Julien's Journal September 2016 (Volume 41, Number 9) | Page 61

JJ

LOCAL FLAVOR
by Heather
Hutchinson-Schuster

C

afé Fraiche, a local Dubuque restaurant, will be celebrating its one-year
anniversary on September 3. This
quaint, French inspired café is a dining
delight and locally owned and operated by
Patricia Smith, her daughters, Kelicia Kelley
and Katelyn Meyer, and son-in-law Michael
Meyer. The hospitality industry comes
second nature to all four of them and they
absolutely adore every aspect of it.
Patricia came back to Dubuque after owning a full-service inn in Galena, IL. With her
background in tourism and hospitality and
her love of nostalgia, Patricia was drawn to
the Sacred Heart/North End District, which
is also where she grew up. After looking at
a few different properties, they decided on
a building that dates back to 1900 located
at 609 E. 22 St. The goal from the beginning
was to enhance the original elements in the
building to keep the vintage look and feel
while freshening up the street scape.
With a smile Patricia says, “I am now back
home to my old stomping grounds and
neighborhood.” She has infused feelings of
home in almost every aspect of the restaurant. In the two dining areas, you will see

Photos contributed by Heather Schuster.

that each table, centerpiece, china plate, cup and
saucer, linen napkin (complete with napkin ring), and
piece of silver is special. Some pieces
came from Patricia’s family, some were
brought in by friends and customers, and
some of the pieces were finds at garage sales
and thrift stores. The décor at Café Fraiche
is just as unique. Antiques and heirlooms
adorn the walls and shelves and each piece
has a story that Patricia will gladly share.
Patricia’s daughters, Kelicia and Katelyn, are
two faces you will see as you step through
the door. Kelicia wears many different hats
during the course of a day and one of those
is hostess. She has a background in restaurant management, but has a knack and love
for baking.
Kelicia is also the Special Events Coordinator for Café Fraiche. The café is available
for special events outside of regular business hours and can accommodate up to
50 people. It is the perfect setting for a
birthday party, ladies afternoon tea, shower,
or intimate gathering. Kelicia is more than
happy to create a menu that fits your tastes,
style, and budget. If you are planning an event at home, Café

Heather Hutchinson-Schuster’s love for writing and food comes from
many days spent cooking and dining with friends and neighbors. She
invites you to share in some of her favorite restaurant experiences each
and every month in her column. If you have a personal favorite restaurant
that you would like to share with her, please email suggestions to Feature@
juliensjournal.com.

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