Kris’ Kitchen opens downtown

Everything is made from scratch in Kris' Kitchen.

And she means everything.

In Kris' Kitchen, you won't find canned pie filling. Fruit pies start with fruit. Cream pies are made the old-fashioned way: Milk, eggs, sugar.

Kris Krabill opened her bakery at 878 S. Main St. in downtown Lebanon on July 29.

Although the storefront is new, Krabill is not new to the baking business.

"It's not the same as starting from scratch with us. I've been baking for restaurants for years now," she said.

Krabill ran her business out of her licensed home kitchen for several years.

For about 14 years she has been baking goods for the Albany Farmers' Market, she said.

Each Saturday morning, Krabill gets up early and bakes 96 fresh scones to sell at the market. She can't remember a time when she didn't sell all 96 scones.

Last Friday, she had made about 24 scones for the day and at 4 p.m., only five remained.

While scones are a popular item for Krabill, pies are her specialty.

"We can't keep pies in," she said.

Her pies have been sold in restaurants like the Korner Kitchen, Courtyard Cafe, Pine Cone restaurant, and at the Lodge at Clear Lake.

Cinnamon rolls and scones are made daily at the shop. Dough for cookies is kept on-hand in case they get a big order.

"Business has far exceeded our expectations," Krabill said.

Krabill also takes orders for baked goods.

The building was an empty shell when she purchased it. A commercial kitchen had to be put in, as well as plumbing, electrical, flooring, and walls.

She purchased the space in August 2008. "It took a year to get the building ready," she said.

Krabill started cooking at the downtown location in April.

Now having a space set aside specifically for her business is wonderful.

"I have a big dishwasher, big sinks. I can produce so much more here," she said.

Her new location also came with a huge Hobart mixer.

"We call her Edith," Krabill said, adding that Edith's name is pronounced the French way. "She's working out very well," Krabill joked. Edith can easily mix 50 pounds of dough.

Cakes are also made on-site, baked by Krabill's daughter, Trina Roth of Roth Cakes.

The bakery is stocked with goodies Wednesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.