Ben and I actually went to the same school — Maitland Grossmann High — back in the 90s. We didn’t know each other then… mostly because he was always in detention and I was always in the library.
Fast-forward a few years, and we finally met at a steakhouse in Maitland — he was the chef, and I was a casual waitress paying my way through a business degree at uni. We hit it off instantly (probably because we were both running on caffeine and sarcasm).
Over the next six years, Ben cooked his way through restaurants in Newcastle and the vineyards, while I swapped aprons for a camera working in real estate marketing in Valentine. Then one day, a little café in Lovedale came up for grabs — and we thought, “Why not?” So we grabbed it with both hands (and maybe one panicked expression).
That was 20 years ago. Since then, we’ve seen landlords come and go, and witnessed the changing landscape of tourism in the Hunter Valley vineyards. We’ve evolved throughout the times through dining trends and added our deli and cooking school. But through it all, we’ve made lifelong friends out of customers, watched babies grow up into adults who still drop by, and laughed our way through every chaotic lunch rush.
We still fight about ridiculous things, live firmly in the world of 90s rock, Seinfeld reruns, and Chris Farley sketches. Ben tells long-winded stories about musicians I’ve never heard of, and I forget what I’m doing mid-sentence — like a goldfish.
I’ve got three kids under 12 (you’ll spot them helping out and pinching gelato during school holidays), and Ben’s got a toddler who’s quickly becoming the café mascot.
When he’s not in the kitchen, Ben’s off antique shopping, and I’m usually painting watercolours somewhere quiet.
So that’s us — two old friends who accidentally made a life out of good food, strong coffee, a beer or two, and a whole lot of laughter. Thanks for being part of it ❤️
Debbie Jenkins & Ben Sales