The early morning sun is shining through the windows. A bell jingles as a couple walks through the front door and into the warm smell of baking bread, calm music and low humming noise of a small crowd. It’s opening day at Isla’s coffee shop & bakery. She has named it “Isla’s Coffee & Crumbs”. Isla is moving quickly from the display counter to the register to the espresso machine on the back bar.
Busy Bakery
“Welcome!” she yells to the couple. There are some customers sitting at little tables in the sunshine by the window. They have their laptop computers out and are chewing happily, wiping the crumbs of freshly-baked croissants and muffins off their lips. Others are making energetic gestures with their hands but talking quietly to be polite.
The line at the counter has five people in it, but it’s moving quickly. Everyone working is doing a great job getting people lattes, breakfast sandwiches, and baked goods. Isla is a saavy woman. She knew to hire four employees who already had experience working in fast food restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries.
A young man with a big, brown beard and sunglasses is next in line. “Good morning, what can I get for you?” asks the woman working at the counter.
“I’d like an egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant, please,” replies the man.
“That comes with a side salad. Is balsamic vinaigrette ok?” She inquires.
“Yes, that’d be great,” he confirms.
“And what would like to drink?” she asks him.
“I’ll have a large double latte,” he responds.
“With regular milk?” she asks.
“Do you have oat milk?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Alright, thank you.” He’s excited. Most places he’s eaten don’t carry oat milk.
Paying
“That’ll be $14.85,” she says. The young man hands her a twenty-dollar bill and puts a dollar into the tip jar that sits on the countertop.
“Five fifteen is your change” she tells him. “Please have a seat at any of the tables and we’ll bring it over to you when it’s ready. If you need them, napkins, cream and sugar, honey, and other condiments are over on that side bar.”
He grab some napkins and looks around. He wants to sit by the windows in the sunlight at the back of the shop, but all of the seats there are taken. So, he chooses a seat by the windows in the front of the shop, which look out onto the sidewalk and the intersection of two very busy streets.
Cozy Coffee Shop
A waitress brings his latte over to him and tells him to enjoy it. The man has one sip and thinks, this is amazing! Two minutes later, his egg and cheese croissant sandwich is in his hands and he’s biting into it. Delicious! The egg is perfectly cooked and the cheese is melted and dripping out of the croissant. The salad is made with fresh mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, and carrots shavings. The dressing is light and zesty.
Isla heads out from behind the counter to see how the people in her shop are doing. “Are you enjoying everything so far?” She asks the young bearded man sitting by the front windows.
“Yes! The food is incredible here. How long have you been open?” the man asks.
“Today is opening day!” replies Isla, excitedly.
“Oh, wow! Congratulations! I’m sure you’re going to do good business; this place feels so alive!” the young man insists.
“Thank you. Tell your friends. We want to be the neighborhood’s favorite coffee shop and bakery,” declares Isla. “By the way, I see you haven’t tried our banana bread. It’s our specialty.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Well, I’m going to give you a slice on us. Let me know what you think,” Isla offers.
“Thanks so much!” the young man says with a big smile.
Fill-in-the-blanks
| couple | baked |
| laptops | crowded |
| experience | breakfast |
| condiments | noisy |
| sunshine | employees |
| customers | ordering |
| coffee | sugar |
- Isla’s coffee shop serves _____________, _____________ sandwiches, and _____________ goods.
- The shop is _____________ and _____________.
- All of the _____________ have a lot of _____________ working in restaurants.
- After _____________, customers can get napkins, cream, _____________, honey, and other _____________ at the side bar.
- Many _____________ are using their _____________.
- _____________ comes in through the windows.
- A _____________ walks through the door.
Comprehension Questions
- How does Isla feel? Why does she feel that way?
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2. What shows that Isla is saavy?
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3. What do Isla and the young man talk about?
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4. Why is Isla’s coffee shop so nice?
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Your Opinion
Is Isla’s Coffee & Crumbs going to be a successful coffee shop?
Give three reasons why or why not:
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Write about your favorite restaurant experience:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Isla’s Famous Banana Bread
| Ingredients | Instructions |
| 2 cups of all-purpose flour | Preheat oven to 350o |
| 1 teaspoon of baking soda | Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl |
| 1/2 teaspoon of salt | Melt butter, mix it with brown sugar in a small bowl |
| 1/2 cup of butter | Beat eggs, add to the bowl of butter & brown sugar |
| 3/4 cup of brown sugar | Mash bananas, add to the bowl of butter, sugar & eggs |
| 2 eggs, well beaten | Mix all of the ingredients together (add options) |
| 21/2 cups of mashed, overripe bananas | Grease a two loaf pans with butter |
| Optional: walnuts or chocolate chips | Pour ingredients into loaf pans and place in oven |
| Bake for 60 minutes; Enjoy! |