Long Standing Relationship

Truth be told, I’ve been buying from Bake Me Happy for years. I can’t remember who originally introduced me to them. It may have been my friend VegetarianMamma, their booth at the (now shuttered) Columbus GFFA Fest or the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Conference. (P.S. The date for the 2019 conference is November 2nd.) Either way, seeing Wendy’s or her staff’s smiling faces always makes my day.

100% Gluten Free Bakery in Columbus, Ohio

Nothing makes me happier than a dedicated gluten free prep space. Especially in regards to baked goods. It gives me such comfort to walk into Bake Me Happy and know that everything is gluten free. Nothing is off limits. Cookies, muffins, pop tarts. We can eat it ALL!

Treats and Coffee

Over the years, Bake Me Happy has grown greatly. The first time I visited in 2015, their store offered a small counter. Now, they have at least twice the space, and a separate coffee counter. (They serve Thunderkiss Coffee.) When you enter, you’re greeted by a large display of gluten free deliciousness. It’s SO hard to choose!

Gluten Free Versions of Your Childhood Favorites

Bake Me Happy offers nostalgic treats. Miss Twinkies? Their “spongies” are almost identical. Lamenting the inability to order traditional Girl Scout Cookie flavors? They stock gluten free versions of those during the year? Longing for Little Debbies? They make little gluten free snack cakes that will transport you to happy memories.

Other Places to Find Bake Me Happy Goodies

The main Bake Me Happy adorns a corner in Merion Village. However, one can find their goodies at many places in greater Columbus. Their website states they can be found at Raisin Rack, Columbus State, and at the Ohio State University gluten free concession stand. 

Community

Bake Me Happy offers more than just baked goods. They offer community. Literally, there’s a large community posting section on one far wall. But beyond that, they offer other locally made products (even gluten free baked goods) in the fridge in their lobby.

They help build community for those who are on the fringes as well .They donate to non-profits that aide those with autism and Flying Horse Farms, that provides camping experiences for those with disabilities and illnesses. This is definitely a business that believes that we all deserve a place to belong.

Other Columbus Favorites

As mentioned in my Cherbourg Bakery post, I love Columbus. Read that article to find my favorite eats and activities. Also, if you’re driving from Michigan to Ohio, stop at Organic Bliss Deli and Bakery in Toledo along the way! Or rear my latest post about eating Gluten Free in Columbus.

Bake Me Happy Locations, Hours and Contact Information

Bake Me Happy
500 E Whittier St
Columbus, OH 43206
(614) 477-3642
Tues – Fri 7 am – 4 pm, Sat & Sun 9 am – 4 pm (Closed Monday)

6750 Longshore Dr
Dublin, OH 43017
(614) 683-8787
Mon & Tues 9 am – 5 pm, Wed- Sun 9 am – 6 pm

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

**I have not been paid nor compensated in any way for this post. All thoughts and opinion are my own.**

The post Bake Me Happy Gluten Free Bakery – Columbus, OH appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

**This is an interview with the owner. Please scroll to bottom of page for bakery address, phone number, website, email, and social media links.**

I met the owner of Rumi’s Passion, Steve Ciric, and his family years ago when I helped organized the Lansing Gluten Free Fair. People would flock from across the state of Michigan to buy their gluten free baked goods. While the fair no longer exists, people still travel far and wide to their store in Plymouth. Located only 15 minutes from IKEA, it’s great place for a road trip.

If you were to ask me my favorite items to buy there, it would be hard to choose. They offer a great selection of sweet treats. However, they also make pasties, pizza crust, and other savory items. They’re sliced bread gets rave reviews, as well. Learn more about this business in my Q&A, below.

1. What inspired you to become a baker? Why the focus on gluten-free?

I’ve been a baker for decades. In reality, my family has been in the baking industry for over 30 years. We owned Wild Flours bakery 8 years ago and customers began to ask about gluten-free options.

After some research I saw that I needed a dedicated facility in order to safely offer gluten-free items. So we closed down our conventional bakery and opened Rumi’s Passion in 2010. You can read more about our adventure in opening our business the Plymouth-Canton Patch.

(This article is from an interview with Stan Ciric, the original owner of Rumi’s Passion. New owners took over in 2021.)

2. Are there other highlights of your products? Low sodium, fat free, etc?

We offer dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free, and vegan options. Some of our items are sugar-free as well.

3. What steps do you take to insure that your products are truly gluten-free?

All of our ingredient suppliers provide us with fact sheets to confirm they are gluten-free.

4. Can you share a story of a customer who’s been greatly impacted by your business?

You can find many reviews from happy customers on our Facebook page, including this one –
“I special ordered unfrosted cutout cookies so my daughter could have the experience of frosting legit Christmas cookies. Rumi’s cookies are AMAZING! I truly wouldn’t have known they are gluten-free and dairy-free. Thank you so much!”

5. What would you like consumers to know about your products and your business?

We are able to do custom products for customers who have restrictions beyond a gluten-free diet.

While Rumi’s Passion offers a large assortment of baked goods, they also offer other gluten free pantry items. From chips and crackers, to tamari and snack bars, it’s a fantastic place to grab those items you may not be able to find anyhwere else. They also support other Michigan businesses, by stocking items from Full Flavor Foods and Old World Gluten Free. They also serve Great Lakes Coffee in their bakery, so you can get a hot cuppa with your gluten free donut!

