Cheryl Barsom and Donna DiRaddo are best friends with an appreciation for local, fresh and homemade food. When they opened a restaurant in Brewerton in July, they debated what to name it, then settled on a combination of both of their names: Barado’s Cafe.
Why not? It’s a team effort all the way.
Barsom manages the cafe and coordinates special events and private parties. She worked many years in sales at Williams-Sonoma. DiRaddo is the executive chef, with a long list of local credits behind her. She served as executive chef at Lakeshore Country Club and Beaver Meadows Golf Club and also worked many years for Julie’s Place and Karen’s Catering. She also has taught cooking and technique classes at Williams-Sonoma.
The menus at Barado’s reflect the partners’ passion for unpretentious homemade food, with a twist.
Dinner entrees on a recent weekend included teriyaki-braised beef short ribs, chicken stuffed with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese and Maryland crab-stuffed haddock. Lunches feature daily soups, paninis, wraps and specialty salads
Piece of advice: Save room for house-made desserts like carrot cake, banana cream pie and chocolate chip cookie cheesecake.
Barado’s is in the brick house near the intersection of Brewerton Road (Route 11) that formerly was home to Brick House Café. The restaurant has about 40 seats and fills up quickly for lunch and dinner.
“The community has been so supportive of us,’’ Barsom says.
The partners hope to have a liquor license in time for the holiday season.
Barado’s Cafe and Catering is at 9570 Brewerton Road (Route 11), Brewerton. Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Dinner is served 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Check the Barado’s Facebook page for menus. Information: 668-1114.
Margaret McCormick is a freelance writer and editor in Syracuse. She blogs about food at eatfirst.typepad.com. Follow her on Twitter at @mmccormickcny.