One of Alex and Mike’s favorite memories from when they were starting Faherty was stopping in at the Sea Level Cafe, an artisan bakery and specialty coffee shop in Cannon Beach, after a trunk show. This stretch of the Oregon Coast was named one of the world's "100 Most Beautiful" places by National Geographic but, also, as they soon discovered, was home to some of the best baked goods – with a view.
Husband and wife, Jason and Liz Menke, opened Sea Level Cafe in 2014, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Jason grew up visiting his grandparents in France as a child and savored memories of picking up fresh baguettes for their family meals. Native to the Pacific Northwest, Liz studied French at the Sorbonne and fell in love with Jason while in France.
Motivated by a shared love of rustic French baking and coffee, the Menkes take pride in baking from scratch using whole, fresh ingredients and old-world techniques. Think hot buttered Yam Morning Buns, baguettes with Lemon Pear Marmalade, Peanut Butter Praline cookies, and Alex’s fave – the Kouign Amann, a flaky, buttery, caramelized croissant-in-the shape-of-a-muffin situation. They prepare coffee sourced ethically from distinct regions, roasted in small batches to bring out the best nuances of each cup.
But what was so memorable eight years ago and during our recent road trip, was the feeling of being treated like family. The community-minded cafe, which donates loaves of bread to the Cannon Beach Food Pantry, will always stand out for their authentic warmth and comfort food.
