REVIEWS: Bakery Review

Pushkin’s Bakery – Sacramento, California

One of the hardest aspects of living a gluten-free lifestyle, is the lack of safe convenience foods, bakeries or restaurants.

Finding a place that is truly celiac safe can be challenging. Dedicated gluten and dairy free facilities are hard to come by.   

Many think gluten-free means it will be dry, grainy and not satisfying like the glutenous version, but Pushkin’s proves that when done right, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference.

Pushkin’s Bakery is a dedicated gluten and dairy-free bakery in the heart of Sacramento. Not far from where I grew up.

I was lucky enough to visit in October 2017 and July 2019.

In 2017, I flew into Sacramento from Hawaii, so I could visit Pushkin’s on my way to surprise my dad for his 65th birthday in South Lake Tahoe.

I went from incredibly excited to shedding a few tears as I stepped into the bakery and saw all the amazing baked goods.

It was hard to believe everything in the cases and on the menu were gluten and dairy-free. For me this was huge.

It may seem silly to some, but I have a feeling those who live 100% gluten-free will understand and possibly even share a similar experience.

This was the first time in five years that I could eat anything I saw in a bakery, let alone anything at all. Not only could I eat, but I could eat it without having to take a small bite and wait to see if I noticed a reaction before eating more, nor did I have to worry whether with each bite I was possibly making myself ill. I almost did not know what to do. It was such a relief. Places like this are hard to come by and pretty much unheard of on Hawaii Island.

At the time, I had eaten out only a handful of times since my Celiac diagnosis in March of 2012. In the beginning I was still too sick to eat out. Once I started to feel better, I was too afraid to eat out due to the risk of feeling ill. Pushkin’s removed all of this. Before my diagnosis, I surely took it all for granted.

While eating gluten free can become routine, the social implications are undeniable. From weird, even rude comments, to being excluded from gatherings, to the lack of safe places to eat out and all that is Celiac Disease and chronic illness. It is tough.

Places like Pushkin’s allow for moments of ‘normalcy.’ A moment where you do not have to be ‘that person.’ You can just be.

I am so grateful there are those out there that not only get why inclusion is so important, but also the need for truly Celiac safe options.

Naturally, while at Pushkin’s I bought a variety of items to try. Literally, everything I tried was delicious. Many think gluten-free means it will be dry, grainy and not satisfying like the glutenous version, but Pushkin’s proves that when done right, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference.

I shared my baked goods with my family who are not gluten or dairy-free. They said had I not told them; they would have never known.

It was fun to share such delicious Celiac safe treats with my family.

The best part was indulging and feeling nothing from it. My stomach did not immediately ache, nor was I nauseous, given a headache or any of the 300 symptoms that go with Celiac Disease and eating gluten.

After such a positive experience in 2017, and the fact that there are no dedicated gluten-free bakeries on island, I planned my trip to California in the summer of 2019, around going to Pushkin’s. I was unable to make it to the restaurant or for Sunday donuts, but when I popped by just before closing at the mid-town location, I was anything but disappointed. I bought rolls and baked treats.

We tried the Mud Pie Cookie while sitting outside the bakery. It was so good, we back in to buy 4 more.

This is truly the best gluten and dairy free cookie I have ever had. The Mud Pie Cookie is offered daily at both bakeries and at Sibling, by Pushkin’s.

Everything we tried was really good.  The menu does change daily, but the chocolate chip cookie, blueberry muffin, and the Mud Pie Cookie are always one the menu. The menu is posted weekly on Pushkin’s website.

I honestly cannot wait until I can get back to California safely and visit Pushkins, the Pushkin restaurant, Sibling, new bakery location in Roseville, and Babes Ice Cream & Donuts.

Let me know in the comments if you have been to Pushkins.

What is your favorite dedicated gluten free bakery and where is it located?

Pushkin’s Bakery Midtown Sacramento is located at:

1820 29th St. Sacramento, Ca. 95816

The hours are :

Monday: 8am-5pm

Tuesday-Saturday 7am-7pm

Sunday: 9am-4pm

Pushkin’s Bakery Roseville is located at:

1220 Roseville Pkwy Suite 140 Roseville, CA

Open: Monday-Friday: 7am-7pm

Saturday: 8am-5pm

Sunday: 8am-5pm

Menu for all locations.

Instagram @Pushkins

Sibling by Pushkin’s is located at:

1813 Capitol Ave in Sacramento

Check them out on Instagram @sibling_restaurant

The restaurant menu is available online.

The most recent opening was Babes Ice Cream & Donuts! A vegan ice cream and donuts shop. Gluten and dairy free doughnuts seven days a week, are you serious?! And vegan ice cream…I must be dreaming.

Babes is located at 2417 J St suite 100 in Sacramento.

Follow them @babes_vegan

So if you live in the area or are on a road trip, be sure to stop in to at least one of these amazing locations. I promise, you will not be disappointed. Be sure to let them know Gluten-free Hawaii sent you.

This post was not solicited or sponsored.