summer at Base Camp

...summer time when the living is easy

 

Base Camp is in it's first summer

 we opened at the tail end of August last year

 and we are experiencing what volume is like.

 

~ Feeling blessed ~

 

Have a great weekend! 

Basecamp Cafe

 

 

 

We have been in business since end of August 2012- and so far there have been many smiles, laughter and also many tears. It definitely has it ups & downs. We figured out REAL quick that the business is not about dreaming up delish recipes and serving customers- making tons of money. It is very labor intensive, chef has 6 burners going, the flattop, oven, mixers and blenders going at the same time a beautifully orchestrated symphony of eggs, waffles, bacon swirling all together in unison...
I really don't see how he does it.
We have 2 part time baristas and a cook. Dishwasher- c'est moi! ...which I actual love- I kinda zen out in the mountain of dishes and warm water. "Our once in a while when not skiing weekend warriors"- Julian helps with the prep and dishes, Sophia has become quite the barista and can serve you a mean latte of any sort. Auguste works out side cleaning and maintaining when he is not inside eating a croissant or cinnamon roll and Foghorn is the tester and loves to taste test especially the sweet stuff.

Unfortunately Pierre is always "on" he picks up his cell phone on his day off and Christmas was horrible this year- because of employees, schedules etc.- NO FUN.
We had to fire 2 employees, one for stealing and can you believe it...bad mouthing us? You get all kinds of folks applying for jobs, and you just have to cross your fingers that you made the right decision. We are learning e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y.

On the bright side; the community of Columbia Falls has embarrassed us with open arms- we have a huge following of locals...and are bracing ourselves for spring and summer when the tourists arrive. A good draw is also the outdoor seating we offer with picnic tables. Our happy campers are everything from the loyal church ladies, pastors, teachers, high schoolers, seniors, hikers,  bikers, loggers,  snowmobilers,  hipsters,  mommies and the daddies bringing in their kids for a bite to eat. Our beautiful librarians, the dentists, lawyers and the local judge- several of the EMT's come to eat and rush out with sirens blaring when they are called out- we are blessed and truly grateful for this opportunity to run a little neighborhood cafe.

We are known for our eclectic yet traditional breakfast & lunch and are now open for brunch on Sundays. We serve waffles, breakfast burritos, pulled pork sandwiches, salads to name a few. I think the customers pick up on our relaxed and unpretentious attitude- the cafe is very warm and cozy.
The atmosphere is casually rustic- people enjoy the outdoorsy look we have going. Young & old seem to enjoy our little space, the good word is spreading- and that is something to smile about!

If you in these neck of the woods stop by and say Hi!

Here is our Facebook page: Base Camp Cafe



This is from Stockyard cafe in Bozeman MT it's called "The way" ...love this! Thinking we have to make this "Base Camp Way" too...

o Keep your fork ! o If you have a fork, you don't need a spoon to stir your coffee. o Don't expect ice.

o Expect ice cream on any dessert--whats dessert without it ? o Tuxedos optional. o Kill or remove ants crawling on the counter. o Pass the Tabasco or ketchup to your needy o Wait till bean asks you for your order.......there is an order to things believe it ... or not. o Move down when people need to sit. o Put money out on the edge of the counter when you're ready to hit the road. o If you are becoming or are a regular, lets exchange names....expect me to know it after 3 visits. o When we are in the weeds, expect to clear off the tables yourself o Read the hours on the door--we don't advertise, so tell your special friends. o Feel free to come in right at closing or even after--we are flexible with that. o We don't make promises about eggs--they come "over" or "scrambled" o Don't take more coffee if you aint gonna drink it-- o Use all the syrup or ketchup you squirt on your plate.take scraps to dogs. o Say goodbye whenya leave. greetings are part of the deal here. o If you ask me "whats good" expect a smart remark o Read the boards o Tell me to quiet down. i will tell you to clean your plate. o Save room for dessert, always. o If you really hate the music, say so, i will change it. o Expect truthfulness, as will i. o If your food has arrived, your friends food will follow. o Coffee guzzlers--look for coffee carafes on the counter. o Expect the unexpected. o Remember, we need you, you need us. we are all in this together. love alot. o Hate little. o Live by your heart and keep finding it at the stockyard cafe. o   o In Whitman's words. "i celebrate myself and sing myself, and what i assume you shall assume for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."

