CANTON - After testing the cafe with local culinary artists and patrons over the past six months, TAUNY's Newberry Cafe invites the public to its grand opening Monday, Oct. 14 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The cafe will then run every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. serving customer favorites crepes & quiche, and new items including soups, salads, and paninis.

Traditional dishes with roots in the North Country and contemporary offerings will be featured, all with quality ingredients, many of which will come directly from local North Country farms.

The cafe will focus on healthy options and sustainable practices including limited takeout and a reliance on local distributors.

With a focus on an eat-in environment and attentive customer service, the Newberry Cafe will be a welcoming space that builds community connections within the ambiance of The TAUNY Center.

TAUNY also announces the hiring of culinary artist Steven Maiocco to the Newberry Cafe.

He is a resident of Potsdam and for the past twenty years has worked as a chef in the North Country.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Maiocco to TAUNY, his culinary experience and history of working in the local food industry makes him an excellent fit for the next phase of the cafe,” said TAUNY Executive Director Joshua Vink.

This new initiative  has been built on a long history of foodways demonstrations and events the organization has done over its nearly forty-year history. TAUNY views the Newberry Cafe as an opportunity to elevate this work, and underscore its mission to “explore, honor, and celebrate the diverse cultures, skills, and crafts of everyday life in New York’s North Country to bring people together across our region and beyond.”

By welcoming local residents and regional tourists to the downtown, the cafe will also contribute to the ongoing efforts to revitalize Canton and add to its vibrancy and economic development.

Mr. Maiocco will replace two culinary artists who were responsible for helping to start the menu and the Cafe, Andre Comandon and Catherine Brownell who TAUNY organizers thanked for “their excellent work and generous service to the organization.”

For more information on the Newberry cafe visit www.tauny.org .