By Meg Jorsh

Last updated at 10:26, Sunday, 20 December 2009

A Penrith Italian restaurant has been judged the best in Cumbria in a national good food contest.

Family-run eatery Villa Bianca, on Corney Square, scooped two Ethical Good Food Awards for quality and customer service. Owner Tiberio Cardia started the restaurant 12 years ago after moving to Penrith from Sardinia.

He said he was delighted to receive the awards – especially as he had no idea he’d been nominated.

He said: “It will be very good for my establishment and it also makes you feel great that you’re doing a good job.

“Satisfying our customers is our top priority and when you win something like this, you feel very proud of yourself.”

He added that the secret of his success is authentic Italian home cooking – helped by his brother in the kitchen and his sister waiting on tables. The award winners were chosen via an internet vote and a survey of customer satisfaction.

“We do good Italian food, like my mother used to cook,” he said. “We get some Italian customers in from time to time, and they say even in Italy they couldn’t find such good pizzas.”

He decided to open a restaurant when he moved to Penrith 14 years ago, after working as a waiter in Italy.

He wanted to give people the real Italian treatment, in a business where many have no connection to the country.

He said: “Most Italian restaurants don’t have anyone Italian working in them, but we’re certified authentic by the Italian embassy.”

Set within the Villa Bianca Hotel, the restaurant boasts a garden room with windows on three sides, where customers can watch the world go by on Middlegate and Brunswick Road.

First published at 08:58, Saturday, 19 December 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk