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Prior to their desert conversion, sisters Rosemary and Patricia Catroppa, along with college friends Grace Rubel and Syd Michaels, earned their chops running Scoop Du Jour, a Brooklyn, N.Y., dessert café. Drawn to the neighborhood feel of the gallery district, they opened Café Forté in 1996. Converting the former coffee shop proved a providential move, as Main Street infill continued and ArtWalks became a year-round fixture.
Chef Grace is largely self taught, having inherited her love of cooking from her Polish mother, while Rosemary and Patricia were practically raised in the neighborhood pasticceria, learning small business practices along with the art and alchemy of baking.
While Syd’s accounting skills serve the business well, she is also passionate about wine and prefers to engage with guests above all else. Drawing on the ethnic tapestry of their early roots, the four Brooklyn natives have created an appealing menu billed as New American Comfort Food.
“We take classic American dishes and recreate them in new and creative ways,” Rosemary says. Café meatloaf, for example, which blends lean ground beef and Chef Grace’s own spice blend, is slow-simmered and finished with savory caramelized onions and corn-flecked mashed potatoes. Also popular is the all-natural roasted chicken with smashed sweet potatoes. Gazpacho is a fixture while the hot soup changes daily.
Lunch offerings ($9-$14) include salads, cold sandwiches, hot melts, burgers and pasta such as fresh ravioli. The café’s recently launched “Comfort Hour” offers daily appetizer and drink specials, with pizzas available until 5 p.m.
No dinner entrée is over $20, and while the 15 options remain constant, Chef Grace highlights seasonal bounty with daily features. Choose from wine, beer or a specialty cocktail to complement your meal. The Catroppa sisters’ bakery upbringing begs you to save room for dessert. Pastry-case temptations range from homey bread pudding to decadent chocolate truffle tart ($6.95).
The sunlit dining room is bright and cheery by day, with white linens and butternut squash-tinted walls. At night, candlelight sets the stage for intimacy. French doors overlook a lush courtyard garden belonging to neighboring business owner Craig Pearson, which Café Forté is often fortunate to have available for guest seating. A few patio tables dot the sidewalk on the Main Street frontage.
All four restaurateurs are completely hands-on and continue to work the front and heart of the house, a legacy of their early industry influences. Their pledge is to provide top-quality, healthy food choices, friendly service and an inviting atmosphere.
While proud of every aspect of the cafe, Rosemary says love and commitment may be their most important ingredients yet—and the je ne sais quois factor which sets the place apart.
“Café Forté is a compilation of the history of four women,” says Rosemary. “We have a strong work ethic and a strong commitment to our customer’s health and enjoyment.” Forté, indeed.
7032 East Main St.
480.994.1331; www.cafeforte.com
Lunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Dinner: 4 p.m.-close Wed.-Sat.
Comfort Hour: 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat.
Closed Sundays
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