Vegan bakery to the stars
Contributed by VeggieGirl
Gwyneth Paltrow, other celebs order from Bethlehem shop
...
Danielle Konya and her small but dedicated staff at Vegan Treats in Bethlehem are working at a quick, steady pace in the tight confines of the bakery's kitchen...
It's probably about 85 degrees in here but no
one seems to notice, or care. There is not a moment to be wasted.
Aside from the bakery's voluminous regular orders, they must turn out
600 more French pastries in just a few days for the Farm Sanctuary
Gala in New York, a celebrity-laden affair at Cipriani restaurant that
was held Saturday to raise money and awareness for humane treatment of
farm animals. Konya was selected to be dessert coordinator for the
$400-a-plate soiree for the second time.
No pressure. Gourmet magazine was expected to be there . Heather Mills
and other famous vegans and vegetarians were expected to be there. In
fact, the former Mrs.Paul McCartney oversaw the menu artsy-looking
32-year-old, is treating it the way she handles everything at her
wildly successful bakery at 1444 Linden Street: calmly, confidently
and with meticulous attention to detail.
...
Vegan Treats has long been known in vegetarian circles and its
desserts frequently sweep awards at Veg News, Vegetarian Times and
Satya. The bakery supplies most of the vegan and vegetarian
restaurants in New York and Philadelphia, and has just entered the
Washington, D.C., market, where word spread in a matter of days. In
New York alone, Vegan Treats has more than 40 accounts, including
kosher restaurants. Her desserts have been served at mainstream
restaurants such as Tavern on the Green. In the Lehigh Valley, aside
from the retail store, Vegan Treats are available at Balasia in Emmaus
and Everybody's Cafe in Stroudsburg.
Vegan Treats has earned something of a cult following among
celebrities -- vegetarian, vegan and carnivores alike. Gwyneth Paltrow
has ordered from Vegan Treats for her daughter Apple's birthday. Rory
Freedman, author of the bestseller ''Skinny *****,'' and a slew of
indie rockers such as AFI, Fall Out Boy and Moby are ardent fans of
Vegan Treats. On this day, Toby Morse, lead singer for the band H20,
text-messaged Konya from Los Angeles to say that he couldn't wait to
get to New York so he could get some Vegan Treats.
...
It's not unusual for customers to drive several hours to get to Vegan
Treats. On this day, Stanley and Martha Cruden of Niverville, N.Y.,
drove 31/2 hours to stock up on the desserts they can't get anywhere
else.
''This stuff is to die for,'' says Martha Cruden, who was devouring a
raspberry brownie while seated at one of the tall Formica tables.
The couple, who are retired and in their 60s, ''went vegan'' a few
years ago. Stanley Cruden said it was to ''get off all the medicines
we were taking. Can you imagine someone at 65 changing to become a
vegan?''
Their dietary change worked, they said, and they lost weight.
By the time the Crudens were ready to leave Vegan Treats and head back
home, they had stocked up on $200 worth of desserts that filled two
coolers.
...
''Our biggest problem is we're too busy,'' says Konya, who lives in
West Bethlehem.
The day is not over at Vegan Treats and the staff has many more
marathon hours ahead. The ovens have been running all day, filling the
air with inviting aromas. The head baker has been there since 5 a.m.
She scoops dollops of double chocolate and white chocolate chip cookie
batter and places them assembly-line fashion on parchment-lined trays.
She typically makes 100 dozen cookies a week. Today she'll just make
more.
wendy.solomon@...
610-820-6780
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read full article:
http://www.mcall.com/features/food/all-vegan.6393044may28,0,5991370.story
Approved by andyba on June 11,2008 | 08:41:29
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