andrew harper award 2013

7/29/2019 Andrew Harper Award 2013

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Ballyn

GIreland Located 60 miles

southwest o Dublin,Ballyfn

is perhaps the greatest

Regency house in all o Ireland. In

the ront hall, we ound an antique

mosaic brought rom Italy during the

buildings construction in 1822. This

served as prelude to the magnicent

public rooms. The parquet foors are

among the nest we have ever seen,

while sumptuous abrics and rugs are

complemented by mahogany urniture,

mirrors by Thomas Chippendale and

a collection o Irish art rom the 18th

century to the present.

This grandeur exists today thanks

to the dedication o American busi-

nessman Fred Krehbiel and his Irish

wie, Kay, who purchased Ballyn in

2002 and restored the house over

a period o nine years. Today, the 15

guest rooms refect their passion or

detail. The walls o our bedroom were

hung with 17th-century Flemish tapes-

tries, yet despite the opulence, we elt

cloistered in a cozy private world.

We soon ell into the seductive

rhythm o country house lie: large

breakasts over which we lingered

with The Irish Times, ollowed by walks

on the 614-acre property. Under the

direction o Fred Cordonnier, who has

worked in Michelin-starred restaurants

throughout Europe, including Patrick

Guilbaud in Dublin, Ballyns kitchen

turns out reliably exceptional cuisine.

One evening over pre-dinner drinks,

a gentleman rom Dublin marveled at

the resurrection o Ballyn: It is truly

a great git to the nation that the Kreh-

biels have given us. And a considerable

git to American travelers, as well.

DELUXE ROOM, $1,225; STATE ROOM, $1,445; SUITE,

$1,760. BALLYFIN, COUNTY LAOIS. TEL. (353) 5787-

55866. BALLYFIN.COM

ANDREW HARPER


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We soon ell into the seductive rhythmo country house lie.


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Ireland To stay in the magnifcently restored Regency manor house Ballyfn is

to experience a sel-contained world o beauty. The magic extends to the superb

restaurant. There, che Fred Cordonnier creates exceptional dishes such as

plump West Cork diver scallops with eel, peas and wild garlic; and succulent bee

flet enriched with oxtail, morels and veal sweetbreads. The attentive ood and

beverage director, the aptly named Frederic Poivre, expertly guides you through

the wine list, which begins with a selection rom Bordeaux chteaux ounded by

the so-called Wild Geese, Irishmen who ed to France in the 17th century. All in

all, Ballyfn provides a dining experience that ew hotels can match.

HOTEL RESTAURANTOF THE YEAR

Ballyfn

andrew harper award 2013

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