Local Restaurants and Their Signature Dishes: Cathedral Cafe

Today we take a look at another Fayetteville favorite, the Cathedral Cafe.

The Cathedral Cafe probably has some of the coolest décor of any restaurant in the area.  Or maybe ‘divine’ is a better way to describe Cathedral.  Housed in the old M.E Church in downtown Fayetteville, it feels like a library and a sanctuary rolled up into one.  Amazing stained glass windows fill the restaurant, and books line the walls.

The M.E. Church was built in 1905 and was deconsecrated and used a storage building from 1985 to 1997.  After that, Cathedral Cafe was born. Current owner Wendy Bayes has been hard at it since she purchased the restaurant in June 2000.

A breakfast and lunch joint that occasionally offers dinner for special events, Cathedral has become a popular morning spot in Fayetteville for locals and tourists alike. Good coffee and food combined with a laid back, “hang out” type of atmosphere has endeared this place to many  folks who have made Cathedral a morning ritual.

The restaurant has been honored in many ways, receiving the Southern West Virginia Gene Coulson Hospitality Award, Fayette County Female-Owned Business of the Year Award, and was the first to win Fayette County Business of the Year.  Wendy Bayes has also been recognized as one of the top 40 entrepreneurs under 40 in West Virginia.  If that’s not enough,   the restaurant has also been recognized as the perfect West Virginia hangout, best post-paddle hangout, and helped put one of America’s Coolest Small Towns on the map.

 Mixed Berry Cobbler

Wendy wanted to share Cathedral’s Mixed Berry Cobbler recipe, which is easy to make at home.

Directions:

8 cups mixed berries in bottom of 9×11 pan (we use equal parts blueberries and raspberries, but other berries work just as well)

Sprinkle with ½ cup sugar and mix to coat well

In large bowl add:  2 cups oats

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 t. coriander
1 cup butter, soft

Work bowl mixture together until crumbly.
Top the berry mixture with the crumb topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until top is lightly browned and berries are bubbling deliciously!

Let sit for 15 minutes before you serve.
Top with vanilla bean ice cream, put your feet up, and ENJOY!!

Cathedral desserts can be ordered and purchased whole, if you wish.  Not a bad idea if you’re vacationing in one of our area cabins and want a great local dessert to go with your cabin-cooked meal.

Have you visited Cathedral Cafe?