Yellow Dog Café owner, baker and head barista Bonnie McPhedran is the third generation of her family involved in food service. Photo by Pat Stinson.
By Nikki Schneider
In a past life, while living in Chicago and “stuck” working in Corporate America, I befriended another misplaced soul. Who would guess that 24 years later we would each have a small business next door to each other in Northern Michigan?
I caught up with Bonnie McPhedran for a “chat” before she opened Yellow Dog Café for the season.
FR: Why did you relocate to this area from Chicago and choose Onekama as the place for your business?
YD: I wanted a smaller life. The idea of not needing as much stuff and living a simpler life was appealing. I had friends with property in the area and frequently visited. It is beautiful here and checks off many of my personal boxes, including great garage sales!
After looking at job opportunities for my skill set, I realized that I could provide something that, at the time, was missing from the area. I loved how the village of Onekama felt and knew that the potential for it to be a more thriving community was great, but it needed a start. The idea that people gather as community around food is intriguing. Opening a place where people could meet or hang out and chat with a good cup of coffee seemed a good place to start. I added a healthier version of food and internet as incentive for them to stay longer.
FR: Were you exposed to cooking and baking at a young age?
YD: I grew up in a food-centered household. Both my grandmother and mother worked in food service and loved to bake. My grandmother was a beloved lunch lady at the high school, the mess hall cook for a Boy Scout camp, and later she prepared meals in a small Presbyterian elder home for ladies. My mother replaced my grandmother when she retired from the elder home. I have fond memories of preparing meals and baking together from a very early age.
FR: Does feeding people feed your soul?
YD: I love everything about feeding people. The planning, preparation, and experience is very fulfilling.
FR: Why did you choose Higher Grounds of Traverse City as your coffee roaster?
Higher Grounds is a great roaster along with being socially responsible when sourcing coffee.
FR: Why did you choose Z&N Farm in Bear Lake for your produce?
Supporting local community is very important to me, as well as eating food as close to where it is grown as possible.
FR: Do you provide organic or gluten-free menu items?
I use as much organic as possible. I try to have gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options in both sweet and savory categories.
FR: What made you decide to include an art gallery in the café?
I wanted to give our community of artists a venue for their work and expose tourists to the diversity of the area. In my past life I had many creative outlets. I was an avid gardener, worked with textiles, did pottery and was a graphic designer for many years. When I worked at Whole Foods my co-workers nicknamed me “Martha,” (for Martha Stewart), because I hosted a craft night once a month for them. Now I create in my kitchen through my baking and cooking.
FR: How did you choose the name Yellow Dog?
Everybody here seems to have a dog. The dog (in the logo) is actually green, my favorite color.
Nikki: As it turns out, I am the friend who Bonnie came up to visit. I am grateful to her for paving the way for me in Onekama and convincing me to lease the space next door. She comes by my shop for fun junk, and I go by hers for great coffee.
Seems we have the perfect recipe for our friendship.
Nikki Schneider is co-owner of Patina, a resale gallery in Onekama offering the “found, flawed and fabulous.”
