Gardener, handyman open Judy’s Enchanted Garden
Judy Ritz-Dalnes, a longtime employee in the gardening business, opened a shop earlier this month with her husband, Jeff Dalnes. Judy’s Enchanted Garden is at 2628 W. Northwest Blvd., near Alberta. The building used to be a gas station and more recently, a coffee shop.
The couple graduated from Shadle Park High School and remain in the neighborhood where they are raising their kids. Judy is the gardener in the family and Jeff, who works construction, is the handyman. His touch is displayed all over the nursery with handmade arbors, benches and a fence.
“For probably 20 years,” Judy said, “everybody that knows my husband and I have said we should have a business.”
Weeks before the May 1 opening, both Jeff and Judy’s families pitched in and fixed up the place. The result is an indoor/outdoor space with mom-and-pop charm. On one recent weekday morning, Judy’s was hopping with gardeners, milling around and picking out plants.
Aside from a variety of organic soils and composts, Judy’s also has pesticide-free tomatoes and peppers. There’s a large selection of annuals and perennials, trees, shrubs, hanging baskets and some interesting, hard-to-find grasses. Judy and her small staff also will arrange custom pots.
The store is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Judy plans on being open year-round.
Word spreading fast on Filipino restaurant
The Artist Café is a hidden treasure tucked away on the west side of Cheney.
It’s owned by Filipino sisters Amor Canaday, Josie De Guzman and Mila Villa, who moved to Cheney from Vancouver, Wash., when Canaday’s husband was transferred here.
The women opened the restaurant, next to the IGA at 28 W. First St., in January. The cuisine is Filipino, with a side dish of hospitality for every customer. This is their second venture in the restaurant business.
“People come in here and say, ‘You have manila lumpia!’ ” Canaday said. “I haven’t had that in so long.”
Manila lumpia, or spring roll, is one of the many favorites on the Artist Café menu. Other popular dishes are the angel wings empanadas, pancit bijon (long noodles) and Lani’s jasmine steamed rice bowl. Canaday said the cassava cake, which is sweet cassava root and coconut topped with custard, is a true delicacy.
Many of their customers are Filipinos who live on Fairchild Air Force Base. However, word of mouth has helped the business grow.
The restaurant seats 18. An outdoor barbecue patio is set to open Monday.
“These are all original recipes,” said Canaday. “People feel comfortable eating here because they know what they’re eating. No MSG, just TLC.”
On some nights, Canaday’s 22-year-old-son Omar, a medical student, plays piano and her 19-year-old daughter Lucille, an Eastern Washington University student, accompanies him on guitar.
Villa, the oldest sister, is a nutritionist, as well as perfectionist when it comes to presentation. The sign outside the café reads, “Where Dining is a Work of Art.”
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is available for private parties on Sundays. For more information, call 235-6163.