Danni Barry, head chef of Michael Deane's Michelin star EIPIC in Belfast, has won the title of Best Overall Chef at the Food & Wine magazine's Restaurant of the Year Awards.
The 30-year-old chef from County Down faced tough competition from the likes of Loam's Enda McEvoy, Wade Murphy of 1826 Adare, Garrett Byrne of Campagne, Ross Lewis and Forest Avenue's John Wyer.
It was not the only award for EIPIC as it was crowned Best Restaurant in Ulster, while OX, also with a Michelin star, won Best Wine Experience, Best Sommelier, as well as being Highly Commended in the category Best Restaurant Ulster. It proved an extremely successful night for Deane as he was also crowned Entrepreneur of the Year, reports the Belfast Telegraph.
Speaking about her win, Barry said: "It's a fantastic but very unexpected win for me, I was shocked. We all work so hard in the restaurant so it's great to be rewarded for all the effort. It's great to know that I am the first female to win chef of the year in Ireland."
Deane added: "We didn't expect to get the haul that we did. Danni works very hard in the morning and leaves very late at night, it's a job she's sensational at. She has really helped put Belfast on the map."
Other winners at the event included Patrick Guilbaud for Best Overall Restaurant, Klaw for Best Casual Dining, Pickle winning Best World Cuisine and JP McMahon was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
