Homemade with love and laughter

A youngster with culinary ambitions has grown up and is making her dreams come true.

Bethani Higdon won a Camas-Washougal Girl Scout baking competition at the age of 8, when she made mocha chocolate brownies.

Her mother, Connie, recalls Bethani, now 21, saying that when she grew up, she was going to open a restaurant.

The mother and daughter plan to open WildFlour Cafe & Cupcakes, in downtown Washougal, this Friday.

Suite 130 in the Washougal Town Square, 1700 Main St., has been vacant since Ivan Gering retired and closed Papa’s Ice Cream in February.

The Higdons have painted yellow over the grey walls and completed other dusting and cleaning tasks to prepare the space for customers.

They hope to attract people of all ages.

“A lot of seniors want to know when they can get their ice cream,” Connie said, regarding passersby.

In addition to cupcakes and ice cream, the cafe will serve soups, salads and sandwiches.

The space is available for birthday parties and sports teams celebrations.

“They can make a mess and leave,” Connie said.

Several parties are already booked, and the new business has also received interest in luncheon events from a local quilting club, Bible study group and bunco players.

“It is a nice meeting place,” Connie said.

Bethani, a 2010 Washougal High School graduate, earned an associate’s degree in culinary management from the Oregon Culinary Institute in 2011. For two years, she was a cook at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, in Portland.

The Higdons credit Tim McCusker, chef and owner of Harvest restaurant, in downtown Camas, for providing information and advice regarding suppliers and food vendors.

They plan to include a retail space in a corner of the cafe, with jams, jellies, pickles, honey and crafts made by area farmers market vendors.

Bethany said she is very excited about opening the cafe.

“I’m finally doing what I went to school for and worked really hard for,” she said.

The decor of the cafe features local memorabilia, including a milk bottle carrier from Johnston Drive In Dairy, of Camas. There are also cookie jars from Bethani’s great grandmother, Selma Ochs, and a rolling pin from Connie’s mother, LaVonne Wallace.

WildFlour Cafe & Cupcakes will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Oct. 31, they plan to offer cones for $1 each with orange sherbet and “creepy” Halloween sprinkles.

The Higdons plan to hire two to five employees. Resumes can be mailed to the eatery’s street address.

For more information, call 835-9075, email wildflourcafeandcupcakes@gmail.com or visit the cafe’s facebook page.