A local bakery has been recognized for its unique treats.
Windsor's Healthy Creations has been named one of the 10 best gluten free bakeries in the country by Food Network Canada.
Owner Chris Brecka started experimenting with gluten free food in the '90s when her son and daughter were diagnosed with celiac disease — a genetic condition that prohibits the digestion of gluten causing intestinal problems. The only gluten free baked goods she could find were bland and dense, so she decided to make her own.
Brecka's food became so popular with other parents that she opened Healthy Creations in 2009 when her kitchen became too small to keep up with demand.
She was elated to hear the news.
"You know, you're wondering exactly how many gluten free bakeries are there — the best we could come up with was 88 or 89, 90 bakeries across Canada that do gluten free baking," says Brecka. "So I thought wow, that was pretty outstanding."
One storefront wasn't enough according to Brecka. She leased space for a large scale bakery to supply her original location on Dougall Ave. and Cabana Rd. Soon after the company expanded to Lakeshore — opening a location on Amy Croft Dr. She's also opened a storefront in London to keep up with demand.
"Bread is our biggest draw," she says. "That's the thing that people miss the most, and our bread is really good. So, the customers come in for that and then they try the treats and the cookies, date squares are probably the most popular, our turtle bar, or pecan tarts, we can't seem to keep those on the shelf."
Brecka says the Food Network based its list on Internet reviews and social media presence.