Sure Foods Living, the San Fransisco-based blog about celiac disease, gulten-intolerance, and food allergies, posted a list of all the bakeries in California that do gluten-free items!

Most of the establishments are wholesale bakeries (that’s a good way to keep things lean and mean, for anyone interested in starting a small business) and some are wheatie bakeries carrying a few gf-products inside packaging (something I’d like to encourage – especially if said bakery is buying from The Sensitive Baker!)

I’m so glad to see that there is more here than a couple years ago, but we still seem to have a ways to go before we catch up to New York — or even Washington State. What’s up with that, Californians? We need to arise, en masse, and DEMAND OUR GLUTEN-FREE CUPCAKES!! (Or breadsticks. Breadsticks are good too.)

“Yes!” (she says modestly,) “we ARE one of the TOP 20 bakeries in Los Angeles – and the ONLY ONE that is gluten free!” And they say that our food is delicious, regardless of being gluten-free. Unbelievable! You should go buy a copy and check it out, but just in case I’ve bought every available copy in LA, I also put up a pdf of the listing.

Furthermore, one of the Web Extras on LAmag.com is a “Recipe Box” where they feature the top secret, new and improved, allergen-free recipe for our morning-glory muffins! Yummy!

Did anyone catch the first episode of We Mean Business yesterday? Yikes! These guys do not pull any punches! [I knew that, but I got reminded all over again.] But how fabulous does that Berry Elegance place look now?!?

Look! Go to the Video tab and see the “Preview” — it’s The Sensitive Baker! Nancy, that’s you! We’re airing on September 20th!

Excuses, excuses! Want to read mine? Read the rest of this entry »

USA Today “Gluten-free diets gaining in popularity” Aug 17, 2008

LA Times “Going gluten-free — for many reasons” July 7 2008

On the one hand, the increased demand for gluten-free products has certainly helped bring more goodies into the marketplace. Our little bakery could never survive if our only customers were biopsy-confirmed celiacs. (Remember, 3 million Americans may HAVE celiac disease, but only 90,000 of them KNOW about it yet.)

On the other hand, I’m a worrier. I worry that people who say “Oh, I was gluten-free last month,” will give your waiter the impression that it’s okay to pick the croutons out of your salad. That parents who say, “Oh, I put my child on a gf/cf diet and his grades/behavior improved,” lead others to do the same, without first testing the kids for celiac disease.

I’m the first one to tell you that “Yes, Virginia, there IS a thing called “Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity.”" My own family is living testament to this fact.

But people, NEVER go gluten-free on a whim!! GET TESTED FIRST! You can’t test for celiac disease after going gluten-free. Even if you don’t have it, you can always CHOOSE to go gluten-free. But at least you know what you’re dealing with!

{Coming down from the soapbox now. Thank you for your time.}

The Jewish Journal did a story on gluten, celiac disease, my father-in-law and even a little bit about us! Just in time for the CDF Conference this weekend, too! [Which, BTW, you can still register for if you call the office directly at (818) 990-2354.]

It’s really a great piece and big, big thanks to writer Adam Wills for spreading the word about celiac disease. I just need to say one teeny thing. (And then I promise, I’ll shut up about the oats, I’m sure everyone is sick of the whole oats issue.)

It’s not that “the Hier family is confidently sticking with oats.” That’s not for us to decide. The RCC tells us oats require the blessing HaMotzi, with washing before and a full Grace after Meals following.

‘Nuff said.

And thanks once again to the lovely Keren Greenberg for the photo!

When Challah Becomes the Bread of Affliction

Make sure to catch gfMeals.com / Your Dinner Secret on The KTLA Morning News tomorrow (Wednesday), between 6:00 and 9:00 AM PST. There will be 10 second teases randomly throughout the show and 3 minute segments around 6:40, 7:50 and 8:40.

KTLA’s remote reporter Gayle Anderson will be broadcasting from the Your Dinner Secret location in Woodland Hills, noshing on their mouthwatering gluten-free food (including maybe also a bundt or two!) and interviewing their team and their customers. In fact, the anchors will be eating their gluten-free goodies in the studio too.

If you do miss it, we’ll post the link to the streaming video on the KTLA web site.

Kudos to co-owner Roni Piterman for getting this kind of exposure & raising awareness
of celiac disease and gluten-sensitivity! Why it seems like only last week they featured YDS in the Daily News — oh, wait, that WAS last week! Keep up the good work, Roni!

We’ll be cheering for you tomorrow over our morning coffees and chocolate-zucchini muffins!

*
I think we’re blessed with a special angel in charge of PR. How else can we explain this terrific article on us in The Forward Jewish newspaper?

Keeping Kosher Gluten-Free – Forward.com”

Elissa Strauss, the writer, is a celiac currently living in New York, writing for The Forward obviously, but her mom who is also celiac lives here in LA, and the two came here together last time Elissa was in town. That’s how we explain it, on this plane….

***

Our bagels in The Forward! OMG, my zaidy would be so proud!! Thanks Keren Greenberg for the photo.

Check out this wonderful review of our bakery by Beth Shea, writer of the Petite Planet blog, which I just discovered. It’s all about “green living” and Beth is right on with her recommendations. Like, the very next entry (about fabrics) she recommends Hannah Anderson clothes for kids. I LOVE Hannah Anderson! The softest clothes on the planet (which is SO important with a sensitive child!) and while they seem expensive at first, they are worth every penny: your first child will wear them day after day and still hand them down to the next child.
Anyway, it turns out Beth is also a big fan of Gluten-Free Girl Shauna Ahern! What a small world it is, indeed!
Petite Planet blog review

[Thoughts on further entries - I've been grappling with the lunch bag problem myself, I'm going to give the GourmetGetaway a try, and I'm enjoying the article about throwing parties on a budget. Note the addition of PetitePlanet to the Blogroll!]

Well, okay, she doesn’t star in it, but she does have a big part! Check her out in this piece called Gluten Free, by Time-Warner Cable So-Cal News! It was filmed the last time Eugenie joined Peggy Curry at Whole Foods El Segundo for the “Gluten-Free and Loving It!” cooking class. Go Peggy! for getting such great exposure for gluten-free living!

We feel like we’ve just won the lottery! This is unbelievable. This November, Los Angeles Magazine’s Food Lover’s Guide features “Local Heroes,” sourcing the best locally produced food.

On page 151, “Toasts of the Town,” there’s a list of nine bakeries with photos of nine “of our favorite loaves” and — what’s that at the top of the page? “Divinely gluten free”!?! OUR FOCACCIA!?!

And just look at who else is on that list – Le Pain Quotidien, BreadBar, La Maison du Pain…. These are prestigious bakeries! (Actually, the woman from La Maison du Pain visited us one day. She’s very sweet – and it turns out she also bakes for Sophie’s Produce — she makes the little rolls for their non-gf sandwiches. Small world.)

Honestly; it’s only luck that we were even considered for such a list. I’m sure it’s just that they wanted to include a gluten-free option, and it had to be local, and we’re the only gluten-free bakery within 200 miles. But still, what luck! Thank God! And thank you, Margot – may you have a long and satisfying life! {Amen!}