The Tree House Pastry Shop and Café
by Lyn Searfoss
Recently, someone mentioned The Tree House Pastry Shop and Café as a great spot for breakfast and lunch. Now, I am not usually presentable or social around breakfast time, but the recommendation was so strong I struggled and got dressed for public viewing and drove to The Tree House, located at 1600 Lena Street in the Lena Street Lofts. Take Cerrillos, and just north of St. Michael’s, turn right at the Fifth Street traffic signal, go the traffic signal for Lena, turn left (the Cloudcroft Bakery is on the right corner), wind around the street a block or so and The Tree House is on the right. Follow the orange/yellow parking signs for convenient parking.
What a find! The Tree House Pastry Shop and Café is an all-organic, vegetarian pastry shop and café with a menu based on local agricultural products grown and harvested in and around Santa Fe. The owner selects a majority of her ingredients each day from local growers. As we entered the bright, sunny and friendly café, I thought for a moment I was back in Berkeley in a wonderful neighborhood coffee house and restaurant. A small reading library is tucked away in the corner and the smell of coffee is mouth-watering as you look over the pastry selection and the menu printed on the wall. 
Prices are moderate and fair considering the high quality and freshness of the ingredients used in cooking and baking. For breakfast, I chose the Breakfast Burrito, a large tortilla filled with red potatoes, eggs and jack cheese, smothered in Chimayo red chile and served with black beans garnished with a few sprouts. It was incredible! For those of you who may not think of burritos in a vegetarian restaurant, come and try this entrée. The red chile was medium spicy and delicious, the black beans were seasoned perfectly.
Now, to the coffee. According to some doctor I saw once, I only drink one cup of ‘real’ coffee in the morning and skip the rest of the day, since most decaf I have tasted is pretty grim. As a test, I tried the decaf coffee, and, frankly, it was the best I can remember, fresh, hot and rich. The Tree House coffee passes the test for both regular and decaf coffees, a rare combination.
My companion had the Croissant Sandwich with two scrambled eggs, tomato and jack cheese. He pronounced it “excellent”. Other breakfast items include Chilaquile with corn tortillas, red chile and scrambled eggs with slaw; Pupusas made to order with corn masa cakes filled with black beans and jack cheese and served with salsa and slaw; Homemade Granola served with your choice of yogurt, milk or soy milk; and, Tempeh Scramble with seasonal veggies, potatoes, toast and salsa.
There are also daily specials. For lunch, the menu expands with regular offerings such as Deep Dish Quiche with market veggies, cheese and herbed crust, served with salsa on top; Tempeh Wrap with locally made tempeh in a tortilla with humus, seasonal veggies, lentils and sprouts; Farmer’s Market Salad with different ingredients each day based on availability and served in small or large portions; Birdhouse Burgers which are The Tree House special veggie burgers; Lunch Burrito; and, Thai Coconut Basil Curry with brown rice and seasonal veggies. There are lunch specials, too. A child’s menu is available.
Lyn Searfoss lynsearfoss@q.com and Friends
