Garden Gate Cafe

(Written in January)

Today I visited the most adorable cafe and met the most energetic sweet people.

Perhaps it's because I have a head cold of huge proportions.

Or perhaps because I am in a sugar coma.

Whatever the reason, I cannot seem to make any of the words I want to say about this place make any sense or do it any form of justice.

So I am going to ramble out a blog post for you.  Sorry, all of you are my therapy.  I cannot post it until February 1st when the magazine goes live but I'll include a link at the end of this so you can read what ends up being printed.

And so I give you....

Garden Gate Cafe

I had heard about Garden Gate Cafe but did not recall why.  When I looked up their facebook page I noticed friends who liked them and when I asked a mom's opinion I knew would give me the honest truth about the place, she admitted she just wanted to get there but hadn't made it there yet.  I knew the place would involve cupcakes...but that's all I knew.

Wednesday dawned bright and sunny and found me squinting in the bright sunshine.  My head was a foggy pounding sinus headache mess.  I consciously was making an effort to think full complete thoughts but they kept getting lost in the fogginess of the my head cold.  I wasn't sure what sort of first impression I would make, but I didn't think it would be my best ever.  Especially when I drove past the place twice looking for a parking spot and finally had to park in the parking ramp (when you visit there, do that.  Just park in the ramp.  Notice I said WHEN because you must go here.)

Upon entering, I was taken back to happy spring time.  I walked in and physically relaxed.  This is my sort of place.  Instantly they greeted me and offered me something to drink, I said water was just fine but really, their tea mugs were so adorable and the tea bags enchanting.  I should have chosen tea.

Learn from my mistake.

I wasn't there to take photos but I just had to.  The above photo is of Shann who quit her job as a Dental Hygienist to work for Nancy at the Garden Gate Cafe because she loves this place that much.  Nancy and Shann did not even know each other before working together.  "I have always dreamed of baking and nothing is better than lovin' on people with food. Food draws people together."

Shann spoke the words of my heart.

Shann had on the most adorable rolling pin apron.  She told me Santa took good care of her this year.  As he should have.  She was as kind as could be, wishing me a speedy recovery before she rushed off to the kitchen but not after sitting down to chat with me.

Here is a sampling of their food....

Katie, our photographer who I consider a friend and am so grateful to know, was thrilled to have so many options to photograph.  Usually we are left alone to talk amongst our selves and sometimes to feel as intruders.  Not so here.  She was snapping photos to her hearts content and I was making new dear friends as I sat at the table and chatted with Nancy, the owner.

How did this energetic woman sitting across from me go from being an educator to owning a cafe?

Nancy went to visit her daughter who had a boutique in Chicago.  Nancy looked around and said, "Yes.  This is what I want to do."  Six months later she and her husband, Doug, opened an antiques store in Schoolcraft, Michigan.  They were still teaching and working the store and within a year they had moved from a tiny shop to a house in town to sell their antiques.

Because if you are into antiques Shipshewana, Indiana is really the place to be, they closed the shop in Schoolcraft and opened a store there.  Not long after that, the little cafe across the street from their shop closed and Nancy thought, "Hmmm, a cafe sounds fun."

So she opened a cafe.

Nancy is a ball of energy.  I am quite convinced this woman can do whatever she puts her mind to and would have all kinds of fun accomplishing it.

How cute are their lights????

They describe their food as "Like Grandma used to make, but better."

Their slogan is - Garden Gate Cafe, Where the food is great and the fun never ends.

Nancy just bubbled in her joy over her cafe.  She shared with me how they deliver lunches to neighboring businesses and corporations by way of little red wagons.  They have special cupcake and cookie decorating times for the kids.  They hold parties after hours for groups and showers and birthdays.  They donate cupcakes regularly.

Looking for ways they can be involved and help their community is important to Nancy and Doug.  They are currently selling their beautiful farm in Schoolcraft (that has hosted weddings and has an antique shop) to spend their time and energy in downtown Kalamazoo. Nancy lived in downtown Kalamazoo in 71 and she says she has never seen downtown so alive. 

The cafe sings of friendliness and warmth.  You can't buy that.  You can't fake that.  This group of women love their work so much it seems like an extension of themselves.  The college students and others who they hire to help their bustling business (they cater weddings regularly) have to have a certain spark.

They sent me home with lunch - on the house, anything I wanted.  They had given me so much of their time so I chose something they had all ready to go in the case.  A chicken ranch wrap.  

It was a great choice.

Then they sent me home with three cupcakes.  The Cherry Almond one I am writing about in the magazine - a cherry explosion of moist yumminess with the comforting after taste of almond -, a cupcake filled with Bailey's, and a cupcake filled with peanut butter (swoon).  Just for good measure they sent me home with one of Doug's (Nancy's husband) famous chocolate chip cookies.

I spent the morning with my body half turned away from them, not wanting them to catch my nasty head cold.  But when I left they rubbed my arm as a dear friend would and wished me well.  I felt filled with warmth as I left their cozy country cottage cafe and walked toward the parking garage.  I can not wait to return.

How cute is THIS hanging on the wall?

Garden Gate Cafe

230 South Kalamazoo Mall

Kalamazoo, Michigan

49007

269-532-1692

Open Seven days a week except closed on Sundays in January and February

10 am to 4 pm

Offering a full Gluten Free Menu

Gluten Free food is prepared at Gluten Free Sensations in Three Rivers, Michigan

Cupcakes - Cookies - Whoopie Pies and Muffins

Lunch and Brunch served

HUGE variety of soups

And....while I was there THREE separate men walked into the cafe to order food.  Evidence that this place makes good good good food - like Grandma's, but better. 

