It was fitting that the party for Hot Dinners' 10th Murphia List was somewhere appropriately jaw-dropping. And where better than the Cucumber Bar at Sea Containers Events, where the floor to ceiling views over the river and St Paul's had everyone slightly mesmerised?
Headline sponsors Bord Bia were the folks behind the grass-fed Irish beef that wowed our guests, served both simply on sticks and as bowl food with the most amazing colcannon. Everyone's favourite Irish black and white puddings, Clonakilty, was part of the flatbreads with Cashel Blue cheese and desserts were appropriately boozy with Five Farms cream liqueur in the cheesecakes. The food offering was completed with some freshly shucked oysters from Rocks Oysters, all the way from Connemara in the west of Ireland.
This was a bumper year for the party, attended by chefs, bar owners, restaurateurs and writers. There were 67 names on the list in total, the most there's ever been. Guests included The Devonshire's publican Oisin Rogers, chef Anna Haugh, restaurant critic Fay Maschler and chef Robin Gill along with the First Secretary of the Embassy of Ireland.
Mark Wogan regaled guests with details of the star-studded line-up of celebrities he's had on his brand new podcast, while top restaurant designer Shayne Brady told us how, fresh from designing Arlington he's now moving on to work on Jeremy King's The Park.
Obviously, as with any good Irish party, we had a cracking selection of drinks on offer. There was a bar from Boatyard Distillery in County Fermanagh serving up a potent mix of vodka and gin-based martinis. And we managed to introduce quite a few of guests to their first-ever Baby Guinnesses courtesy of Five Farms. There was South African wine from an Irish winemaker, Doran Vineyards and - of course - plenty of Guinness.
Our sponsors, Bord Bia, supplied plenty of Irish beef for the occasion
Everyone was introduced to the wonders of Baby Guinnesses by Five Farms Irish Cream
While Boatyard Distillery poured gin martinis all night
Sea Containers Events prepared the food for the evening, including these Cashel Blue, leek and Clonakilty white and black pudding flatbreads
While Five Farms Irish Cream made a reappearance for these cheesecakes
John Devitt (Koya), Mark Wogan (Homeslice) and Tom Doran (Doran Vineyards)
Anna Haugh (Myrtle)
The Devonshire team (Oisin Rogers, Ross Culligan and Sam Donohoe) get a well-deserved night off.
John Nugent (Rotunda restaurant and Sea Containers Events) and Michael Lynch (Head Butler at Claridge's)
New on the list, Pearly Queen head chef Paddy Maher with fellow chefs Tom Brown and Robin Gill
Also new to the list this year - the team behind viral street food sensation Emerald Eats
For more on the Murphia, check out this year's full list here.
More about Sea Containers Events
Where is it? Sea Containers House, 18 Upper Ground, London SE1 9RQ
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @sceventslondon
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