Once the handshakes were over and the cameras stopped clicking yesterday, partners Sue Moller and Steve Wilson drove their new car to the Blackhead cemetery and ''shouted'' their respective sons a beer.
Earlier, the co-owners of the award-winning Ironic Cafe in downtown Dunedin had put on their bravest smiles and celebrated, belatedly, the business being named New Zealand's ''Cafe of the Year'' for 2014-15.
Their prizes, a Renault Clio R. S. 200, worth more than $30,000, and a framed certificate, were presented to them at the Anzac Ave cafe yesterday because when the award was announced three weeks ago, the couple were dealing with their second recent family tragedy.
Sue's son Luke Keenan (25) was killed in a car crash at Palmerston North on November 27.
In September last year, Steve's son Ashley (24) died from a rare medical condition.
Luke and Ashley were best mates and are buried together at Blackhead.
''We're going to drive up there later and take them a beer,'' said Mr Wilson, while quietly acknowledging the past year or so had been ''an extremely tough time''.
But, the couple said, yesterday's function was about ''putting on the smiles today'' and being proud their cafe, which they started in 2007, had won such an important title.
They were prouder still for the cafe's 25 staff, who are all part of their wider ''family'', and proud too the win meant more national recognition for Dunedin, following the city's recent Gigatown success.
The couple, who have been together for 12 years, said their sons would also have been ''so proud'' of the award as they were strong supporters of the family business.
Even while living in Palmerston North, Luke had got ''right behind'' the competition, they said, urging all his friends and workmates to vote for Ironic to get it into thefinals.
The New Zealand Cafe of the Year contest is run by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand and is co-sponsored by Goodman Fielder, Heinz Watties and Renault.
This year the event attracted more than 39,000 votes for 1123 eateries which entered.
