Gluten-Free Gab: Meet the Dietician Behind Braised & Broiled Bakeshop
Plus, where to find more gluten-free foods; and, in food news, The Little Grand Market adds a Mediterranean vendor.
Meet the Dietician Behind Braised & Broiled Bakeshop
By Erin Edwards
One of our Foodletter readers (shout out to L.S.) recently asked us to highlight gluten-free spots (see below), and during our research we met dietician and gluten-free baker Joseph Merritt Goldman. The Memphis native operates the home bakery Braised & Broiled Bakeshop and is a frequent vendor at the Worthington Farmers Market.
Although there are several gluten-free resources in town for cookies, cakes and pastries, Braised & Broiled is one of the few bakeries focused on gluten-free breads. So, I asked Goldman why that’s the case.
“It’s a little more expensive,” Goldman theorizes. “It’s also just, really complicated. So, I think that’s been the barrier so far for businesses.”
Goldman’s path to becoming a gluten-free home baker is also complicated. After studying neuroscience in college and working at the NIH, Goldman headed to medical school. But two years in, he decided it wasn’t the right path for him.
While reassessing, Goldman worked in restaurants and bakeries for a couple of years before deciding to combine the clinical medicine he’d learned with his interest in food science and food production. He went back to school and got his masters of dietetics at Ohio State.
As Goldman began working with patients and teaching classes on nutrition, Goldman’s interest in gluten intolerance and celiacs grew. “I was getting a lot of requests for gluten-free bread, gluten-free content and some nutrition applications that we can trust in, because there’s so much misinformation out there,” he says.
He started teaching classes at Franklin Park Conservatory and launched Braised & Broiled Bakeshop with the goal of “trying to bring safe, accessible food—with an evidence-based nutrition background to it—to people who need it.” The bakeshop currently makes a variety of GF items such as baguettes, sandwich bread, ciabatta, English muffins, bagels, pretzels and cinnamon rolls (a new best seller).
When baking his own breads and teaching classes, Goldman uses Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour, which is made up of tapioca, rice and sorghum flours. For the bakeshop, Goldman soon plans to switch to Celiac Cucina, an Ohio-based company that’s milling its own gluten-free flours. Celiac Cucina, which is based in Troy, uses “a proprietary blend of tubers, pseudo-grains, one ancient grain and one legume,” according to its website. (You can now find Celiac Cucina products at Littleton’s Market and Dave & Mary’s.)
Lately, Braised & Broiled has been focused on “continuing to reduce as many of those major allergens as we can, to make things as accessible for people as we’re able to,” Goldman says, adding that his bakery is now fully gluten-free and fully dairy-free.
“I think we’re pretty unique in the [variety] and style of breads that we do, which is pretty exciting to be able to claim,” he says. “I imagine as the years continue to go on, there’ll be some more folks doing gluten-free bread. I think it’s fun, people respond really well to it and there’s a need, there’s a demand.”
You can find Braised & Broiled’s products at the Worthington Farmers Market or order online at braisedandbroiled.com.
Where to Find Gluten-Free Dishes and Baked Goods
We recommend downloading the Find Me Gluten Free app, which can tell you which businesses are best for celiacs, which are 100-percent dedicated gluten free and which have several gluten-free options on the menu.
In general, certain cuisines are more gluten-free friendly than others. Rice-based cuisines like Vietnamese, Thai and Indian are often good bets—though you’ll want to stay away from naan and some Indian snacks such as samosas. Corn-reliant Mexican food (not Tex-Mex) is another good option. Ethiopian cuisine, which relies predominantly on naturally gluten-free teff flour, can be a good option, but beware that some restaurants use injera that includes wheat flour.
Here are some recommendations for gluten-intolerant diners (those with celiacs will want to call ahead to ask about cross-contamination):
Bakeries & Dessert Shops
Bake Me Happy: This LGBTQ-owned bakery, with locations on the South Side and Bridge Park, continues to be a leader in the gluten-free space, offering scones, blondies, oatmeal creme pies and other nostalgic goodies. The Whittier Street location also carries grocery items such as GF waffles, dinner rolls, locally roasted coffee and much more.
Cherbourg Bakery: Owner Geri Peacock’s dedicated gluten-, nut- and dye-free bakery has been serving Bexley since 2011. Go for the best-selling lemon bars as well as doughnuts, quiche, zucchini bread and much more.
Gluten Free Biscuits by Daddy-O: This dedicated gluten-free biscuit bakery has a storefront in King-Lincoln Bronzeville, offering a daily menu of savory biscuit sandwiches, sweet biscuits, cinnamon rolls, chicken tenders and more. Daddy-O’s also sells take-and-bake frozen biscuits and GF biscuit mixes.
Madelyn’s: In addition to its storefront in Granville, you’ll also find Madelyn’s gluten-free and vegan baked goods at several local partners such as Crimson Cup, Java Central, Lucky’s Market, Littleton’s Market and others. Madelyn’s is also a vendor at Dublin Market at Bridge Park and Worthington Farmers Market.
Staywells Bakery: Emma Stacer’s cottage bakery offers both gluten- and dairy-free baked goods such as muffins, cookies and cookie sandwiches. Order online at staywellsbakery.com or you can find Staywells at several local businesses such as Coffee & Cone Co. in Upper Arlington, Jennings Java in Merion Village and Little Ladies Soft Serve in Westerville.
Sweet P’s: This celiac-safe home bakery is based in Baltimore, Ohio. You can order Sweet P’s cookies, muffins, cinnamon rolls and other baked goods online or find a rotating selection at Coffee on High in Canal Winchester.
Whit’s Frozen Custard of New Albany: The owner of this Whit’s franchise has made it their mission to be a welcoming spot for those looking for dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan dessert options.
Markets
Fully Gluten-Free Bakehouse & Market: The name says it all. This Delaware market stocks its shelves with only gluten-free items and also houses a bakery on-site. You’ll find cookies, doughnuts, cupcakes, calzones and more. The market now ships nationwide.
Restaurants
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants: The restaurant group does a very good job overall about handling dietary needs, including offering plenty of gluten-free options. The Guild House, Del Mar and SoCal Kitchen & Bar are particularly good about noting gluten-free options on their menus.
Choripan Argentine Grill: Chef-owner Joel Linik’s restaurant is easily one of the most accessible in Central Ohio for those with food allergies and gluten intolerance. His Argentine empanadas, sandwiches and pizzas are all free of gluten, grain, nuts, sugar, seed oil and soy.
Preston’s: The popular burger joint, now with locations in Clintonville and The Little Grand Market, offers gluten-free options including GF sandwich buns and banana pudding with GF wafers.
SOW Plated: The menu at this health-minded Upper Arlington restaurant does well to highlight its many gluten-free and vegetarian options. You can also substitute any sandwich bun with an Udi’s Gluten Free Bun.
Notes
Around the Columbus Food & Drink Scene
The owner of Habibi Grill is bringing fresh Mediterranean bowls and wraps to The Little Grand Market (710 Grandview Xing Way). The new concept, Fresh & Feta, is expected to open in June.
In case you were one of the only people not in line for its grand opening last Saturday, Fox in the Snow Cafe’s Clintonville location is now open at 4203 N. High St. The bakery/coffee shop fills the former Hot Chicken Takeover space. Psst… Clintonville is the only FITS location selling doughnuts.
Columbus Independents, a nonprofit celebrating the city’s independent restaurants, is currently holding its quarterly gift certificate sale. Just visit the website columbusindependents.com to find discounted $25 and $50 gift certificates to such local favorites as Barcelona, Chile Verde, Refectory, Song Lan, Understory and more.