The Bay Tree Bistro in Waterford City has been awarded Just Ask Restaurant of the Month for May. Keith and Carmel Boyle’s spacious two-storey restaurant on Merchants Quay has earned a reputation for great service and good value. A pleasing combination of old and new give this lovely bistro a warmly welcoming feeling while also conveying a sense of occasion. Upstairs in the atmospheric restaurant, carefully crafted menus are all about the seasons and they change every month.
Currently in its eighth year, the Just Ask campaign has been wholeheartedly embraced by the restaurant trade. The campaign encourages diners to look for information on where food on their plate comes from, and encourages chefs to profile their local suppliers on menus. Selected by renowned food writer Georgina Campbell and Bord Bia, the Just Ask Restaurant of the Month rewards eateries across Ireland that exhibit best practices in showing transparency in the sourcing of the food on their menus.
According to owner and chef Keith Boyle, “Our ethos is locally sourced food, cooked locally by a local Chef. All our produce is sourced from small artisan suppliers where possible or from local butchers, fishmongers and farmers. All our dishes are made in house; from our breads and desserts to our stocks, sauces, pastas and ice cream. We firmly believe that quality always prevails over quantity.”
“Piedmontese beef is supplied to us by John Commins in Tipperary and Crowe's Farm supply us with their outdoor reared pork. Our Irish chicken is sourced from Oakpark Foods in Carlow and Elda Wild Irish Venison of Dunhill, Co. Waterford supply us with wild game in season. Billy Burke in Co. Waterford supplies us with our fish and shellfish,” he continued. “Dunphy’s in Annestown, Co. Waterford supply us with the majority of our vegetables, with our heritage potatoes coming from Ballymakenny Farm in Co. Louth and fruit and berries provided by David Dennison. Mark Murphy of Mooncoin Beetroot supply us with our beetroots and we also have a dedicated forager – Andrew Malcolm of Lismore, Co. Waterford.”
“Keith’s cooking has great finesse and his menus are a celebration of the best local and Irish foods, with a focus on artisan producers,” commented Georgina Campbell. “It's great to see credit given to such a terrific range of suppliers.”
Further information on The Bay Tree Bistro visit http://www.TheBayTreeBistro.com
About Just Ask
Bord Bia's Just Ask initiative was established in 2009 to recognise restaurants across the country that exemplify best practice both in sourcing local produce, and profiling suppliers on their menus. To date, there have been over 70 winners, selected by food writer Georgina Campbell and Bord Bia. Bord Bia encourages Chefs nationwide to support the Just Ask campaign by crediting their suppliers on their menus. Restaurants interested in being considered for future Just Ask Restaurant of the Month Awards, should submit a copy of their current menu or sourcing statement directly to maureen.gahan@bordbia.ie.