We’re finally here! We’re doing what we’ve always planned and worked so hard for in the past. Corporate dining has been our background for over 20 years, John an Executive Chef and Susan a Hospitality General Manager. We have been very fortunate to be a part of some exciting opportunities. Susan, a graduate of Widener University, has opened seven corporate dining restaurants in her career. And John, a graduate of The Academy of Culinary Arts, started his career in the Virgin Islands and was one of fifty American chefs sent to Sydney Australia for the 2000 Olympics to provide meals for the athletes and coaches.
During those years we began a part time catering business known as the Sassafras Caterers which provided service for corporate events, private parties, and a personal chef service for individuals and families. Our focus has always been to customize our client’s culinary needs. As a result our client base grew from Maryland and Delaware into Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In 2003 our part time business became “The Sassafras Chef LLC" and we began to look for a permanent location for our expanding business.
In 2006 our company found the Harbor Café which enabled us to provide much more. In addition to catering the cafe serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere. Some of the featured menu items that have become customer favorites at breakfast are the Sassafras Spicy Wrap, at lunch the “Sassafries” - (cheese fries with old bay, malt vinegar and home made hot sauce), Oyster Stew, “The Café Burger”, Fresh Baked Flounder Sandwich and at dinner Fresh Roasted Turkey Breast Platter, Chicken Marsala, Rosemary Garlic Pork Loin, Shrimp Alfredo and the certified black angus N.Y. Strip Steak.
The design of our café also allows us to hold a wine tasting or cooking class in our open kitchen. The banquet facility which is located next to the café can accommodate 75-80 people and over looks the beautiful Sassafras Harbor Marina.
We look forward to seeing you.
John has been an Executive Chef for over 22 years. He worked at various resorts and restaurants in the Virgin Islands for four years at the start of his career. He received a Gold Medal in the First Annual Food & Wine Festival of St. Thomas. And before he moved back to the states, he was voted #1 chef on the island by his culinary peers.
John has also been a culinary instructor for a continuing education program at Chesapeake College. Now he offers cooking classes for individuals or groups at The Harbor Café where he and his wife Susan have been proprietors for three years.
Cooking classes can build your confidence in the kitchen, advance your skills or just allow you to have fun with family & friends while you learn. Classes can be customized to accommodate your specific needs. The class will provide basic knowledge of knife handling, food safety and preparation. Healthy lifestyle cooking can also be included in any lesson.