After sitting in Café Fresh for a few minutes, I quickly forget that I am in downtown Moline. The room is full of people and the buzz in the room is intoxicating.
When I look around at the tables I see nothing but, pardon my obviousness, fresh looking entrees and smiles on every face.
In the last few years, Café Fresh has moved locations two different times to meet the needs of their growing customers. As the locations have gotten bigger for Café Fresh, so has the menu. One of the main people behind the kitchen doors at Café Fresh is Chef Juan Hernandez. Hernandez, along with the other staff, has turned what was once a place to grab a quick lunch, into a full breakfast to dinner dining experience.
Having been in the restaurant business for over fourteen years, Hernandez’s passion comes out in many of the dishes he prepares. “I love everything to be fresh and that is something that is not only in our name but we really do prepare everything the same day.” explained Hernandez. Originally from Toluca, Mexico, Hernandez moved to the Quad Cities via Chicago five years ago and in that time has already built somewhat of a cooking fan club because of his originality when
behind the flame. “Thankfully, I have a few followers that follow me from the places that I have worked before,” said Hernandez. “They really know who I am and the type of food I cook.” Not only is Hernandez busy with the restaurant portion of Café Fresh, he also helps with, re.fresh, the bar/cocktail lounge attached to Café Fresh. “We have a sort of tapas style menu for that part of the restaurant.” said Hernandez.
With the long hours and stress that comes along with working in a restaurant, Hernandez never forgets why he is there. “You always have to put the guests first here,” said Hernandez. “It’s like they are guests in my house. Everything needs to be 100%.” And speaking of his home life, Hernandez has three children, two of whom are following in his footsteps hoping to be Chefs one day. “He gets our vision,” said Café Fresh owner, Amanda Bautista-Kernan. “A lot of people want to come in here and do the Midwest, meat and potatoes type thing but he really got what we were trying to do.”
It’s not often that you get quantity and quality from a restaurant but, after drinking a freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice and eating the Melon Salad consisting of jumbo shrimp or chicken (I went with shrimp), cantaloupe, avocado, cashews, red onion, goat cheese, lime and spice with mango dressing, I can honestly say that I left feeling a clean full and because I ate so healthy I grabbed a few homemade cupcakes for later.
Café Fresh has found the perfect balance of a health conscious menu bursting with flavors that will keep you coming back all hours of the day and night.
Please visit www.cafefreshmoline.com for a full menu and for other information on the restaurant. Café Fresh is located at 1514 5th avenue in downtown Moline, IL.
Juan Hernandez will be one of the featured chefs at this year’s Secret Garden Party at the Quad Cities Botanical Center on Thursday June 28 at 6 PM. For more information go to www.qcgardens.com
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