Baked for Breakfast plans to mix old and new

The decision to open a business just sort of happened, according to Bridgette Petticrew.

She and Celsee Churchill were sitting with their kids at dinner one night, and had a spur-of-the-moment idea to start one. Churchill is a good cook, Petticrew said, and she is a good baker. Now, about a month down the road from that idea, Baked for Breakfast is gearing up for business.

"We just had a couple of good ideas, and so far it's taking off," Churchill said. "We thought we'd start out small."

Part of what makes Baked for Breakfast unique is how their talents have come together. For example, Churchill did the woodwork for the café's sign, while Petticrew did the artwork. Churchill came up with the business name, while Petticrew designed the logo.

"But we (both) got the talent," Churchill said.

Petticrew said all they're waiting on to officially open is their permit, which they hope to have approved by early September at the latest. Baked for Breakfast is going to provide Wrangell new choices when it comes to baked goods, and a café to get some breakfast to start the day.

Petticrew learned a lot of her baking skills from her grandmother, Joann. She said the frosting she uses for her dishes is her grandma's secret recipe, and has proven to be popular.

"Pretty much anything a bakery makes, I can do," Petticrew said. "Cupcakes are our biggest, or my biggest, at least at the moment, selling point. I can't seem to keep them in here." They are running just the bakery side of the business while waiting for the café to open.

As Petticrew handles the baking, Churchill said she'll run the breakfast end of the business. There's a demand for breakfast in Wrangell, Petticrew said. Since the closure of the Diamond C Café several years ago, Wrangell has had limited options for breakfast. Baked for Breakfast plans to change that.

Churchill plans to start off simply with typical dishes: Breakfast burritos, omelets, waffles, pancakes and others. She also said she would like to try and replicate the Diamond C's hash, a popular item from the old café.

"It was always my favorite, with sausage gravy on the side," she said. "We'll do a version of it."

One unique option she's bringing to the table, literally, will be "croissants and gravy," rather than the typical biscuits and gravy.

"They're just so much better," Churchill said. "They're lighter, they're fluffier. I know they don't like change in Wrangell, necessarily, but I think it's small enough that it shouldn't make too big of waves."

Baked for Breakfast is located in the Churchill Building on Front Street, where NotSoFamous Pizza used to be. Petticrew said that when they first open for breakfast, it will be Thursdays through Sundays.