Shirley’s brings healthy options to Keystone

A new breakfast spot has opened in Keystone with some familiar faces at the helm. Shirley’s Keystone Cafe is taking over the Battle Creek Basecamp Building, which is also home to Battle Creek Vacations office.

Paula Cottrell, the spokesperson for the new restaurant, said the new cafe is filling a need in town, serving up “first ingredient foods,” she said, with options to sit down or grab and go.

“We wanted to do simple ingredients,” said Cottrell, emphasizing fresh and homemade where possible. 

Patrons of Shirley’s can order at the counter to dine in or to go. Breakfast items include biscuits and gravy,  a variety of breakfast sandwiches, including a vegetarian option, breakfast burritos, standard sides including hashbrown casserole or a yogurt berry granola bowl.

For lunch, sandwiches are served with a salad or chips. Turkey, ham, tuna and roast beef are all on the menu, with a variety of cheeses to choose from.  There is a homemade soup of the day as well as five salad options that stand alone or can be ordered as a side.  

While Cottrell is the spokesperson, her partner, Erica Rainford, is the one behind the scenes making all the menu items. Rainford also supplied the name of the restaurant, which was to honor her grandmother. 

“They’re kind of our inspiration for down home cooking,” Cottrell said.

Cottrell’s favorite breakfast item is “hands down the French toast bake. It’s  Erica’s unique way of  doing that. It’s like a bread pudding with lots of cream and cinnamon and vanilla. She serves it with a drizzle of syrup on top. Oh, it’s so good.”

For lunch, Cottrell is grabbing the “George,” a sandwich named after her cat. 

“I discovered this tri tip product they had, and he enjoyed it just as much as I did,” said Cottrell.

Shirley’s has virtually any bread someone might want—white, whole wheat, sourdough, multigrain, croissant and even gluten- free.

The cafe also has an entire section devoted to gluten free or vegan treats that people can eat as a snack. 

“We know there’s really not a lot of places to get those foods around here,” Cottrell said. 

There is something for everyone, including snack pack hummus, protein bars, Aahana’s Power Bowls, Poshi grab and gos, gluten free brownies and blondies, monkey brittle, homemade yogurt and fruit cups, fresh oranges or bananas, premade charcuterie boxes or premade sandwiches for those in a hurry. Crackers, pretzels, chips and convenient cereals round out the selection of food. Beverages include coffee, soft drinks, juice, hot chocolate, teas, milk and sparkling waters.

Eventually, Shirley’s will make homemade scones, muffins and desserts. It serves up its own homemade yogurt, which Cottrell said has “none of that added junk.”

Cottrell said lots of work has been done on the building, both inside and out, before the grand opening June 3. The space is virtually identical to one she and Rainford had conceptualized. Sleek modern floors, cozy tables and lots of light fill the inside room, while people can also opt to dine outside on a deck with a commanding view of Swanzey Street.

By summer, the cafe hopes to expand to offer its BBQ via food truck located outside. Cotrell said, “We’re still bbqing out of a truck that will be fired up some time around the summer solstice.”

Cottrell and Rainford are both members of the Stars and Stripe Alliance, whose members also sit on the senior center board and park board in town. They have been cooking up senior center brunches since the year began, often to raving reviews. Cottrell said their Easter brunch donations were $900.

“We knew we had a good product. We know how to do food,” Cottrell said. 

She said it is Rainford’s passion and that she herself is at the time in her life where she wants to do “something fun.” 

Opening day was successful for the pair. 

“I love that people came to breakfast this morning. They were camped out here. They were chatting. They hung out. That’s what I want,” she said.

This is the breakfast spot Cottrell envisions. 

“We do want to bring that high level of breakfast food to Keystone,” said Cottrell.

“We don’t have an agenda. We want to fill the need in the community. I love this community. Having a place everyone wants to come to is important to us,” said Cottrell.

The restaurant will be open year round, and the space will eventually also house an events center perfect for business meetings, corporate retreats, reunions or parties. 

Shirley’s is currently open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., but hours will extend until 9 p.m. as the summer season picks up. The cafe is located at 411 Swanzey Street in Keystone.