Lady of the Bakery

For years, husband Geoffrey and I have started each day with coffee, tea and pastry at LaGrignote on Duval. Then came March. Talk of Covid-19. Life would change. And so it did. At Grignote.

First, tables were farther apart. Soon, chairs were stacked on tables. Carry out only. No more wait staff. Just owners Babeth and Joel. We were to wait our turn inside behind bits of blue tape distancing customers.

And then... Babeth donned a mask.

We now wait outside for our turn to enter and order. We wear masks. Babeth greets us from behind a counter and glass barrier several feet from the entrance. All day. Every day. Except Monday and Tuesday. She rises before dawn. She makes heavenly pastry. Kouign Amann, croissants, scones, tarts..

Her eyes still smile. Always. One hand ceaselessly waves foot-long tongs as she chats. Before we leave, the tongs will dip to grab and bag a few pastry. Joel makes yummy take-out meals in the back.

Geoffrey calls Babeth, Our Lady of The Bakery. “I’m just the baker,” she says. A Key West heroine.