Denny's Cafe -
32 years on Herman's main street
by Olivia Richards,
Herman Review
On April 28, 2000, Denny and Faye Vipond celebrated 30 years doing business as Denny's Cafe. Denny bought the restaurant in 1970, formerly called Lila's, from Lila Rynning, two years before he and Faye were married. At that time there were three other eating establishments in Herman, Florence's Cafe and Cozy Cafe along Highway 9, and the seasonal Drive-Inn on the west edge of Herman on Highway 27. Now Denny's Cafe is the only cafe in town where a full meal is served, including short orders.
A day in the lives of the Viponds typically starts at 5 a.m. Faye takes a little time to relax at home before she heads out for the restaurant. There are a few early risers, back door customers, who keep her company while she mixes the bread dough for rolls. By 7:30-8 a.m. the aroma of baked bread wafts through the restaurant. The rolls are done -- four pans -- always caramel and cinnamon, and sometimes orange rolls. To provide variety for the morning crowd, Faye saves a little dough to fry bismarcks or raised donuts. If she doesn't have time, then Denny shapes the leftover dough into buns to serve with the noon lunch. Faye says when she makes buns, they don't look like buns -- that's Denny's thing.
The front door is opened at 7 a.m. when the breakfast menu is served until 11 a.m. While Denny waits on the morning coffee crowd, Faye is getting the noon lunch ready for an 11 a.m. start, along with cooking the breakfast menu selections.
The noon specials vary each day. Noon specials could include hot dish, hot and cold sandwiches, a variety of soups, roast beef, roast pork, turkey or meatloaf dinners, commerical hot beef and hot pork plates, chili, and a variety of short order grilled sandwiches.
Denny's is well-known for homemade pies. Monday morning Faye makes enough pie crust to last the week. The three ingredients are Crisco, flour and water. She credits Annie Hakenson and Alice Fleischfresser, former employees, for providing the expertise to teach her at a young age, and for the tried and true recipe. Faye makes several kinds of pies for customers to choose from each day. Pie varieties might include cream pies, pumpkin, rhubarb, apple, chocolate, and lemon.
Margaret Borgeson, Faye's mother, comes in to help wait on the noon customers. She usually follows up their order by asking if they would like some pie. "She pushes pie," said Denny. "She's the best pie pusher we have ever had."
In addition to the Monday through Saturday hours, which are 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Denny and Faye serve a Sunday plate dinner with all the trimmings, including dessert. The hours are 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
They have catered many events through the years, and will be happy to work with you should you need food for an event. They will serve a complete hot meal, as well as a salad/sandwich lunch.
Denny and Faye are both Herman natives, and have raised their family here as well. Lisa, Tony, Jill and Hayley have all helped out at the restaurant while growing up.
The Viponds have many loyal customers who stop at the restaurant on a daily basis. There are always drop-ins who are passing through Herman, and often work crews stop for noon lunch, too.
The restaurant is the Viponds' second home. While each day seems routine, they claim every day is different -- there's never a dull moment.
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