Café Sophie, the European-style café located at the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, will be featured on an upcoming episode of WETA PBS’ Emmy Award-winning series “Signature Dish.”
The episode, titled “Exploring Europe,” follows host Seth Tillman to three restaurants serving European-inspired cuisine across the DMV. Tillman arrives by small prop plane at the Montgomery County Airpark, where Café Sophie will be featured for its Norwegian kjøttkaker. The episode will also visit Ruta on Capitol Hill for Ukrainian holubtsi and The Harp in Brookland for pan-seared monkfish and Irish-inspired fare.
“Exploring Europe” premieres Monday, September 7, at 9pm on WETA PBS and 8pm on WETA Metro. It will also be available to stream on WETA+.
Located at 7940 Airpark Road, Café Sophie is owned by Sandy and Tom and features Scandinavian influences inspired in part by Tom’s roots in Bergen, Norway. The café is named after the couple’s dog, Sophie, who occasionally greets customers.
Sandy also has deep ties to the Montgomery County Airpark. Her grandfather and father, Bill and Jim Richardson, built and operated the facility in 1960. Sandy is a pilot herself, while Tom worked as a professional pilot flying private charters throughout the United States and Europe before settling in the area.
Chef Asael’s menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and includes baked goods, European specialties, coffee, international beer and wine, and the café’s popular Lingonberry Mimosa. Its location overlooking the airfield allows customers to watch planes arrive and depart while dining.
