Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and very tasty chocolate cupcake
New Cascadia Traditional
~the gluten-free artisans~
NW Glisan St. between NW 21st and NW 22nd Ave.
(next to Trader Joe’s and in front of Sammy’s Flowers)
Portland, Oregon
New Hours (effective July 1st, 2008)
Tuesday - Friday 11:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.
Saturday 11:00a.m. to 5:30p.m.
Phone 503.887.4392
Teresa Atkins & Chris Gumke, owners of New Cascadia Traditional
When I found out that Portlandia recently gave birth to a dedicated gluten-free bakery, which just happens to be right down the street from where my good friend lives, I put it at the top of my list of things to check out as soon as I stepped off the tarmac.
Well, I wasn't disappointed! (C'mon New York City- Where is your dedicated gluten-free bakery?!)
It turns out that three years ago Chris Gumke, an artisan bread
lover, got very sick until he realized he was severely
gluten-intolerant. Living without bread was not an option for him, so
he started baking his own gluten-free breads at home. Soon he realized
that his own gluten-free recipes were much better than most gluten-free
items commercially available. Thus the idea to open a dedicated
gluten-free bakery, New Cascadia Traditional, with partner Teresa
Atkins was born.
Last year they started selling their gluten-free baked goods at select farmers markets and now they have their own retail outlet in NW Portland. The couple figures that if 1 out of 100 people can't eat gluten due to celiac disease, and that doesn't account for all of the other people that have chosen a gluten-free diet without a celiac disease diagnosis, then the market for gluten-free foods is wide open for a gluten-free retail bakery.
These gluten-free chocolate chip cookies not only look delicious, but they taste amazing! AND they just happen to be vegan too!
Clockwise: Cinnamon roll, apple tart, and bread pudding
If you have additional food allergies there is a small amount of corn in the powdered sugar items along with corn starch based baking powder in some items. There are no bean or soy flours used and the only soy to be found is soy lecithin used in the chocolate items.
Uh, have you ever seen such a gorgeous looking gluten-free baguette? [drool]
It was a typical drab Oregon day, so I apologize for the dim lighting. I still think the gluten-free bread basket looks fetching!
Gluten-free pretzels anyone? YES!!!
These handsome dinner rolls were being shy at the bottom of the gluten-free bread basket.
Gluten-free seeded bread, the favorite at New Cascadia Traditional. Trust me, this made amazing sandwiches!
Chris Gumke takes his bread baking very seriously. He uses traditional bread baking techniques to make the best artisan bread possible. Soon the bakery will be using a new oven, a deck oven, which is most proper for bread baking. Now this type of oven is mimicked by baking stones. Even the bakery name describes the joining of new gluten-free baking techniques with old traditional bread baking practices along with the term Cascadia, which is just another interchangeable name for the Pacific Northwest.
You can also buy New Cascadia Traditional products at various farmer's markets around Portland.
So, if you are ever in Portland, Oregon you must stop by and check out
what feels like your very own artisan style gluten-free bakery!
You won't be disappointed!
*************************************************************************************************
