The first light reaches the peaks above Etna before it finds the valley floor, and a late-October morning here smells of cold air and fresh coffee. A plant-based breakfast in this little town is easy once you know who to ask. Our route: a smoothie on Main Street, bread from three bakers, and a slow plate back at the house, a short walk from town.
Wildwood Coffee: smoothies and plant milks
Wildwood Coffee, Main Street. Espresso, flavored coffees, chai and smoothies, with breakfast and lunch. A smoothie is the easy place to start: ask what goes into the base, and whether it can be blended with a plant milk. For a latte, ask about plant milks, and if chai is your ritual, ask how it's made. Skip the breakfast croissant, which comes with sausage.
Farmhouse Bakery: ask about the loaves
Farmhouse Bakery, 445 Main St. Breads, pastries, cakes and sandwiches, all made from scratch. Ask at the counter which of the day's breads are dairy and egg free, and carry one home for toast. Pastries are where butter likes to hide, so ask before you point. Hours aren't posted online, so call (530) 467-3003 before you walk over.
Sugar Magnolia's: weekend sourdough
Sugar Magnolia's Farmstand & Bakery, 306 Callahan St. Open Friday to Sunday, with artisan sourdough, homemade breads, sweet treats and farm-fresh produce. On a weekend morning, it's the easiest loaf in town: ask which breads are dairy and egg free, and come early, because the shelves go fast.
Little Whisk Baking Co.: the sourdough secret
Little Whisk Baking Co., by custom order. In my book, her custom orders are the best baked goods around. She's known for her macarons, but macarons are made with egg whites, so they aren't plant-based. For plant-based eaters, the prize is her sourdough. She makes it mainly for friends and family, and it is the secret that bread lovers will die for. My verdict: She. Makes. Good. Bread.
Plain sourdough is usually just flour, water and salt, but confirm when you order. Message her on Instagram before your trip and ask whether a loaf is possible during your stay. A bread made mostly for friends and family is worth asking for early.
A slow plant-based breakfast at the house
Walk home with the bread under your arm. Coffee and tea come with every stay, and the kitchen is set for a dinner party, so breakfast for six is no stretch. Pick up the basics at Ray's, the town grocery, and bring your favorite plant milk from home if you're loyal to one.
Sourdough toast, three ways. Good olive oil and flaky salt. Smashed avocado with lemon and chili flakes. Peanut butter with sliced apple and a little cinnamon.
A pot of apple oats. Simmer rolled oats with water or plant milk, a chopped apple, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Finish with maple syrup and toasted walnuts.
A skillet for the hungry ones. Crisp diced potatoes in olive oil with onion and peppers, stir in a can of black beans, and spoon salsa over the top.
Then take your plate outside. The terraced gardens have room to stretch or practice yoga in the morning air (the mats live in the second bedroom), and deer, birds and squirrels wander through while you eat. On a cold morning, light the wood stove and settle in beside it instead. A slow breakfast with nowhere to be is how you return to your natural frequency.
For the rest of the day, our one perfect day in Etna picks up from here.
Good to know
Wildwood Coffee and Farmhouse Bakery don't post hours online, and small-town hours shift with the season. Check hours before you go.
Little Whisk bakes to order through Instagram, so ask well before your stay.
Macarons are made with egg whites. Plain sourdough is usually flour, water and salt, but when in doubt, ask the baker.
If you're particular about a plant milk or brand, bring it from home.
The house is a short walk from Main Street, so leave the car parked.
The bread is on Main Street, and the slow morning is waiting at the house. See open dates and prices for your stay at Blossom Sanctuary, and join the Orbit for letters from the house, with a welcome gift of 20% off a first stay booked on our website.