BY JACKIE FENDER for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 10/9/2026
One foggy morning and Wren’s Nest Baking Co. is calling my name.
It seems like just days ago the sun hung high in the sky and the PNW was boasting hot days and late evening sunsets. Maybe today as you read this, it’s a sunny day again, but the calendar page has turned to October, and spooky season is upon us.
I woke up to a crisp, foggy morning craving something cozy, a hankering that only baked goods can cure. There’s something about the first real chill of autumn that sends me searching for warm coffee, buttery pastries, and a place to settle in.
I grabbed my coat and went off on a quest to one of my favorite baked goods destinations, Wren’s Nest Baking Co. in Ruston. Wren’s Nest is one of the few dedicated gluten-friendly spots around town. Not that gluten gives me much strife, but I’ve been separated long enough from my days in the service industry that, rather than bristle at the dietary needs of others, I can appreciate that folks with dietary restrictions can walk through the doors and feel confident their needs are met without a raised eyebrow. There’s something to be said for a place where everyone can indulge without having to interrogate the menu. And even if you’re a gluten lover like yours truly, you won’t miss it, I promise.
The Ruston Carriage House is a sight to behold. As you’re cruising down Pearl Street toward Point Defiance, you’ll find a stately brick building with a cozy interior, walls adorned in reclaimed barn wood, and ample seating. It’s the kind of place that invites you to stick around, whether you’re enjoying a coworking date, or simply treating yourself to a solo cup of joe. During the summer, they also have rooftop seating with sweeping views of Commencement Bay that give you a moment to pause and remind yourself, we live here!
The seating area radiates rustic vibes, with a warm wood interior, and a fireplace further cements why an autumnal day calls for another visit. But first, let’s talk about the display case, because it is pure cinema.
Sweet and savory goodies abound: robust kolaches stuffed with sausage, egg, and cheese; sugar-dusted chocolate crinkle cookies; billowy brioche, savory empanadas; fruit-filled hand pies, drizzled scones; and picture-perfect tartlets. It’s an impressive lineup, the sort that demands at least two passes before making any decisions. Atop the case, you can admire impressively stacked cakes, some so glistening and smooth you can almost see your reflection in them, others rich and rustic. All of them pretty.
Of course, it’s not all baked goods. They also serve as a café, with all the usual coffee and tea offerings one might want to cozy up to and pair with the aforementioned baked goods. And the hospitality is always a joy: authentic, friendly, and prompt, which is great because there’s often a line. Not the sort that will have you hangry by the time you ante up to the counter, but the kind that tells you you’re on to something good.
Bonus: as you wait your turn or for your cuppa, you can check out their merchandise, take a whiff of the wonderfully scented candles, or eyeball a cutting board that would be criminal to actually use because it would be a shame to mar the woodgrain and shape of it.
When I visit, it’s the quiche that always hits the spot for me. The crust is golden brown, the filling always satisfying, and my favorite depends entirely on my mood. Though the asparagus and prosciutto always has me coming back time and again, you can’t go wrong with the bacon and jalapeño. No, wait, the tomato and goat cheese. If you like to keep things simple, the ham and rosemary will do the trick. Okay, or the mushroom and Gruyère. That’s all the quiches and my indecisiveness has me sounding like a Libra (no offense to Libras, you already know).
While I lean toward the savory offerings, the sweet samplings delight. Their macarons are like little works of art. You almost feel guilty biting into them, the delicate, satisfying shell giving way to a sweet, chewy center. Almost. That guilt disappears quickly once you indulge.
When I don’t have my heart set on the quiche, I am a big fan of the kolaches, the sausage, egg and cheese is hearty and filling or the beef and olive empanada, a rich, warm, savory little snack. My ultimate recommendation is to bring a friend and get a little of everything, but that might just be my FOMO talking. That way, you can split a little of each, compare notes, and justify ordering far more than any two people can actually eat. Breaking bread is bonding, after all.
If you’re a reasonable human, perhaps I’d encourage you to simply visit every chance you get and work your way through the case, one delicious offering at a time. As for me, I’ll take the quiche. And a macaron. Maybe a cookie for the kids, though I can’t promise it will make the drive home.
After all that? I hibernated of course.
Wren’s Nest Baking Co. 5121 N. Pearl Street, Ruston, WA.