Base Camp Cafe

Things are moving along with the cafe- a little slower than we had thought...but isn't that just how it always is..

Kitchen is finished, paint,tile, walls

The hood for the stove is in as well as the ansel system.

whew!

The worst is over.

Painting shelving

Sealing the floors

Digging holes for ADA ramp and wood deck posts

to be finished  this week.

This is dads booth that Pierre especially built for him.

He has alzheimers and I think it is neat for him to be part of our daily  life...he can have breakfast and socialize with the "good ol boys" in town

This is the counter to order from and  also the chalk board for the menu...it wraps around the 2 walls.

Ta da!

Our logo

(I wanted it to look like a cup of yummy hot cocoa with whip cream)

with a little adventure in your cup..or future.

 

Oh gosh, I just can't believe we are doing this.

So many people in town stop by and ask when we are going to open

and telling  us how proud they are of us for all this work and starting this business from scratch.

...and yes, we only be serving the good stuff.

Happy Dance!

Happy Campers!

The sun is shining

 and our hearts are happy

 Chef and feel like we can breathe

Finished taping and sheet rocking

so

this weekend we painted the interior of Base Camp Cafe!

Chef wants to frame my paint pants-

thinks they are a work of art

with all the paint I have gotten on them over the years.

We  picked a warm "latte" color

It's an incredible feeling to feel that we are

 on the other side

and accomplishing our dream

Now the fun stuff starts

all the finish work

landscaping

and of course

fine tuning the menu

Weaver gravel did an amazing job

 with all their digging and getting the pipes ready to install

and asphalting the parking

 here is the finished ADA parking

All I can say is that we have

major happiness infusion

here @ 140!

 Happy Campers

weeeee!

Pipe dream cafe

Yep, it's been a detour alright.

5 months worth

Road closed?

Not a chance

we are battling on.

Endless meetings with the city

people who love to hear their own voices

 jibber jabber

Good Grief.

  3/4 inch water pipe to

a whopping

1 inch pipe

Did you know we are part of the beautification team

of our little mountain town?

somehow we need to pay for all this

so

  Pierre is digging for gold

these are the floor joists

 he had to cut a hole in the floor and dig a 4 ft hole where the pipes meet up

Public parking is next

and here is the motherlode

  the main pipe that they're

connecting too.

ain't this a beauty

 this is the machine that will shoot the pipe right in to connect underneath the cafe

the pipe

the 1 inch pipe.

and we thought we just needed a little renno.

BRING IT ON!

Pierre came home last night after a 12 hour workday

 full of dirt & dust

looked at me

 with a big smile

"I like what money can do

- it gets things done"

Nothing makes me me feel happier than to see my husband happy!

it has been a long road.

 but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel

or should I say water at the end of the pipe?

Battling on with Basecamp cafe

It looks as if we'll get the permit to start "officially"

doing the work inside.

Still waiting for the thaw so the blasted water pipes can go in.

In the mean time Pierre has been busy doing some finishing work.

He is building all the table tops from scratch

using primo wood

 to get that Bace campy ambiance...

That long window on the upper left was once a door, recycled now into a perfectly mod window to enjoy the view outdoors as you sit by the bar...soon to come.

Counter is being built.

Pretty neat to get the skeleton outline for the cafe.

This will be the community table. Is close to 8 ft long

 Pierre has yet to build the benches...but  a great spot it will be to sit with your whole family and friends.

As the snow is slowly melting we went outside and counted room for 8 picnic tables.

 2 in front and 6 in back for some mountain alfresco dining.

...not bad

The fence in the back has been recycled into wood panel that will cover the whole

 counter area

 love this.

...see this

yep, that's right

the plumber  has been there and predrilled holes for the inside plumbing

 music for my eyes...no wait... ears,

well anyway

Ahoy there matey!

 We are battleing on.