The five finalists in the BIM Young Fishmonger 2015 competition are pulling all the stops out this month to impress the judges before the winner is announced at the awards event in the Radisson St. Helen’s Hotel, Stillorgan, Dublin on the 24th November.
The finalists – Gerard Collier, Fisherman’s Catch, Clogherhead; Stevie Connolly, Connolly’s Fish Company, Rathmines, Dublin; Mateusz Kowalik, Dorans on the Pier, Howth, Co Dublin; Gary Quinn, Stephens Fish Market, Mullingar, Co Westmeath and Neil Turner, Cavistons Food Emporium, Glasthule, Co. Dublin – have already been extensively judged with in-depth visits to their respective shops to assess their knowledge of seafood, their understanding of quality issues, skills, techniques and customer service. Their practical skills will be tested on the 12thNovember with each finalist required to fillet and prepare a range of fish and shellfish under time constraints in BIM’s Seafood Development Centre, Clonakilty.
Now in its second year, the BIM Young Fishmonger competition aims to recognise and reward young fishmongers and in doing so; raise the bar across the sector in terms of product knowledge and skills. The competition is growing in popularity and with the recent resurgence in fishmongers around the country; it is a timely initiative that it is sure to become a highly anticipated event in the retail calendar. Donal Buckley, BIM’s Business Development & Innovation Director explains the rationale behind the competition; ‘We are very proud of this initiative, it is a programme that directly recognises the high level of expertise and knowledge amongst young fishmongers around the country. It also promotes the valuable service a fishmonger provides to customers in terms of preparing and buying seafood and I hope this competition helps to encourage consumers to seek out their local fishmonger and support local business. Best of luck to all our finalists’
As part of their prize, the five finalists will receive a master class in seafood cookery from renowned TV chef and owner of Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale, Martin Shanahan. Finalists will also receive a specially designed trophy, a place on BIM’s retail development workshops, a set of professional knives and a cheque for €500. The winner will receive a study trip to France and a cheque for €1,000.
So if one of the finalists happens to be your local fishmonger and you want to send them a message of support or you simply want to know more, visit BIM’s website or our social media pages to watch the video diaries of our contenders and may the best man win!
