Date: Fri 08-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Sunrise-Herb-Farm-Cafe-Hawk

Full Text:

Natural Market & Cafe: A New Concept In Take-Out Takes Off

(with photos)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Like many working couples today, Valerie Hawk and David Boyd Hoffman often

found that, at the end of a long day, they just didn't have the time or the

energy to cook.

But eating out presented its own problems.

"We can't afford to eat in fancy restaurants all the time so we wound up very

frustrated," Valerie said. "We ended up eating pizza a lot and deli

sandwiches. And wondering why isn't there inexpensive fast food that tastes

good and is good for you? Why does everything that is inexpensive and quick

have to be junk food - unhealthy?"

So Valerie, who owns the Sunrise Herb Farm on Route 302 in Bethel, and her

husband decided to do something to fill that void. They opened the Sunrise

Herb Farm Natural Market & Cafe on Greenwood Avenue in Bethel on July 6.

David Hoffman, 34, is a graduate of the culinary program at Johnson & Wales in

Providence, R.I., and always wanted to have his own restaurant. His wife, a

vegetarian, comes from a very food-oriented family. When they got married last

year, they first put their energy into the herb farm and its store and into

constructing a large addition that doubled the size of their house. Then they

turned their attention to food.

"People have begun to be concerned about health today and are finally

realizing that you are what you eat," Valerie said. "We're trying to show

people that good quality food can be fairly priced and can be take-out food.

Junk food is not the only answer."

"Many people think that natural foods which are healthy and good for you are

bland and boring. We want to prove that it can taste good, too," she said.

The cafe is located in the heart of Bethel, across from Chase Bank and Dr

Mike's Ice Cream. There are a few tables and chairs on the sidewalk under the

striped awning that shades the front of the building. Inside there's a counter

with stools and room for just a table or two. One wall is lined with shelves

of market items - teas, juices, jams, cereals and other prepared foods.

One of the most popular features of the store is the juice bar. While a juice

made from oranges, grapefruit and mint is the biggest seller, Happy Heart

(apples, celery, carrots, garlic and parsley) is quickly catching up. The more

adventurous try Energy Blast (tomatoes, carrots, spinach and apples), or Body

Balance, a hearty combination of beets, celery, carrots and fresh ginger.

Fruit smoothies will be offered soon.

"This is a great way for people to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit," Valerie

said. "It takes many vegetables to make a juice."

"Plus they taste good, too," Dave said.

There's also a large selection of herbal teas, herbal ice teas and coffees,

gourmet coffees and bottled waters. But it is the food that has people

talking. The cafe uses organically grown foods but it isn't completely

vegetarian. Fish and chicken dishes often are included in the dinner specials.

The menus are seasonal. Luncheon specials on a recent weekday included a

broccoli and portabella mushroom soup, a salad of tossed greens with balsamic

dressing, gorgonzola cheese and croutons, and a herbal tuna sandwich on the

cafe's seven-grain bread.

Salads ($4.95 to $5.50) include Spinach Splendor, fresh spinach accented with

toasted walnuts, roasted pepper, and tomato and basil feta cheese. Two

interesting entrees ($5.95) are Broccoli Forest, a delicious mix of organic

brown rice with steamed broccoli, tofu, water chestnuts, toasted nuts and

raisins, drizzled with a zesty sesame sauce, and Cowboy Burrito, a burrito

filled with seasoned black beans, scallions and herbs, topped with melted

Monterey cheese and fresh salsa.

There are different sandwich, pasta and entree specials every day. Lunch and

dinner entrees are in the $5 to $7 range.

"We use herbs from our herb farm because we know they are grown organically

and that they are very fresh," Valerie said. "Herbs have a very short shelf

life."

When Valerie Hawk started the Sunrise Herb Farm three years ago, she took the

concept of a herb farm and modernized it with a focus on aromatherapy and

herbal healing. She expanded into bath and body products, started a mail order

catalogue, and went on the Internet. She also started a herb school, offering

a wide variety of classes on the use of herbs.

"The school is busier than ever," David said. "In the beginning the classes

were almost all women. Then men started signing up and now the classes are

almost 50-50."

Now that they have the cafe, David will be teaching cooking classes there.

Live music also is planned this fall. The couple expect the concept of the

store to be successful; they're already training staff with the idea of

opening a second store.

The Sunrise Herb Farm Natural Market & Cafe is open Monday through Thursday

from 10 am to 6 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm. Customers who want

to eat in the sidewalk cafe may bring their own wine. For take-out, call

790-6355.