Gluten-free South Bayers now have The Good Cookies in Torrance!
Some time in the last few years, a health food movement against gluten began to pick up steam. Gluten, a protein complex found in wheat, is usually avoided for allergy reasons though in this recent development it’s also associated with organic and healthy eating. Its staying power as a diet remains to be seen, but there’s no denying the popularity of gluten-free foods. Despite this, the South Bay is mostly underserved in this department — except for The Good Cookies, a bright, white & pink bakery located just at the edge of Old Town Torrance.
A History And Expertise
Despite the surge in popularity, the bakery is no also-ran or bandwagon jumper. Founded by Lisa McCulloch & Amber Trailer, The Good Cookies started 3 years ago as a vendor at the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market. It was there they grew fond of the South Bay area and, just a year later, installed themselves in Torrance. It’s also important to note that McCulloch has been baking gluten-free recipes for nearly 17 years due to her mother’s Celiac disease, a common form of gluten intolerance. These are goods made with experience, expertise and an uncommon care.
Organic In Every Way
For healthy living fans in the South Bay, the presence of a fresh, small business bakery alone is cause for celebration. One that also caters to vegan diets, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance and natural ingredients is a miracle. It’s an alternative bakery; they’re filling a need that isn’t served by the boxed cookies at your local supermarket. Even those that don’t adhere to a specific diet would be glad to know that these cookies contain much less fat and sugar than your typical Pepperidge Farm equivalent. Their philosophy of health and organic product doesn’t stop at the oven: even their packaging is recyclable and biodegradable. The health of their consumers goes hand in hand with the health of the environment.
Cookies & Beyond
But what would any of this mean without the food? True to its name, The Good Cookies primarily traffics in cookies. They come in all the expected varieties — chocolate chip, almond, raisin — but that doesn’t mean you’ll know what they’re like. As gluten is the protein that holds bread together, the mouth feel of their baked goods is distinct. It’s a thicker, chewier cookie that, despite the drop in sugar, still contains pockets of sweetness.
Supporting this formidable variety are other pastries and desserts. Brownies, cupcakes, donut holes and even sandwich breads are baked for your consumption and purchase. If you’re not looking to grab and go, there’s outdoor seating that allows customers to have a quick one-on-one meetup over lattes and muffins. It’s also worth mentioning that The Good Cookies is one of the few places in the Torrance area to get honest-to-goodness cold brew coffee, albeit in Secret Squirrel’s brand of just-add-water concentrate. Still, it’s nice for hot weeks when you need an icy pick me up for several days.
Healthy alternatives to our favorite foods are in constant demand. The key has always been to retain the tastes and characteristics of what we’re used to liking, while taking away that which is detrimental to our overall health. It’s a tough balancing act, but The Good Cookies shows that there is a way to do it. It makes Torrance a more vital region by its very presence.
Do you enjoy health foods? What types of healthy alternatives do you seek out?
The Good Cookies – (310) 320 – 7900
2081 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501
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