Meet Tracie, the smile behind the menu

You could call Tracie Reeves-Hartman a restaurateur prodigy since she created her first menu at the age of five, selling seven-cent hot dogs and bologna sandwiches out of a China chest. Extra points for creative presentation and (no doubt, adorable) customer service. That was the first of many enterprising culinary ventures in the life of Tracie, face of the newly opened Hub Café by Fresh Plate at Kinston. Part neighborhood eatery and part gathering place.

“My dream has always been to open a café,” says Tracie, “I love creating something from nothing.” From scratch, so to speak.

Which is exactly what she’s done at Hub Café by Fresh Plate. Delicious food aside, Tracie’s real culinary talent is putting together a great team and creating a place where they can thrive in her fresh food forward philosophy. And she’s savoring the moment.

“What I really like about this menu is it’s a combination of several people,” she explains. Supplementing some of the original Fresh Plate Catering sandwich and salad recipes, Tracie’s team has made creative contributions to both the signature food and taproom’s handcrafted cocktail selections. “The entire team has experience and ideas so I’ve welcomed them to bring in specials and add new menu items.”

Think traditional with a twist. An Espresso Martini or Banana Old Fashioned paired with a Not My Mother’s Egg Salad sandwich or Roasted Stuffed Peppadews with herb cream cheese.

Also influencing the menu is what’s nearby. Colorado-fresh ingredients are sourced locally—and soon—very locally at The High Plains Environmental Center Demonstration Garden just out back.

“The garden is just being planted for the season so the plan is to work with them more as things begin to grow,” she says.

Naturally, food is the star of Tracie’s show, “it’s important for us to provide great tasting food, food that is presented well. Great food is beautiful so it’s great to showcase that.” But for Tracie, it’s also about community.

With a background in marketing and event planning, it’s no surprise this is more than a place to eat and drink, it’s a place to gather. Weekly events like Wednesday Wings & Wine and Thursday Trivia have already proven popular, drawing a regular crowd, and more occasions for celebration are planned. “Kicking off different activities to make it fun for the residents in Kinston adds to the quality of life here.”

Then again, sometimes the best reason to visit The Hub by Fresh Plate is, well, no reason at all. As a place to work or enjoy the sunset with friends, for instance. “We have the best location in Northern Colorado,” Tracie says. “Amazing patio with mountain views, fireplaces, comfortable furniture, tables that are great to work on, a grassy area for kids to run around in …” it all adds up to Loveland’s new favorite hangout.

After earning a marketing degree at Indiana University and stints as an event planner and event coordinator for Hilton Hotels, Tracie founded of Fresh Plate Catering in 2013, Fresh Plate Café in downtown Loveland, Colorado in 2016 and is now the proprietor of Hub Café by Fresh Plate at Kinston Hub. Welcome to Kinston, Tracie.

Q&A with Tracie Reeves-Harman:

• Pineapple on pizza: “Oh, goodness yes.”
• Favorite Hub Café menu item: “Hard question but the Turkey in a Jam sandwich.”
• Culinary inspiration: “Cookie + Kate has great flavor profiles.”
• Cooking tip everyone should know: “Hire a caterer.”
• Besides hiring a caterer: “When cooking at home keep it simple. People try to bring in too much flavor. Natural ingredients speak for themselves,” she says. “If you try to do too much you lose the enjoyment of it. And drink a glass of wine while you’re doing it! A little in the food and a little for yourself.