Minnesota's Hidden Gem Café Has New Owners- A Must Visit

A couple with an amazing story is now the proud owners of a small town cafe that brings organic, homemade, delicious foods to their customers every day.

You can get all that and so much more when you visit with the proud new owners, Jaime and Eli Lawrence, at 'The Pease Cafe,' in Pease, Minnesota.

WHERE IS PEASE, MINNESOTA?

If you're wondering where Pease is, you're not alone. The town has a population of around 240 people and sits about 12 miles north of Princeton, my hometown, on Highway 169.

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AMAZING PIES MADE WITH LOVE

Those who have visited The Pease Cafe know that Jaime and Eli try to treat all of their customers like family.

Plus, they have a talented 83-year-old woman (who wishes to remain anonymous) making delicious homemade pies from scratch! That's the pie I WANT! Baked by someone who has been perfecting her skill for years.

Every day, they bake her amazing pies that include variations from strawberry, strawberry-rhubarb, cherry, blueberry, Dutch apple, peach pie, and more. This is just another extension of everything that Jaime and Eli believe in. The Pease Cafe makes REAL food..from scratch...ALWAYS.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Pease Cafe prides itself on some key points:

You'll always get homemade food from scratch
They only cook with high-quality butter purchased from Braun's Market next door
They get fresh ground beef every week and make their own pattied burgers
They use organic ingredients
They use only beef tallow in their fryers...NO SOYBEAN/SEED OILS

IF YOU'VE GOT A SWEET TOOTH...THEY'VE GOT A SWEET TREAT

They feature fresh cinnamon rolls every Thursday, and mouthwatering caramel rolls every Friday and Saturday...(Including this 4th of July Holiday weekend. Yes! They will be open on Saturday!)

GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH WAITING FOR

The Pease Cafe seats about 40 people at max capacity, and Jaime says, "You might have to wait a little bit for your food...but you'd have to wait anywhere to get a sit-down meal...AND we feed you REAL food, and we treat you right."

"Everything we make is real, from the homemade biscuits to mashed potatoes and gravy for our very popular Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches," Jaime says the Roast Beef Sandwich has been a favorite of their regular customers for years.

Jaime has been working as a waitress at this cafe for 7-8 years. She's locally known as 'the only waitress in town,' and she absolutely LOVES her customers.

BIG CHANGES FOR JAIME AND ELI

The story about how Jaime and Eli started working together is special. They've been together since they were teenagers, around 29 years. They are creative people in and out of the restaurant.

Eli has three giant organic gardens that he tends to, and Jaime does art on the side! Those creative energies come to life in their cafe. "It's just the two of us most of the time. Eli does all the cooking, and I am the waitress, and we share all the other duties, like washing dishes, cleaning, and all. It's definitely challenging, but we love it."

UNEXPECTED CAREER CHANGES LEAD TO BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

Eli wasn't always in the restaurant business. He worked in contracting and, a few years ago, broke his neck. Jaime didn't go into detail about how that affected Eli, but one thing is for sure. He's no stranger to hard work.

They made the decision that he would make a career change, and boy, did he. People rave about his cooking abilities, and now the two are able to spend all their time together, just as they did when they were kids.

Although Jaime never really thought about owning the cafe, the opportunity presented itself, and with her amazing husband Eli by her side, the two of them jumped in and are now excited to be business owners. They took over the business in May about two years ago, but just recently, officially became the proud owners thanks to The Initiative Foundation out of Little Falls.

The Pease Cafe has made quite a name for itself over the years. It was even recognized as one of Minnesota's best humble little restaurants, and after reading what customers continue to say about it, it's easy to see why! Jaime and Eli have clearly been a part of that story long before they became owners of the cafe.

QUIRKY MN PLACES

I recently came across a post in the Quirky Minnesota Places Facebook group from a woman who made the drive to Pease, and she couldn't say enough good things about her visit. "If you get the chance to go there...DO IT!! Excellent food, excellent service, and people. Jamie, the only waitress in Pease (a very small town), is so friendly and fun! The food is outstanding! We will drive the hour from Minneapolis to visit there again."

That's a pretty glowing review. When someone is willing to drive an hour just for a meal and says they'll happily do it again, you know that little cafe is doing something right.

She finished her post with four simple words:

"Pease Cafe is a MUST!!!"

THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE PEASE CAFE

As the cafe begins this new chapter with its new owners, here's hoping they keep serving up the homemade meals and friendly atmosphere that have made this little spot such a favorite. If you've eaten at the Pease Cafe, I'd love to know what your favorite thing on the menu is.

The Pease Cafe is open Tuesday through Friday, 8 AM to 1 PM, and on Saturdays, they serve breakfast from 8 to noon.

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