PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR LAS VEGAS' GLUTEN FREE BAKERY:
The most established bakery in Las Vegas is Freed's. Featured on plenty of TV programs, including Rachael Ray, they have provided baked goods to Las Vegas for over 50 years and are maybe the real cake boss when it comes to wedding cakes. After all, Vegas is the wedding capital of the world.
When you enter their new location, though it is clearly a bakery, the first impression was that maybe there is a telethon going on. To the left side of the store is a set up of three tables with telephones ringing off the hook , staffed by wedding consultants. Constant. Non stop.
While I was eating my Napoleon slice, the phones kept ringing and ringing and ringing. I just could not believe it. The cakes on display were very Vegas.....besides the traditional ones, they made some really weird, yet very creative ones, cakes in the shape of a Louis Vuitton bag, roulette tables, etc.
Needless to say, that made me curious. The manager was too busy to talk to me, I had to come back the next morning as her phone was lit up similar to a switchboard at city hall after a swine flu alert.
When I did finally speak to the manager the next day, my inquiry of course was all about GF.
Well, a short conversation it was. Very short. Nope, don't have GF. No, not even special order. Not on their radar. Cupcakes maybe, gluten free? No.
I can pay extra. Sorry, sir, we do not bake gluten free cupcakes.
Why not ? It's such a small market, they feel no need to revamp their production area to accommodate Celiacs.
Yes, I can see their point. 98% of all people can eat their cakes. I asked for a referral to someone, anyone really in Vegas who bakes gluten free. Nobody the manager could think of. She was very friendly and understanding, since her grandson is on a gluten free diet and her family needs to accomodate his needs, which in Vegas apparently is not so easy. They bake at home, she told me.
So. The greater Las Vegas area has a large population, similar to that of Calgary. But not only that, there are 34 million visitors yearly. 4 hours drive get's you to Los Angeles......hmmmmm. GF PATISSERIE LAS VEGAS. There is an idea. That could work.
Doc, are you reading this?