Garden Gate Cafe Facebook Page

Friendship Farm that is now for sale.

Read the finished article in Women's Lifestyle Magazine of Greater Kalamazoo

HERE

You can pick up a FREE magazine at many Kalamazoo locations.  I choose Biggby. 

PS

A week later, sick as could be still, my mom and I went here for lunch.

We were greeted warmly, even though they were very obviously in a rush. 

The wagons went out to deliver lunch.

Huge displays of cupcakes were getting ready to be sent out.

My mom and I ordered two lunches to split between the two of them.  I ordered tea.  My mom ordered coffee.  I think my tea would have been phenominal if my mom hadn't continually said, "This coffee is sooooooo good."

The little adorable cup and pot are tea. The mug is coffee. I oohed over the colors.

The slice of something? Red Velvet whoopie pie to try.

My mom and I split a salad and a chicken salad sandwich on pretzel bread.

Had I just had the salad, I would have raved over it.  I would have gone on and on and on about how yummy it is.  But I ate the sandwich and I nearly cried when it was done.  That sandwich was divine.

The salad was super wonderfully delicious too.  It makes me wish I hadn't tried the sandwich.

Except the sandwich was that good.

We got a few cupcakes to take home because we were stuffed.

The sprinkle ones were beer cupcakes. 

One may wrinkle their nose at that but I seriously believe those cupcakes helped make me well.

Seriously.

The other is a peanut butter one and a chocolate cherry one (that one was for S1 at home alone while we were out.)

My only sadness of this day is, well, two fold, I was still sick and so foggy in the head.  Second, no photos of my mom and I.  How did we do that????

The place got packed! And oddly enough, the photographer I work with at the magazine showed up with her husband and son for lunch too!  She was impressed too!

Visit there.  Pronto.

Garden Gate Cafe and their staff simply can not disappoint.

I Was Nearly Attacked by a Venomous Shrew

I believe I should get some sort of award for not screeching into the phone today and then letting it fall to the floor with a clatter while I was talking to my husband.

I mean, there should totally be a reward for such control of the situation.

What happened?

Oh, I was just nearly attacked by a venomous shrew.

It happened like this...

All week I have had a terrible head cold. The worst part of this cold is the horrific headaches I have been having.  Earlier in the morning my husband had called to check on me and I, being all strong and stoic, began to cry because even my cheek bones hurt.

I am so tough like that.

Anyhow, I had dropped two of the four boys off at school because one is home sick and the other, you recall, is now home-schooled.  I had arrived home and taken the hottest shower I could stand, not carrying how dry my skin would be afterwards, and then I brewed myself a strong pot of coffee.  I had skipped the MucinexD medicine today for some migraine medicine I had recently picked up but really have never thought of buying.

It worked miracles.

I decided I had better call my husband to let him know I was alive and feeling somewhat human again because I could, in fact, not feel my cheekbones any longer and if you can't feel them then you must be feeling better.

I was stirring my coffee and chattering away to him when I heard a rustle, scratch and commotion.  I looked toward the sound but the dog was not lying there scratching herself.

I wandered into the dining room to see where the dog was lying.  She was lying outside on the porch.

I figured something must have fallen out of the full trash (I've been sick, people, my house is a disaster), and continued chatting with hubs.

Until I heard the sound again.

I cautiously walked toward the trash can and there, on my husband's chainsaw blade, was a shrew.

Oh wait, you say, chainsaw blade?  In the kitchen?  Welcome to my life....

"Eeeeeek!" I tried not to scream but I may have screeched, "There is a shrew!  A shrew is in the kitchen!"

"A what?" my husband asked, bracing himself for my all out panic.

"A SHREW," I said slowly and clearly.  "I have to let you go.  I'll call you later."  I may have mumbled out that "LoveYouBye" word but I honestly don't recall.

I ran to the upstairs steps and screamed called for S1 to come down.  I heard his chair drop to the ground as he hustled to get to me.  My sick S3 did not even glance my way as he sat in the chair, glad to have the living room and tv all to himself, totally oblivious to his mother's hysterical cries for his brother.

It's as if hysterics have become common place to him.  Hmmmmmm.

"What?  What is it?" my eldest son asked, ready to come to my defense.  I love that boy.

"In the kitchen!" I cried and then I creeped back into the kitchen to show him where to look.  He was already undoing his leatherman that is always strapped to his side.  "I don't want to look," I said and walked away.  I joined S3 in the living room to watch Bolt with him.

He let me know when the coast was now clear and safe of all shrews.

Because I just couldn't resist, and because they sorta do look kinda cute, I googled Shrews.  This is what I found......

It's like all my worst nightmares.

Venomous shrews attacking, a snake, and all found in the GARDEN...did you notice the asparagus?  Guess what I'll be looking for this spring?

I had no idea shrew's were venomous.  No idea they attacked.  No idea they have to eat EVERY hour.  

This is one more reason why it is so handy to be homeschooling S1.

And upon reading this harrowing account, don't you think I deserve an award?

Oh wait, I have a gourmet cupcake with peanut butter in it from Garden Gate Cafe...I think I have just been awarded for my bravery and coolness under attack.

Also, it should be noted that although I sent my husband a text informing him that we were now safe, he never called me back.  Don't you find that odd?  Shouldn't he have checked on me? I mean, venomous shrew in my kitchen???