Homer’s at Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in the Botanical Gardens has a new general manager and is now under the auspices of The Portuguese Bakery and Catering (PB&C).

General manager Rolisa Camille and John Eric Amaral, who is the manager director of PB&C, are now partners in business as well as personally.

Sitting in Homer’s Cafe with Ms Camille, surrounded by dozens of photographs which among the subject matter depict Bermuda flora and scenes, Mr Amaral explained the parent business, PB&C, has been in operation since 1991.

He explained: “The last couple of years we have been struggling with the numbers of Portuguese people who have gone back home.

“But we are expanding into different products and catering to a different variety of people now.”

At Homer’s PB&C have been in place for about a month.

Ms Camille has retained its array of offerings, “the things that people know and love,” she said, along with some additions.

As well, many the individual menu items have been renamed after prominent artists.

Ms Camille said: “We’ve had fun with alliteration, like ‘O’Keefe’s Quiche’,” she said. “We’ve kept things fun.”

Among the menu additions are an all-day breakfast sandwich, and some sandwiches are now offered on traditional Johnny bread, which explained Mr Amaral, is the “offspring of an English muffin and a pancake”. There is also a fishcake available.

Traditional Portuguese red bean soup will be served up, as well as popular fish chowder and pumpkin soup. “Portuguese people really do know how to cook, and they make food with love. They are very family oriented and are full of that love. That’s the aspect I want here at Homer’s.

“We’re also offering a lot of summer salads, like avocado and chicken and spinach salad. Cooler offerings,” said Ms Camille.

“And we will be offering a lot of gluten-free items,” she explained, saying a new baker is about to start working with them. “She is going to be baking gluten-free muffins, bread as well as cookies and cakes.”

Ms Camille said: “We want something for everybody.

With that in mind, there are now kids’ items on the menu. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs.

For the grown-ups, Homer’s is licensed and serves beer and wine.

It’s open from 10am to 4pm on Monday through Saturday, and from 11am to 4.30pm on Sundays.

“If you dine at Homer’s you get $2 off admission to the Gallery, and if you are a member of Masterworks you get a ten percent discount off your meal,” said Ms Camille.

The new general manager is also offering an incentive to Kind Edward VII Memorial Hospital staff, who can receive five percent off their meal if they show their badge. Masterworks is located just around the corner from the hospital, and is five minutes from the central parishes and the City of Hamilton, Ms Camille pointed out.

“You can come and enjoy the art work here, or sit in the garden or in the courtyard.” There is also a quiet lounge on the lower level of the restaurant. “There is no cell phone reception there — it’s a great place to escape,” she said.