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A New Spin on an Old Favorite; Joe Cafaro Opens Joe’s Jazzed Up Next Door to Joe’s Italian Kitchen April 5

By Paul T. Choate

April 6, 2012. BOONE – A new upscale Italian dining restaurant has come to the High Country. Joe Cafaro, owner of Joe’s Italian Kitchen on Boone Heights Drive, has opened Joe’s Jazzed Up right next door.

“I always wanted to do a fine dining restaurant,” said Cafaro. “I’ve been trying to open one for five or six years.” Cafaro added that the space beside Joe’s Italian Kitchen became available, so he finally had the opportunity to.

Joe’s Jazzed Up held a “soft opening,” an invite-only dinner for his loyal customers on Thursday, April 5, to give the kitchen and wait staff a trial run. The restaurant is open for business as of today, but the “grand opening” is being held off until more summer tourists and residents return.

“The soft opening was mainly to introduce people to the restaurant,” said Cafaro. “I have a vast amount of clients who come in on a regular basis, so [the invitations were] part of my appreciation for them being regular customers.”

Joe’s Italian Kitchen was opened as essentially a sandwich shop and casual dining establishment, with little in the way of china or fine wares.

“We wanted to jazz things up,” said Cafaro. “Hence the name, ‘Joe’s Jazzed Up.’”

Cafaro said the menu is still evolving and new items will be added as time goes on. The theme of the cuisine will remain Italian.

“It’s still Italian, but with a different flair” said Cafaro of the menu items. “A lot of this is traditional food handed down for five generations for over 100 years.”

Joe’s Jazzed Up is located at 194 Boone Heights Drive.

For more information visit joesitaliankitchen.com.

Photo’s of Joe’s Jazzed Up’s “soft opening” on April 5
Photos by Ken Ketchie 

Click on First Picture and then use the your Arrow Key to Flip Through the Photos

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