Meet the married couple who run an award-winning takeaway from their home

Meet the married couple who run an award-winning takeaway and catering business that has punters travelling hundreds of miles for a curry - from their front room. Michael and Cefona Dias have sent food from their three-bedroom ex-council semi in Manchester to curry lovers as far away as London wanting to sample their authentic cuisine. Their regular customers from across the north west who love their Vindaloos, Biryanis, and chicken Cafreal, which are priced at an inflation-busing £6-7. And the couple, originally from Goa in India, were rewarded for their efforts last month after being crowned the city’s best ‘Best Takeaway’ in the England Business Awards. Cefona, 43, said it was a moment they would never forget, adding: “It’s one moment we will remember throughout or lifetime.” Michael, 47, added: “It’s a great pleasure to do all we are doing and bring the authentic tastes of Goa to the city of Manchester.” The couple agreed to go into business together last year after Cefona, who previously worked as a teacher, suggested the idea to professional chef Michael. Michael said: “I worked in the hotel industry, in five-star beach resort hotels in Goa. And then I worked in restaurants and cruise liners, including Royal Caribbean. “We came to the UK in 2013, and I worked for Crown Plaza and Holiday Inn and a few restaurants, and then my wife said, ‘Why don’t we start something of our own?’” The couple opened their takeaway on the ground floor of their three-bedroom home in November, proudly displaying their 5-star hygiene rating in their front window. And they agreed to base their menu around authentic Indian cuisine, which was typical of the food in their home city of Goa, on the country’s West coast.