2021 Award Winners BEST COLLABORATIONS 2021

BEST COLLABORATIONS 2021

Gaz Smith Michaels Mount Merrion & Higgins Family Butchers Sutton

‘Gaz’ Smith has moved so fast to develop new strands to his business that it’s hard to keep up with the changes since Covid-19 shuttered his two popular south Dublin restaurants, Michael’s Mount Merrion and Little Mikes, in spring 2020. But, with ‘develop and diversify’ now the key to survival for restaurateurs, it’s fascinating to see the dexterity with which he has moved from one combination of businesses to another throughout the crisis, always seeking and creating opportunities to develop and diversify in order to keep going, retain his staff and support the many valued suppliers who also lost their main outlets when hospitality closed down. Key changes included an early move into click-and-collect and developing a successful retail range. Also the transformation of Little Mikes into the Little Lockdown shop and – building on a working relationship with Higgins Family Butchers in Sutton, suppliers of the superb ‘steak’ half of his steak & seafood offering - the opening of Little Lockdown North (now Michael’s Sutton), which took over the deli section of the esteemed north Dublin butchers. Somewhat miraculously, this business partnership and friendship also resulted in the publication of a cookbook, And For Mains... , which was produced in three months flat (a feat that would have been impossible at any other time) and became an instant hit. Gaz Smith represents a new breed of 'gastropreneurs' who recognise that growth is not always sustainable in an era of uncertainty and climate change, so the focus is on diversification, as distinct from expansion – and many of the changes triggered by Covid-19, including shorter working hours for staff, are likely to remain in place longterm.

Whelehans Wines & China Sichuan Dublin

Offering restaurant quality takeaway food from one of Ireland’s longest established and best loved Chinese restaurants, together with wines from one of its top wine merchants was a sure fire recipe for success during the pandemic and it guaranteed a steady weekend queue at the old Siver Tassie premises in Loughlinstown, now home to Whelehans Wines. So now the faithful followers of the wonderful China Sichuan could collect favourites like the “Man & Wife” Beef Salad, “Kung-Po” Chicken with Cashew nuts with Steamed Jasmine Rice and “millonaires Twix” to enjoy in their own time. It’s back to restaurant dining now, but who’s complaining!