The Great British Cake Off!

The Real Food Cafe’s Cinnamon Muffin Roll Crowned Scotland’s Top Bakery Product- Created by a baker who had never baked before arriving in Scotland

The much-loved Cinnamon Muffin Roll from The Real Food Café in Tyndrum has been crowned Scotland’s Bakery Product of the Year at the 2025 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.

The recipe for the award-winning buns was developed by Catalina Dima (known as Cat), who arrived in Scotland from Romania nine years ago, having never baked before in her life.

When she arrived, she spoke very little English; however, she applied for a job as a Kitchen Porter at The Real Food Cafe, quickly learned the language, and soon moved into baking.

Cat said: “My first proper experience of baking was after the birth of my son - I wanted to do something at home, so I started baking bread and failed miserably, but I kept going. I read so many books about baking, trying to find out where I was going wrong, staying up all hours, determined to get my recipes right.” 

Her skill and determination transformed a simple sweet treat into one of the restaurant’s most loved items, selling out within hours each day. Cat said, “Our cinnamon muffin rolls are special because of the amount of time and love that goes into them. Our secret?  They’re baked fresh from scratch every day, using top quality ingredients, which include butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and the game-changer - a melted apricot jam glaze.”

Founder and Co-Owner of The Real Food Cafe,  Sarah Heward said:“This award is a huge moment for us. The cinnamon muffin rolls are more than just a baked product – they represent creativity, resilience and a love for great ingredients and food. I’m so proud of Cat, whose journey and passion have made these buns what they are. For a small rural cafe like ours to be recognised as producing Scotland’s top baked product means the absolute world to the team.”

Last year, Cat travelled to London for the very first time in her life for The Great Sausage Roll-Off (Radio 2 broadcaster Jeremy Vine is a judge and paid particular praise to Cat’s professional and personal journey and her talent as a baker).  Cat scooped third prize for her Haggis Sausage Roll, against fierce competition on the national stage.

Additionally, Cat has won several one and two-star Great Taste Awards for her baking products (Clootie Dumpling Pudding, Carrot Cake, Gluten Free Fudge Cake).

The hugely prestigious win comes as The Real Food Cafe prepares for a busy autumn and winter. In partnership with Brodies, the cafe will launch seasonal drinks to complement the award-winning buns, including a spiced hot chocolate for Halloween and a festive special running from December through January. From November through February, a special cinnamon bun and coffee deal will also run, supported by Brodies.

Now in their 25th year, the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards are recognised as the highest accolades in the industry, shining a spotlight on the best products, people and businesses from across the country. The 2025 awards attracted more than 200 entries across 12 product and 10 business categories.

Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said:“The Excellence Awards shine a spotlight on the outstanding producers whose passion, innovation, and hard work continue to drive Scotland’s food and drink industry forward. The quality of this year’s entries has been exceptional, showcasing the creativity and craftsmanship that set new standards for our sector. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists – their success is a true reflection of the strength and reputation of Scotland’s world-class food and drink community.”

This latest accolade cements The Real Food Cafe’s reputation as one of Scotland’s most iconic ‘pit stops’, a place where great food, warm hospitality and community spirit come together.

Customer Testimonials

“The best cinnamon roll muffins we’ve had in years.”“The cinnamon bun was to die for.”“These I can honestly say are the BEST cinnamon buns in the world. They are absolutely incredible!”“Absolutely the most delicious cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tasted”

About The Real Food Café

Situated at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in Tyndrum, on the West Highland Way, just before the A82 splits to Oban and north to Fort William, the Real Food Café is an iconic ‘pit stop’ for the many who travel through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park for business and leisure.

The restaurant opened in 2005 with a mission to serve customers great food of the highest standard, focusing on provenance and sustainability, and a menu with a strong vegetarian offering, all delivered in a warm, friendly and caring way.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to thousands of visitors from Scotland and beyond every year. Its menu features homemade soup, award-winning fish and chips, Scotch beef and venison burgers, Scottish salmon, salads, home baking and organic and fair-trade coffee. The Real Food Cafe is also licensed and sells a selection of wine, Scottish craft beers and cider.

The restaurant is a Coeliac UK Accredited Caterer with an A grade rating for its gluten-free fish and chips and a dedicated gluten-free menu.  Gluten-Free Fortnight was an initiative launched by The Real Food Cafe in 2019. It has become one of the most important fortnights in the calendar for the business, attracting a new wave of visitors with its specially created gluten-free menu and gluten-free beer.A business with a strong ethical foundation, its focus has always been fourfold - on the food, the customer, team and community, with the restaurant delivering outstanding and noteworthy initiatives and projects around those four pillars.

The Real Food Café was listed in the Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2023, 2024 and 2025 by The Caterer magazine.

The Real Food Cafe’s website can be found at www.therealfoodcafe.com