Jo-Li-Me Cafe: a fresh idea at Chuck Hafner's

Bread pudding, pie and cannolis, oh my!

Think you have no reason to visit Chuck Hafner's in the wintertime? Think again.

Jo-Li-Me Fresh Garden Bakery and Cafe opened at the mega farm market and garden center in North Syracuse in November. Hafner's is closed for the season, so go now for coffee, breakfast, lunch or early supper -- it's bound to be P-A-C-K-E-D come spring and summer, when garden season arrives, bringing visitors by the car- and bus-load.

THE VIBE: Very Panera, but more open, warm and inviting, with wood beams and wood tables (some made from reclaimed wood from a 19th century barn), rustic decorative touches and lots of natural light.

THE MENU: So many baked goods: Bagels, Danish, muffins, croissants, cookies, cupcakes, brownies... shall I go on?

Looking for something more substantial? In the morning, they've got breakfast sandwiches and yogurt and granola parfaits. For lunch (and supper) they've got soups, salads, sandwiches, quiche (homemade), half-sandwich and soup-salad combos, etc. There are also specialty salads (antipasto chopped salad, chicken on field greens, etc.) and grilled sandwiches (like ham off the bone with brie, sliced apples and raspberry mayonnaise on pumpernickel).

Four soups are served each day and they are not homemade, according to a pleasant woman who greeted lunch visitors and answered questions about the menu when I visited last month. Soups arrive fresh each day, not frozen, she said.

CHOWING DOWN:  You can have a grilled chicken Caesar salad ($7.59) just about anywhere, but I figured a salad was a good bet at an eatery with the words "fresh" and "garden'' in its name, even if it's winter. The romaine was fresh and crisp and the chicken was tender and warm. The salad was topped with shaved Parmesan cheese and the citrusy-dressing was not overdone.

 

WHAT'S A VEGETARIAN GOING TO FIND? Plenty. How about a Greek (romaine, hummus, tomato, red onion, feta and Greek vinaigrette)  or Caprese (tomato, mozzarella and basil plus vinaigrette) piadine? Piadine are yet another kind of Italian sandwich, made with warm flatbread. You fold 'em up and eat 'em like a sandwich.

DESSERT: I would have shared something with someone, had I not been by myself, but a cookie, cupcake or cannoli just seemed wrong after a (relatively) healthy salad. A sample of Jo-Li-Me's hot chocolate, served in a tiny espresso cup, arrived just as I had decided NOT to indulge -- wouldn't you know?

LIQUID ASSETS: The cafe serves Paul de Lima coffee (which doesn't knock my socks off) and specialty coffee beverages, both hot and cold, are available as well. The smoothies, made with fresh fruit, low-fat milk and ice, sound delicious. A Creamsicle smoothie? That's dessert!

DAMAGES: $10 plus change for lunch.

NEXT TIME: I'm having a panini or a piadine and making sure I have company, so we can share things.

CLOSING THOUGHTS:  Jo-Li-Me has the potential to be a great lunch/supper spot during the Central New York growing season, when fresh produce from Chuck Hafner's is available for use in the kitchen. If it isn't doing so already, I hope Jo-Li-Me plays up recipes from Linda Hafner's new cookbook "Simple, Fresh and Healthy,'' which is for sale at the counter.

ABOUT THE NAME: Jo-Li-Me is operated by John Caveny (a nephew of Chuck Hafner), his wife Lisa and their daughter Meghan, hence the name Jo-Li-Me.

DETAILS:  Jo-Li-Me Cafe is at 7265 Buckley Road, North Syracuse (315-299-4451). Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until mid-March, at which time spring will be in the air (we hope!) and Chuck Hafner's will re-open for the season. As the days get longer, look for later hours (daily until 9 p.m.).

 

Comments

[Margaret @ Eat First]

Hi, Katrina -- I'm glad you liked it! Nice that you got out yesterday, too -- today is shaping up to be a good day to be inside, working on projects!!

Cheers,

--Margaret

[saltcityspice]

I brought my parents here yesterday and it was great! Your review was spot on - I loved how inviting the space was and I agree it's going to be packed once the weather warms up, especially once they open up the outdoor section. Can't wait to go back!

[Margaret @ Eat First]

Thanks for stopping by, Salt City Spice/Katrina! I'm thinking you will like the food at Jo-Li-Me and it also looks to be very child-friendly. I can't wait to see the direction this place takes when fresh, seasonal, LOCAL produce is in season.

All the best,

--Margaret

[Saltcityspice.blogspot.com]

Great writeup! I passed the cafe earlier this week and was wondering what it was like - I love how they came up with the name. I'm looking forward to checking it out for lunch soon.