Robin Gill (Darby's, Bermondsey Larder) watching the Deputy Mayor for business's speech (unable to resist a light heckle)
After a year's hiatus due the pandemic, the Hot Dinners Murphia List party was back with a bang last night. To celebrate the publication of our eighth annual list we threw a bash at The Guinea in Mayfair, bringing those on the list together to celebrate in person once more.
And what a night it was. Our headline sponsors Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board supplied some amazing grass-fed Irish sirloin along with a selection of top drawer Irish farmhouse cheese from St Tola, Cashel Blue and Durrus.
We had butter-fried Clonakilty black and white pudding and loads of potato farls with Guinea brown sauce on them - which proved perfect for soaking up the pints of Guinness and glasses of Doran Family Vintners wines everyone was enjoying.
Roaming the room, shucking oysters for hungry guests, were Rocks who are dedicated to sourcing the freshest oysters from small scale, independent farms from coastal waters of Britain and Ireland.
Guests included chefs, restaurateurs, writers and bar owners, along with the Deputy Mayor of London for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, who popped in to say a few words in support.
Of course, it wouldn't be a party without a goodie bag and folks went home with, even if we say so ourselves, a pretty decent haul. Pride of place was a jar of the hot-off-the-shelves Guinness cooking paste so guests could knock themselves up a powerhouse chilli to ward off any hangovers. But, if they wanted hair of the dog we had a can of Empirical 03 in there too, their latest cocktail containing carob, fig leaf, lemon and myrtle.
The main event, free-flowing Irish sirloin, cooked to perfection by The Guinea team.
More snacks - bites of Clonakilty black pudding (and white pudding too)
The Rocks team, shucking oysters all night (obviously they needed a bit of fuel to keep them going)
Doran Family Vintners provided the wine from their vineyard in South Africa.
Amazing butter-fried potato farls from The Guinea
The Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, bigs up the Irish crowd and London hospitality.
Served by The Guinea - renowned as the best Guinness you'll find in central London
Gearoid Devaney (Black Book), Edwin Doran (Doran Wines) and Robin Gill
The Guinea's Oisin Rogers, Rocks' Simon Lamont and (far right) Brian Hannon (Brat, Kiln, Smoking Goat)
Because a goodie bag is often the most important part of the party... guests left with newly released Guinness cooking paste, Empirical cocktail 03 (carob, fig leaf, lemon myrtle) and, of course, a bag of proper Tayto.
And where it all took place - The Guinea 23
More Murphia
Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners
