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New Minglewood Café Owner: Rissa Warner Rarely does a new business open with so much positive history going for it. That’s what happened last summer when Rissa Warner, with her own famous background, took over one of Skagit County’s most prestigious and popular fine-dining restaurants, Wildflowers, and renamed it New Minglewood Café. The restaurant — hardly a traditional café, but an elegant eating establishment with linen, china, candlelight and a cozy fire — already has established itself, not wholly as Wildflowers’ successor but as the logical extension of Warner’s own restauranting career, which most recently included the Honey Bear Bakery north of Wallingford in Seattle. “(I) had a coffeehouse-bakery, and that was such a big thing,” Warner says about the Honey Bear on North 56th Street. “We had seating for 100 people, 32 employees, open seven days a week all year, and we got one award after another.” She wanted to expand into a chain of Honey Bears, so popular was the concept, but she didn’t have the wherewithal and her new partner was opposed to it, so she sold it to him and stayed on for a couple of years as a consultant. “I have an entrepreneurial spirit and for about 10 years, I wanted to grow the bakery but stay hands-on,” Warner remarks. “I didn’t want to do another bakery. I wanted to challenge myself, and I love food; I love organic food and natural food.” She had heard Wildflowers closed when its owner, the late Michelle Kjosen, fell ill with cancer. “I was told it had been fine dining for 20 years, and even though it was closed, it was well known,” Warner recalls. She met David Day, Kjosen’s chef and partner, who helped Warner get started last summer. He advised her on where to purchase the best local products — some of which are grown in the restaurant’s own garden — and Haggen’s assisted with the wine list, she says. “I feel comfortable about bragging to former Wildflowers’ customers that we can deliver everything they (Day and Kjosen) did and more. Our prices are even a little more affordable,” Warner observes. “Our niche is truly to have more ambiance and fine service for small groups as well.” She particularly wants to cater to business luncheons and group parties. The restaurant has a banquet room set up for groups of a dozen or more. “We also do cakes and special desserts,” Warner adds, explaining that her head baker from the Honey Bear, Diane Schaffer, came to Mount Vernon with her. “I want people to know we’re versatile. We’re here to meet the community’s needs. I listen to my customers,” she enthuses. Warner has six on staff besides herself, including chef Bryan Thurgood (“. . . he’s wonderful with fish and meats and is very good at grilling . . .”) and Schaffer, who also serves as kitchen manager. To reserve a table or book a group reservation, call Warner or Schaffer at 424-9724. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 4:30-9 p.m. for dinner, Wednesday through Sunday.
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