Cafe 222s 20th Anniversary

While it’s true that Ranch & Coast’s former food editor Terryl Gavre began her professional kitchen career at just 15, it’s hard to be believe that she possesses the years necessary to be celebrating her 20th anniversary at the helm of downtown’s Cafe 222. “I opened on Labor Day weekend 1992. I can’t believe it, I have gone from being a little newbie to one of the old-timers!” jokes Gavre, who recalls the story of the day she opened. “I had no idea if anyone would even come as I just took down my ‘coming soon’ sign and opened the day I was given my health permit. I was the only cook and I had one waitress on, and we were taking turns doing dishes.” It turns out that Cafe 222 had gotten so busy that they had to stop taking tables so that Gavre could run out to the nearest grocery store to buy more bread, “because I ran out of toast!” Gavre recounts. Twenty years (and two children and two more restaurants) later, business is going strong as ever. Pop into the Island Avenue eatery for her Green Eggs & Spam, Orange-Pecan Pancakes, and other inventive creations. Congratulations, Terryl, here’s to the next 20. (619/236-9902, www.cafe222.com)      MIA STEFANKO