Derry cafe bistro Pig n' Frog celebrates first anniversary

Derry cafe bistro The Pig n' Frog is celebrating its first full year in business after owner Alicia Graham purchased the closing Café Zest to save her favourite soup.

To the delight of her regular customers, Alicia has kept the essence of the business, including the staff, while making some positive updates.

She says she's delighted to reach the anniversary and see so many familiar faces enjoying the restaurant.

“It feels great to hit the year mark. There are tough times in business with rising food costs and energy prices but I managed each challenge as they came my way,” she said.

“Because it's new to me, it was all a challenge in the beginning. I hadn't really worked in the hospitality industry and I actually work in it as well so I even had to learn how to make a cup of coffee at the machine.

IN PICTURES: "Pig n' Frog" Cafe Bistro celebrates 1st anniversary

“In some ways I think it was a good thing that I wasn't in business before because any challenge was just a new thing to me that had to be dealt with.

“That stress is outweighed by the rewards. Seeing your regular regular customers and seeing new people coming in all the time, it's such a boost because as you know, it's hard going in this economic climate.”

Café Zest was Alicia's go-to lunch spot when she worked with the Western Trust a few years ago.

“They had the most amazing soup. When I found out it was closing down I was like, where am I gonna get that soup? I'm not joking, the homemade soup was that good. The girls knew my order when I went down because it was always the same – the soup and sandwich meal deal.”

When personal circumstances changed for Alicia she had a chance to redirect the path her future was to take.

“This opportunity came up and I thought, why not? People were like, 'are you crazy?' But I just thought, what do I have to lose in that sense?

“The girls had all kind of left and got new jobs at that point and I went and got them all back. So all the staff who were working there while it was Café Zest are back.

“I know I couldn't have done it without them.”

The bistro hit its 365th day on February 27 and celebrated with a family event on March 2.

“We did the on the Saturday so families could come. We had face painting and goodie bags for all the kids and we had a special menu on where everything was like a fiver and it was absolutely packed.

Pig N Frog opens from 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday with collection and deliveries on Sundays. It is also available for outside catering for any occasion, function or event.