The head chef of a new Suffolk community cafe has spoken of the 'amazing' recognition after the business was listed as one of the county's new generation of eateries in a national publication - less than a year after opening in an old hospital.
And staff at The Canteen in Southwold have had to overcome significant hurdles to become one of the Financial Times' (FT) best food destinations on the Suffolk coast, including head chef Nicola Hordern's breast cancer treatment, which meant she could not work for periods of time.
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She said: "I think it is amazing that they have recognised us and it is a credit to everyone here that we have managed to keep this place going despite so many challenges.
"Whether it is Brexit, COVID or me going off ill, everyone is still here and doing brilliant things.
"I feel very proud of what we have achieved and what we will achieve because we have got so much more to do."
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Her breast cancer diagnosis came just two weeks before the farm to fork cafe was due to open at the old Southwold Hospital in Field Stile Road and meant she had to have a couple of operations and take time off work after receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Now the cafe has been listed alongside such prestigious Suffolk diners as the Greyhound Inn at Pettistree and The Suffolk in Aldeburgh, formerly known as L'Escargot-Sur-Mer.
READ MORE: Southwold news
The FT praised how the cafe championed local and sustainable ingredients, including braised hogget, chickpeas and wild garlic borani, which might be followed by orange blossom custard, apricot preserve and almond tuile.
The cafe was also lauded for providing a Sunday community lunch on a 'pay what you can afford' basis, which aims to help those of more limited means.
As well as the cafe, the former hospital also boasts the town's library, a nursery and a co-working space after being redeveloped by social enterprise SouthGen.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
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