Change is coming to Jean's Deli.

The family-owned restaurant will switch from serving breakfast and lunch to offering lunch and dinner beginning Friday, Aug 7.

A sneak preview of the menu will be available during Jazz in the Alley from July 17-18.

Samples items include a lime and basil mousse dessert with dried pineapple chips, macerated oranges, candied ginger and Chantilly cream, and a seared salmon medallion appetizer with crostini, sauteed spinach, tomato caper salsa, asparagus and coulis.

Brian Lippert, son of owner Barbara Lippert, will serve as executive chef. Previously a general's aide, baker and mess hall cook for more than 350 soldiers per meal, Lippert completed his service with the U.S. Army in May.

"This isn't an obligation, it's what I want to do," Lippert said about joining the family business.

"Yes, I could have gotten a job somewhere else paying more, but I love Sequim.

"Everything that each one of us does is representative of our entire family, and I plan to put my best foot forward."

Lippert was named the 2008 Armed Forces Junior Chef of the Year and won four other medals: one gold, one silver and two bronzes. He is a 2003 Sequim graduate with an associate's degree in culinary arts from Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Ore.

Besides manning the kitchen at Jean's Deli, Lippert will be taking hotel and business management classes at Peninsula College.

Lippert's older brother, younger sister and father also are involved deeply in the restaurant. The family of seven has been planning to improve and change Jean's Deli for years but had to wait for all the pieces to fall into place, Lippert said.

"There are a lot of great restaurants in Sequim but none that have filled the niche between fast food and special occasions," he said.

"We want this to be the type of place you can go for dinner on a Wednesday evening without breaking the bank.

"Hire a baby sitter or bring the kids; it's a family-friendly environment."

Recent renovations stock-ed the kitchen with new appliances, padded the floor with new carpet, lined the walls with a fresh coat of paint and restained all the wooden fixtures.

"It's a completely different atmosphere now," Lippert said.

The walls are decorated with pictures taken by Barbara Lippert.

Lippert describes his mother as an "amazing photographer."

"She could switch out photographs every day and still have new stuff to show," he said.

As a family business, the Lipperts plan to utilize local resources and buy supplies, food, wine and beer from other mom-and-pop companies.

The restaurant is in the process of applying for its liquor license.



Ashley Miller can be reached at ashleyo@sequim gazette.com.



Turning over

a new leaf

Starting Aug. 7, Jean's Deli, 134 S. Second Ave., will serve lunch from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and dinner from 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and from 4:30-

9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.For more information, call 683-6727.