The dairy, egg, gluten, corn, wheat and refined-sugar-sensitive folks will not be left behind in the Great Cupcake Craze of 2009! Sweet Freedom Bakery is coming to South Street in November and will serve desserts that are gluten, dairy, egg, corn, wheat, peanut, soy and casein-free. With all that stuff missing, what exactly is left to make desserts with? We spoke with co-owner Heather Esposito to find out.
Esposito, along with her partner Allison Lubert, are both certified holistic health counselors and suffer from various food sensitivities themselves; Esposito also trained as a chef at the Natural Gourmet Institute in Manhattan. She says the pair are opening Sweet Freedom after seeing a need for bakery which is not only gluten-free but “health-supportive.” Says Esposito, “A lot of vegan or gluten-free products use a lot of refined sugars and ingredients that aren’t really healthy, we’re using low-glycemic sweeteners instead, plus all-natural ingredients like coconut oil, which is good for digestion” Instead of refined sugars, Sweet Freedom will use coconut sugar, maple syrup and agave.
The pair plans to sell cupcakes (vanilla, chocolate), cakes, cookies (oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip), pizzelles, muffins and loaves (banana chocolate chip, banana cinnamon); the full menu is currently in development, but will, for the time being, be limited to sweet items. Esposito says savory breads are more difficult to create due to the limited ingredients (they also don’t use spelt). The storefront will also serve coffee and tea.
They’re hoping to have the store open by the beginning of November, so alert your vegan, diabetic and allergy-prone friends. If you’re attending the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness’s Appetite for Awareness fundraiser this Wednesday, you’ll be able to sample Sweet Freedom’s wares, along with gluten-free dishes from 50-plus other local chefs, including Jose Garces and Gene Giuffi of Cochon.
Sweet Freedom Bakery, 1424 South St.; (215) 526-1748
Thanks to Gluten-Free Philly for the tip. [Gluten-Free Philly]
