Gluten-free But Filled With Yum, Auntie Cathie’s Kitchen Caters To Local Taste Buds
Agawam, MA — Anyone searching for gluten-free, allergy-friendly or vegan options in Western Massachusetts should look no further than Auntie Cathie’s Kitchen. Cathie Cappa’s delectable bakery has everything from waffles to pizza and bagels to scones.
She first started in 2005 as a bakery and roadside stand, but many of her customers would ask about gluten-free options.
“It was one of those things that intrigued me,” Cappa said. First she tried recipes from books, then began adapting her own recipes. For a while she offered both gluten-free and regular versions of her baked goods, but the possibility of cross-contamination made it challenging. Cappa decided to shift her focus to only gluten-free options and was then able to increase the number of vegan choices.
The adjustment wasn’t too challenging because the ingredients are simple. “If you use fresh food without all the extra ingredients in it, it’s gluten-free,” Cappa said. “It’s all about making fresh, good food.”
Her grandfather was a chef so she was surrounded by cooking her entire life. Cappa began as a dishwasher in Boston then moved her way up until she began preparing food professionally and loved it.
“There was something addicting about it,” Cappa said.
She began to develop a vision of her own place for serving food, and took steps to make that a reality.
“It’s one of those things where you say, you should do what you really want and live your dream,” she said. “That’s what I did. My dream was always to own my own place and now I have it.”
Cappa initially had a roadside stand until her table blew away. She created a more permanent structure, then hopscotched to other locations before landing where she is today. Along the journey Cappa expanded into a catering business that quickly took off. She offers gluten-free options for weddings, showers, graduation parties or corporate lunches of all sizes. She also has created farm-to-table dinners or will bring her food truck to parties and events.
“If you use fresh food without all the extra ingredients in it, it’s gluten-free!”
The bakery and food truck have remained busy over the past year. Cappa decided she could have tucked herself away during the pandemic but instead decided to continue baking and providing fresh food. She left orders outside of the bakery, visited neighborhoods with her food truck and provided cake orders to those who needed gluten-free choices. “People were loving it. The phone was ringing off the hook,” she said.
The coleslaw and meat loaf are from family recipes but most of Cappa’s items are her own creation. Her veggie burger, scones and pizza dough are among the popular choices on the menu but overall there’s one category she can’t keep in stock.
“All the desserts sell like crazy,” Cappa said.
Auntie Cathie’s was recently named a finalist in the 2021 Valley Advocate’s Best Of for gluten-free options in the area.
Discover the daily menu and food truck locations at https://www.auntiecathies.com/ and visit in person at 159 Main Street, Cooper’s Common, Agawam, MA.
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