Why: WildFlour Café and Cupcakes in Washougal is celebrating its first anniversary in a new location, having moved from Main Street to Evergreen Way. The mother-daughter team of Connie and Bethani Higdon quickly caught the attention of diners interested in made-from-scratch, no-preservative recipes baked fresh daily. WildFlour’s menu includes soup, sandwiches, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls and ice cream, and a breakfast menu will be rolled out in two to three weeks. Breakfast offerings will be baked instead of pan fried.
What I tried: I had the roast beef panini with tomato basil soup, and my dining companion had the Café House sandwich. I also tried the clam chowder and I took home an assortment of cupcakes and a fresh-from-the-oven caramel apple cinnamon roll.
The roast beef panini is made with lean, tender, thin-sliced beef, provolone, caramelized onions and a secret homemade garlic spread on sourdough (other bread options are available). I found the sandwich out-of-this-world delicious. It was so good and gone too fast. It had a flavor that was incredible, and it was grilled to perfection. The bread did not get soggy — granted, that may have been because I ate it so fast. Nonetheless, it is a sandwich cravings are made of.
My dining companion found the double decker Café House sandwich satisfying and said the flavors were nicely balanced. A traditional club sandwich, it had turkey, ham, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato.
The tomato basil soup was scrumptious and gave a healthful impression, and the clam chowder was on par with the roast beef panini. WildFlour’s clam chowder is New England style and made with fresh ingredients, including large pieces of clam instead of the wimpy bits that one typically encounters in a clam chowder. I thought the chowder to be a worthy standard to measure others by, but a splash of sherry and some fresh-ground pepper on top could wonderfully add to it.
The cupcake assortment I took home included snickerdoodle, chocolate ganache, vanilla custard, chocolate coconut caramel and pumpkin spice latte. Each was delectable, fresh and moist. And each possessed a quality that only comes from using real ingredients and no preservatives.
The cinnamon roll was topped with baked apple chunks and slathered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting drizzled with caramel. It was perfect to accompany any breakfast or a cup of coffee.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Twenty-four flavors of Umpqua ice cream, including three sorbets, are available. The menu includes five or six seasonally inspired cupcakes. The clam chowder is served year-round on Fridays and Saturdays, otherwise the soups are seasonal varieties.
The Fancy Cheese Panini, made with brie cheese, caramelized onions and a honey drizzle is a mouth-watering idea. The vegetarian sandwich is yummy sounding. It’s made with roasted bell pepper hummus, cucumber, red onion, avocado, lettuce and tomato. With the holidays just around the corner, the Turkey Gobbler sandwich may be just what you’re looking for. This sandwich includes cranberry, whipped cream cheese, lettuce and tomato.
Salads are topped with homemade dressings.
Atmosphere: The cafe’s new digs are absolutely charming. The brick building previously housed a few restaurants, but it now gives the impression it is finally what it was meant to be. Walnut-tone wood flooring and wainscot is complemented by soft yellow walls and contemporary, farm-style tables and chairs. The room is brightened with lighted ceiling fans, halogen track lighting and whimsical canning jar pendant lights. Doorways are trimmed in wood and witty quotes (that will make you smile) are tastefully stenciled on walls. An easy-to-read chalkboard menu displays choices. The glass cupcake display next to the order counter makes it nearly impossible to pass up dessert, and the ice cream display freezer beckons just a few feet from the cupcakes.
Other observations: Every aspect of my visit to WildFlour was enjoyable. I appreciated the cleanliness, I felt catered to by the service and I found the food delicious. I am looking forward to a return visit very soon, and I have decided this is a new favorite of mine.
Cost: Sandwiches cost $6 for a half and $8 for a whole, and they both include a choice of a side salad, a cup of soup or cottage cheese. Soup is $3.25 for a cup and $4.25 for a bowl. Salads are $4.50 for a half-size and $6 for a whole size. The soup and salad combo is $6. Cupcakes are $2.25 each and $24 a dozen.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Where: 3010 Evergreen Way, Washougal.
Telephone: 360-835-9075. WildFlour also has a Facebook page.
Health score: WildFlour Café and Cupcakes is scheduled for a routine inspection in the near future. The cafe has a history of perfect scores at its previous location. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants that score 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
