Culinary artists team up for new menu at Bravo Cafe

Two culinary artists in Gardnerville have teamed up to strengthen business in the face of recession.

In January, Angela Stockert, owner of the catering company Boardroom Chef, approached Joanna Lilly of Bravo Cafe and Bakery.

"I came and asked if I could rent some space," said Stockert, who's also the chef for Northwest Martial Arts' Ultimate Body Challenge in addition to being Bravo's new kitchen manager. "In this bad economy, we decided to team up together. It gives us both more exposure."

"We wanted to step it up a notch in the kitchen," explained Lilly. "We bring different skills to the table. Angela is a traditionally trained chef, and I'm more of a baker, still trying to be the business planner."

Lilly opened Bravo Cafe on Halloween of last year. It was an offshoot of Bravo Desserts, Lilly's dessert catering service now run out of the Gardnerville restaurant.

This summer, Lilly and Stockert will be teaming up for more catering jobs, with a new emphasis on causal, themed catering.

"We really want to do whatever is freshest at the time," said Lilly. "Summer is a lot of tritip and chicken and fish, and desserts like strawberry shortcake and fresh berries, that kind of thing."

But the purpose of the partnership is also to strengthen the restaurant, which has had some challenges, Lilly said. She said a lack of business in the morning hours impelled her to close the restaurant for breakfast for about a month, a decision that eventually backfired.

"We tried it, but too many people missed breakfast," she said. "They wanted their coffee and pastries, so we reopened."

To keep customers coming, Lilly and Stockert beefed up their menu. They added four more salads, including southwest Caesar, spinach, Asian chicken and long bean salad.

They also added all-beef hot dogs on homemade buns, plus pesto chicken and vegetarian sandwiches. And now customers have the choice whether they want their sandwiches served cold or grilled.

But even with the revisions, Lilly was determined to keep the menu affordable, under the $7 mark.

"I hear good things from our customers," she said. "But in general, people are not able to spend as much, so we're still trying to stay affordable. I understand that many people are working through their lunches. Hopefully, this summer, they'll start getting out and treating themselves."

Meanwhile the duo will continue the work of networking and promotion, whether at local farmers markets in the Valley, or during Main Street Gardnerville's Thursday wine walks, or by offering their products through other venues, such as Lira's Supermarket in Minden.

"People have to eat, so we're going to find them and feed them," Lilly said.

Bravo Cafe and Bakery is located at 1483 Highway 395. New business hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The restaurant will be open for Carson Valley Days this Saturday. A cookie-decorating class for Father's Day will be 4 to 6 p.m. June 20.

For more information, call 783-9110.