Mandi Wendt Takes Over The Weinhard

When a chef named

Gabe Knapp opened a small café in the front of the Wein­hard Hotel about 20 years ago, Dayton had already gained a reputation as a fine dining destination. Patit Creek Restaurant was con­sidered one of the best places to eat in eastern Washington (it still is). Knapp aimed to join that club, which he did.

I moved to Dayton in 1996 and got to know Gabe, and fully enjoyed not only his great food (particularly his Panini sandwiches), but his eccentricity (not quite the "Soup Nazi" but almost). Gabe moved on before long, and the Weinhard Café changed hands a few times, and locations once. But it never lost its reputation as a great place to eat.

Last week, Dayton native Mandi Wendt became the new owner of the Weinhard Café - now located across the street from its namesake hotel. Wendt is still young, but she has the experience and passion to keep the café as a dining highlight in Day­ton for a long time.

Wendt graduated from the Inland Northwest Culi­nary Acadamy in Spokane in 2009. She credits the Weinhard Café with inspir­ing her to get training as a chef. "I remember eating at the Weinhard as a kid when it was still in the hotel," she said. "It was always my fa­vorite restaurant. I loved the rib eye!"

For three years, Wendt worked at the Marcus Whit­man Hotel in Walla Walla, ending up as head pastry chef. Living in Dayton and newly married, she began discussions with then café- owner Brad McMasters about working for him. She joined the restaurant's staff last April, and soon became kitchen manager.

Wendt developed a spe­cial talent for bread bak­ing. "That's become my passion," she said. She can often be found selling bread at the Saturday Market at Blue Mountain Station, and she occasionally give baking classes.

Wendt's plans at the Wein­hard Café include maintain­ing its top-notch reputation as well as adding some new features. "I want to make sure the food and service are consistently good," she said, stressing that the menu will change depending on what local meat and produce are available.

"We will also be bring­ing back Wednesday Wine Night," Wendt added. That was a tradition McMasters started a couple of years ago, bringing in local winemak­ers to serve their wine and pair it with a good Weinhard Café meal.

"We hope this will help local diners learn more about local wine and gain an ap­preciation for it," she said. The first wine night of the year will be April 2, when diners can get 50% off their first bottle of wine with din­ner .

Wendt is also hoping to start a new tradition at the Weinhard, with the introduc­tion of the "Baker's Shift." That's restaurant jargon for the period of time between 7 a.m. and lunch. The café will soon begin opening at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Friday to serve coffee and pastries.

"We have some great pas­tries and quiches we want to show off," Wendt said, "and I think Dayton needs a great place where people can go to get their day started."

The café will also we open for weekend brunch, Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are open Tuesdays through Fridays for lunch and Tues­days through Saturdays for dinner.

Wendt asked me to make sure and point out that she is keeping the great staff the Weinhard is known for. She made particular mention of dining room manager Jen­nifer Smith-Villaro, who has been with the café more than a decade.

For those readers who are curious, but maybe not ready to commit to a full Weinhard Café meal, the café will host the Dayton Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours" on Monday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. Stop by and meet new owner Mandi Wendt and the future of dining in Dayton.