Feed Cafe has been a beloved gathering spot in Bozeman for nearly a decade, offering not only delicious farm-to-table meals but also a sense of belonging for everyone who walks through its doors. In the spring of 2024, the cafe’s journey took a new direction when Ally Pitts and Brian Schmidt took over, bringing their shared passion for local food and community to the forefront. Ally, with her farm upbringing and retail background, and Brian, a longtime member of the Feed/Nova/Daily family, have reimagined the space, breathing new life into it with fresh ingredients and a focus on exceptional service. The pair’s complementary skills have proven to be a perfect fit, and their vision, along with the support of their dedicated team, has transformed Feed Cafe into a cozy, welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike. Read on to hear more about how Ally and Brian continue Feed Café’s legacy while making it their own.

Angie Ripple: What would you say makes Feed unique in the Bozeman food scene?

Ally Pitts: To me, unique is that we’re in a historic building, a barn, serving local farm fresh food. It’s an incredible concept–it's not just eating out, it’s an experience. While other restaurants are in historic buildings, to me, the barn is iconic. I think our focus on breakfast, lunch, and baked goods makes us stand out. We don’t do dinner; we focus on what we know best.

We also have a greater philanthropic focus. We just released our Feed Mix line, which are mixes that we make in-house, and sell in our market. Part of the proceeds go to Gallatin Valley Farm to School to support fresh food in schools.

We’ve also been partnering with nonprofits. Each month, we choose an organization, and $3 of the proceeds goes to an organization, and the guest gets free coffee when they buy it. We’re trying to reach out to the community more, not just wait for them to reach out to us.

 It’s really important to us to support local we are obviously farm-to-table, and if anything we’ve brought in more farm-to-table stuff. Almost everything we have now is from a local farm.

It’s unique because it’s really family-oriented, and I know there are a few family-run places left, but it’s more corporate now. We’re just a family-style cafe, and we feel like a staple in the community. Serena was excited for us to step on board because she knew we both felt strongly about keeping the community focus.

AR: What would you like people to experience when they walk through your doors?

AP: Our goal is for people to feel like they’re at a cozy place where they can enjoy farm-to-table food and fresh baked goods. We want them to enjoy the food and the experience of being here. Our staff is amazing, and we want everyone to feel welcome.
I hope people are drawn in by the big truck we have out front, I have its little sister at home. You can grab a picnic blanket and spread out in our grass this summer and enjoy our cozy atmosphere.

AR: What menu items do regulars keep coming back for?

AP: The Monte Cristo and the Shakshuka are very popular. Our Classic is probably our best-seller, but the most frequent feedback I get on reviews and messages is about the Monte Cristo, the Shakshuka, and the French Toast.  I often hear about the French Toast. The house-made english muffins are amazing. I get requests from everywhere in the country for those.  

In general, I’ve had a lot of people from across the country reach out to ask if we could send them baked goods. I’m sending some hand pies today. It’s not really our specialty, but I’m getting enough requests that we’re trying to figure out how to do it in a sustainable way.

We also now have a happy hour menu on weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. It was conceptualized as a way to give back to our local fan base. We know food is expensive these days, and we wanted to keep some items in smaller portions so people can eat, then go to work. Everything on that menu is under $10. We also have a pastry and coffee special that’s an $8 food pair.

AR: Interesting. What is Shakshuka?

AP: The Shakshuka? So, it’s actually a really interesting dish. It’s eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce, and it has sweet peas, goat feta, and grilled focaccia. It’s one of my favorites. It’s not your typical breakfast dish, but a lot of people love it, especially since it’s not super common here.

AR: What is your personal favorite menu item?

AP: My personal favorite menu item is the Monte Cristo. It’s just amazing to me, and I feel like it’s super unique to Feed. I don’t feel like I’ve ever had anything like it anywhere else. It also serves you for about three meals. It’s so big that you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and finish it off at dinner. I don’t often get it because it’s a full day’s meal, but I love it so much.

AR: What do you enjoy most about being part of the Bozeman community?

AP: I love Bozeman. It sounds comical, but when I was little, growing up in Billings, every time we passed through Bozeman, I would say, ‘Oh, I’m going to live in Bozeman.’ In high school, I felt the same way because of speech and debate — Bozeman was always at the top in that, and I’d tell my mom I was going to live here.

I know Bozeman has grown and changed, but I still find it an amazing community. I still stop and take pictures all the time because it’s so beautiful. I feel like most people here are down-to-earth. Sure, you have exceptions, but the people I interact with are kind, good people, and it feels like home to me. I don’t feel like I’ll ever be leaving.

AR: What do you have coming up in April or May that you would like readers to know about?

AP: Our 10th birthday is in May, so we’re making fun plans to celebrate. We want to thank the community because they’ve been so supportive.

We’ve also started making all our baked goods in-house. All of our bread is made in house again--Brian is incredibly talented and he was able to bring back our bread program. We have an amazing baker, Kennedy Stock, and Brian and Kennedy  have spearheaded some incredible baked goods.

The local footprint of Feed has broadened with new ownership and the continued desire to enrich our community with fresh food and a welcoming atmosphere. Feed Cafe has firmly established itself as a favorite and Bozeman’s Choice Breakfast Spot, where guests can enjoy fresh food, great company, and a sense of belonging.