It was a cool Friday morning. The air smelled of mountain mist and sweet wood smoke, and the scent grew stronger the closer I came to Countryside Café. It was such an idyllic way to end my workweek, I wanted to make a big deal about it.
“One thing we want to make a big deal about is David Geren,” said assistant manager Alyssa Land. “David is our new kitchen manager. He’s Marlene’s son.”
Marlene Geren has owned Countryside Café since 1990. David got his start in the family business at age 14. His first role was dishwasher, then busser, then server, then cook, and now, as an adult, he has returned to run the kitchen.
“This is the food I grew up with. The sweet potatoes, the okra, the beets. I’m keeping all the recipes the way my great-grandmother made them,” he told me.
Marlene says despite her passing the torch to the next generation, she is not going anywhere. “I’m here too!” she laughed.