The owner of a business on the Nottinghamshire border has shared the secret of its success after winning an award for its mouthwatering meals. The Street Food Kitchen on College Road in Long Eaton won the 2023 Good Food Award Blue Ribbon.
Owner Phil Lombardy has a long history of working with food as the former chef for Rolls Royce covering sites across Derby. He decided to take a risk during the lockdown by opening the cafe and then offering a street food van which delivers food to businesses based in Long Eaton.
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He said winning the award was one of the proudest moments with the business which opened in July 2020. Phil and catering assistant, Julie Paling, put their 'heart and soul' into the food which has become a huge hit with customers who voted for the company to win the award.
"The food is the secret to our success as we put our heart and soul into it. It's all freshly made stuff so we don't just open a packet. We've always said you have to wait for the food as we make it fresh to order but we've got a great reputation for our food," he said.
He added: "This award is one of my proudest moments as it means we are getting recognised more closely. We aren't in the town centre so we are further out so for us to get recognised for this is amazing and as well that people were willing to vote for us to win this award too."
"If we were in the town centre, we would be a bit busier but for us to get this award, it means we are going in the right direction and doing the right thing."
The cafe offers a mouthwatering menu of homemade pizzas combined with chunky chips. Burgers are topped with fresh lettuce and drippy with cheese along with the option for healthier bites like avocado and poached egg on toast drizzled with balsamic glaze. If a slice or two isn't enough for cheese fans, there is even an option to have your burger smothered in melted cheese.
"We aren't the normal, greasy spoon type of cafe that just does bacon or things like that. We specialise in flatbreads or fresh stone-baked pizzas. We do Greek-style chicken flatbreads which is one of our most popular dishes along with homemade burgers," he explained.
Although the Greek-style chicken has become a bit of a signature for the cafe, the diverse menu means that Phil struggles to pick just one dish that customers call the favourite. There are so many different options on offer that customers can look forward to having a wide variety of choices for their lunch.
Despite the difficulty of opening up during the pandemic, Phil said the reaction from the local community made it worth it.
"It was tough going but the response from the community was fantastic. They all rallied around us throughout the pandemic and with their support, we managed to come through."
Like most businesses, times are tough and Phil has noticed a difference when it comes to the cost of living. The cafe has been quieter in recent weeks but still shows no signs of slowing down.
"It's gone a bit quieter than it should be and obviously, I've noticed the fuel prices going up and food costs too. We are trying hard not to change our prices so we are going to try to keep them the same so we can help people here too," he said.
When it comes to future plans for the business, Phil is determined to make it work and also expand. He has his sights set on coming to Nottingham.
"We are definitely looking to expand by getting another premises. It wouldn't be in Long Eaton but maybe in Nottingham itself. It's definitely been a dream of mine to open another place."
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