Blue Bay Cafe and Bakery in Dundrum voted best in Down

Blue Bay Cafe and Bakery in Dundrum voted best in Down

12 July 2017

THE Blue Bay Cafe and Bakery in Dundrum has been named the best in County Down.

Known for its home-baked goods and happy customers, the eatery beat off stiff competition to win the county category in this year’s Food Awards Northern Ireland.

The Food Awards, now in their second year, aim to shine a spotlight on the very best within the food industry, focusing on servers, suppliers and manufacturers.

Carol Dixon, who manages the cafe with daughter Pauline Smyth, said they were delighted to hear they had been made a finalist due to the high number of nominations received by members of the public. 

And following the awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast on Monday, Carol said they were surprised and delighted to have won their category.

“We’re not sure exactly why we were selected,” she said. “We seem to have got very good reviews on Trip Advisor, which may have something to do with it.

“We are a family-run business. We try to put out good food. Everything we do is home baked, all the tray bakes and scones.”

The Blue Bay Cafe sprung into life just two-and-a-half years since when former nurse Carol, from Leitrim, decided to forge a new path.

“I had to come out of it early due to ill-health,” she said. “It’s still a busy life now but I love it. 

“There are a lot of regular customers, people I didn’t know before, who have become friends.

“We also have a lot of tourists passing through Dundrum coming into the cafe, quite a few Americans, Canadians, Slovakians and Italians.”

Carol explained that the home baking that keeps their Blue Bay customers coming back is a team effort.

“I had always done baking before myself but it was just for home,” she said. “Now it’s for the business.”