By Lois Brady, Food & Travel Editor

What fun it would be to be in school now at Washington University and have this marvelous coffee shop available to me right next door. As it is, I get there as often as I can. The coffee is excellent, the tea is first rate and lunch is a treat with fresh salads and sandwiches. The thickest foam I have ever had was on a Kayak's latte. That is really saying something for me. If I drink a latte, I want thick foam and I was wowed by Kayak's. Organic milk is available, too.

Not only is this a great place to purchase your coffees, pastries, lunch items and all kinds of coffee-making equipment but it is a mighty fine place to sit a spell while enjoying the offerings. The huge glass windows just invite gazing while sipping. Kayak's is beautiful, looking like a coffee shop from oh…say…Boulder, Colorado or Seattle, Washington. But lucky us, it is right here in St. Louie. It's upscale, lodge-like and very, very comfortable with its sturdy, big-twig chairs and wall-size stone fireplace in front of which to take your coffee or tea and contemplate universal truths. That coffee is, happily, fair trade as well. Frank Grund, owner is very committed to fair trade. Check out the fair trade sampler when you visit.

The first day I visited I enjoyed a salad that had fresh written all over it…lots of spring greens and other veggies with a tangy dressing served with a chewy roll. So good!
There is a full assortment of pastries, scones and bagels, most of them created by the ever popular and wonderful Companion Bakery. Always good.

I ate there again just recently and decided to try the combo lunch, which is either a ½ sand with soup or ½ salad with soup. I went for the sandwich and soup. The Vail sandwich, a vegetarian's tasty dream, with all kinds of crispy veggies and havarti served on a multi-grain bread came along side a bowl of black bean soup. Both came to the table in graniteware…the sandwich on green and the soup in red. I felt as if I was eatin' in a great, old lodge-creekside. Fun! My lunch was super fresh and very good. Great winter soup should be hearty, filling and healthy and this one was. Of course there are many other offerings. Sandwiches include the Aspen, smoked turkey on honey wheat. The Whistler is a chicken breast on a croissant. If your taste runs this way you can have the Breckenridge, a roast beef on rye with all the trimmings. The kiddos can have the Bunny Hill, a p-nut butter with grape jelly on crustless white bread…talk about knowing what kids like. Hey, there's something for everyone in your party. You'll find little sweet things for dessertn' like biscotti, small chocolate squares and chocolate espresso beans.

In choosing a name for his coffee shop, Frank honored his dog, a Siberian husky of the same name. The name embodies everything Frank is into; the outdoors, camping, boating and hiking. Kayak, the dog, loves them all, too and he even munches coffee beans when he gets the opportunity!

You will be hard pressed to find a more attractive coffee shop anywhere in these parts. When you want good food, great coffee and a mini vacation to the Northwoods, give Kayak's a visit. 276 N. Skinker across from Washington University. Info@kayakscoffee.com 314-862-4447