WEST CAPE MAY — It’s a café, coffee shop and natural food market that brings to mind Greenwich Village or a spot in Northern California.
Katie Panamarenko brings years of experience from a coffee house in Kutztown, Pa. and a bit of California style from her time in Arcata/Eureka.
Had she been born thirty years earlier, she may have been a member of Fleetwood Mac or backstage caterer for Bob Dylan. The 24-year old owner of Higher Grounds has created an atmosphere as comfortable as her sunny, flower child personality.
The menu offers organic, fair trade coffee and homemade quiche with free-range eggs. The word organic is prominent at Higher Grounds describing the cream cheese on the bagels, salads with carrots, celery, cucumbers, radishes and red onion and fresh fruit salads with yogurt or granola.
The menu also included tuna melts. Beverages include cappuccinos and lattes, espresso drinks and loose organic teas and smoothies.
“I pretty much make everything from scratch,” said Panamarenko.
The rustic building at the corner of West Perry Street and Park Boulevard was once a garden statuary store selling birdbaths and other do-dads from the garden. The garden with a brick path is now a place to sip coffee or hear live music at night.
The café has attracted local writers and musicians who have been invited to bring musical instruments for impromptu jams on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. Music has ranged from acoustic guitar to Celtic flute.
An indoor sitting area has comfortable chairs, interesting books to read and music from a vinyl record collection ranging from classic rock to classical.
“I just love coffee shop culture, and creating a cozy space for people to come and meet and discuss big ideas,” she continued.
The name Higher Grounds represents higher standards for food and enlightenment and knowledge of a better lifestyle through eating organic, said Panamarenko.
She said she also likes the connotation to a Stevie Wonder hit song of a similar title.
