Restaurant Bakery Gluten-Free Ridgefield Special Dietary Needs Kid Friendly Dessert The CakeBox Opens "Swoon" Gluten Free Bakery in Ridgefield CTbites Team March 12, 2013 The Cake Box Expands and Relocates, Swoon Takes Over: Gluten free gourmet treats and cupcakes to live for... As a mother of a child who has Celiac disease and cannot eat any gluten or wheat, I’ve struggled with finding cakes and desserts that actually taste like the real thing. I’ve found some good options at local markets but need an occasional splurge for a special event or party, or just because. Thankfully, there is good news if you’re in Fairfield County: a new gluten-free, nut-free bakery has opened. Soon after Cake Box of Ridgefield moved to its larger location, the same team opened Swoon. Cake Box owners Robert Byrnes and Jordan Gregory, whose bakery is known for its variety of gourmet cupcake flavors and custom cakes, decided to open a gluten-free and nut-free bakery when Cake Box outgrew their Copp’s Hill Marketplace location. They explain, “We have been making gluten-free treats for customers that requested them. Now that we have a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free location, and can offer our customers the highest guarantee of no cross-contamination with other ingredients that may be problematic for them. Which means they can relax and enjoy a cupcake like everyone else!” In addition to the gluten free selections are several vegan and dairy-free goods such as mini chocolate bundt cakes, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cupcakes and banana tea cake. There seems to be a growing demand for these items and things will be added to the menu as demand increases. Also beneficial for many is the fact that no nut products are used in anything made at the bakery. Like a romantic love song you want to hear over and over again, some things remain consistent at Swoon – such as the selection of mouthwatering gluten-free and nut-free cupcakes in flavors such as Red Velvet, Sweet & Salty Caramel, Double Chocolate and Lemon Drop. “Many people tell us that they don’t care about gluten-free or nut-free – they just like our cupcakes,” Gregory says. My son Preston tried them all in celebration of his 6th birthday, and especially liked the snickerdoodle cookies, the plain vanilla buttercream cupcake and the signature chocolate ganache “life by chocolate cupcake.” I could see from his messy face and hands that he was in Cupcake Heaven. Joining the celebration, I enjoyed their wildly popular Sweet & Salty cupcake – the perfect combination of taste and texture with smooth strands of carmel and tiny crunchies on top of a fluffy, sweet creamy frosting, above an airy bed of vanilla cake. “Our relationship with our customers is very special. We always have samples for people to try when they come in and we want their feedback,” Gregory says. “Because we bake everything ourselves on premises, we can experiment.” Swoon also makes layer cakes by special order. According to Gregory, “Many people with celiac disease, gluten-sensitivity or a nut-allergy, or dairy allergy have had to do all their own baking for years. The joy they get from being able to buy a bakery birthday cake that they can fully enjoy is incredible.” Going “G-free” is a necessity for some people and a choice for others. Swoon is a gluten-free and nut-free gourmet bakery specializing in cupcakes, cookies and other desserts located at 109 Danbury Road in the Copp’s Hill Common Marketplace. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. All items are made fresh on premises daily. More information about Swoon may be found at www.swoonglutenfree.com. More information about The Cake Box may be found at www.thecakeboxofct.com. Swoon Gluten Free Bakery 109 Danbury Road Ridgefield, CT 06877 203 438-4326 www.swoonglutenfree.com About the author: Catherine Siroka is a mother of two active boys and the editor of Macaroni Kid (www.westport.macaronikid.com) , a weekly parenting newsletter for local families. When she’s not cleaning or dreaming about chocolate, she welcomes your comments at catherines@macaronikid.com. Photography courtesy of Todd Brown, co-owner of 109 Cheese and Wine Shop next door to Swoon in Ridgefield.
