Like many professional musicians, 31-year-old Elizabeth Williams augmented her income by waiting tables. She started her job as a server at Highland's Garden Café as a way to earn some extra money to support her vocation as a classical violin player.

"The café was the thing I was doing on the side ... now the café has become the center of what I do," she said.

Located at 3927 W. 32nd Ave. in the historic Highlands neighborhood, owner Pat Perry opened Highland's Garden Café in a converted Victorian era home in 1994. Over the years the café has expanded and now boasts six individual dining rooms and three garden patios and a deck that are available for dining and private functions.

Especially recognized for its patios and specializing in fresh, local ingredients the café has received numerous awards over the years, including a Wine Spectator award for excellence and the café has received consistently high ratings by the Zagat dining guide.

Last June, when the former special events manager decided to step down, café owner Pat Perry tapped Williams to assume the role.

"I stepped into it and it went so well, " Williams said. "I never thought I would be doing this."

Williams works in a bright office on the second story of the café. Her job is to plan private functions in the café and coordinate various artistic functions sponsored by the restaurant. Most of the day she spends on the phone and responding to and sending e-mails.

"Food is my favorite thing; I love entertaining and interacting with people." Williams said. "When I help facilitate an 80th birthday party, that's a gift. People need celebration in their lives."

Williams believes her training as classical musician has suited her well in the position.

"Good classical musicians are very detail orientated, very disciplined." Williams said, gesturing to a large stack of files behind her desk.

Owner Perry has been supportive of Williams "other" career in music and recently let her take some time off to perform in The Town Hall Art's Center production of The Fiddler on the Roof. "She is really supportive of the arts," Williams said of Perry.

Williams' job took a turn when Perry determined that she wanted to suspend breakfast and lunch service and respond solely to the needs of private groups and parties. The restaurant is open for dinner seven nights a week.

"She wanted to pull back and have the café focus on what we do best -- place a focus on quality," Williams said.

While the change shocked many longtime customers, Williams works to provide options for groups that wish to dine at the café during the day, including a popular seniors luncheon.

When not coordinating functions at the restaurant, Williams is also working to launch Denver's first ever Harvest Week to be held Sept. 6 through 12, and sponsored by The Denver Independent Network of Restaurants.

Harvest Week hopes to shine a spotlight on local, independent restaurants and locally produced products.

"It started with the idea to eat local and support the independents (restaurants), Williams said. "Local food is a big deal ... food costs are going up due to gas prices, it's not environmentally sound to import food from California."

You can find out more about Harvest Week at www.eatdenver.com and learn more about the Highland's Garden Café at www.highlandsgardencafe.com.