotlight on the standards being set across the Irish catering landscape, from large-scale contract providers and healthcare caterers to niche event specialists and rising individual stars. The awards programme received over 150 entries in its first year, a testament to the vibrant and competitive spirit within the industry.

After winning the award, Tadgh said: 

“Putting Wicklow on the plate was one of Críoch’s founding goals, so I’m thrilled that this has been acknowledged on a national scale. I hope that other contract catering companies will start to give Irish ingredients more attention in the coming years.”

Wicklow Naturally extended its congratulations to Tadgh and his team at Críoch and acknowledged his consistent support of Wicklow food and drink producers. Chairperson Paul Smith said: 

“Tadgh has been an active and valuable member of the network since its inception and has always endeavoured to champion local and sustainable produce from the Garden County”.

Críoch also caters at the Wicklow County Council head office and for An Tairseach Ecology Centre.