Overwhelmed by the showcase of gluten free, vegan, and traditional baked goods at Scratch Bakeshop? Their menu, categorized by the different options, provides an easy way to navigate which dessert you wish to indulge in. Ranging from muffins, brownies, granola, cookies, cupcakes, and even cake slices in gluten free, vegan, and traditional options, there’s a choice for everyone!
Scratch Bakeshop, which is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, opens at 7 A.M. every other day of the week. It’s located at 41 Russell St. in Rochester, only a 15 minute drive from Nazareth.
The designs inside Scratch Bakeshop make for an aesthetically pleasing trip. Surrounded by wooden furniture, white walls with spatulas and whisks on it, a personal favorite was the light up sign, saying “BAKE MY DAY.”
Want to support Scratch Bakeshop and its diversity to include both vegan and gluten free options? They offer sweatshirts, tees, totes, and apparel with the saying “Tough Cookies” on it. With each apparel item costing less than $40, it’s a hard deal to pass up.
The atmosphere of Gourmet Goodies was very open and spacious due to several windows surrounding the room. The bright lighting made for perfect photo opportunities, such as this picture of their Chocolate Fudge Caramel Heath cupcake; a chocolate cupcake with a rich and thick frosting sprinkled with heath bar crumbs.
The inside of Gourmet Goodies is similar to the feel of walking into a rustic, vintage, farmhouse bakery. Its wooden chairs and tables, fireplace, greenery, lights and their holders, provide a warm and cozy vibe you can’t resist to sit down and enjoy the calming environment.
Gourmet Goodies, located in a quaint part of Victor at 75 Coville St., used to be Joey’s Pasta House. Transformed into a whole new place, while the outside of Gourmet Goodies may not draw you in right away with it’s plain white and black theme, just wait till you walk inside.
Gourmet Goodies had several options available for gluten free treats. Muffins, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes and cut out cookies were spread around the bakery, with multiple customers entering and requesting gluten free cake orders and purchasing the delicious cupcakes. This cut out cookie is from Valentine’s Day with the phrase “cutie” on it and was the perfect texture and taste.
Get Caked, located at 274 North Goodman St. in the Village Gate, was difficult to find, but totally worth the hunt. After finding it and inspecting all 9 options for gluten free cupcakes, basic chocolate with chocolate frosting was the way to go. As a huge chocolate fan, but also lactose intolerant, Get Caked had vegan options as well as gluten free. This cupcake was by far the best gluten free cupcake. With its rich frosting and moist texture, it was difficult to take just one bite.
Walking into Get Caked, besides being captured by the cupcakes calling your name, customers attention is drawn straight to the spherical lights hanging from the ceiling. This picture, similar to The Lion King reenactment of raising the box of cupcakes like Simba is raised, captured the essence of the environment and even had a reflection of the shimmering lights glowing around the cupcakes to show how delicious they are.
Walking into the shop, there was no one. However, when seated to indulge in the cupcake, the rush of customers was consistent, especially full of families with little children.
Kelly, the friendly and constantly smiling owner of Get Caked, started the shop on March 1st of 2013, which means it’s been up and running for 5 years. “I didn’t have celiacs. I didn’t know I had celiacs when I opened the bakery, so I remember what regular glutinous baked goods tasted like,” Kelly stated. “I was able to take that knowledge and turn it into the gluten free, so a lot of people can’t tell the difference with a lot of our gluten free products because they still taste like a normal cake or cupcake.”
The essence of a warm and welcoming home draws many customers in. Immediately, customers are put into Wonderland with the gigantic teacup customers can sit in and get their pictures taken. They serve both gluten free desserts, sandwiches, and soups daily. Located at 176 S. Goodman St. in Rochester, it’s a perfect place to stop in if you’re nostalgic and looking for quality gluten free treats.
“The Mad Hatter has been open in Rochester about a year and a half, and they were up in Webster 4 years before that. I’ve worked here since January of last year. The most popular we’re actually sold out of today. It’s the gluten free triple chocolate cookie. It’s the same size as these, but I basically describe it as chocolate held together with chocolate and more chocolate.”
Walking into The Mad Hatter was like entering a scene from Alice in Wonderland. Decor corresponding with the Wonderland were spread throughout the bakery, specifically the Mad Hatter himself and other characters. Hit by colorful and vibrant surroundings, desserts, and people, it’s impossible not to feel an instant sense of nostalgia and smile when walking in.
