Masterchef Kemal Coskuncay and the talented team at Halewood’s Casa Rima have scooped yet another award — this time Restaurateur Of The Year at the prestigious CEFTUS awards! The 14th annual CEFTUS Excellence Awards Gala Dinner was held at Sheraton Grand on Park Lane in London and was a celebration of success amongst the Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriots in the UK.
The award topped off an incredible year for Masterchef Kemal Coskuncay and the Casa Rima team. Earlier this year, Masterchef Kemal was crowned Chef Of The Year at the British Kebab Awards for the second time, after the restaurant won Restaurant Of The Year at the Knowsley Business Awards. The continued recognition is testament to the restaurant’s quality and growing reputation.
The restaurant, located on Bailey’s Lane in Halewood, has become a huge hit since opening in September 2023 and is frequented by football players and celebrities. With countless 5 star reviews, Casa Rima offers a range of sublime starters, pizzas, pasta and specials such as steaks, lamb, duck, seabass and more. It has become a big hit with the South Liverpool community and is popular for birthdays and special occasions.
On a personal level, 2025 has been particularly memorable for Masterchef Kemal Coskuncay. In addition to winning awards with the restaurant team, he has also been travelling the country and the world to take part in culinary meetings and events. In September, he gave a talk at the House Of Commons — addressing leading figures from across the UK hospitality industry about the need to support the industry.
The past year has also seen him selected as a judge for a Culinary World Cup event in Tunisia, as well as being recognised as one of the world’s best chefs at the International Gastronomy Star Awards. He has attended huge culinary festivals in Japan and Egypt and was also part of a project that broke a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest sucuk and egg dish in his native Turkey.
Masterchef Kemal said: “It’s been an incredible year! When I started working as a dishwasher in Didim all those years ago, I could never have imagined a life like this! It is a great honour to win such prestigious awards, attending events at the House Of Commons and travelling the world to take part in culinary festivals — it is all fantastic! And to have my father over from Turkey to witness this award was very special!”
He continued: “I would like to thank Ibrahim Dogus and of course, all this is only possible thanks to the amazing team I work with at Casa Rima. Head Chef Ali Kavlak is a magician in the kitchen and has cooked for the world leaders at the Turkish Embassy during his career. My cousin Ibrahim and everyone at Casa Rima, it is a team effort. And of course, our customers — without their support and recognition we wouldn’t exist.”
Masterchef Kemal Coskuncay and the team at Casa Rima have scooped yet another award — this time Restaurateur Of The Year at the prestigious CEFTUS awards! Casa Rima is located on Bailey’s Lane in Halewood and is open 7 days a week — offering high end cuisine in a stylish setting at an affordable price.
Casa Rima / 9A Baileys Lane, Halewood, L26 2XB / 0151 245 8599
TO BOOK A TABLE AT CASA RIMA CALL 0151 245 8599 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE
