etc, etc, Blas, Blas, Blas

The inaugural Blas na hÉireann Awards 2008 took place in Dingle last weekend. A massive 800 entries in 22 categories were up for the medals.

Which begs the thought – do we need another shaggin’ set of awards? The Irish Food Writers’ Guild Awards have existed for years and, before anyone else thought of it, they spotlighted deserving artisan producers. The Craft Butchers Awards, which, in my capacity as a judge, I always think of as ‘Sausage of the Year’ rewards, yes, you’ve guessed, craft butchers.
There are more wine awards than you’ve had hot dinners. BIM give out gongs for seafood, Glutton & Dipso dishes out oversized cheeseboards to smart restaurants etc, etc and so it goes on.

This nonsense has to stop else every participant in the food and drink industry will have their own award and each and every medal, scroll or bit of engraved crystal will be as devalued as the Zambian Kwatcha.