Twenty-two years ago, on February 14th, a young California couple was skiing at Squaw Valley.
Being Valentine’s Day, one half of this couple – the man – was looking for a perfect gift for his sweetheart.
They didn’t know it then, but when they wandered into the Wildflour Baking Company at the base of the mountain, their fates, and future, were sealed.
“Each Valentine’s Day we make big heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies with poems on them,” explains Wildflour founder, owner and creative baker Susan Lopez. “It’s our tradition.”
“This guy came in with his girlfriend. He wanted to get her a cookie, but he didn’t have a poem.”
So Lopez suggested this: I love you from KT to the Slot. Oh baby, you’re so scorching hot!
Her customer wasn’t quite sure. Wasn’t that a bit aggressive, since they’d only be dating for 3 or months?
“You love her, don’t you?” Lopez replied. He bought the cookie.
His girlfriend loved it. They married, had children, and, they’ve never missed a single February 14th at Squaw.
This year, being year 22, they will be celebrating by skiing KT 22 and possibly eating 22 cookies.
One year, during the middle of a blizzard that shut down the mountain, they were Lopez’ only Valentine’s Day customers.
While she could have closed the bakery, she didn’t.
She knew they’d come.
It’s their tradition, too.
Cookies and More
If you ski Squaw Valley, you’ve got to try the Wildflour. Famous for it’s prepaid, discount “Cookie Pass,” the Wildflour is on the ground level of the Olympic Building and is a favorite with junior ski racers.
In addition to the chocolate chip cookies, don’t miss the steel-cut oatmeal with dark chocolate, walnuts and honey greek yogurt.
If you do go on Valentine’s Day, come prepared with a poem, or let Lopez be your muse.
Some of her favorite rhymes from year’s past?
Roses are red, Lake Tahoe is blue, I’m only 8 and I ski faster than you!
I love you from ski tip to tail. For you, I’d ski all the mountains from Squaw to Vail.
Originally posted in 2015, our happy couple is now celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss. And Susan Lopez is still making great cookies (seriously great cookies).
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