Bread Basket Cafe and Bakery

As most young girls do, Judy Sexton had a vision of her future and one thing was for certain--she would never work in a restaurant. While being employed for 8 years at her dad's restaurant in Cicero, she "did it all...from dishes to payroll..." and although she didn't dislike the work, she just knew, "without a doubt", that the food service industry was not going to be a part of her adult life. But after a childhood of caring for her four siblings after her parents divorced when she was 12 and an adulthood of caring for her own children, once her youngest child "got her driver's license and was independent of me", Judy became restless and bored. For the first time in her life she had "no one to care for".

Day after day, she prayed for an answer to the question "What could I do with my talents?" To her initial dismay, the same thought kept coming to her--open a restaurant. At first she fought the thought. But it was so strong that she knew it was the answer to her prayers. She also knew it wouldn't be easy.

In 1988, Judy and her husband had moved to Coatesville, Indiana (population 500) to live a more rural lifestyle and raise their family in a small community. She loved the town, but was it possible, she wondered, to open a restaurant here? Where would I locate it? The answer came in 2005, when a vacant apartment building on Main Street went up for sale. Perfect, she thought, and the Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery was established.

This is no ordinary small town cafe. The first thing I noticed on the menu when my husband and I ate lunch there a week ago, was that there are no fried foods. The second thing was the immediate sense of coziness in the dining areas which are furnished with a mix of vintage furniture pieces. And the third thing (well, maybe it was really the first thing) was the dessert display. Come here hungry. Judy's portions are HUGE and the food is delicious. She prides herself on using plenty of locally grown produce for her featured menu items. Right now she has carrot cake made with local carrots, her 3 cheese sandwich features a pesto that she had makes with locally grown basil, the tomato and blue cheese soup is made from the last of the summer tomatoes, and her Italian wedding soup features locally raised kale, carrots, and onions. Judy works with a number of nearby farmers and suppliers including Stamper Farms and Gardens, Beasley's Orchard, Anderson Orchard, Kehrein's Apple House, Tony Shepherd and Sons, Cooper's Farm Market, Becky Cohart, Mr. Greeson, and Jim and Delores Wallen. Judy offers a large lunch menu and a limited dinner menu. She never knows what 2-3 entrees will be featured for dinner, so she advises customers to just call ahead and ask her "What's for supper?".

For someone who promised herself that she would never own a restaurant or work in one again, Judy could not be happier. "This place is my calling", she told me. "I love working hard, making great food, and serving people. I am right where I am supposed to be. Every single day I'm thankful for being blessed with an opportunity to give my customers a place to enjoy a meal and take a bit of a rest  from the pressures of their daily lives. I guess I'm still taking care of people. It's what I'm meant to do!" And she does it very well.

Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery
8026 Main Street
Coatesville, Indiana 46121
Phone: 765-386-2300
www.breadbasketcafe.com

Comments

[Larry Shinn]

Somehow, I've missed visiting this restaurant even though I live close (Greencastle). Today, myself and some customers (friends) from Indy were on a bike ride. We stopped outside the restaurant to take a break before heading back to Greencastle. We started talking about pie, and how important pie is to any bike ride. One of my friends mentioned that there were some nice looking pies in the case. So, we decided to go in and have a piece of pie. Then we decided to get some soup, since it was Broccoli-Cheese.

Three people, dressed in cycling clothes, walked in to this restaurant and sat down. We were treated very well, and our server was exemplary. The food....wow. The food was probably the most delicious food I have ever had in the area.

I have just opened a new bike shop in Greencastle. When spring comes, I will be leading weekly "Pie Rides" to the Bread Basket! I need to stop in again when I'm driving and pick up some business cards to have with the other local info I give my customers.