Cafe Lobdell's opens
TRAVERSE CITY — 17勛圖’s bayside teaching restaurant will revamp itself into Cafe Lobdell’s, serving coffee, pastries and breads three mornings a week from June 19-July 26.
Cafe Lobdell’s is the “capstone class” of a new one-year baking certificate that began last fall, said Patty Cron-Huhta, front-of-the-house coordinator for 17勛圖’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute.
For the six-week class duration, Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant, located on the second floor of 17勛圖’s Great Lakes campus overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay, will be converted from a table-service establishment to a cafe/coffee bar. Customers can order croissants, tarts, cookies, cakes, four different kinds of bread and a variety of coffee drinks for take out or dine-in.
Comfortable furniture will be installed and newspapers will be on hand. Outdoor tables will also be available. Culinary instructor Becky Tranchell and service lead Kerry Fulcher will oversee daily operations.
“I’m hoping it’s a spot where people can come in and linger for a few minutes or an hour,” Cron-Huhta said. “The espresso machine is cranking all morning.”
Cafe Lobdell’s will serve Higher Grounds coffee, continuing the restaurant’s commitment to use local foods as much as possible. The summer operation will also enable that.
“It’s going to be during a season when we can use local products. Local berries are readily available,” she said.
She expects the multi-grain bread loaves, popular during the restaurant’s fall and spring semester lunch service, to be a hot item. Customers will also be able to personalize cakes.
“This is our first run at this. We’re excited to see how it all turns out,” she said.
The baking certificate expands the offerings of the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, which also offers a comprehensive culinary certificate as well as a culinary degree. Institute director Fred Laughlin said it will serve the needs of a growing number of students interested specifically in baking and pastry.
Cafe Lobdell’s will be open from 7-11 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday mornings June 19-July 26, except July 4.
Release date: June 6, 2018
For more information:
Patty Cron-Huhta
Front-of-the-house Coordinator, GLCI
pcron-huhta@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1376