Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Sandra's Cafe serving up breakfast and lunch

Sandra's Cafe, in the Lee Center on Ga. Highway about two miles north of the Fayette Pavilion, offers breakfast and lunch in a casual atmosphere, with fresh seasonal vegetables prepared daily.

Owner Sandra Jackson began cooking at the age of 9. She grew up in a family of 13 children on a cattle farm in Mississippi; all vegetables and meats the family ate, including chicken, pork, beef and fish, were raised on the farm. She learned to cook by observing her mother and grandmother.

At the age of 11, when her mother returned to work as a nurse, Sandra took over a host of responsbilities in the kitchen, including making homemade biscuits, canning and assisting in preparing meals for six brothers and two sisters every day three meals a day, seven days a week.

By participating the 4-H Club and helping out at church and school events, she learned to cook large quantities for large groups of people.

From that environment, she moved on to graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and work in the corporate world for 20 years. But she always dreamed of owning her own business, specifically a restaurant.

Married 10 years, she and her husband, Robert, have two children, Loren and Ashton.

The opening of Sandra's Cafe is a family affair. Her sister, Doris Chambers, came to help with the start-up. She owned and operated Doris' Catering. Also helping get the restaurant off the ground is their brother, Kenneth Ward, who has experience in convenience store management and also owned a nightclub-restaurant in Mississippi.

Menu prices at Sandra's Cafe range from 59 cents to $5.70, plus tax. Take-out orders are available.

Hours are 6:30-10 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch. The restaurant is closed Saturday and Sunday.

The menu consists mainly of fresh vegetables with a couple of entrees, along with a selection of salads and soups.

Banquets and other group events are welcome, from 50-75 people.

Sandra's Cafe is in the Lee Center, 116 Bethea Road, Suite 116, in Fayetteville, just off Hwy. 314.

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