REVIEW: Foolish Things Coffee Co.
BY SCOTT CHERRY World Scene Writer
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
In addition to the practical aspects of opening a coffee shop, Katie and Justin Carpenter had some sentimental ones, as well.
“When I was growing up my mom started a coffee shop outside Indianapolis when she developed stage four cancer,” Katie said. “This was before Starbucks, and it was the only coffee shop in town.
“But she died shortly after it opened. Our first date was at a coffee shop, and that’s when Justin told me he always had wanted to open a coffee shop.”
As soon as they could find a space and work out the details, the couple opened Foolish Things Coffee Co. downtown at 10th and Main streets, where Kitchen Korner used to be.
The space has been transformed into a modern, comfortable space featuring partial brick walls, exposed duct work, wood beams and different styles of wood accents throughout, leather sofas, subway tiles, acrylic-covered concrete floors and tables that use 2-inch steel pipe and fittings for legs and supports.
“I call it urban industrial with class,” Justin said. “We wanted to keep the character and bones of the space but also keep it up to date.
“We tried to repurpose existing materials as much as we could. Some of the wood, for instance, came from a burn pile at the Port of Catoosa.”
Foolish Things primarily is a coffee house, but Katie has developed a quirky, yet inviting menu of three sandwiches, three salads, cereal, pita and hummus, and assorted pastries.
Other than the cereal and pastries, there isn’t much to attract the younger set, but most adults should find the choices interesting.
We had the No. 1 and No. 2 sandwiches served with hummus and pita chips ($6.50 each), a piece of banana bread, a scone and cookie ($1.40 each), a vanilla latte ($3.30) and a coffee du jour ($2.25), which happened to be a satisfying El Salvador Manzano.
Sandwich No. 1 included tomato slices, mozzarella, prosciutto and basil pesto on bready Tuscan bread. The prosciutto gave the sandwich a salty quality, and the mellow pesto pulled everything together.
Sandwich No. 2 featured smoked turkey with sharp cheddar cheese and cranberry chutney on toasted wheat. The chutney was fruity and a little sweet.
The third sandwich included hummus, lettuce, tomato, shredded carrots, onions and jalapenos.
We didn’t try the salads, but they seemed worth mentioning. One had romaine, diced cucumbers, diced green apple, glazed walnuts, feta cheese and cranberries, and a second one had greens, cabbage, orange bell peppers and a sesame seed vinaigrette. The third was a traditional Caesar.
A cranberry-chocolate chip scone and chocolate chip cookie both were thick and crunchy, good for dipping in hot coffee, if one is so inclined. The banana bread was a nice treat for breakfast the next morning, and the unusual style of hummus - a little smoky and spicy - went well with the crisp pita chips.
The six-seat tables in the dining room seat a total of 40 guests. An additional eight tables are located on a fenced patio under a wooden pergola.
Foolish Things buys its sandwich bread and coffee products from Tulsa companies, Farrell Family Bread and Topeca Coffee.
Parking is free in the big lot on the east side of the coffee house.
Associated Images:
Tomato, fresh mozarella, basil pesto and prosciutto sandwich at Foolish Things Coffee Company. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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