WITH voting for The Northern Echo’s Best Coffee Shop now well and truly open, your favourite needs your support!

Every day over the next ten days, we will be featuring one of our top ten finalists, chosen by our readers.

Today we speak to Maria Zaimaki, owner of Deli-cious, based in Darlington’s High Row.

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Fresh from scooping Independent Business of the Year at the Darlington Stronger Communities Awards, Deli-cious is hoping they can do a double by being named The Northern Echo’s Best Coffee Shop.

(Image: Stuart Boulton)

Maria said: “We are very proud to have won the Stronger Communities Award – we always do our best and we are glad that people appreciate us.

“We think our coffee shop is a beautiful place to sit and enjoy our coffees and special Greek treats.”

Originally hailing from Greece, Maria and her family all pull together to make Deli-cious the perfect place to stop for breakfast, lunch, or a sweet treat.

The cafe has been open for three years and fast became a popular spot for their regular customers.

Maria said: “We serve a mixture of British and Greek food, and bake all our own cakes for the cafe. Our baklava is particularly popular!

“My parents had a restaurant when I was younger in Greece, so I grew up around it and helped out.

“My family and I have lived in the UK for eight years, and we have worked in catering a long time. My husband and children all work in the cafe, and we have seven other members of staff.

“If we want to take a holiday though we have to close the cafe!”

Maria said she was delighted to have been nominated by her customers.

“We are so pleased to have made the top ten! We have such loyal customers, we are so thankful for them.”

To vote, simply fill out the form before and return to The Northern Echo Best Coffee Shop 2024, Suite 10, 2nd Floor, Coniscliffe House, Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, DL3 7EE.