our STORY

In 2011, my sister and I bicycled across the country. It was an incredible journey that began in Washington State and ended in our home state of Rhode Island. I bought my bike two years earlier, and would often venture back roads, dreaming of the day I would set off cross-country.  After each ride I would put my bike away (in my bedroom), and return to reality where I went to work and chipped away at completing my under-grad degree.  When my sister and I first made this pact to ride cross-country, we also made a pact to make it count for something. And so, with much preparation and planning, we co-founded a non-profit titled, Bike to Better. It was difficult to choose just one cause, but that year we organized fund-raising events in our community for indigenous people and their communities. In May 2011, I accepted my diploma. Meanwhile, after two deployments and being on the other side of the country, my sister concluded her active duty enlistment in the U.S Navy. In June, we set off on the adventure of a lifetime.

I know what you're thinking. "What in the heck does bicycling across country have to do with oatmeal?" Well, it's funny you asked.  You see, my three sisters and I were always big fans of oatmeal. As kids, I remember the four of us fighting for the best flavors in the variety box of the instant oatmeal packages- trying to get any flavor except "original."  As we got older, our taste buds matured and the original flavor wasn't so bad after all.  At the start of our bike trip, a friend and experienced biker offered to ride with us for the for the first 200 miles or so to get us through the Cascade Mountains. When he did, he reminded us of the importance of getting an early start, being organized, and most importantly eating right.  Once again, we turned to oats. As bicyclists carrying our belongings behind us- we had to think practically. Oats were light to carry and they kept us energized even our longest days. We began eating oatmeal daily. Some mornings we ate it with bananas and honey, sometimes with peanut butter, and when resources were really low, we even ate oatmeal with flavored creamers from the nearby gas station. 

During the 3,500 miles that we biked, you could imagine my sister and I sometimes ran out of  topics to talk about.  At those times, we would take turns imagining what our lives would have been like if we’d grown up in the towns we passed through. And when there was no town to be seen for miles, we would go back to discussing our career paths. Somewhere between Idaho and Michigan we came up with the idea to one day open our very own cafe - where people can enjoy a sweet or savory  bowl of oats. Several years later, in 2017, my sister had graduated with a Bachelors degree, earned a teaching certificate in Yoga, and was working to complete a graduate program to become a Licensed Acupuncturist. For me, the oat was ingrained (See what I did there?).

 In November of 2017, my husband and I rented a truck, drove to Pennsylvania, and purchased our very own 1978 horse trailer. With many long hours, learning curves, and help from family and friends we have since converted the horse trailer into what you may now know as, OATMIEL CAFE, Providence, RI's very first oatmeal shop.

We hope you enjoy our oats as much as we do!