Café LaDonna, owned by Chef Dana Bach and his wife LaDonna, opened recently in a sparkling redesigned, remodeled location at 216 East Alder Street in downtown Oakland. LaDonna is a 12th generation resident of Garrett County and Chef Bach is originally from Southern California. They met at a food show in Memphis, Tennessee and moved to Garrett County in 2001. Dana says, “I named the restaurant after my wife, LaDonna, because she and cooking are my two greatest loves.

Chef Bach is a graduate fellow of the eminent Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France; awarded the Le Grand Diplome du Cordon Bleu in 1979, holding an International endorsement of master’s status by the Ordre La Cuisinière du Saint Esprit in Paris, France issued in 1994, and has won numerous state and national awards. Dana is a published author and past president of the Culinary Media Guild for Public Broadcasting of Southern California. His personal philosophy is: “Lè Chef Náscitur nòn-fit… a chef is born — not made. Anyone can be taught to cook, but the love of food must come from within the soul.”

The menu at Café LaDonna is somewhat bohemian with a bit of this and a bit of that — pastas, quiche, homemade soups and specialty sandwiches. A breakfast array offers homemade Challah bread French Toast stuffed with almond paste, homemade blueberry syrup, imported oatmeal, and extra large portions. The omelets are quite unbelievable, not only in portion size, but in ingredients available — if we have it in the house we will add it to your omelet. The café bakery offers homemade jumbo size pecan/raisin cinnamon rolls each day, along with muffins, danish, scones and real clotted cream. The breads and desserts vary each day according to the chef’s mood, as does the daily specials. We are averaging one specialty cake each week — mostly weddings. Our breads are also offered each day at Deep Creek Gourmet Market.

Café LaDonna is now offering cooking classes. Call 301-533-0601 for more information.

Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays.