Mickael Vilganen wins Best Chef at RAI Santa Rita awards

Santa Rita, the number one Chilean wine brand in Ireland, sponsored this year’s Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards which took place in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, recently.

The Awards are the largest and most coveted awards in the industry and acknowledge the superior levels of excellence in the Irish restaurant and hospitality industry.

“As the established hospitality industry Chilean wine, we are keen to acknowledge and recognise the achievement and excellence of the restaurant and hospitality industry throughout Ireland,” commented the General Manager for Gleeson’s incorporating Gilbey’s Sallyanne Cooney, “Despite the tough economic climate, it’s wonderful to see that creativity and innovation is very much alive and well in the industry. At Santa Rita, we have a longstanding tradition of honouring heroes and in our eyes, every finalist and winner at these awards is exactly that – a hero.”

Top winners on the night included Chapter One which scooped the award for Best Restaurant and Mickael Viljanen, Head Chef at Gregans Castle, who was crowned Best Chef in Ireland for 2011.