A lifetime of Perfect Plating
Original Artifacts article by Mitzi Gordon
Perfect plating means crafting and sharing food. It’s an art that Heather and Brian Healey have studied their entire lives.
Now, the couple brings their culinary expertise to DFAC’s Palm Café, where they are daily dreaming up fresh food experiences. They took over management of the Palm Café in September of last year.
“From the day we walked in, everybody here was amazing—the artists, the staff, the volunteers,” Heather said. “The timing was right.”
Heather hails from northern New Hampshire, where, after 30 years, her parents still own and run Munroe’s Family Restaurant. Brian comes from a similar food-focused family in Boston and attended culinary school at Newberry College.
“We both come from big families, and both of our families have been in the restaurant business their whole lives,” Heather said. “My kids are now running around the restaurant, just like we did growing up.”
After Brian ran restaurants in Bermuda, they met in New Hampshire and came to Pinellas County over 10 years ago. They managed the dining at Tarpon Springs Yacht Club for 11 years, then took a big leap into the DFAC community.
Brian and Heather live with their children a mile from the Dunedin Fine Art Center.
Implementing Their Vision
Their vision expanded the café’s perfect plating menu to include a variety of vegan and vegetarian offerings. They included homemade soups every day, gourmet coffee, and a healthy smoothie menu. Alongside Sunday-only brunch selections like tasty eggs benedict or classic shrimp and grits, they serve a full breakfast and lunch menu seven days a week. A dedicated outdoor patio opens up space to pet-friendly and alfresco dining.
Heather and Brian also cater events at the art center, providing gourmet hors-d’oeuvres for parties like Wearable Art, as well as for private dinners and holiday parties.
“Being in Dunedin and being affiliated with this city and the art center was a big draw for us,” Heather said. “Seeing the space and meeting the people here pretty much made our decision. We love it.”
DFAC’s Palm Café is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and weekends for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Plan your visit today by exploring at www.dfac.org/visit/palm-cafe.
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