Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Lynne Miller, left, director of nutritional services, and Elisha Harvey, catering supervisor, oversee the menu and food preparation at Grand River Hospital District's Grand River Cafe off Airport Road in Rifle.
It's one of the only fresh salad bars in Rifle and probably one of the best kept secrets in the city.
The Grand River Cafe located on the first floor of Grand River Hospital at 501 Airport Road, was renovated earlier this year as part of the Grand River Hospital District's expansion project. What was once a small enclosed space, now boasts a dining area and outdoor seating in the summer and a menu that offers traditional fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, as well as healthy items that are low in sodium and fat.
The best part being that not only does the cafe cater to its patients and staff, but it's open to the public as well and serves about 125 diners a day.
The lunch menu features things such as grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, veggie burgers, sweet potato fries and a full salad bar that has about 13 different items, including lunch meats, cheeses and a variety of salad, fruits and vegetables. There are two hot lunch entrees each day offered by the chefs.
“We have two specials every day, and we try to keep them low in sodium and calories,” said Lynne Miller of Battlement Mesa, who has served as director of nutritional services for GRHD for nearly 10 years. “We change the menu with the season about four times a year and work with our dietitian following basic guidelines on calories and sodium.”
And then she added, “But it's not totally healthy — everyone needs a little comfort food.”
The cafe also features things such as a waffle station in the morning where people can create their own waffles, a panini sandwich station and a pizza station.
“We are also one of the few places in Rifle that has a salad bar that we make fresh every day,” said Elisha Harvey of Rifle, who has been the catering supervisor at GRHD for five years
Picking out the menu is a collective effort among the cafe employees, chefs and supervisors, who often bring in recipes they come across at home or see on the Food Network television station.
“We have a diverse team and cultural influences that we bring to the menu,” Miller said.
Not only does the cafe offer a varied and healthy menu, it is also eco-friendly and operates a “green” kitchen.
“We have corn cups and biodegradable plates,” Harvey said . “We also use as much local produce as we can and purchase from Osage Gardens and local farmer's markets.”
Harvey is in charge of providing menus and preparing food for those wishing to rent one of GRHD's new conference rooms.
Not only does she cater, Harvey is also a certified pastry chef and creates fresh pastries for the cafe each day and homemade bread. On this morning, it's a whole wheat pastry topped with a caramel sauce.
When they aren't catering to the customers in the cafe, it's also all about offering food to the hospital patients and their families.
“We're more about customer service than fancy food,” Miller said. “We talk to our patients and we're very family-oriented — we cater to the families.”
The hospital greeters even make the rounds offering snacks to family members who are visiting their loved ones who are patients at the hospital.
“We're very family oriented, and cater to the families” Miller said. “We provide free meals to the families or leave a snack tray in the room in case they get hungry.”
Some patients are put on restricted diets following a medical procedure or surgery. A dietitian will visit with the patient and go over a suggested diet and give the patient guidelines on their food choices.
The Grand River Hospital District Cafe is also involved in the community, providing a Meals On Wheels program from DeBeque to New Castle for the past 30 years.
“Our volunteers pick up the meals and deliver them,” Miller said. “The (menu) is geared toward the client's likes and dislikes.”
Coming this fall are some new classes that include a geriatric support group for those recovering from post-geriatric surgery and those dealing with diabetes and heart disease issues.
“It focuses on weight loss and learning new cooking techniques,” Miller said. It's an educational program. We're really trying to encompass the whole person.”
GRHD is also involved in the LIFT-UP food drive and last year collected more than 1,000 pounds of food and toys.
They also try to utilize graduating students from local colleges such as Colorado Mountain College or Mesa State College, who have gone through the culinary program.
“We work really closely with the colleges and their culinary programs,” Miller said. “And we try to hire locally.”
So if you're in the mood for some fresh salad or a hearty or healthy meal, don't hesitate to visit the Grand River Cafe.
“We're open every day of the year,” Miller said.
The Grand River Cafe located on the first floor of Grand River Hospital at 501 Airport Road, was renovated earlier this year as part of the Grand River Hospital District's expansion project. What was once a small enclosed space, now boasts a dining area and outdoor seating in the summer and a menu that offers traditional fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, as well as healthy items that are low in sodium and fat.
The best part being that not only does the cafe cater to its patients and staff, but it's open to the public as well and serves about 125 diners a day.
The lunch menu features things such as grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, veggie burgers, sweet potato fries and a full salad bar that has about 13 different items, including lunch meats, cheeses and a variety of salad, fruits and vegetables. There are two hot lunch entrees each day offered by the chefs.
“We have two specials every day, and we try to keep them low in sodium and calories,” said Lynne Miller of Battlement Mesa, who has served as director of nutritional services for GRHD for nearly 10 years. “We change the menu with the season about four times a year and work with our dietitian following basic guidelines on calories and sodium.”
And then she added, “But it's not totally healthy — everyone needs a little comfort food.”
The cafe also features things such as a waffle station in the morning where people can create their own waffles, a panini sandwich station and a pizza station.
“We are also one of the few places in Rifle that has a salad bar that we make fresh every day,” said Elisha Harvey of Rifle, who has been the catering supervisor at GRHD for five years
Picking out the menu is a collective effort among the cafe employees, chefs and supervisors, who often bring in recipes they come across at home or see on the Food Network television station.
“We have a diverse team and cultural influences that we bring to the menu,” Miller said.
Not only does the cafe offer a varied and healthy menu, it is also eco-friendly and operates a “green” kitchen.
“We have corn cups and biodegradable plates,” Harvey said . “We also use as much local produce as we can and purchase from Osage Gardens and local farmer's markets.”
Harvey is in charge of providing menus and preparing food for those wishing to rent one of GRHD's new conference rooms.
Not only does she cater, Harvey is also a certified pastry chef and creates fresh pastries for the cafe each day and homemade bread. On this morning, it's a whole wheat pastry topped with a caramel sauce.
When they aren't catering to the customers in the cafe, it's also all about offering food to the hospital patients and their families.
“We're more about customer service than fancy food,” Miller said. “We talk to our patients and we're very family-oriented — we cater to the families.”
The hospital greeters even make the rounds offering snacks to family members who are visiting their loved ones who are patients at the hospital.
“We're very family oriented, and cater to the families” Miller said. “We provide free meals to the families or leave a snack tray in the room in case they get hungry.”
Some patients are put on restricted diets following a medical procedure or surgery. A dietitian will visit with the patient and go over a suggested diet and give the patient guidelines on their food choices.
The Grand River Hospital District Cafe is also involved in the community, providing a Meals On Wheels program from DeBeque to New Castle for the past 30 years.
“Our volunteers pick up the meals and deliver them,” Miller said. “The (menu) is geared toward the client's likes and dislikes.”
Coming this fall are some new classes that include a geriatric support group for those recovering from post-geriatric surgery and those dealing with diabetes and heart disease issues.
“It focuses on weight loss and learning new cooking techniques,” Miller said. It's an educational program. We're really trying to encompass the whole person.”
GRHD is also involved in the LIFT-UP food drive and last year collected more than 1,000 pounds of food and toys.
They also try to utilize graduating students from local colleges such as Colorado Mountain College or Mesa State College, who have gone through the culinary program.
“We work really closely with the colleges and their culinary programs,” Miller said. “And we try to hire locally.”
So if you're in the mood for some fresh salad or a hearty or healthy meal, don't hesitate to visit the Grand River Cafe.
“We're open every day of the year,” Miller said.
