Galway eateries are to the fore in the new 2008 Bridgestone Guides — with entries abounding in all categories. And top food author John McKenna particularly singles out Aoibheann McNamara of Ard Bia @ Nimmos, Spanish Arch and Quay Street, Galway, as one of his Top 10 Mavericks.

“It would take a book, not just a single entry, to describe what Aoibheann McNamara is achieving in the pair of Ard Bias. But we can get to the essence of the woman by quoting this remark she made in the ‘Irish Times’: ‘Food that is made with love is what the Indians call prana – living energy. That’s what we aspire to,” he quoted.

There are twelve new entries in “The Bridgestone 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland 2008” and 19 new entries in The “Bridgestone 100 Best Restaurants to Eat in Ireland 2008” and Galway supplies one new entrant in each – Bialann & Seomrai So Inis Meain.

Of the restaurant John and Sally McKenna say:…..