Too bad babies aren't born with a tiny crystal ball attached to their chubby wrists, because if they were, it would be so much easier to choose their pathway toward what they would ultimately want to do with their lives.

Tony Filosa, New owner of Tony's Pea Patch Cafe, thought he was going to be that life-time guy who ground coffee beans for Millstone, and he was pretty contented doing his job for almost 15 years.   But things move on, and Proctor & Gamble purchased Millstone.   They didn't do things the same way, and Tony decided that maybe he wasn't supposed to be that bean grinder after all.

In the back of his mind Tony knew that he had some gifts that weren't necessarily being used when he was a grinder.  He loved people and enjoyed talking to them.  He loved food and had his favorite dining spots and chefs, and most of all; he suspected that it was time to move out on his own.

"Now you've got to understand that I'm a guy without a formal education," Tony shares. " I didn't finish high school and don't even have a GED, but I'm street smart - at least that's what one of the customers says about me.  Besides, I need to be around people, you know, and that's what I do best."

After Tony left his job that had featured secure paycheck every couple of weeks, he got to thinking about owning an espresso stand, but luckily for the Mill Creek area, he and his wife Helen ended up becoming the proprietors of Tony's Pea Patch Cafe on Bothell-Everett, Highway.  He'll tell you that his heart swelled with pride the day he put up the sign on the restaurant with his name on it.

"Suddenly I'm owning and running a cafe," Tony laughs. "Me, I've got no business degree, or a whole lot of capital to work with, but I've got a dream and big heart and a family who supports me.  I'm a rich man, and I own the cafe that serves the best food in the Mill creek area."

Left to right: Mikayla, waitress Teresa,
cook Ed, Helen & Tony

Tony's breakfast trade is growing every morning because of some of the innovations on the menu. Tony has a home-made lunch menu that is so filling it's like a small dinner.  Tony like it when his customer can eat everything but the plate.

Parsley, bah!" Tony explodes. "That's silly. You want a nice slice of cantaloupe, oranges or apples in season.  They're good for you."

Tony Pea Patch is a good asset to the Mill Creek area's business community.  If the crew is hungry or there is a business meeting and they want lunch, the secretary can go the the computer, access this web and and make  an order....maybe broccoli soup, or a pea salad, something different to go with the assortment of sandwiches.  Sure beats half-cold pizza!

Tony's got a great heart, a good product and a zest for what he is doing.  His wife is right there with him, his mom and her mom stop in and help out, his little brother is part of it and he freely admits he hasn't been this happy in 15 years.

You know, it's my dream to make people happy and I think food is the way to do it.  Like I always say, you leave here hungry, then it's your own fault!"

Soup is on and breakfast too and Tony's Pea Patch Cafe.   Stop in and eat for yourself. 

The cafe is located at 180^th and Bothell-Everett, Highway in the Mill Creek South Shopping Center,  phone 425-485-4562