If you’ve felt left out of Milwaukee’s bakery explosion, due to food allergies or dietary restrictions, there may be a welcome solution on the horizon.
Later this month, the East Side will gain a new bakery, which caters to eaters of all stripes. The Blooming Lotus Bakery, located in the former Love Handle restaurant space at 2215 E. North Ave., will be dedicated to offering delicious fresh baked goods that are grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, peanut-free, processed cane sugar-free and vegan. Note: not all products will be nut-free, though products that do not contain nuts will be available.
That’s a lot of "-free," but owner Susan Goulet says the baked goods that will be produced won’t be "free" of flavor and nutrients. In fact, she notes that the muffins, cookies, breads and other treats sold there will satisfy pastry-lovers of every persuasion.
According to Goulet, Blooming Lotus will be the first bakery of its kind in the United States. And she hopes patrons will see the offerings as wholesome and delicous for everyone, not just those who often feel left out when the pastry tray is passed around the table.
Goulet, who is also the owner of the Milwaukee Yoga Center, 3514 N. Oakland Ave., says the bakery sprung from her own personal experiences.
Having lost her father to complications from the treatment of Crohn's disease when he was 27, Goulet became acutely aware of the difficulties associated with specialty diets. Her sister has also suffered from food allergies since her birth and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was 27. Twenty years after her sister was diagnosed, Goulet found she was also suffering from the disease.
Goulet discovered that, by practicing Iyengar yoga and changing her diet, she could live free of the debilitating symptoms of the disease and without the medications most Crohn's sufferers need to take for life. That lead her to a study of nutrition and the development of the treats she will soon share at the bakery.
Hours for the bakery will be Monday through Friday: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday hours of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, visit the Blooming Lotus Bakery web site.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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