ENM welcomes Quarter Cup Cafe

Elko New Market had its newest restaurant open a week ago as the Quarter Cup Cafe at 12 Church St. began serving customers with breakfast and lunch. Steven Moore is the executive chef and owner of the business and has been in the restaurant trade for approaching 30 years.

Originally from Marquette, MI, he started in fast food as a youth and by 18 was working his first job as a chef. He said of his profession, "I tried it and I never looked back." He enjoyed growing up in the Great Lakes area where he learned about hunting. He appreciated having access to fresh outdoor food, whether it was fresh game or wild mushrooms or being able to fish at remote trout streams. He even worked on a Great Lakes cuisine cookbook.

He met his wife Jen while working in South Dakota. The couple discussed either continuing to live there or move to Minnesota. Moore noted Jen has family in the Twin Cities and Rochester and they decided it was an easier transition to Minnesota. They live in Webster.

When they found out the building, which formerly housed Helen’s Cafe, was available they talked it over and decided a restaurant of their own would allow them to do things themselves.

"We reached a tentative agreement by early January," Moore said of the site. "By the end of the month we were in here cleaning house.

" Work on the building included painting, new equipment and new tile, to name a few. "I’ve done everything you could think of," he said.

"I’ve been involved....

To see more on this story pick up the May 19, 2016 print edition of The New Prague Times.