Café at Adele's raises money for the Greenhouse Project

Café at Adele’s hosted two events this week to promote changes at the restaurant and to raise money for The Greenhouse Project.

Community leaders met Tuesday to experience first-hand the changes owners Charlie and Karen Abowd have made, both to the restaurant and to the menu. The same was true of Wednesday’s event to benefit The Greenhouse Project.

Café at Adele’s in conjunction with R & R Partners sponsored Tuesday’s event showcasing how business to business cooperation works to the benefit of all concerned as well as introduce wine and menu selections and services available to state agencies, business and private parties.

With the addition of a breakfast menu that continues Chef Charlie’s commitment to using the finest ingredients as well as having in place the technology and seating to accommodate teleconferences and meetings, Café at Adele’s has positioned itself as the meeting place in Carson City.

“Depending on seating needs we can accommodate 20 to 40 people (for private meetings or functions),” Karen said. “And we are set up to provide for a breakfast meeting that gets people in and back to doing business in an hour.”
The Abowds took over the running of Adele’s 18 years ago from Charlie’s parents, Paul and Adele, who went on to open The Stone House Cafe, a popular establishment in Reno.

“We became the inn keepers and were given a thumbprint to make sure we didn’t screw it up,” Charlie said.

With the guidance of some of the best minds in marketing, led by R & R Partners, and with Karen’s understanding the name Adele’s had to be part of the continuing brand, the changes were implemented the end of January.
If there was any question remaining about how the changes would be received, suffice to say the 800 breakfasts served last weekend, is the answer.

“One thing that has happened with Adele’s is (Karen and Charlie) looked at the changing needs of the community, they listened and changed,” said Ronnie Hannaman, executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. “I have always believed people like to reward themselves and if you’re a woman who has worked all week, a wonderful meal you don’t have to cook is a wonderful reward. Why not come into an environment that’s cozy, upscale and special – and this is certainly special.”

Wednesday’s benefit for The Greenhouse Project, the public private partnership that promotes agriculture and sustainability at the facility located on Carson High School’s campus, featured a presentation by Ray Saliga, hired a year ago through AmeriCorps and who is now the project manager.

He explained the project in simple detail from its inception three years ago to present. Currently, The Greenhouse Project is still accepting sponsorships for flower baskets, bricks and planters and is implementing Community Supported Agriculture, a subscriber service that will provide those who sign up with a bouquet of fresh flowers weekly for 12 weeks. Volunteers are also invited to come down and give as much time as they can, to be a part of what Charlie called the “peace army.”

“The short amount of time and the amount of money it’s taken to bring this from an idea to now, is great,” Saliga said. “At first with the (students) I felt like I was talking to a wall and now they’re fully engaged.”

The program includes students of all learning levels from other Carson City schools as well Carson High, with the intention of fully engaging the entire community.

Jenny Scanlon, part of the project’s management, has applied for a grant that would hire through Nevada Works/Join, 15 low-income students for the summer.
“We’ve had really great success so far,” she said. “This will give students the opportunity to work toward courses in greenhouse management.”

It was also announced that Café at Adele’s in conjunction with Carson High’s culinary class will be offering baking and culinary internships, continuing one of the “causes Karen is so commitment to,” Charlie said. “Our quality of service is always top notch and today, Karen is the new face of (Café at) Adele’s.”

Menu changes were featured each night, showcasing selections from the three menus. The collaborative spirit of Café at Adele’s is evident by the end result, led by Charlie, with Chef Dan Burnham and newly acquired Pastry Chef Elizabeth Moore. Some of Karen’s own recipes have also debuted.

Adele’s has always been a Carson City landmark for me and I enjoy going to breakfast with family and friends more than any other mean,” said Jeff Fontaine, executive director of Nevada Association of Counties. “The economy has been hard and Carson’s tough - we’re a government town and so tied to that with the legislature: I appreciate anyone who can do well.”

“Simply, I believe Charlie Abowd is the best chef in Nevada bar none and he and Karen have reinvented a new form of Adele’s that will last as long as the old,” said Sam Shad, who was in attendance Tuesday. “And I love it.”

The guiding principles that have made the Abowds successful restaurateurs are also practiced through The Greenhouse Project and summed up by Michelle Palmer, culinary mentor for area high schools including Carson, one-time pastry chef at Adele’s and organic farmer.

“To see a seed, put it into the ground, watch it grow and eat (the end result) is an amazing process,” she said. “Know your farmer, know your food.”

Café at Adele’s is open daily from 7 a.m. and is located at 1112 N. Carson St., Carson City. For more information call 775-882-3353 or visit adelesrestaurantandlounge.com. The greenhouse is open for visits Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment by calling Joanne Skelly at Carson City Cooperative Extension at 775-887-2252. To learn more about the Greenhouse Project or to take advantage of a sponsorship opportunity, call Karen Abowd at 775-232-8626 or visit carsoncitygreenhouse.org.