It’s been a tough couple of weeks for three Waukesha-based businesses. Spring City Wine House, The Clarke Hotel and The Steaming Cup all sustained damages after a fire broke out in downtown Waukesha on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
The Steaming Cup, which was purchased by Chef Jason Tofte and his wife Cristina in 2015, did not sustain serious damages due to fire or water thanks to a quick response by area fire fighters. However, smoke damage in both the cafe and basement storage area resulted in notable losses and a need for interior restoration.
The damages came on the heels of a fairly extensive interior refresh at the cafe, making the smoke damage mitigation even more pressing. Fortunately, with the help of crews from PuroClean, the cafe was able to fully restore the interior of the space, which now features work-friendly seating including a 12 workstations with full access to electrical outlets and USB ports.
"We’ve been truly overwhelmed with the amount of support we’ve received from the community throughout the restoration process," noted co-owner Cristina Tofte in a press release. "And we can’t wait to welcome our customers back to The Cup."
Beginning on Friday, Aug. 31, The Steaming Cup will be open Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m to 2 p.m. The cafe will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 in observance of Labor Day.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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