The fiercely loyal fanbase of chef Jane Wild can now find the Houston farmers market regular, known for her bevy of baked goods, at a more permanent location. Wild’s much anticipated brick-and-mortar cafe, Jane and the Lion Bakehouse has opened its doors in the space formerly occupied by the Morningstar coffee and doughnut shop at 4721 North Main in the Heights.
The well-appointed retail strip gem boasts equal parts charm and quirkiness, and serves as a cozy place to experience the breadth of Wild’s baking experience. Beyond stints as executive chef at (now shuttered) Golden Bagels & Coffee and the Dunlavy, Wild earned a name for herself when she started selling sweet and savory baked goods at farmers markets around town in 2020.
A few years later, she launched an exclusive bi-monthly pop-up called Jane’s Dine Inn, which celebrated the art of intentional eating, limited to no more than 22 guests at a time. Locals will agree Wild has a knack for bringing people together and cultivating community connection through her baking, with Jane and the Lion set up to further manifest such moments.
At the cafe, Wild is featuring small-batch coffee collaborations with independent roasters like Little Dreamer, Geva, XELA Coffee Roasters, and Amaya Coffee; and a section called Jane’s Pantry showcases take-away items like local eggs heirloom grains and rice from Texas farms, and other bounty from Wild’s farmers market pals.
In the way of food, visitors can expect longtime fan-favorites like Jane’s breakfast sandwich and the vegan breakfast burrito. Daily-changing menu items further diversify the offerings, with dishes like Casablanca toast with roasted carrot harissa, dukkah, spring greens, shallot vinaigrette, tarragon, chives, and honey; and the daily plate with sourdough, eggs, and bacon or sausage, with local cheese and preserves; plus gluten-free items made fresh daily.
Like Jane and the Lion’s space and menu, Wild’s team is small but mighty. Wild is leading the troop alongside her partner, Nathan Christensen, who is taking the helm of front-of-house operations and the coffee program; and son, Maxx Wild, a baker and farmers market co-lead with a Leo zodiac sign who is the namesake “lion” in the cafe’s moniker. Lauded local pastry chef, Alyssa Dole, is serving as head baker; Aidan Owens as sous chef; Gabrielle Garza as General Manager; and AJ Bornaschella as farmers market co-lead.
Currently in its initial opening phase, the cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday, with extended daily hours, curbside pick-up, and online ordering services coming soon. Eventually, guests can look forward to Jane and the Lion slinging local beer, natural wines, and shaken cocktails, alongside snack boards and Wild’s sourdough pizzas and grinders.
With farmers market leads in place and a fierce demand for her sweet and savory goodies, Wild plans to maintain her presence within Houston markets, with upcoming dates, times, and locations revealed on social media and by way of her newsletters.
