Café One24 - Clean eating with a fine dining twist

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C.T. Kruger

Sarah Dusseau and Renee Shecterle have opened Café One24 at 3705 N. 124th St. in Brookfield.

C.T. Kruger

Sarah Dusseau and Renee Shecterle have opened Café One24 at 3705 N. 124th St. in Brookfield.

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Sarah Dusseau wears many hats at the brand new Café One24. She's the executive chef, general manager and also a business partner with owner Renee Shecterle. That's all in addition to her other job, as a personal trainer.

And, I'd like to add "clean eating" cheerleader to that list.

Dusseau is enthusiastic about eating organic, non-processed foods. So much so that she and Shechterle opened Café One24 because their "clean-eating" prepared meals offered at the Fit Food Trainer studio had become wildly popular.

Café One24 is located on 124th Street, on the border between Tosa and Brookfield. They are in the building that houses Culver's and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Currently open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, Café One24 is a one-of-a kind dining experience that includes a wine bar central to the candlelit dining room.

"We focus on organic ingredients, completely unprocessed food - no processed flour, sugar or salt," Dusseau explains. "We don't use animal fats, heavy cream or butter. And we don't have a fryer in the restaurant."

If you're thinking that sounds like no fun at all, that's where you would be wrong: Although the meals are portion-controlled, they offer an abundance of flavor that would please anyone.

Café One24 has only been open a few weeks, but there are already several popular dishes, including sweet potato, wild mushroom or margharita flatbreads ($11-$12), chicken roulade ($14), blackened tilapia po'boy ($11) and the California or black 'n blue burger ($10.50-$11).

"I want people to not be gun-shy about trying a healthier restaurant. They don't even realize they're eating healthier food when they eat here," Dusseau explains. "We offer new twists on familiar tastes - healthier versions of favorite foods."

Café One24 uses ingredients from local "powerhouses" such as Empire Fish and Growing Power.

"It's very laborious and time-consuming to cook this way," Dusseau says. "We're not cutting corners, and we're making great food."

The Basics

NAME: Café One24 Wine Bar and Grill

ADDRESS:3705 N. 124th St., Brookfield

PHONE: (262) 781-1662

WEBSITE: CafeOne24.com

FARE: clean eating

HOURS: 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

PRICE RANGE: $7 to $23 (approximate)

RESERVATIONS: yes

ADA ACCESS: yes

GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS: yes

LOOKING TO 'GRAB A BITE'?

"Grab a Bite" is an informal look at the food scene in the Wauwatosa, Brookfield and Elm Grove area by freelance writer Karen Waldkirch. Whether you're looking for a place for a date night or a casual spot for lunch, Waldkirch will be out and about scouting eateries for you. If you have a suggestion for a column, e-mail her at kmwaldkirch@yahoo.com.