These local baked goods lack gluten, but not flavor

EVERETT — The search began with a phone call and almost ended in my car as I wolfed down a tall and toothsome gluten-free scone, the best to-go breakfast I’ve had in Snohomish County since I arrived three months ago.

But I had work to do, so instead of ordering two scones more, I headed off to my next destination.

For context, a reader called in the day before, asking if I knew of any local businesses selling gluten-free bread.

Bingo. I now had a food adventure (and story).

Not just any gluten-free bread, the reader cautioned: Her daughter had egg and dairy allergies. And she was craving a good hamburger bun.

The mission sounded simple enough. Then I hopped on Google and quickly learned that gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free bread is Extremely Difficult to find. Plus, I wanted it to be local (I know, I’m demanding.)

Challenge accepted. One reader’s request led me to a bright and airy gluten-free bakery in downtown Snohomish, a market outside the county, a home baker in Mountlake Terrace, and finally (finally!) a cafe in Everett that carries local, gluten-free and vegan breads.

By the way, as someone who loves gluten (I have King Arthur all-purpose flour in my pantry at all times, and my baking portfolio includes sourdough bread, babka, cinnamon rolls, 100-gram chocolate chip cookies…the list goes on), I didn’t miss it at all on this adventure.

Grain Artisan Bakery

717 1st St, Snohomish

www.grainartisanbakery.com/

(360) 799-6822

If you are looking for honest-to-goodness gluten-free pastries, cookies and cakes, Grain Artisan Bakery is your place.

If you consume gluten and just want delicious baked goods, Grain Artisan Bakery is your place.

You’ll find a range of cookies, cupcakes, scones, macarons, rolls, bake-at-home goodies (like their pies, including a vegan curried vegetable) and pre-order items like wedding cakes. As well as being entirely gluten-free (Grain is in the process of becoming a certified gluten-free facility), the bakery also offers vegan, paleo and keto options.

I stopped by for breakfast and snagged a spiced sweet potato and feta scone (they have a rotating selection of savory and sweet flavors).

By late afternoon, I was still thinking about that scone. It was perfectly crumbly, moist, salted and buttery.

I also ordered Grain’s top-selling cardamom ginger molasses cookie sandwich. It is a dream dessert: chewy, vibrant and not too sweet, with a vanilla cream cheese filling and crunchy sugar exterior.

The Snohomish bakery sources most of its ingredients locally, including their main flour blend from Kent-based Manini’s. Their ingredients are also grown sustainably by organic standards and are fair-trade.

Owner and founder Lauren Anderson started her business at farmer’s markets before turning it into a brick-and-mortar during the pandemic. She’s been busy ever since.

Alas, Grain did not have the bread I was looking for, but a wonderful barista there recommended a few businesses nearby, so off I went.

J-Bros Gluten-Free Market

17606 Woodinville Snohomish Rd, Woodinville

(425) 892-8677

J-Bros might not be in Snohomish County, but it is a dedicated gluten-free facility and only about 20 to 30 minutes south of Everett.

The Woodinville grocery has an entire aisle dedicated to gluten-free bread, plus frozen artisan breads from 5B’s Bakery in Concrete. J-Bros also carres gluten-free beer, cookie dough, desserts, pasta and more.

For my gluten-free hamburger experiment, I picked up some vegan millet and chia buns from British Columbia-based Little Northern Bakehouse.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from these frozen buns, so I was surprised by how fluffy, chewy and spongy they were. The bun held together well when I loaded it with a Beyond burger, jammy caramelized balsamic onions, pan-fried halloumi cheese and fig jam.

Everett tip: You can find Little Northern Bakehouse buns at Sno-Isle Food Co-Op. The Everett market carries a selection of other gluten-free breads like sourdough loaves, sandwich rolls and dinner rolls.

Good Choices Bakery

Mountlake Terrace

www.goodchoicesbakery.com

Alison Schweitzer went gluten-free and vegan a few years back alongside her husband, who is gluten-intolerant. When the pandemic hit, she joined the sourdough craze and found a plant-based recipe that yielded a delicious loaf with a crunchy crust and soft, mouth-watering crumb.

Soon, family and friends asked for the bread and encouraged Schweitzer to start a business on the side. Good Choices Bakery was born.

“It’s definitely hard to find good gluten-free bread, let alone gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free — all of that,” Schweitzer said. “My motive was to give others with food restrictions, opportunities for delicious food.”

Her bread can be ordered through the Good Choices Bakery website. Schweitzer delivers her sourdough loaves and dinner rolls to the Seattle area and offers pickup options for those outside her delivery area.

Customers have described her bread as “hearty, rustic, and delicious” and “for anyone who enjoys bread products.”

Catalyst Cafe

1513 23rd St, Everett

(425) 212-9364

One of the many wonderful things about Catalyst Cafe is there is no upcharge for gluten-free or plant-based substitutions.

Another great feature: This local coffee shop and cafe carries a selection of pastries and breads from Mount Vernon-based Shambala Ancient Grain Bakery & Bistro, meaning you don’t have to make the 45-minute drive for locally made, vegan baked goods.

From Shambala’s bagels and “better-milk” biscuits to pesto rolls and cinnamon buns with coconut icing, you’ll find a solid breakfast and snack option at Catalyst.

Did I mention you can order Shambala items through Catalyst and pick them up right in Everett? That includes their Sunshine buns, which are perfect for hamburgers and are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and locally made.

Mission accomplished, dear reader.

Contact food reporter Taylor Goebel at taylor.goebel@heraldnet.com or call (425) 339-3046. Twitter: @TaylorGoebel. Join The Daily Herald’s food-centered Facebook group, SnohomDish.