Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Aussie Bakery bakes gluten-free delights

Cookies

Hidden near the San Antonio Zoo and Brackenridge Park, Little Aussie Bakery & Café continues to satisfy hungry taste buds with its 100 percent gluten-free menu.

Gluten-free foods are often stereotyped by their stiff, bitter taste. However, Little Aussie Bakery & Café clearly overcame that problem; it was named one of 2011’s Top 10 Bread Bakers in America by Dessert Professional, beating out numerous non-gluten-free restaurants.

Founders of the bakery and café, Rita Sturzbecher and John Apostolovic, left Australia in 2003 to work as registered nurses in America. Seeing the harsh effects that food intolerances can have on the body, the pair dedicated themselves to opening a bakery and café where people could go and not have to worry about cross contamination aggravating their food allergies.

Sturzbecher and Apostolovic also set out to prepare foods that would make people exclaim, “That was delicious,” rather than, “Not bad for gluten-free.” After visiting Little Aussie Bakery & Café, one would undoubtedly agree that Sturzbecher and Apostolovic certainly accomplished their goals.

The food at Little Aussie Bakery & Café is “like heaven on a plate,” says staff member, Brittany Hoefert. The decorative pizzas, extravagant desserts and fresh breads still manage to delight those without food allergies.

“The Lot” pizza contains everything that a well-made pizza should — warm, gooey mozzarella cheese, rich tomato sauce, zesty pepperoni, juicy sausage, fresh veggies and a soft crust with crisp exterior, a combination that every pizza lover has come to expect. At Little Aussie Bakery & Café, gobbling down “The Lot” is definitely a given, and seconds are common.

If in the mood for something light, “The Great Big Aussie Sanger” is the best bet. This unique sandwich contains lettuce, sliced tomato, bell peppers, peanut butter, yogurt, a hint of chili and roasted bell pepper sauce nestled between two slices of their award-winning bread and a side of fresh in season fruit. The delicious variety of flavor in “The Great Big Aussie Sanger” will surely send taste buds on a roller coaster ride to food heaven.

As for the desserts, everything is delicious! However, the pie is the most popular of them all.

“A lot of people come in for the pies, not because they’re gluten-free, but because they’re really, really good,” Hoefert said.

Perfectly confected, each pie slice screams to be eaten from its glass prison.

Little Aussie Bakery & Café also offers free wine with every dinner entrée. Check their Facebook for free loaves of bread coupons and drawings to win a free dinner for two.

Little Aussie Bakery is located at 3610 Avenue B and is open Tue. thru Thur. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m to 9 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

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