TABLE TALK: La Baguette French Bistro to add dinner service
La Baguette French Bakery update: It’s complicated.
First, a history lesson.
In 1984, Earl Turnipseed opened his first La Baguette French Bakery, bringing Colorado Springs authentic French-style breads and pastries. Over the years he expanded the operation to four locations.
In 2007, he sold two of the cafes: The original location, 2417 W. Colorado Ave., to Antoni Rog and the 4440 N. Chestnut St. location to Partick and Krystyna Garnier.
Turnipseed still owns the location at 1420 Kelly Johnson Blvd., which recently changed its name to La Tartine, French for “open-faced sandwich.” Joe Frodge, who has family connections to Turnipseed, owns the store at 117 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
What all the places still have in common is the bread, which is made at the Old Colorado City location and distributed to the other cafés. The signature French onion soup is a mainstay in all places, too.
When the Garniers took over the Chestnut location, they immediately freshened up the interior, adding a colorful French street-scene mural on one wall and more-comfortable chairs in the dining room. They also changed the name to be more reflective of what they wanted the eatery to be: La Baguette French Bistro.
“I had people coming in wanting to order wedding cakes,” Krystyna Garnier said. “We were not set up to do that. Patrick is French and always wanted to have his own restaurant. He wanted to offer more options on the menu. So we added ‘bistro’ to the name.”
There are more changes on the way, too.
“Patrick has been busy thinking up a dinner menu,” she said. “We have gotten our liquor license and plan to start serving dinner May 1.”
In the meantime you can have a glass or bottle of wine with your lunch. Or, have two wine samples for $1.
When they start serving dinner, hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Currently they are open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Call 599-0686.
BBQ joints coming and going
Scott Fishburn has opened Linda Lou’s BBQ catering, specializing in Carolina-style ’cue. He hopes to take his smoky goodness on the road with a vending truck this summer. In the meantime, reach him at 499-0906 or on Facebook at Linda Lou’s BBQ.
Just as one place arrives, another is bidding farewell: Red Hot & Blue, 4290 N. Academy Blvd., will close Sunday.
Just chill
Here are a couple of ways to get a chilly treat this weekend.
• Blue Bell Ice Cream, the Texas-based company that makes the No. 3-selling brand of ice cream in the U.S., is making its debut offering samples at the following locations noon to 6 p.m. today. King Soopers, 1750 W. Uintah St.; Albertsons, 7055 Austin Bluffs; Wal-Mart, 6310 U.S. Highway 85 / 87 in Fountain; Sunflower Farmers Market, 1730 Dublin Blvd.; and Walgreens, 3480 N. Academy Blvd.
• ITopIt, 1610 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., will be offering free yogurt and toppings 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to celebrate its grand opening. There will be drawings, contests and prizes all day.
Coffee specials
R&R Coffee Café, 11425 Black Forest Road, is celebrating its third anniversary Friday and Saturday with specials on 16-ounce lattés for $1; 16-ounce mochas for $2; and cinnamon rolls for $1.
Restaurant week
Pikes Peak Restaurant Week continues with great specials through Sunday. Visit gazette.com/entertainment to see menus.
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CONTACT US: Teresa.farney@gazette.com, 636-0271. Hear her “KVOR Table Talk” radio show noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays on 740 AM. Do you manage a restaurant? Send us your e-mail address so we can keep in touch.
