Black Bear Cafe
While Keleti is historically known as a small hamlit inhabited mostly by hunters and prospectors, when travelers recount their experience on the Triboar trail, the place for which they remember Keleti is the Black Bear Cafe.
The origins of this well-known eatery are quite small. Before the infestation of Kraken in the Si'ahl Inlet, the Triboar trail was a little-used route between the Free Cities and the Ti'Swaq Alliance. For several years, Haley, Rita, worked and Grifrilyn together in their own business - cooking and delivering meals to the batchlors of the hamlet (which at that time accounted for most of the residents). Once traffic on the trail picked up, and the LLama caravans traveled up and down the trail, the women siezed the opportunity to open a cafe. Of course, as the only cafe in 60 miles, they soon had more business than they could handle. Rita contacted an old friend in Grytack, and soon the cafe had funding to build a new hall, large enough to handle the demand and inviting the weary traveler.
The current Black Bear Cafe opened its doors in the spring of 1576, and since has kept the bellies of many a traveler happy. Diners are greeted by a great basalt carving of a black bear standing by the enterence. (Rita enjoys decking him with garlands of wildflowers, and in the winter adorns him with a long knit stocking cap.) Inside are tables of various sizes including a very long communal table located by the great hearth. An open kitchen invites guests to enjoy the sights, sounds, (and best of all) smells of their food being prepared. Two woodfired bread ovens handle the great trays of cinnimon rolls (which are usually sold out by 2pm). In the summer, tables shelted by large umbrellas are scattered on the gounds adjacent to the cafe, offering extra seating and a pleasent al fresco experience.
A corner of the great hall is set aside for the display of items for sale by the local craftspeople of Keleti. One can often find tooled leather bracers, fur lined slippers, or herbal soaps here. A popular item amoung travelers are the basalt carvings of small forest creatures - squirrels, rabbits, birds, even a fox or two - that are extremely life-like.
If you are passing by Keleti on your way to Vantage or Si'ahl, be sure to keep your eye out for the Black Bear runners when you hit the 2 mile marker for Keleti. If the cafe is very busy - and that is typical during the caravan season - you will find a youngster waiting to take your order for the cafe and run ahead to place it for you. These entreperial kids are not actually employed by the Cafe, but came up with this scheme on their own. Frank Brevig started this (Rita's son), and it has become a solid opportunity for the few young people who are not involved in hunting or prospecting to earn some coin. Tip them well, and you will find a cinniman roll set aside for you.
Purpose / Function
The Black Bear Cafe opened soon after traffic on the trail picked up about 5 years ago. It has since become a popular stop for the llama caravans, and other travelers going to and from Vantage or Siah-l over the Snowsqual Pass. Run by a trio of formidable women - Haley Greenhand (hobbit), Rita Brevig (human), and Gifrilyn Merryarm (dwarf) - the Black Bear Cafe opens early and closes late.
Architecture
The design of the cafe reflects the Ostian heritage predominate in this corner of Vantage Territory, softened by the cozy influence of halfling sensibilities, and grounded with dwarven craftmanship. Many of the timbers are brightly painted in tones of blues and reds, with carvings of animals and fantastical creatures from Ostian tales. A basalt statue of a large black bear stands by the enterence, often sporting a garland of seasonal flowers, or a bright wool knit stockingcap in the winter. In the summer, tables sheltered with broad umbrellas offer seating in the area in front of the cafe. Inside a spacious dining hall with a great hearth and open kitchen greet the traveler with sweet and savory aromas of cooking food.
The hall is brightly lit with beeswax candles at night. During the day in fine weather, the wooden shutters of the hall's windows are thrown wide open, to welcome the daylight and fresh mountain breezes.
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