J&B’s Country Store in Broadway, VA has a little gem hidden in the back of the store. It’s called The Country Café, and it has gone through several changes over the years.
Susan Moreno, the last person running the café, has decided to retire. She has turned the reins, and the kitchen, over to a couple who have been making some delicious food for the last couple of weeks.
Linda Baldridge and Arron Faxon hail from Baker, WV. Although Arron works with Broadway Motors, when the couple heard of the opportunity to take over the café, they jumped at the chance.
Arron is the main cook, while Linda helps come up with the recipes. Arron has always liked to cook, create his own dishes, and put his own spin on a recipe he may have come across.
Everything on The Country Café menu is made fresh the night before, with as many local ingredients as they can find. The seasonings used in their version of the taco salad are made locally. For example, “The chicken stock is made from scratch just about every morning” said Arron, and the ingredients are used in much of what he has cooked up for that week’s menu. Food is never kept beyond 2 days, everything on the menu is fresh. Potato soup is made most days of the week, and Ronnie Dove, owner of Cat’s Meow, is a repeat customer that soup!
“My chicken salad and soup are made mainly from the breast and thigh, and the bone gives us the broth. Then, we add the carrots, celery, etc.”
Linda added, “The one thing we are learning is how to predict how much to make. It’s hard, because some days we cut it close, and other days we have excess.”
Arron mentioned, “Although this is not a traditional restaurant, it can be, because it has everything a restaurant has, just on a smaller scale. And, we do free delivery.”
The grilled cheese was trial and error, and now it is on the menu on a thicker bread with 3 different cheeses.
Iced tea will be homemade, along with flavors that were made popular when Susan ran the kitchen.
Their baked goods are very scrumptious and varied. If it doesn’t pass the taste test, it doesn’t make it on the menu.
A few of the tried and true favorites from Susan’s menu will be kept, along with all new creations from the new owners.
Although still working on a weekly menu to find out what people prefer, what they have come up with so far has been pretty well received! The tomato basil caprese sandwich, meatloaf, and that potato soup, have become favorites.
This is the couple’s first foray into the restaurant business, and so far, all is going well. Their menu has met with local approval, with steady line of lunch orders for either pick up or delivery. As of this writing, Arron and Linda are serving about 15-25 lunches per day, and would love to see that increase as word gets around!
Surprisingly, although the Café has been a staple in J&B’s for many years, there are still local people who are not aware that it exists!
While the two are still working on a weekly menu to find what people prefer, what they have come up with so far, has been pretty well received. The tomato basil caprese sandwich, meatloaf, and potato soup have become favorites.
See the Country Café’s menu right by J&B’s Country Store’s ad in The Chimney Rock Chronicle every month. You can call the store, 540-896-2880 to place your lunch order, or stop on by. You can pick up a menu in the store also. The Café is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Spread the word- The Country Café is open for business!
