Monday, October 19, 2020
Babetta's is Back
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill @jfumikocahill on Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 3:13 PM
When Eureka Italian family restaurant Babetta's moved from its Myrtletown location, people adjusted. But when it closed its Broadway location, leaving only memories and a trail of marinara-stained shirts behind, regulars were hit hard. But this week proprietress and chef Babetta Francis returns with a takeout-only menu of family dinners three days a week.
"My husband's been sick so I'm just doing the supplemental thing," said the 71-year-old Francis over the weekend. Since closing the restaurant she's only cooked as a favor for friends. "I always fed everybody," she said, adding, "I'm Greek and Italian." But now, with her licenses in order, she's set up in the commercial kitchen of St. Bernard's Academy, where meals were formerly cooked for international students. The setup is temporary and she may be on the lookout for another place now that she's back in the game.
"I'm actually excited and I'm happy about it," said Francis, and the response from the public since she announced her return has been moving. "You don't get this anywhere else. ... I just feel like I'm on top of the world right now."
Francis will be doing all the cooking herself, which is why she's limiting it to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday orders. Old favorites from her restaurant are on the pre-order menu online (see the location link below), including spaghetti and meatballs and macaroni and cheese, with sides of salad and garlic bread for $60 including tax. The meals are meant for five or six people, despite the advice Francis said she's gotten to label it for six to eight. With a laugh, she said, "I'm from a family that eats big."
"My husband's been sick so I'm just doing the supplemental thing," said the 71-year-old Francis over the weekend. Since closing the restaurant she's only cooked as a favor for friends. "I always fed everybody," she said, adding, "I'm Greek and Italian." But now, with her licenses in order, she's set up in the commercial kitchen of St. Bernard's Academy, where meals were formerly cooked for international students. The setup is temporary and she may be on the lookout for another place now that she's back in the game.
"I'm actually excited and I'm happy about it," said Francis, and the response from the public since she announced her return has been moving. "You don't get this anywhere else. ... I just feel like I'm on top of the world right now."
Francis will be doing all the cooking herself, which is why she's limiting it to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday orders. Old favorites from her restaurant are on the pre-order menu online (see the location link below), including spaghetti and meatballs and macaroni and cheese, with sides of salad and garlic bread for $60 including tax. The meals are meant for five or six people, despite the advice Francis said she's gotten to label it for six to eight. With a laugh, she said, "I'm from a family that eats big."
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About The Author
Jennifer Fumiko Cahill
Bio:
Jennifer Fumiko Cahill is the arts and features editor of the North Coast Journal. She won the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s 2020 Best Food Writing Award and the 2019 California News Publisher's Association award for Best Writing.
Jennifer Fumiko Cahill is the arts and features editor of the North Coast Journal. She won the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s 2020 Best Food Writing Award and the 2019 California News Publisher's Association award for Best Writing.
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