Herbs were neatly adjacent to the front door as friends stopped by to say “Hi” while others dined and caught up on the daily gossip. In this quaint cafe in the historic Pentheny Building is Z Cafe, formerly known as Cafe Fresco, a generational passing of sorts from one warm embrace to another. Soft French music plays over the beautifully aged brick stones and under rustic orange umbrellas in a garden oasis surrounding this quiet courtyard with chef and new owner Jamey Hughson.
And though you shouldn’t dare call any of this chef’s creations “sauce,” the freshness of Hughson’s reductions, glazes and vinaigrettes are indeed scrumptious. Trained at the Seattle Culinary Academy, Hughson’s passion for cooking began at a very early age, evident in his attention to detail of every bite filled with local farm fresh flavors of rosemary or cilantro, to mention a couple.
“If I can have something that was in the ground in the morning, why would I not want to eat that vs. not knowing where your produce comes from,” says Hughson. “It’s a no-brainer.”
Some customers noted that they excitedly fly all the way from St. Thomas to enjoy Hughson’s warm quinoa bowl with chickpeas and a glass of sparkling passionfruit lemonade.
True to Hughson’s favorites of “anything local,” much of the salad ingredients and fruits are freshly picked by the cutest, quirkiest farm family at ARTfarm on the South Shore, run by local artists Farmer Luca and his wife, Farmer Christina. They are proud of their salad greens that apparently have made a deal with the sun to still be sweet despite the lack of rain throughout the summer. Farmer Luca and Hughson, over their 15-year relationship as a private chef, are said to chat about purple greens and how cared for the mangoes must feel individually wrapped or draped, protected from the local birds attracted to its bright oranges and reds upon ripening.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots are just a few of the farm-fresh ingredients commonly added to the sides of the pork tenderloin panini and mahi tacos with avocado puree, watermelon, jalapenos, and sesame/ginger slaw. Perfectly paired combinations of flavors can also be seen inside the new breakfast menu of “toasties,” toasted golden bread and oozing cheese, once known as comfort food for royalty. The grab-n-go breakfast menu also has daily baked goods of muffins and pastries and dare it be said, gives a homemade feel— with an option for banana butterscotch bread pudding topped with in-house made ice cream for lunch.
Hughson prides himself on his execution of every plate while customers chat it up with the staff and the business people in the surrounding offices who only speak of Z Cafe as their daily dose of deliciousness. These regulars basically served themselves as they brought back cleaned plates, loyal to the daily specials dependent on what’s available in season and the already mentioned favorites.
Whether it’s “to-go” or to sit and enjoy a little piece of heaven, yes, the bread pudding and the oasis-like atmosphere tucked between the bustle of Downtown Christiansted shops and offices, Z Cafe in the historic Pentheny Building on King Street opens from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.. Check out their social media pages on Instagram or Facebook at @ZCafeSTX to start the mouthwatering reaction of the senses ignited by the vibrant colors of local ingredients. To continue the experience, visit www.zcafestx.com or 46 King St. Suite 105, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI.
