A pleasant and delicious way to take a break and grab a bite in Yorktown
by Jackie Nunnery –
It all started with a grandmother’s recipe for carrot cake. Now over a quarter century later, owners Debi and Glenn Helseth are also serving up flavorful lunches with the same dedication to serving quality ingredients in their Williamsburg and Yorktown eateries.
With the weather warming, the tiny cafe in Yorktown’s Riverwalk Landing is the perfect place to kick back on the patio or grab a few lunch items for a picnic on a nearby shaded lawn or sunny beach while enjoying the stunning views of the York River. With walk-in “grab and go” items, calling ahead or online ordering, it really is a convenient way to lunch al fresco without compromising on the quality of food.
The menu features salads, soups, sandwiches and sides with names like “1607 Sampler” and “Abe Lincoln” as a nod to the surroundings of the Historical Triangle. Manager Sue Conlon said they change the menu four times a year, and use local ingredients “as much as we can,” shopping the Williamsburg Farmers Market during the spring, summer and fall. Everything, from the biscuits (Helseth’s grandfather’s recipe), pimento cheese spread, and the tuna, egg and chicken salads, are made fresh every day.
My husband and I started off with the pimento cheese spread, perfect as an appetizer or light lunch, especially during the warmer months. Served with toasted pita wedges, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices and carrots (of course), this vegetarian option is also available with gluten free crackers. The sharp cheddar spread was tangy and paired nicely with the pita and vegetables, all of which were very fresh.
And the ingredients are as distinctive as they are fresh. At Conlon’s suggestion I chose the Strawberry Fields sandwich, “a favorite on the spring menu.” Thinly sliced honey roasted turkey and warmed brie, topped with mixed greens, sliced strawberries, toasted almonds and served with a honey-cider dressing. All this on a flaky croissant. It was a wonderful mixture of textures, tastes and temperatures. The warm brie and cool salad topping. The crunch of the greens and toasted almonds with the soft, buttery croissant. The tangy sweetness of the dressing and strawberries. No wonder it’s a favorite.
We tried another favorite, one that Conlon said they “could never take off the menu,” and that was the U.S. Grant. This generously sized wrap also featured honey roasted turkey, but inside was a delicious blend of tangy blue cheese, sweet cranberries, and crunchy walnuts. What’s even better is that the sandwich held up with time. It never got soggy and was just as delicious a couple of hours later. Great when you’re planning on picnicking elsewhere. And speaking of picnicking, the carry-out packaging and eating utensils make it very easy to eat on-the-go.
In addition to salads, there are other vegetarian menu options available. The menu will soon include a gazpacho, a chilled vegetable soup that should be refreshing once the heat of summer takes hold. The Abe Lincoln wrap, a spinach and mushroom croquette with greens wrapped in a spinach tortilla, and the Yorktown Onion, a mix of greens, olives, hummus and red onions, also in a spinach wrap, are great sandwich options.
There is also the option of making your own wrap, with choice of meats, tuna, egg or chicken salads, cheeses and dressings. Sandwiches all come with a side. We chose the dill potato salad and cole slaw since we were in a picnicking mood. The potato salad was nicely seasoned with large chunks of potatoes, skins included. The cole slaw was just how I like it—tangy rather than sweet—and not too much dressing, letting the crunchy cabbage shine. Both were tasty complements to the sandwiches.
The cafe also serves a limited selection of local beers and wines, for dinking on the patio or to take with you as part of your picnic.
And, of course, there is the carrot cake, which lived up to its reputation. What can I say that hasn’t already been said so many times? Moist and richly spiced, the cake is generously topped with a not-too-sweet, not-too-tangy cream cheese frosting. Paired with a cup of coffee, it was the perfect way to bring the lunch to a close. But before we left for our return trip home, there was one other thing to do. The Carrot Tree is near the Riverwalk, which offers an opportunity to walk off some of our wonderful lunch while taking in the sights of the York River. Virginia living (and visiting) doesn’t get much better than this.
