The Russell Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Russel Hotel is a former hotel located in Dublin in County Dublin
, Ireland
. The hotel had a quality restaurant
that was awarded one Michelin star in 1974.
In the first year of the publication of the Michelin Guide
to Ireland and the United Kingdom]] The Russell Hotel's finally received her first star, after many years cooking and serving at high levels. Unfortunately that same year the final curtain fell on the hotel.
The Russell Hotel was founded in the context of the "Temperance Movement". Founder Thomas W. Russell (1841-1920) was a staunch supporter of this movement. According to an advertisement in 1927, it was already a well known restaurant with a full license. Only after the takeover by the Besson family in 1947, the hotel was associated with haute cuisine
.
In the acquisition of The Russell Hotel by the Besson family, also a number of French chefs were hired. The ITGWU (Hotel and Restaurant Branch)
did not like this very much, due to the existing high unemployment, but quickly reached an agreement on the training of Irish chefs and kitchen staff. Many Irish chefs received (a part of) their training here.
In 1963, at the publication of the Egon Ronay Guide, The Russell Hotel was the only hotel in Ireland (and one of eight on the British Isles) awarded with three stars. In 1973, the hotel was awarded two stars, despite a decline in the number of stars awarded by about 30%. The Guide awarded the restaurant one star in the period 1974.
Well known chefs of The Russell Hotel were Pierre Rolland, Jackie Needham and Roger Noblet. It was under the leadership of head chef Matt Dowlin that it earned his star.
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The hotel had a quality restaurant
Restaurant rating
Restaurant ratings identify restaurants according to their quality, using various notations such as stars or other symbols, or numbers. Stars are a familiar and popular symbol, with ratings of one to four or five stars commonly used. Ratings appear in guidebooks as well as in the media, typically...
that was awarded one Michelin star in 1974.
In the first year of the publication of the Michelin Guide
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
to Ireland and the United Kingdom]] The Russell Hotel's finally received her first star, after many years cooking and serving at high levels. Unfortunately that same year the final curtain fell on the hotel.
The Russell Hotel was founded in the context of the "Temperance Movement". Founder Thomas W. Russell (1841-1920) was a staunch supporter of this movement. According to an advertisement in 1927, it was already a well known restaurant with a full license. Only after the takeover by the Besson family in 1947, the hotel was associated with haute cuisine
Haute cuisine
Haute cuisine or grande cuisine was characterised by French cuisine in elaborate preparations and presentations served in small and numerous courses that were produced by large and hierarchical staffs at the grand restaurants and hotels of Europe.The 17th century chef and writer La Varenne...
.
In the acquisition of The Russell Hotel by the Besson family, also a number of French chefs were hired. The ITGWU (Hotel and Restaurant Branch)
Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
The Irish Transport and General Workers Union, an Irish trade union, was founded by James Larkin in 1908 as a general union. Initially drawing its membership from branches of the Liverpool-based National Union of Dock Labourers, from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a...
did not like this very much, due to the existing high unemployment, but quickly reached an agreement on the training of Irish chefs and kitchen staff. Many Irish chefs received (a part of) their training here.
In 1963, at the publication of the Egon Ronay Guide, The Russell Hotel was the only hotel in Ireland (and one of eight on the British Isles) awarded with three stars. In 1973, the hotel was awarded two stars, despite a decline in the number of stars awarded by about 30%. The Guide awarded the restaurant one star in the period 1974.
Well known chefs of The Russell Hotel were Pierre Rolland, Jackie Needham and Roger Noblet. It was under the leadership of head chef Matt Dowlin that it earned his star.