The 2004 Megabytes Awards

Newcomer of the Year: Café Hans, Cashel, Co Tipperary

The brothers Matthiae have fashioned the smartest new arrival in Ireland, with the smartest menu imaginable. From day one, the only problem with Café Hans has been getting a table, and even building a by-pass around Cashel hasn't made it any easier to get a table here. And as if the Café wasn't enough, brother Jason is knocking out food for the Gods in Chez Hans. Hot, hot, hot.

Artisan of the Year: James McGeough, Oughterard, Co Galway

James McGeough's air-dried, smoked Connemara lamb isn't just Ireland's answer to Parma Ham, it is also the newest Irish artisan product with the greatest commercial potential since Edward Twomey's Clonakilty Black Pudding stormed out of ‘Clon to take over the world. As if the air-dried lamb wasn't enough, James has already created an air-dried, smoked beef, and an air-dried, smoked ham is next. Hot, hot, hot.

Wine Merchant of the Year: Pascal and Geraldine Rossignol, Le Caveau, Kilkenny

Le Caveau is a very special shop, and that is really saying something in the world of Irish wine retailing, where standards are stratospheric. But Pascal and Geraldine's deep background in wine, and their calm, helpful, charming style of service – M. Rossignol is a wonderful ambassador for France and French food culture – sets Le Caveau apart as a truly fine destination. Hot, hot, hot.

Restaurant of the Year: The Mill, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal

Derek and Susan Alcorn's restaurant with rooms is the most-improved destination in Ireland. Mr Alcorn's cooking has always been very fine indeed, but the this year standards have shot through the roof. Value for money is exceptional, and when John McKenna made the mistake of booking rooms and dinner for the McKenna family for only one night, the McKenna family got very bloody stroppy with him when they had to leave. Hot, hot, hot.

Destination Address of the Year: Ballyvolane, Fermoy, North Cork

There is new blood in some of Ireland's great country houses, but nowhere is just quite as dynamic as beautiful Ballyvolane, where Justin and Jenny Green have taken over the great mantle bestowed by Justin's parents and have hit the ground running with amazing food, great service, and a super-charged energy. This pair have terrific ideas and plans for the future, so things at Ballyvolane are only beginning. Hot, hot, hot.

Hot Spot of the Year: Coast, Tramore, Co Waterford

When Turlough McNamara isn't winging his way over to Manchester to watch footie and practice his chopsticks technique (see the restaurant reviews in this Megabytes), he and his partner, Jenny McNally are powering the super-stylish Coast restaurant and Townhouse into what is unquestionably the chicest destination in Ireland. McNamara and McNally have the gift of being able to choose exactly what is right, whether it is in the design of a bathroom or the design of a main course. The totality of effect they achieve with food, service, style, atmosphere and comfort is simply whizz-bang! Hot, hot, hot hardly does them justice.

Value Award: O'Connell's Restaurant, Ballsbridge, Co Dublin

Tom O'Connell's restaurant has been elevated to Top of their Game status in the new Bridgestone 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland 2005, proof of the ability of this great address to cater for all types of folk of all types of age and to make sure that everyone gets exactly what they want. The word for O'Connell's is "appropriate”: everything they do is judged just right, from value to service to ambience. From January 2005, Tom O'Connell is planning a €27 euro menu, which will include Tipperary mineral water in the price. Rip Off Ireland? We don't think so. Hot, hot, hot.

Megabytes Award: Field's Supermarket, Skibbereen, Co Cork

John Field has been the pioneer supermarket grocer for decades, his great West Cork store a monument to his good choice and his good taste. Every supermarket should be as funky and as much fun as this totemic West Cork address. One of the original hotspots that just gets hotter.