Cristina’s Cafe: An oasis of culinary and visual delights

From the Fall issue of 7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley magazine…

Strasburg, Virginia – Prior to coming to Strasburg, I’d been told that there was a coffee shop across the street, a perk meaning more to me than mere money. My first thought was that if it were like many of the coffee shops I’ve visited up and down Route 11, we would need to get a coffee maker and find a good local roaster to get beans from, and plan on making lots of coffee at the office. Little did I know what a pleasant series of surprises awaited me right across the street.

On my first visit to Cristina’s, I was greeted by Cristina, “Crissy” to her friends, and served a wonderful cup of fresh ground coffee with a couple shots of espresso added for good measure. The drink, referred to as a “Dirty Cup,” has become my regular morning eye-opener. As good as the coffee and espresso are, there’s a broader story of Cristina’s to tell, one expressed through the kitchen.

Cristina’s Cafe is located at 219 West King Street (Route 11) in downtown Strasburg, and is owned and operated by Cristina Willis Maddox and her sister, Wendy Cristina Willis. The two women grew up in Strasburg, where they developed a passion for hiking; good, fresh, locally-grown food; and strong, fresh roasted, ground and brewed coffee. Their mother, Donna Cristina Willis, chefs on Friday and Saturday nights, creating unique and delicious Mexican cuisine, served between 4 and 9 pm., and unmatched in the region for authenticity. The tantalizing array of flavors and aromas have enticed me across the street many a weekend evening.

The outside of the Cafe is decorated with an eclectic mix of tropical plants, trees and cactus native to Mexico and the Southwest – that Donna lovingly manages and maintains. The garden idea began seven years ago at Donna’s previous restaurant, also called Cristina’s and located down the street in the building that now houses Jalisco’s restaurant. Reminiscent of cafes that the women have visited in Mexico, the setting is ideal for enjoyable outdoor dining and meetings, surrounded by beautiful flowering plants and the sights and sounds of small town life.

Local garden shop, Gabalot Gardens , provides the plants, containers and morale support, as well as storage for the tropical plants and trees over the winter months, in their nearby green houses. When asked about the relationship of the nursery to the Cafe, Janet Heishman, owner of Gabalot, commented that it was somewhat akin to that of an addict and her supplier, a simile to which Donna readily agrees to, with a laugh.

Inside Cristina’s, the warm colors and tasteful furnishings make for a relaxing atmosphere punctuated by the casual and friendly service and remarkable food. A sign at the entrance proclaims, “Breakfast Served All Day,” but the menu goes much deeper than the usual American breakfast choices. It includes Paninis of every description, breakfast sandwiches on croissant, biscuit, bagel or English muffin, with or without cheddar cheese, as well as more traditional breakfast fare. And, if you don’t see what you want on the menu, just ask. Cristina’s will happily prepare anything to your order, as long as they can find the ingredients in their well-stocked larder.

Paintings by local artists adorn the walls, and a fascinating and eclectic gift shop, with items from around the world, provides browsing and shopping opportunities in abundance.

On a recent Saturday morning, stopping in for my usual eye-opener, I spoke with Wendy, who had just returned from a three-week trip which included a week in California to photograph a wedding and two weeks in Maine at Acadia National Park teaching a photography class through the “Photography in the Park” program sponsored by Cannon. With formal training as a bird biologist and photographer, Wendy manages a diverse and interesting schedule with frequent trips to such places as Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She recently completed a project for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C..

While someone visiting Cristina’s for the first time may get the impression that the Cafe is brand new and modern, further investigation reveals a long tradition of hospitality and fine food, started over a quarter century ago by the current owners’ grandmother. Cristina, who operated La Canasta Restaurant from 1981 till 1992 here in Strasburg. We get the feeling the family likes the name Cristina, a lot.

The sisters offer catering services for parties, meetings and formal or informal gatherings of all types and sizes. Specializing in home-made breads and pastries, as well as more complex menus, Cristina’s can turn even the most mundane meeting into something memorable. Crissy told me recently that even if someone has a tight budget, they can put together an impressive spread using the locally-grown foods that their regular customers have grown so fond of at the Cafe. Contact them at (540) 465-2311 to plan your next business or family get-together.

Crissy’s two year old son Simon, spends time at the Cafe with his mom and enjoys the people and the food, playing in the garden and, according to his grandmother, taking an especially keen interest in the goings on in the kitchen. Are we seeing a fourth generation getting ready to step into the family business? Perhaps.

Entertainment every Sunday

Crissy, Wendy and Donna invite you to join them for Cristina’s Cafe Open Mic Night, hosted by Leo J. Bailey, every Sunday evening between 6 – 10 pm. This is a traditional style open mic using a sign up sheet (first come, first served), and limiting the performances to 3 songs or 15 minutes to give everyone a chance. Due to size limitations of the stage, no full electric bands or drum kits are allowed, though smaller percussion kits are encouraged. Stop in any Sunday evening for a cup of coffee, cappuccino, latte, hot chocolate, or a cold beverage (beer and wine is served, too), and enjoy the Shenandoah sounds in a casual and comfortable atmosphere.

So, whether it’s a quick cup of gourmet coffee to go, a casual breakfast any time of the day, a business luncheon in a relaxed atmosphere, an authentic Mexican dinner with all the trimmings, or unequaled local musical talent, stop in and discover for yourself the wonderful experience awaiting you at Cristina’s Cafe. Oh, and if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, tell them 7Bends sent you.

Check Cristina’s Cafe’s official Website.

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Tags: coffee, Cristina's Cafe, Family, great food, outdoor garden, Strasburg