The new Tom Ridge Environmental Center at the entrance to Presque Isle State Park opens today and I can't wait to check out the Sunset Cafe (yeah, I've got lunch on my mind lately). I'm not big on going out to eat -- it aint easy being a calorie-conscious, semi-vegetarian. I can count (on one hand) how many times I've gone out to eat in the last month, but I have been excited about the new TREC cafe ever since I got an email from the Presque Isle Partnership in early April.

According to the PIP e-newsletter, the TREC cafe will offer breakfast, salad bar, a kids cafe (with kid-friendly fare), a coffee bar and desserts. The also promise to have HEALTHY selections in keeping with the "green theme" of the TREC.

Yeah, right, I thought. I've seen the so called "healthy" foods at other restaurants that still have 25 grams of fat and 456 calories. But, the cafe's menu looks promising with lots of salads, grilled chicken and whole grain breads and wraps. Even, gulp ... imagine this at a cafe ... fresh fruit that is not scooped out of an industrial-size can of fruit cocktail.

PIP says the chef behind the cafe is Kal Darres, the owner of Erie's Petra's Restaurant on W. 8th Street. Kal says he'll focus on nature and health when creating the menu for the cafe.

They even offer a beach basket deal -- "a basket filled with an assortment of wholesome sandwiches, snacks, fruits and beverages that is perfect for a family day at the beach," says the PIP e-newsletter.

As a harried Mom who has enough crap to pack for a beach trip without packing lunch, I'm hoping this cafe lives up to the hype.

And, oh...yeah, there's this whole other 60,000 square foot, $31 million visitors' and research center that houses the cafe. We're planning to check that out too.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.