Feeding Caspar
A Community Breakfast Dishing Next-Level Food
by Holly Madrigal
Pancake breakfasts evoke a host of nostalgic memories for me. I can remember many mornings in a large hall, greeting old-timers and inhaling the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. At its core, the pancake breakfast is about community—a group of folks who want to provide an affordable meal to their friends and neighbors, offering delicious nourishment and the rare opportunity to relax, chat, and get caught up on the local goss.
Soon after it was formed in 2000, the Caspar Community Center decided to organize and host a monthly community breakfast. Dalen Anderson raised her hand and volunteered. She had just retired from a leadership role at Whale Gulch School, and was ready for a new challenge. She proceeded to create a seasonal monthly menu, then spent the next 25 years organizing scores of volunteers to serve up exceptional breakfast fare for a multitude of delighted diners.
Dalen looks for what is in season and local, including what's in her own home garden in Caspar's sunbelt where mounds of dahlias and roses share space with pole beans and luscious basil. She strolls among the zucchini and lettuces, looking for a particular combination of ingredients that will make the community meal really shine. “You know gathering the volunteers to make the community breakfast is the best disaster preparedness we could imagine. When you are working together and cooking together you get to know one another,” says Dalen. “I learned early on that if your fundraiser has a food component, you will get many more helpers.”
Anyone can enjoy the fun and feasting by showing up on the fourth Sunday of the month between 9:00 and 11:00am. Dalen and her many volunteers will have spent the day prior preparing the menu. “I'm a bit of a recipe nerd,” she says. “We usually have four entree options, always one that is vegan and gluten free,” she shares. “I’ll make hearty huevos rancheros or Queen's Puff, which includes sausage and mashed potatoes folded in and baked in an egg custard. We did a salmon quiche the other day that was very popular.”
Jennie Stevens, the volunteer coordinator, exclaims, “That quiche was so delicious! I also loved the Monte Cristo, which I had never tried before. It was a ham and cheese sandwich prepared like French toast and dusted with powdered sugar. That was a decadent savory-sweet treat.” Vegan options might include a sweet potato hash with roasted vegetables.
Dalen has honed her skill for bringing out the best in her high quality ingredients. “I really believe that everyone should have the opportunity to try healthy, nutritious food that is delicious,” she adds. Over time she has learned what vegan options are popular, like roasted seasonal veggies over quinoa with a tahini dressing. “People tell me they want something that they won't make at home,” she laughs. “I always have a number of breads, cakes, and pastries—some gluten-free so that everyone can enjoy them. We have some neighbors who just want eggs, potatoes, and coffee. It is really a way to feed the whole community.”
And community is what this is. The physical hamlet of Caspar has a population of around 500 but the impact of the Community Center reaches far beyond these boundaries. “Caspar Community Center has become a gathering place for the whole coast,” says Paul Schulman, Dalen’s husband. The warm space with soaring ceilings and faceted glass cupola is a former schoolhouse. The ten-member board and dedicated community members generously donate their time to this thriving hub. Many events are hosted in the space, from weddings and quinceañeras to concerts and tango lessons. What makes all these offerings possible is the work of a small staff and a dedicated group of volunteers.
For each breakfast, the team of volunteers serves between 80 to 100 meals. Dalen's grandkids are now getting involved. She describes how “they will come to serve breakfast and just the other day they made over two hundred cookies for CasparFest,”—their annual fundraising party. “It has been such a pleasure to work with everyone over the years,” she concludes.
“We are actively encouraging new volunteers to come introduce themselves,” says Jennie. “People still find out about us from posters that we put up around the coast. We reach out on social media and Instagram, but we’ve also had people come to the community breakfast because of a flyer, some made by local artist and Caspar volunteer Michelle Noe. I work with folks to find out how they want to pitch in,” she adds. “Dalen has created these amazing breakfasts for more than twenty years, and we need to think about this next generation of chefs. We need to cultivate new cooks to help carry these breakfasts into the future.”
It was a big step when the Caspar Community Center was able to hire paid staff to take on some of the tasks that the volunteers had been doing. Jennie is the volunteer coordinator, and Nick Gueli manages rentals. Sienna Potts works with everyone on the business side to keep the place running smoothly. The dedicated board members and volunteers are too many to name but their hard work and dedication have brought the Community Center to where it is today. “After years and years of fundraising and some generous donations we were able to pay off the mortgage this year,“ smiles Dalen. “That is a huge accomplishment and now the board is deciding what projects to tackle next. Teaching the next group of volunteers is a big part of that.”
Events at the Caspar Community Center have such a good feeling—the love that is poured into this place is palpable. “We’re planning some game nights in the fall with snacks available and drinks to purchase,” shares Jennie.
Local mom Emily Ellickson Brown loves bringing her 8-year-old son Ray. “The Caspar Community Center is amazing because we can come for breakfast or game night, and when Ray is done he can go to the playground or hang out with other kids. I know he’s having fun and that the community is looking out for him. The adults can still socialize knowing that the space is protected, and the kids can run around and just be kids.”
The center is also a great way for new arrivals to find their niche. New residents Emma and Connor just moved up from the Bay Area and showed up at one breakfast to ask how they could help. Neighbors had encouraged them to volunteer as a way to meet other members of the community. Emma is a baker and Connor works in the natural wine business, so contributing to a monthly food event is a great fit.
It is easy to get into personal habits like hitting the couch after work and zoning out on your digital device, but there is another option. You can add the Caspar Community Breakfast to your calendar and share a couple of hours with your neighbors. The menu on offer is innovative and fresh and will delight your tastebuds. The community connections you make along the way will fill your heart as well as your belly.
Caspar Community Center Monthly Breakfast
Fourth Sunday of the month (except December) 9:00 - 11:00 am
15051 Caspar Rd., Caspar CA
(707) 964-4997
View the calendar or sign up for the mailing list at casparcommons.org.
To volunteer, contact Jennie at casparvolunteer@gmail.com.
To rent the space, contact Nick at casparevents@gmail.com.
Holly Madrigal is a Mendocino County maven who loves to share the delights of our region. She takes great joy in publishing this magazine.
Photos by Holly Madrigal