Move over Babycakes. Here in Chicagoland, everyone knows that the place to eat is Rose’s bakery. If you tell someone that you have a gluten intolerance, they will invariably suggest that you go to Rose’s. People eat there even if they don’t have food intolerances or allergies.
Rose and her family operate a gluten-free, peanut-free, GMO-free bakery in Evanston. People drive for over an hour to get bread that tastes like bread, to get pie crusts, pizza with a real chewy crust (I am from New Jersey and wasn’t diagnosed until my 40s…I know what pizza is supposed to taste like) pitas (which make awesome mini-pizzas for birthday parties) and, if you are lucky croissants. Real ones, not crescent rolls. These are as airy and buttery as “real” croissants.
Rose does use dairy, tree nuts, and eggs in many of her recipes, but many are free of all allergens and her website lists what is available with each restriction. She has a seeded sandwich bread that tastes like real seven grain bread and yet is both gluten-free and vegan. I mean no disrespect to other brands, but for a gluten-free vegan bread, this stuff is really good. It tastes like bread and it is the right density.
She also runs a cafe where people can get breakfast or lunch and plenty of people with no dietary restrictions eat there regularly. We missed Mother’s Day due to a T-ball conflict, but we will be back there once T-ball ends.
She does mail order so if you can handle eggs and / or dairy and want to get some pitas or crossants you can find her at the following web address.
