Paul Hynes, the Michelin-educated proprietor of La Cote seafood cafe on Tailor made Quay in Wexford and the Cheeky Cod shack on the quay front experienced motive to crack open the champagne right after winning the title Chef of the 12 months in the YesChef magazine awards 2022.
hef/patron Paul whose spouse Edwina is the cafe manager, was presented with his glass trophy and a knife set produced by Walled City Blades at a long-awaited celebration of the hospitality sector in Ireland in the Limerick Strand Lodge.
Colleagues and pals from across the island arrived alongside one another to help just about every other on an emotional night time as the finest in Eire have been discovered. The provide-out party was hosted by Shane Smith, taking care of director of NI Media who stated: “We’ve waited a extended time for this night. It is excellent to see an market that was decimated bounce back so quickly.”
Paul Hynes reported he was “totally blown away” by the nationwide win. “What an honour to have gained this award. It means a good deal to me and the team at La Cote. We have terrific staff, suppliers and shoppers. When we acquire awards, it presents us the press to carry on accomplishing what we do.”
Though travelling and education in the field, he long harboured an ambition to return to his household town and open a seafood cafe. “I have always experienced a enthusiasm for fishing and a balanced regard for it. Days used fishing off the bridge when I was more youthful are some of the ideal memories I have.”
In 2014, he and Edwina, also a properly trained chef, opened their present-day seafood restaurant overlooking Wexford Harbour and the town’s well known mussel trawlers.
Foodstuff is a passion for the few and exterior of La Cote, it is not unusual to discover Paul fishing for a piece of prized sea bass or mackerel, foraging in Ferrycarrig for wild garlic or in Curracloe for samphire. They increase edible flowers and herbs in restaurant window packing containers. He and Edwina travel consistently to seek out out new foods ordeals for inspiration.
La Côte is no stranger to awards. Its former accolades consist of getting named Seafood Cafe of the 12 months 2016 by the Georgina Campbell Ireland Guideline and, far more a short while ago, Most effective Restaurant and Ideal Chef for County Wexford at the 2018 Irish Cafe Awards, with Edwina also profitable Best Cafe Manager (Leinster) 2019. The cafe holds the L’Assiette Michelin, or Michelin Plate, indicating a cafe of noteworthy, excellent food items.
During Covid lockdown previous yr, the few received a Council tender to open up a takeaway on the quay – they describe the Cheeky Cod as their fish shack and minimal brother to La Cote. “There is absolutely nothing better than taking in freshly cooked fish and chips whilst you watch the globe go by from Wexford Quay”, said Paul.
Whilst the several hours can differ relying on the weather conditions, the Cheeky Cod is open up Wednesday to Sunday while Sunday lunch has also been extra at La Cote which opens at 5.30pm Wednesday to Saturday.