When Debbie Grossman opened Fressers Eatery in 1999, now called Fressers Courtyard Café and Catering, she wanted a place where anybody and everybody could eat: meat eaters, vegetarians, low sodium, gluten-free, vegan. She ensured her crew knew the importance of respecting special diets and that customers were comfortable eating at her restaurants.
Born and raised in Branford, Connecticut, Debbie grew up around restaurants. Her grandparents owned a luncheonette; her earliest memories were family gatherings that revolved around food. Looking back, she describes her family as the definition of foodies. “Sometimes, I think we grew up around the kitchen table.” Holidays always meant a house full, and Sundays were for grandparents and other relatives and friends,” Debbie explains, “No matter what, as we grew up, we were expected to be home for dinner!
Debbie went to Syracuse University and The Culinary Institute of America. Her externship was at Windows on the World in Manhattan. After graduating, she moved south to Atlanta, where she worked in small, independent restaurants and cafes. In 1994, she opened the Brookhaven Cafe in Atlanta, but the mountains were calling. She bought the building she is currently in on Oak Street in Highlands and has been cooking and catering for The Plateau since 1999.
Named in the spirit of Debbie’s grandparents, Fresser is a Yiddish word for big eater or as Debbie says with a smile on her face, “go ahead and look it up”. As a tip of her hat to her beloved grandparents, who spoke Yiddish when they didn’t want the kids to know what they were saying, Fressers has been part of her business name from the beginning. Fressers began as a little cafe and grew into a full-service restaurant and catering business. They are now back to their roots as a small cafe with a big bang and a diverse catering business. They particularly love participating in local events, craft shows, and concerts. From burgers to beef tenderloin… you name it; they can cook it!