2022 Award Winners ‘HAPPY PLACE’ AWARD 2022

Gaz Smith Michaels & Little Mikes Mount Merrion and Big Mikes Blackrock Co Dublin

 When the Being Above was giving out personality, an extra helping must have gone to Gareth (Gaz) Smith, the irrepressible chef who has been delighting customers at the Mount Merrion restaurant Michael’s, that he’s run with his wife Rita since 2016, then also Little Mikes - and, most recently, the glamorous Big Mikes in Blackrock, which opened this year to rousing cheers all round. Gaz’s passion for good locally sourced food (notably the freshest of seafood and aged steaks) simply done and full of flavour, is infectious, and the friendly and efficient staff in all venues ensure that a good time is had by all – a mood that everyone can share via the hugely entertaining and very practical book, And for Mains…, that Gaz wrote during the pandemic with butcher Rick Higgins and journalist Nicola Brady. Although published over a year ago, it’s still picking up awards including winning the ‘Chefs & Restaurants’ category at the prestigious IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Cookbook Awards, which is quite feat – and, like a visit to any of his restaurants, guaranteed to make you smile.