LONDON
Winning the ‘Best Takeaway in Manchester’ category at the Englands Business Awards 2022 on September 18 has been a major achievement for the Goan food outlet ‘Liv’s Takeaway and Caterers’.
But what makes this feat spectacular is that the business was started barely 10 months ago, demonstrating the popularity and quality of Goan food offered by the Dias family running the business.
“We were overjoyed on receiving this award as the labour of our hard work has been blessed by God. The moment was truly a culmination of surprise, pride and happiness,” said Michael F A Dias, who along with Cefona Gracias e Dias set up ‘Liv’s Takeaway and Caterers’ on November 4, 2021, from their home in Manchester. They have been assisted by their daughter, Livrinda, and son, Livren.
While Michael traces his roots to Corlim, Cefona is a teacher by profession who hails from Shiroda.
Michael has had considerable experience in the hospitality industry, having worked in Saudi Arabia, on cruise lines and in various hotels and restaurants in the UK since the last 26 years.
“To me, hospitality is a passion I developed by incubating the skills I inherited from my parents and nurtured it as I surfed over the waves and flew over the oceans, now aim to bring it to the heart of Manchester,” said Michael.
Asked about the purpose of setting up a catering business in Manchester, Cefona said: Our raison d'etre was to bring the zest of mesmerising flavours of Goan cuisine to the core of Manchester.”
“Cooking is a therapeutic passion, a legacy that was inbred in me by my mum, fine-tuned with my creative magic. I aspire to bring this healing power of soul food, cooked fresh in our kitchen to the tables of Manchunian homes," Cefona told The Goan.
Cefona says Liv’s Takeaway and Caterers serves authentic homemade Goan food, prepared using fresh ingredients.
“All the masalas, every dish and even our sausages are prepared by us from scratch in our home kitchen,” said Cefona.
“Our menu includes Goan specialties like Vindaloo, Xacuti, Goan fish, curry, rice and Bebinca. We also prepare Christmas hampers which include Goan sweets like Neurio, dodol, doce, etc. We cater to parties and events as well.”
Liv’s Takeaway and Caterers use Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Middleton Eats as platforms to deliver the food.
When asked to offer their advice to other Goan entrepreneurs, Michael and Cefona had this to state: “Ensuring success in one’s business will take time, be patient. It will have some low moments, overcome them. There will be critics, take them positively. There will be great moments, celebrate and cherish them.”
For the Goan youth, they had this piece of advice, “Discover the hidden gem of talents in you, polish it with hard work and dedication and refine yourself to be the finest. Viva Goa!”
