As the name of the bakery suggests, Zest Bakery & Deli, in San Carlos, was created by husband and wife team, Patrick and Charissa, because of their own passion and zest for gluten-free foods. Patrick is a diagnosed Celiac who was frustrated with having to search high and low for quality tasting, organic, gluten-free foods so he decided to leave the IT field and start his own gluten-free bakery & deli. Patrick and Charissa built Zest from scratch to insure that the facility was free of gluten-containing products. Their bakery-café is a cheerful, sunny spot to visit and it’s truly a safe haven for those on a gluten-free diet!
Unlike most gluten-free bakeries, Zest Bakery & Deli does both sweet and savory gluten-free treats remarkably well. It’s rare to find that combination! Their products, when possible, are also free of dairy and soy as owner/operator, Patrick, is also on a dairy-free, soy-free diet. They strive to make their products using fresh and local ingredients when possible. The emphasis of their bakery and deli is to produce quality, gluten-free products with amazing taste. They do not use any stabilizers or preservatives in their products. Due to this, the flavors and products are ever-changing at Zest – so they request that patrons call ahead to place their special order to insure that the flavor combination you are craving is in fact on hand for you to enjoy!
Zest Bakery & Deli offers a wide variety of both sweet and savory items. Their gluten-free, sundried tomato focaccia bread is a wonderful, savory addition to any sandwich or meal. It is perfectly fluffy and springs to life in your mouth. The seasonings on the focaccia are well-balanced and the local sundried tomatoes sprinkled on top are just the right sweetness to complement this bread. On the sweet side, their gluten-free almond cake and apple tart are outstanding treats. The almond cake would be the perfect complement to a cup of coffee at the end of a meal. The cake is soft and fluffy with an angel food cake-like consistency. The subtle almond flavor makes this cake a truly sophisticated treat. Not to be overshadowed is their gluten-free apple tart. This perfectly moist, perfectly luscious tart has an earthy and smooth flavor and tastes similar to any of its gluten-containing counterparts. In addition to these products, Zest Bakery & Deli also offers a wide selection of breads, muffins, ice cream sandwiches, cookies, pastas, and cheesecakes (cheesecakes made by the AntiCupcake Company). Mission accomplished Patrick and Charissa – the treats at Zest will end your search for quality, organic gluten-free foods!
A truly unique offering at Zest Bakery & Deli is their gluten-free, made-to-order sandwiches. Patrons can visit Zest and order up their favorite sandwich combination on savory, gluten-free, vegan bread. The spreads that they use on their sandwiches are all made in-house to insure a quality, organic, gluten-free product. Zest Bakery & Deli will make you feel like you have fallen upon a “Subway”-like sandwich experience for people on a gluten-free diet!
Just in time for summer, Zest Bakery & Deli will also be offering additional tarts and quiches. The tarts are not only gluten-free but they are made with hemp milk too so they are also dairy and soy free. Zest is also happy to offer a gluten-free, dairy-free quiche option this summer. The ingredients used in both the tarts and the quiches come from local farmers and markets so the offerings of both are constantly changing due to seasonality.
Zest Bakery & Deli products can also be found at the San Carlos Farmer’s Market on Thursday evenings as well as at the San Mateo Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. Visit these Markets to taste the most sought after products offered at Zest. In addition to these Markets, Zest brownie bites are offered at Flight Lounge, a wine bar in San Carlos, as a gluten-free dessert option to accompany your glass of wine. In the near future, Zest Bakery will also be offering their treats at Satori Tea Company in San Jose – stay tuned to learn more about this amazing partnership!
For more information about Zest Bakery & Deli or to place an order with them, please visit their website at: www.zestbakery.com . To add some zest to your gluten-free diet, come visit Patrick and Charissa and their seasonal, organic, gluten-free bakery & deli soon!
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