2018 Award Winners CAFé OF THE YEAR 2018

Cakeface Patisserie, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny

This award gives recognition to the best of those valuable all-day operations – usually small and owner-run – which not only lift the visitor’s spirits in a flash, but also the reputation of any town or village lucky enough to be its chosen location. The Guide seeks out good cooking based on quality ingredients - and especially the home baking that can be the highlight of a day out. This one, however, goes a long way beyond home baking…

Laura and Rory Gannon are the dynamic duo behind Kilkenny City's baking sensation, CakeFace. Having left their respective careers in property and chemical engineering to follow their passion within the food industry, they met at Ballymaloe Cookery School and from there travelled to France to fine tune their craft in Roger Vergé's legendary restaurant Moulin des Mougins in Cannes and then to London, where they worked in high-end pastry kitchens until eventually finding their way back home to Kilkenny.

Although it’s on a quiet street and a little out of the way, what a great destination their delightful patisserie and little café has turned out to be. Definitely more River Café than Corner Café, the wittily named cakes and pastries (aka “Quirky and Unusual Desserts”), are simply stellar and, while simple, the savoury food - including deeply flavoured soups, and sandwiches made with gorgeous breads from carefully selected craft bakeries - is delicious.Superb coffee too - the best in Kilkenny they claim, and they could be right.

Small but mighty, Cakeface is a little treasure.