Welcome to my little hamlet of Ashland, Oregon. I’m Juliet Montague Capshaw, but please call me Jules.
I cannot wait to give you a taste of my charming hometown. Sure, I might be biased, but I happen to believe there’s no better place to enjoy a cozy weekend taking in a Shakespeare show underneath the stars at the Elizabethan theater, strolling the plaza with one of our Torte signature lattes and a cardamom bun in hand, or meandering through Lithia Park to admire the vast Siskiyou forest that tucks in our sweet village in a vibrant, green hug.
Ashland is home to a bevy of creatives—artists, playwrights, actors, musicians, and I might even throw bakers in the mix. Pastry has always been my muse, and my team at our family bakeshop, Torte, is nothing short of culinary geniuses. Not only do the delectable three-tiered cakes in our display cases taste divine, but they are also truly works of art, featuring dainty hand-spun sugar flowers and intricate buttercream piping designs that could grace any museum.
The plaza is constantly bustling with activity. Musicians busk near the bubbling Lithia fountains while street performers dressed in Shakespearean garb recite sonnets and soliloquies. All of the shops and restaurants are designed in Elizabethan architecture to make you feel like you’re stepping back in time.
Here’s my itinerary to immerse yourself in Ashland for a day.
Let’s start our morning at Torte, where my team will greet you like an old friend and offer you an intoxicating and impossible-to-choose-from array of sweet and savory pastries. You can’t go wrong with a coffee from my lead barista, Andy, who is just back from a trip to Costa Rica. His special right now is a Pura Vida Latte, with notes of cinnamon that mingle with rich espresso and a splash of sweetened condensed milk to finish it off.
I recommend a hearty slice of our sundried tomato, roasted red pepper, and goat cheese quiche if you’re craving something savory. If you have a sweet tooth, might I recommend our coffee cake that we layer with warming spices and fresh peaches and drizzle with creamy caramel sauce. Take a moment to enjoy people-watching. You’re likely to spot one of the actors or famed directors from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival while you sip your latte and enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
After breakfast, it’s time to hit the trail. We’ll stretch our legs with a short walk to the duck pond and then weave our way through towering redwoods, sequoias, Douglas firs, dogwoods, and oaks. Following Ashland Creek, we’ll gain elevation and get a stunning view of the sweeping Rogue Valley from above.
Once we make our descent back into the plaza, it’s time for a lunch break at Ashland Springs Hotel. The hotel is listed on the National Historic Register and is Ashland’s tallest building, standing at eight stories. The lobby is something straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of Death on the Nile with its potted palms, wooden ceiling fans, and 1920s aesthetic. Enjoy lunch on the terrace with a cold chicken salad sandwich, tea cakes, and a refreshing iced lemonade.
Ashland is also a haven for shoppers who prefer their finds to be thoughtful and one-of-a-kind. So, let’s venture to London Station, where you can get lost for hours exploring. You’ll lose yourself among stalls brimming with so many delights, from handmade soaps to Oregon blackberry jams, and luxurious cashmere blankets—perfect for curling up with a new book.
With new treasures, it’s time to head to Pucks Pub for pre-show cocktails and a bite to eat. You’ll find a Midsummer Night’s Eve theme running throughout the bar, complete with fairies, string lights, and beer keg tables.
Finally, no day in Ashland is complete without a performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Whether it’s a classic like Romeo and Juliet or one of the company’s many modern plays, there is something on the stage for everyone, and I guarantee you’ll be swept away in the storytelling and captivated by the cast, costumes, choreography, and creative set designs.
Now that I’ve tempted you with a perfect Ashland day, I have one more delight to share. Every October, our cozy hamlet transforms into a real-life mystery novel during the Ashland Mystery Fest. For four glorious days, readers and writers descend on our town for interactive sleuthing adventures, hands-on workshops, themed teas, culinary classes, and murder mystery dinners that would make Sherlock Holmes proud. And yes, there’s even a whodunit to solve all around town.
So pack your favorite sweater and fall boots and come visit me this October. I promise to show you Ashland the way only a local baker (and mystery-lover) can.
With love and pastry,
Jules
LAYING DOWN THE LATTE by Ellie Alexander
Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, Oregon!
Baker Jules Capshaw, along with her husband, Carlos, and Torte’s resident barista, Andy, are packing their bags and preparing for the ultimate coffee excursion in Costa Rica. A fortuitous invitation from one of Carlos’s former colleagues, Valentina, has them venturing to the coffee capital of the world for a tasting tour and an immersive weekend at her family’s organic coffee farm.
They soak in the tropical breezes, the vibrant colors, the sounds of morning birdsong, and the sweeping views of the historic coffee farm. Valentina is the ultimate host, offering them traditional meals and thrilled to have their input as she’s preparing to open a coffee counter and bakery on the farm.
The getaway is just what Jules needed. A chance to relax and unwind, curl up with a book and iced latte by the pool, and tinker in Valentina’s kitchen, dreaming up new recipes to bring home. Except her tranquil weekend quickly turns into a nightmare when one of Valentina’s employees is found dead in the pulping machine. Now, Jules will have to put her vacation on hold to try and uncover the murderer before one of Torte’s beloved workers becomes the next body thrown into the mix.
Mystery Culinary | Mystery Cozy [St. Martin’s Press, On Sale: August 26, 2025, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250326225 / eISBN: 9781250326379]
Murder on the Menu in Costa Rica’s Coffee Country
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About Ellie Alexander
Ellie Alexander is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over twenty-five published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
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