Opening Echo Coffee

by Tamsen Butler

Justin Schaffner is very laid back. Have a conversation with him and you’ll undoubtedly hear him say, “Oh, no worries!” at least two or three times because he says that a lot. It’s amazing that he’s so calm considering the past two years have been filled with uncertainty and frustration as he tried to open the doors to his coffee shop.

He remembers when the idea to start a business first came to him; it was during a party where he and his friends joked about getting together to open a coffee shop. What he didn’t know was that one of the people listening in on the conversation just so happened to know a woman who was looking for someone to open a coffee shop in a new building. What...

Crumbs

by Krista O'Malley

Tickets for the 11th annual Winefest Des Moines are on sale now at winefestdesmoines.com. The festival, presented by Dahl’s, celebrates the wine and culinary industries in Des Moines, Iowa with an entire week of events from June 1st through June 8th, 2013. The Des Moines Wine Festival Foundation has planned eight days of wine-related events for its annual June celebration. This year’s festival includes new events such as Toasting Tuesday, an evening toasting sparkling wines at the Hub Spot Plaza on the Riverwalk, and Bacon & the Bottle, a partnership with Baconfest & Café di Scala.

Join the Dundee Community at Marks Bistro, 4916 Underwood Ave., for a buffet style brunch to benefit...

Table Grace Café: Doing Good and Filling Bellies

by Tamsen Butler

I had to wait a few minutes before chef Matt Weber was available to chat, so I took some time to wander around and get a feel for this place. What I already knew about Table Grace Café is that it’s a place that offers food for a free-will offering. They don’t suggest a certain amount of money as a donation – you just give what you feel like giving and nobody knows how much you donated because it all goes into a wooden box at the counter. Just learning that was enough to prompt me to stop in and have a look around.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to find at Table Grace Café. I suppose I envisioned a soup kitchen type-vibe, but instead what I found was a quaint restaurant filled...

Crumbs

by Krista O'Malley

Good news for fans of the Surfside Club. After The Surfside closed their doors from the Flood of 2011, there has been a vacancy for restaurants along the Missouri river. Now, new owners are taking over and the Surfside will reopen by early May. Favored for its fried chicken and hush puppies, new menu items will be added but the recipes for Surfside favorites will be the same. In addition, you can expect some major renovations to the club such as new restrooms, new ceilings and a new bar area. The Surfside Club is located at 14445 North River Drive. Their new phone number is 402.457.4000

Earth Day Omaha has been planned for Saturday, April 20th in Elmwood Park. This is a free event that...

The Heroes of the Gyro

by Rachel Grace

The ‘80s saw the establishment of several authentic Greek restaurants in Omaha that are still flourishing today.

Not a whole lot of other things from the '80s have that kind of longevity. So what is it about the cuisine and the gyro that we love so much? 

Bill Sgourakis says that when he and brother George opened Greek Islands in 1983, you could count the number of restaurants on Center Street on one hand. Today, the neighborhood has changed, but the restaurant is mostly the same, save for a few extra grandchildren running around.

I've nicknamed this place Greek Mountains, on account of the mountainous portions, unchanged since the beginning. "Nobody has ever left this place hungry,...

Crumbs

by Krista O'Malley

Dishcrawl, a San Jose-based start-up that is rapidly gaining national recognition for its unique culinary events, will enter the Omaha market this month. The events, called Dishcrawls, typically take participants to four different restaurants in the same neighborhood over the course of one evening. The company was founded on the premise that communities can be brought together through good food and good company. Omaha’s inaugural Dishcrawl will take place in the Old Market, an area known for its diverse restaurant selection. Dishcrawlers will utilize the opportunity to mingle with new people while helping local restaurants gain exposure. Groups, couples, and singles are welcome. Dishcrawl...