Page 30 July 2014 Culture, community, and quality cuisine at The Refuge By Kathleen Shipman With the stresses of everyday life, everyone needs a place to which they can escape. This is the concept of The Refuge in Phoenix, located at 4727 N. 7th Ave. in the Melrose District. A “coffee shop by day and wine bar by night,” this little restaurant serves excellent cuisine to its customers all within a relaxing setting. “We are focused on making good food with quality ingredients and having some fun at the same time,” said Manager John Strawn. In addition to having your taste buds tantalized at The Refuge, you will also receive satisfaction knowing that you are giving back to the community. The Refuge is a social enterprise, owned and operated by Catholic Charities. All proceeds go to aiding the less fortunate, which includes helping refugees from around the world relocate to Phoenix. “People who are coming here, they are not just supporting the business, but all of the profits go back to our programs,” said Steve Capobres, Vice President of Business Development at Catholic Charities. Another way that the organization offers their support to the refugees is by showcasing their artwork and handmade crafts within the restaurant. All of these items are available for purchase, with a large portion of the money going directly to the artist, and the rest helping other social services. Purses, wallets and jewelry are just some of the eye-catching trinkets displayed at The Refuge. Original paintings are hung on the walls. Alongside each piece is a description of the artist, giving the customer some insight into their home country and also their life as a refugee. “It gives us a chance to help tell the story of the people we work with, as well as creating a unique atmosphere that will hopefully differentiate us from other types of businesses like us,” said Capobres. The Refuge, which has only been open since October, is located directly next to the Catholic Charities corporate office. While customers have enjoyed hearing that the restaurant is a nonprofit business, it is the delectable food and drinks that keep them coming back to dine at The Refuge. “Everything we make is homemade. We wanted to be known for the quality of what we are offering as much as anything,” Capobres said. In the morning they offer an expansive selection of breakfast items, perfectly paired with Catholic Charities’ own Café Esperanza coffee. Their appetizers, sandwiches and salads are great for the later parts of the day. According to Strawn, the Refuge Focaccia is one of their best-selling items. Tied for second are the Green Chili Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Cheddar and Goat Cheese Grilled Panini. (I must interject that their Veggie Wrap was to die for!) The ambience of The Refuge provides a fine mixture of social tranquility. It is a great place to meet with coworkers for coffee, but also peaceful enough to sit quietly in a comfy chair with your laptop. They even have a business conference room that can be rented free of charge for meetings. It is big enough to seat 18 people, and comes with the use of a projector. The evenings in The Refuge are all about unwinding. They offer a wide variety of wines and beers, including specialty selections. Discounted prices are available during their happy hour, which takes place daily from 3 p.m. to close. On the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, local talents provide live music at the restaurant. The Refuge also has “Cultural Nights,” when a refugee chef is brought in to prepare culinary dishes from their country. With the success so far, “Cultural Nights” will now be a regular event on their schedule. If you would like to find out more about The Refuge, check out their website: www.therefugeaz.com. The Refuge serves Catholic Charities’ own Esperanza coffee as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. REFRESHING, in every sense. Summer Experiences Starting at $149 Includes Special Credits Throughout the Resort. RoyalPalmsSummer.com 800.672.6011 A MANOR OF TASTE. A D E S T I N AT I O N ® H O T E L A D E S T I N AT I O N ® H O T E L WEB PRINT

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