We knew it was a premier cafe and had a really good reputation.Carly WardTake a popular Tauranga cafe, add a dollop of family flavour, and garnish it with sweet praise from a national magazine.
Such is the winning recipe to Alimento's first six months under new managers Janet and Ian Walkerand their daughter Carly Ward and husband Cameron.
Being dubbed Bay of Plenty's top cafe by critic Michael Guy's Cafe Magazine recently was proof the First Avenue eatery was still in good hands, Ward said.
"When we started here the cafe had heaps of regular customers, which we found a bit nervous as we were worried what they thought about new owners coming in," she said. "But I think everyone has welcomed us. There's not one person I know who doesn't still come here."
The family bought Alimento after selling Welcome Bay Palmers, where Ward was managing the cafe and her parents operated the garden centre.
"We'd been looking at businesses for about 18 months before we found this one. We knew it was a premier cafe and had a really good reputation," Ward said.
Not wanting to change the formula, the family opted to compliment it with more offerings on the menu, a new children's' play area and a touch of family style.
Pop in today and you might see artworks by Cameron Ward's sister Megan Hockly, have your latte delivered by Ian Walker's sister Pip Schobs, or hear music performed live by Carly Ward's brother Matt Yearbook.
And if you were wondering what makes Alimento's gourmet cookies so tasty, you'd have to ask Janet Walker's mother Margaret Wilson for the recipe.
"There's no one you can rely on more than family, right? You know they're not going to let you down," Ward said.
Promoting local artists is another big focus, and this Thursday night the cafe will host Melting Pot, a fusion of fashion, photography, painting and other mediums.
The first they knew of the award was when the owners of Bravo - which placed runners up - stopped by to congratulate them.
"Oh, it was a great surprise," Ward said.
"It reinforced that what we are doing is working. You really couldn't get a better prize, except for the top cafe in New Zealand ... and that's the next step."
