The sticky nectar of a crispy yet buttery cinnamon bun is still stuck to my fingers.

I'm tempted to lick the keyboard. You, too, could share this experience if you wander into Fresh Harvest Kafé, 421 E. Beaver Ave., when these orbs of ambrosia emerge from the convection oven.

Harvest has been open since June, and the most rewarding element of the new café is the warm atmosphere it exudes -- the aim of first-time restaurant owners and State College residents Bruce and Jenny Fowler.

Inside, deep yellow and red two-tone walls permeate the expansive space. The hardwood floor hosts about a half dozen mocha brown tables, adorned by small vases, and around each table four mahogany colored chairs sit.

On one wall a sign reads, "Never trust anyone who doesn't drink coffee." This affirmation is backed by the Kafé's array of Seattle's Best brand coffee beverages. The options for how these are served range from a tall cup for $1.40 to a grande supremo white chocolate mocha, $4.30.

Breakfast features croissant, egg and meat combos, or baked goods like Glorious Morning Muffin, $1.25, and others -- many of which are depleted in number by the time they come off the baking sheet and enter into the large glass display case.

For lunch and later on, the Kafé serves soups, salads and sandwiches. Popular in a bread bowl for $2.95, the tomato basil bisque and the adobe chicken are best sellers, but the stock changes from day to day.

The selection of subs and sandwiches is fairly limited, yet some have been hand picked as the only of their kind to be served in the State College area. The PapaStrami, grilled pastrami with provolone and Russian dressing (7" for $5.25 or 14" for $7.95) is one of the most popular, and the vegetarian Roasted Vegetables on a Ciabatta Roll ($4.25) does quite well, too. I tried the Beef on Weck (a type of roll), and, accompanied with au jus and provolone, it made a happy union with my taste buds.

Sides of fries, slaw and chips complete the menu, along side a selection of soda and other bottled and canned beverages.

Catering is one area where the business has expanded, with capabilities of creating party platters beyond the offerings of the menu.

Depending on the time of day -- and with the new business it seems that the busiest times are still random -- the space could sit quietly, or the tables could be burgeoning with life. This activity could include the sight of people using the free Internet connection, viewing the 42-inch plasma screen TV, talking on cellphones in one of the two large leather chairs, or reading a paper at a stool while sipping a specialty coffee concoction.

The hours, like the rushes, are still uneven, and so the Kafé is open a majority of the day to accommodate its new customers. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Currently there is delivery from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and take-out is available all day.

The unusually late hours for a café can provide a haven from the belligerent buffoonery of the post-bar 2 a.m. crowd where you can sit down and sober up with a cup of coffee or gorge yourself on a gyro.

Both owners have extensive experience in differing businesses, and they settled on the idea of a café
out of their vigor for new adventure and the attitude
of liking change and new things. For a change in
your environment, stop into the sunny Fresh Harvest Kafé.