Food, friends and fun
Summer cafe brings people together

Emma Levez
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 17/98) - Three weeks ago, the summer cafe at the Abe Miller Centre opened for its fifth season -- and this year it's even bigger!

Usually open in the first week of June, paving of a larger outdoor area slowed normal procedure this year. Now that it is open (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday), the summer cafe can accommodate more people.

The menu changes every day, but some of the delights include barbecued burgers, seafood crepes, hummus, chicken burritos and more. Business has been going well so far, and business is increasing as people become more aware of the cafe.

Susan Edmonds is the program manager at the centre. "The end of the week always seems to be busiest," she says. "It hasn't been a big money-maker, but the main reason we do it is because it provides an opportunity for the people in the program to learn work skills."

The summer cafe is run entirely by the members and staff at the Abe Miller Centre. Some of the members help in the kitchen, some wait on tables, while others clean up and do the dishes. "All members are involved in one stage or another," says Edwards.

Jackie Fischlin, who is working for the first time as the cook at Abe Miller, has nothing but praise for her kitchen helpers. "The thing I like best is seeing how this place works as well as any other restaurant," she says.

"It's like a regular working environment, except I never hear complaining from the staff!"

The people at Abe Miller enjoy having the public around in the summer. Bertha Taylor is a longtime member at the centre who helps the cook and waits on tables.

"I like making lunches to give out to people," she says. Julie White likes it best when people she knows come to the cafe.

The idea of the program is to bring the members of the centre into the community.

Says Edmonds, "All the staff appreciate any opportunity we have to show the public how able our people are."