The Essential Baking Co., whose popular rustic-style organic breads are carried in a number of local supermarkets, plans to open its own on-site bakery store and cafe in late November.

"We're hoping to be open right about Thanksgiving," says Ptarmigan Teal, one of several co-owners of the bakery. The building, located near Gas Works Park, on the corner of North 34th and Woodlawn N., was.originally home of the family-owned Buchan's Bakery in the early-to-mid part of this century. In recent years, it housed bakery operations for Oroweat. Essential Baking which started in Fremont, moved into the building in September 1998.

Essential's new bakery store/cafe will be open for breakfast and lunch (hours will be tentatively from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

Essential's breakfast offerings will include an array of fresh-baked "killer pastries" including Viennoiserie (French-style) and rustic pastries, as well as more traditional American offerings such as scones and muffins. They will also be serving espresso - this IS Seattle, after all.

Lunch fare will include soups, salads, savory baked goods and European-style simple sandwiches "made with our bread," says Teal.

Sarah Eskenazi, former owner of the popular Raven Cafe in Langley, has been hired to run Essential's store/cafe.