They also supply items for area restaurants, such as the Union Joints chain of eateries and Mr. Mike’s Grill. You can find a limited selection of Rumi’s Passion products at Holiday Market, Nino Salvaggio, Plum Market and Westborn Market in the gluten-free freezer section. They do not ship.

Location, Hours and Contact Information

Rumi’s Passion
41106 5 Mile Rd
Plymouth MI 48170
(734) 335-7145
Open Tuesday & Wednesday 10 am-5 pm, Thursday & Friday 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday 9 am – 3 pm

Website / Facebook  / Instagram / Email

Rumi’s Passion is one of many  bakeries across the state of Michigan offering gluten-free options. Check out my master gluten free bakery list, which includes an interactive map!

Originally published March 2016

The post Rumi’s Passion Gluten Free Bakery – Plymouth, MI appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

**This is an interview with the owner. Please scroll to bottom of page for bakery address, phone number, website, email, and social media links.**

Love can make us do amazing things. Compassion can cause us to go to the extra mile. When it comes to food, it can motivate a baker to play with recipes and experiment with crazy ingredients. It might even push them to burn out a few food processors in the pursuit of excellence. It encourages them to persevere even after many failed attempts. Enter Third Coast Bakery

That’s why Heather Burson of Third Coast Bakery started a gluten-free baking business. She saw the needs of her family, friends. and community. Her labor of love has paid off tremendously. Her customers are happy. The local hospital is eager to carry her baked goods. People are ordering her products from out of state. Because love never fails.

Read more about Burson’s baking journey in her own words.

1. What inspired you to become a baker? Why the focus on gluten-free?

Throughout my life, my family and I have been surrounded by health issues and food battles. At the center of it all seemed to be common denominators – white flour, white sugar, hydrogenated fats, chemicals, GMOs, high-fructose corn syrup, dyes, artificial sweeteners and more. Watching so many loved ones struggle, I launched a personal mission to create healthy, delicious options that went against the typical American diet.

Plus, those with Celiac Disease and those with wheat/gluten-sensitivities are an important part of the population that have been terribly overlooked and under-served by the commercial food industry. I saw a gaping need and decided to step up and fill it, not because it’s a fad, but because it’s a real health need.  Now, it’s my daily goal to keep raising the bar for allergen-safe baking. At Third Coast Bakery, we create so that others who are usually left out can FINALLY celebrate.

2. Are there other highlights of your products?  Dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free etc?

Third Coast Bakery is a dedicated, allergen-safe bakery creating 100% gluten, dairy and soy free products. In addition, we offer many vegan specialties. Through listening to my customers, I learned that many people who cannot tolerate gluten also struggle with co-occurring food allergies, especially dairy, eggs and soy.  So, I upgraded my bakery to be 100% dairy and soy free

I also use as many organic ingredients as possible, and feature fresh local fruits as they come into season.  Customers seeking refined sugar free, low-glycemic, or no sugar added are also encouraged to shop with us, as we keep many sugar alternatives on-hand, and create custom orders based on their individual needs.

3.  What steps do you take to insure that your products are truly gluten-free?

We adhere to the strictest safety standards, using ONLY certified gluten-free ingredients, including the often over-looked baking powders, sugars, and extracts.  I interview ingredient manufacturers prior to purchasing. If the manufacturer can’t guarantee the ingredient is gluten-free, then it doesn’t go in our bakery.

Even our gluten-tolerant staff members refrain from bringing potential contaminants into the facility via lunch bags and snacks. No sandwiches, no cereals, no pretzels allowed! :).  I keep careful logs of what we produce, how much we produce, and when we produce it, so we can follow recall safety standards if needed. We have complete control over who/what goes in and out of our doors. (To see Heather talk about this further, check out my video interview with her.)

4. Can you share a story of a customer who’s been greatly impacted by your business?

I think the most satisfying part of the job comes when each mother trusts us with her child’s sensitive body.  It takes great faith and courage to hand that trust over to someone else. From the 4-year old child whose weekly highlight is our cookies, to the long distance cake order for a 3-year old, to a family’s favorite vacation memory, I’m reminded why I started Third Coast Bakery. One family in particular has made us a part of several family celebrations, from their daughter’s surprise engagement cake, to her wedding cake, to her baby shower!  The reviews on our Facebook page are also a great place to discover individual testimonies.

5.  What would you like consumers to know about your products and your business?

Our customers are the reason we exist. We bake with intentionality, mindfulness, and respect. And with a dollop of frosting on top, of course. Third Coast Bakery is in this for the long haul. And for special occassions. We make specialty cakes for birthdays and weddings, and other celebrations.

Aside from our storefront, you can also find our products in other local stores, such as Oryana, Olesen’s and nothern Michigan Tom’s Food Markets. In addition, many Traverse City area coffee shops sell our products. Find them all on the “Where to Buy” tab on our website. We also ship anywhere in the continental United States. Order thru the “Shop Online” tab on our website.

Third Coast Bakery Location, Hours and Contact Information

Third Coast Bakery
523 Munson Ave,
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 421-8696
Monday – Saturday 6:30 am – 4 pm
Sunday 8 am – 2 pm
Website / Facebook / Instagram  / Email

Third Coast Bakery is one of many great, dedicated gluten-free bakeries across the state of Michigan. Click this link for a comprehensive list of all the gluten-free bakers in Michigan as well as an interactive map so you can visit them yourself! Follow me on Facebook  and Instagram and for pictures and live videos too!

Originally Published March 2016

The post Third Coast Bakery: A Gluten Free Labor of Love appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.