2015 Award Winners SEAFOOD CHEF OF THE YEAR 2015

Frankie Mallon, An Port Mór Restaurant, Westport, Co Mayo

Great seafood cookery takes a special expertise - and a growing number of talented Irish chefs are happy to take up the challenge

Frankie Mallon’s restaurant may be named as a reminder of his Armagh birthplace, but he sleeps and breathes the foods - and especially the seafoods - of his adopted home in the West.

Whatever he cooks, this engaging Euro-Toques chef delights customers with his creative yet no nonsense cooking, noted for great sauces and flavour. And not only does he have a following in Westport, where he is acknowledged as cooking some of the best food in the area, but he has carved out a national reputation for his restaurant, which is the go-to destination for many food lovers when visiting this lovely planned town.

He does a few terrific meat specialities, including a delicious marinated rump of Mayo lamb, but the main focus is on local shellfish particularly Inisturk lobster and Clew Bay crab, scallops and langoustines – also seasonal fish, which stars in unusual specialities like an Achill Island smoked fish plate of wild Irish tuna, peppered mackerel, honey roast salmon & Clew Bay seaweed jam.

Assisted by excellent front of house staff who are locals with a knowledge of the food producers featured on the menu, Frankie is certainly achieving his stated aim, 'to give the customer the very best in local fresh produce and value for money'.

Frankie Mallon’s cooking is an exuberant celebration of local produce and this is a fun place to eat. Reservations are strongly advised.