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december 2011 COnnection
Sweet Peas Cafe Now Open
by Maggie Milinovitch Arivaca’s much anticipated Sweet Peas Café opened last month and looks to be a hit with locals and visitors alike. The café’s concept is based in serving fresh foods prepared with a careful hand in an atmosphere of warmth and style. Jenni Stern, with the help of her husband Bill and the kids – Lilyan (15) and Cooper (13) has realized her dream of having her own restaurant. Jenni started in the food industry when she was 10-yearsold scooping ice cream in her aunt and uncle’s restaurant in Albany, New York. She always enjoyed the atmosphere and energy of food service. When she came to Arivaca, she met Bill and made Arivaca her home. Jenni has, for the past five years, run Sweet Peas Catering. It has been a successful venture for her. Most of her catering business is in Green Valley and yet she loves being a part of Arivaca and wanted to spend more of her time here. That opportunity came when the restaurant at Universal Ranch became available. The space allows her to not only continue her catering business, preparing the meals in the spacious kitchen, but to have a restaurant of her very own. Bill, Jenni, Cooper and Lily Stern in front of the new Sweet Peas Cafe mural. Located at the corner of Universal Ranch and Arivaca Ranch Roads, the café received a delightful face lift prior to opening. The décor is a bit formal for what many people may expect to find in tiny Arivaca. The formality doesn’t end there. Jenni has a keen sense of
decorum when presenting a fine meal to patrons. The staff wears uniforms and is carefully instructed in proper customer service. The comfortable and friendly part of the equation is very important to Jenni, who is a natural charmer with a welcoming personality. She selected a staff with those qualities in mind. At the present time the Sweet Peas serves only breakfast and lunch but is open to special events and plans to expand to include dinner. The menu features a generous range of items made as fresh as possible. Nothing comes out of a can that can be procured fresh or made from scratch. Local, organic produce, (primarily from Arivaca Community Gardens – managed by Bill Stern), is part of most meals. The breads are baked by Rachel Barry – our local teacher/ baker. The coffee is from Arivaca’s roasterie, Gadsden Coffee. The breakfast menu (served until 11am), has a nice selection of items - eggs as you like them, omelets, quiches, and pancakes including one that must be a kid pleaser -chocolate chip pancakes! Lunch offers wraps, sandwiches, burgers, vegie burgers, quiche, salads and grilled sandwiches - the California Chicken grilled sandwich I can vouch for as delicious. Sweet Peas Café is open Thursday through Monday, 8 am to 3 pm and located a mile east of Arivaca Road on Universal Ranch Road. Contact: 398-9200 or visit www. sweetpeascuisine.com
Stockwell Honey Co. Since 1943
Unprocessed granulated honey (just like dad and granddad sold) available in: • Wide-mouthed pint jars at $60.00 per case (fifteen pounds net) • Gallon buckets $30.00 per gallon (12 pounds net) Plus we generally have a supply of minimally processed liquid honey • Case lots of half pints, pints, quarts, or one gallon buckets. Hive products - hand dipped beeswax candles and other sizes of containers are periodically available by prior request. maller quantities and individual jars are available at the Arivaca Mercantile year around.
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By appointment only. P. O. Box 366 Arivaca, Az. 85601 520-398-2366
One of Sweet Peas' dining areas
WALKING J FARM grassfed beef · Pastured Poultry & Pork Organically grown Produce · csa shares 520-398-9050 · amado, aZ
info@walkingjfarm.com
www.walkingjfarm.com