Daisies on the menu at new north county cafe

The Floral Vineyard & Khristopher's Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, flowers and will soon be open for dinner.

Mike and Kandy Faiss combined their passions for food and flowers into one business in Carson Valley Plaza.

"You can go to a romantic dinner and have flowers ready on the table when your lady arrives," said manager Charlene Booher.

"It's one-stop shopping," said Kandy Faiss.

The Faiss' florist shop was next to the recently demolished Bodine's restaurant in Carson City. They decided to reopen in a new store where customers could smell flowers and Italian food in one location.

"We're all cross-training," said Mike Faiss. "We all do anything and everything."

Booher is learning flower arrangement when she isn't being a waitress in the cafe.

"Kandy definitely has the talent for it - she does flowers for the Governor's Mansion for special events," Booher said.

"Dema (Guinn) is very particular because she represents the government," said Kandy Faiss. "I've done it for them for two years and floral design for 31 years. Everything from birth to funerals."

Kandy Faiss prefers to leave the cooking to her husband.

"The only thing I want to make for dinner is reservations. Mike's the wizard in the kitchen."

Mike Faiss serves proven crowd pleasers from a menu inspired by an Italian chef he worked for in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A sampling of what's served for breakfast at Khristopher's Cafe: Italian sausage and roasted red pepper omelet, pork chop and eggs, breakfast burrito or egg croissant sandwich with sausage or bacon.

Lunch fare includes salads, grilled eggplant or Ahi tuna sandwiches, pasta of the day and meatball sandwiches.

Also in the kitchen is chef Rocco Da Re who said one of his specialties is spaghetti and meatballs, although the Tortellini Buongustaio seems to be a favorite - mushroom-filled tortellini with prosciutto, mushrooms and tomatoes folded into a Parmesan cream sauce.

Da Re recently moved to Carson Valley from Phoenix where he worked at the JW Marriott resort and spa.

"The Faisses are good people to work for - they're really tight and family-oriented," he said.

The cafe's namesake, Khristopher Faiss, is a 15-year-old Douglas High School student who helps out in the restaurant. Mike Faiss said his son is learning all aspects of the business.

"And he's been in a flower shop since he was four days old," said Kandy Faiss.

Breakfast starts at 6 a.m., lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and starting Oct. 6, they will serve Italian dinners in Khristopher's Cafe from 4 - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

"Bring some friends and we'll show you what real good food is," said Mike Faiss.

The Floral Vineyard is a full service flower shop with local and worldwide deliveries through 1-800-Flowers and Teleflora.

Florist services are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday or by appointment.

The Floral Vineyard & Khristopher's Cafe is in the Carson Valley Plaza near In-N-Out Burger at 963 Topsy Lane No. 312. They are open every day from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 882-3333.

What: Floral Vineyard & Khristopher's Cafe

Where: 963 Topsy Lane #312, Carson City

When: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day

Info: 882-3333