Athlone business honoured with Best Cafe in Leinster award

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Zaidia Fusion Catering on The Balcony in Ganly's Athlone has been awarded Best Cafe in Leinster at the Yes Chef Awards.

The event took place on Tuesday (April 29) in the Radisson Hotel in Sligo.

"This was the crème de la crème, and we're thrilled to have won Best Cafe in Leinster," said Badia Zaidi, Owner of Zaidia Fusion Catering.

The local cafe was awarded the Best Breakfast award at the The Irish Takeaway Awards at the Tullamore Court Hotel in March of this year, with all of the regional finalists continuing to compete at the prestigious Yes Chef Awards.

On the night, there were over 54 businesses nominated in five categories, including five in the Best Cafe in Leinster category.

"When you win something like this, it's brilliant, because you can see the hard work has paid off," Badia said. "There was a Michelin Star chef at my table, so it is such a high standard, and it was a great feeling."

He was joined by his brother-in-law Shane Guinan, Owner of the Motte and Bailey restaurant in Mount Temple, to offer him support during the award ceremony.

Badia extended his sincere thanks to his dedicated staff for their hard work, to his wife Aoife Guinan, and his three children Elyssa, Hanna, and Lina.