Caitlyn Mills
BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
“I always get a black iced tea and a buckwheat chocolate chip cookie, every day. Every. Single. Day.”
Thus began Caitlyn Mills’ love affair with Café Della. She’d visit while on break from the Hailey Public Library and savor a moment of sweetness right there, merely a few shops over. Now she runs the place.
Isn’t that what a proper downtown is all about? Libraries, cafés, thrift shops, pharmacies, banks, etc. We enjoy the simplicity of having a few centralized blocks to actually walk, get a few steps in, run into friends, pop into the library to check for new books or a café for a cookie, tea or a sandwich. If it’s that kind of day, maybe splurge with a glass of wine and some focaccia. This is the wonderful role novelty destinations and social connection play making for a beautiful day and devotion to a city. Malls are OK, perhaps, if you’re a teen in the ’90s, but really it’s the vibe of open air, exercise and the joy of finding something you absolutely love – a place you begin to crave in your life.
Mills has been in the Valley for over 10 years and has worked at Café Della for the last two—a sweet, charming and beautiful young lady with enough energy and enthusiasm to command her team and regale you with stories while doing it.
A café, bakery and market, you’ll find housemade quiches, soups, stews, entrées (think coq au vin, butternut and sage lasagna, pulled pork, roasted veggies), a host of fresh salads and some of the best sandwiches in Hailey. The smoked trout sandwich is reason alone to pop in. Their selection of fresh teas and coffees is unrivaled and they offer a nice selection of curated wines and beers alongside plenty of packaged snacks like cured meats, chocolates and dips. Mills ensures all quality ingredients and products are sourced from local Idaho producers and farms.
Della is 100% a café experience. When to go? “In my opinion, the best time to come in is around 10, and that sounds crazy but it’s the best time to get your breakfast for the day, get your pastries, and get your lunch at the same time. I think that’s like the smart way to do things, so you can get exactly what you want, or if you come in in the afternoon, get yourself a nice little treat and pick up dinner,” Mills explains.
Mills laughs as she then talks about herself. “I’m a reader. I’m boring. I’m not a skier. I am a master of granny hobbies. I like to knit. I like to sew. I like to bird watch. I like to read.”
Her most recent read? “My favorite author is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She wrote Americanah. It’s one of those books that was so beautiful that I cried when it was over but it wasn’t sad, it was just great. Right now I’m reading Wow No Thank You, by Samantha Irby. It’s the funniest! They’re personal essays and it just makes me laugh and I feel like someone understands who I am as a person by reading her essays.”
A bustling Hailey hotspot, slack has not affected Café Della, which tells you that locals know what’s up. Stop in and chat with Mills, who’s on site often six days a week. The food is clean and perfectly executed, with a spacious, European café vibe. The prices are great.
Additionally, you can order online from their website or peruse the menu to get a feel for the experience. Located at 103 S. Main St. in Hailey, Café Della is open Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m..See cafedella.com.
