The Art of Fall at a Cafe.

Foreword by Brandi.

Kate Voss is one of those people you feel like you have known your whole life, regardless of the actual days, minutes, or hours that is true. I have had the pleasure of knowing Kate for many years. Her cafe in my hometown is one of those places you visit once, and count the days until you return. When you walk into Kate's Downtown it's like going home, or rather going to a friend's house being greeted with a warm hug, a sweet treat, a cup of coffee, a conversation filled with love, and ultimately a knowing that when you visit you will always walk away with something you didn't know you needed that day. Kate's is a magical place that embodies everything that Kate Voss is, warm, welcoming and lovely. I had the honor of featuring her in our Art of Series, a very special catalog edition, where I sat down with her and interviewed her, and here I have the pleasure of sharing that with you here. 

So, sit back, get cozy, and enjoy getting to know Kate's. 

XO,

Brandi

Tell us about Kate's:

We are a woman owned cafe, event space, coffeehouse & Katering business. We are located in the heart of our downtown and are approaching our 12th year in business. We are one of the longest running restaurants in the downtown. We cook from scratch, are locally sourced and a staple in the community for doing good. 

How do you get inspired to create seasonal Fall flavors?

Often times we get inspired by what’s going on around us and in our community. For example, we have a couple great apple orchards, so using one of their ciders or one of their donuts for a flavor profile lends well to them and us by cross supporting and creating some really tasty concoctions. We also tried to put a twist on the conventional fall flavors like pumpkin….last season we did a ‘coconut cream pumpkin’ latte that was out of this world. 

What is is like being apart of a downtown/main street community?

I would rather be downtown in our small little niche of the world, then in some sort of corporate village or series of chain restaurants. Being Downtown has such rich history, and being part of the community is something you could never put a price on. It is the most important factor of our business and where we are located is the other half of that. We are very proud to be downtown. We chose that location intentionally and we dug our heels into the ground.

To you, what is the first sign of Fall?

Being in Michigan I would say the trees turning colors is usually the first time I feel it coming. They are always so beautiful to look at, but it’s also an indicator to enjoy the moment because it’s telling you winter is around the corner. 

Favorite Fall memory at the cafe:

My favorite fall memory is actually when we opened the café… we opened in mid October and we were able to have the doors open and people flowing in all day and even though there was a little rain, in subsided and it felt like the whole town showed up. That Fall warm glow was shown through the smiles & positive energy exuding into our new space. 

What are you looking forward to most this Fall at Kate’s?

I’m looking forward to our seasonal fall food menu. It’s always got a unique & savory grilled cheese or a salad loaded with candied pecans, dried fruit with our house made croutons & dressing. Perfect as a salad or a wrap! 

Are there any fall flavors you are excited to bring back?

We are thinking about bringing back the ‘frosted vanilla cinnamon bun’ milkshake. It’s creamy, not too sweet & encompasses Fall perfectly.

In honor of our Fall theme being nostalgia, do you have a Fall memory that fills you with nostalgia?

My personal fall memory is my other half roasting pumpkin seeds on the daily . Our garage will be lined with pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors. All pumpkins are welcome, haha. He’s a master at the art of making various kinds and textures and all of them are outstanding. People ask for them when they come to our house and people request them when we are out socially. He has mastered the art of carving, drying, roasting & seasoning to perfection. I know he’s baking as soon as I pull my car in the garage. It smells similar to making popcorn but even better. 

You can visit Kate’s Downtown at 231 Huron Ave,

Port Huron, Michigan!

Kate’s Fall menu for 2024 will debut mid-September!

Follow Kate's Here!