Big Sky’s newest bakery specializes in dietary restrictions
By Jack ReaneySTAFF WRITER
Jennifer Fitzhugh came to Big Sky a little more than a decade ago to serve as the executive pastry chef at Big Sky Resort. This past summer, she left the resort and brought along Elissa Skaggs, her coworker of five years, to open Thorn Apple Baking Co.
Fitzhugh explained that the bakery name is based on a street in Michigan.
“I saw the [street] name years ago, and it stuck with me,” she said. “I always thought that would be a great bakery name.”
Located near the Country Market in the Meadow Village Center, Thorn Apple’s location was most recently occupied by Lone Peak Brewery. Fitzhugh found the space by word of mouth, after spending the summer selling her goods at the farmers market. She expects the bakery to fully open in mid-February, providing a “bakery first, coffee second” space in the Meadow Village Center where Fitzhugh sees her business as a community fit.
“I think all of the businesses [in Meadow Village Center] are going to help each other,” she said. “We’re all really excited to have something that’s going to bring in more foot traffic. I’ve been working with the businesses around here, providing cookies and desserts for their events.”
Since November, Thorn Apple has been ramping up its business through special orders and wholesale baking for Steele Pressed Juice, Big Sky Resort’s three coffee shops, and soon, the Hungry Moose. Once the storefront fully opens, Fitzhugh said special orders can still be placed by emailing the bakery or visiting the new website, also set to launch by mid-February.
Gluten-free, dairy free and “pretty vegan” herself, Fitzhugh’s vision is to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions at a scale that hasn’t been available in Big Sky. She noted that with uncertainty around the current egg shortage, it’s not an easy time to own a traditional bakery. Still, Thorn Apple “does some baking with gluten and that good stuff,” she said.
Fitzhugh said that unless customers ask, she often doesn’t mention missing ingredients until after they eat something—like her gluten free and vegan chocolate chip cookie—and they sometimes don’t believe her. If they don’t like the taste, she said they don’t have to pay.
Thorn Apple specializes in dessert spreads and cakes for weddings, special events and birthdays. For holidays including Valentine’s Day, Thorn Apple will put out a menu for advanced orders.
“If anybody has [special requests], we can pretty much do whatever people want if we have enough time,” she said.
Although there’s not grab-and-go goods or coffee yet, the bakery’s current hours are Wednesday through Sunday from roughly 9 a.m. until sometime after 5 p.m. Thorn Apple is looking to hire a front-of-house worker in order to open their storefront.
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m.
Event Details
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m. on April 24.
Jacob Rountree is an alternative/indie songwriter living in the stunning alpine of Montana. Contemplative yet playful, his lyric forward style is reflective of his love for philosophy, poetry and quantum physics.