Chef Ralph Binder's Mad Platter Cafe has opened at Barnstable Municipal Airport's new passenger terminal. The café features fresh bread and pastries baked on site, gourmet luncheon soups, clam chowder and sandwiches, and house-made specialty dinners to go. Patrons may dine-in at the 34-seat café or take out items for home or the plane.

"My passion is to be known as the gourmet-on-the-go," said Binder. "This café is a wonderful addition to the community and an exciting new feature for the airport."

Airport Manager Roland "Bud" Breault said he is gratified to have the airport house a high-quality, locally-owned facility for its passengers and the public. "We competitively bid the space, negotiated a multi-year lease with Chef Binder and completed a full renovation of the terminal's original restaurant, kitchen and newsstand space. The café will sell newspapers, magazines and other items traditionally available at airport newsstands, he added.

Chef Binder will apply soon to the Town of Barnstable for a license to sell beer and wine on premises. For its part, the airport is offering free 90-minute parking to those dining
at the cafe. Those who stop for coffee or take-out orders may take advantage of no-cost 30-minute parking.

The Mad Platter Café also offers gourmet catering for special events and hopes to expand its business to include operators of private jets and other
general aviation aircraft that use the airport.

Chef Binder of Hyannis is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and operated Millway Fish and Lobster at Barnstable Harbor for a number of years, beginning in 1995. He recently closed a restaurant at Mashpee Commons to focus his energies on the airport café.