Our plane touched down at about 11 a.m. yesterday in Seattle. By 12:30, we were pulling up to our first stop: The Flying Apron Bakery.  In this major trip where we decide whether or not to plan to move to Seattle or Vancouver in a year, the particular detail that has excited me the most about our visit is that we would get to eat at The Flying Apron.
You see, I can’t eat gluten, soy, eggs, or cow dairy. And The Flying Apron is an entirely gluten-free, vegan bakery/restaurant that doesn’t use soy except maybe in an occasional special. That means I can walk into the bakery and pick out anything–anything I want! I’m used to being able to find one food–two of the most–at a limited number of restaurants, and normal bakeries are, quite frankly, entirely off-limits. Even most gluten-free bakeries either rely heavily on eggs or on soy. So something that I used to take for granted–wide-open food options–is now a struggle when I eat out. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t regret the changes I’ve made. I feel much, much better than I have in a long time, and I know that I’m doing what’s right for my body. But there is something about being able to walk into a bakery and be able to order, confidently, anything I want off a menu. It’s an experience I’ve missed.
Honestly, by the time we got to the cashier, when I tried to tell him how much it meant to me, I got a little bit choked up. Again today, it makes me a bit teary.  Look at some of the options that greeted me:
Every item had its ingredient listed posted next to it, and every item was free of my intolerances and allergies. (I really can’t get over it.)
Despite the fact that we’d had an East Coast lunch of PecanB&J on millet bread on the plane, we decided to do a second lunch at The Flying Apron.
I had a calzone–the first calzone I’ve had in many, many years. I quit eating cheesy, greasy, doughy calzones because–guess what?–they made me sick. I assumed it was the grease, and I’m sure that didn’t help, but of course now I know I was literally harming myself with the gluten and cheese. At The Flying Apron, I ate my delicious, hearty winter vegetable calzone with relish. I wouldn’t even stop eating for a photo.
For dessert–oh, the decision was so hard! But my husband pointed out we’d be back, every day we are here if I wanted–I had a cardamom chai cupcake with a cup of rice milk hot chocolate.  The texture of the cupcake was slightly dry, but the taste was awesome, and the icing was richly flavored and fluffy. The hot chocolate was as yummy as hot chocolate made with some kind of milk always is. (Hazelnut milk is my favorite way to make it.)
When we planned our trip, I thought I would absolutely gorge myself on my first trip to The Flying Apron. It was interesting and quite pleasant to discover that my healthy habits are really ingrained in me, because I knew better–both cerebrally and emotionally–than to overeat. With a few bites of cupcake left, I felt the meal begin to hit my stomach, which meant that if I stopped eating then, I would be pleasantly full. I ate one more bite but realized I truly didn’t want to ruin my lovely lunch by being disgustingly stuffed afterwards. I pushed the hot chocolate away and gave the rest of my cupcake to my husband, who happily ate it along with most of his cinnamon bun.
Afterward, we checked in at our bed & breakfast, and I took a glorious, full-on-bread nap for a couple of hours. I think I know where we’ll be eating lunch again today. . . . For now, we’re going to eat breakfast (our innkeepers are making me a special one–more on that later), and we’re going to hit Pike Place Market and Discovery Park.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Jen // Jan 10, 2008 at 9:34 am
Sounds AMAZING! The bakery might just well be reason enough to consider moving there, eh?! Hope you’re having a wonderful time full of great adventure and good food!
Happy New Year!
Jen
2 Cherie // Jan 10, 2008 at 10:12 am
That’s exciting! It’s always refreshing for me to go into a cruelty-free restaurant where everything is animal-friendly and you don’t have to scan the menu for a few limited options!
For shepherd’s pie, a healthy option would be to use legumes, such as beans or lentils. I much prefer to use lentils over any processed soy product, allergy or not. And lentils are high in fiber (meat has none) and low in fat.
3 Marianne // Jan 10, 2008 at 10:58 am
Oh wow, what a great find!
I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Seattle, and the come enjoy Vancouver. This is my 5th year living in Vancouver, and I love it!
4 ThickChick // Jan 10, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Wahoo for a bakery that caters to your needs!!!
What is prompting your move to Seattle or Vancouver? I am down in Portland, a similar (but on a smaller scale) city to both. I love all 3!
I’ll be interested in hearing your decision – it will be a major change (as I’m sure you realize!) from Atlanta. 😉
5 P.O.M. // Jan 10, 2008 at 4:24 pm
That is awesome! Hmmm… what about a business idea for whatever area you live in? Sounds like a good one!
6 Terri // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:39 pm
That is fabulous! I can imagine how it must feel to walk into such a bakery. If I found an entirely no sugar added bakery, I’d probably tear up as well. There is a bakery in Brandon, Florida that makes NSA cherry and apple turnovers, and I’m occasionally tempted to make the 8 hour drive just to get some. Starbucks now makes NSA Banana Nut Bread and since finding that out I’ve been to Starbucks waaay more often, whereas I generally avoid it.
I hope y’all have a great trip!
7 glutenfreeforgood // Jan 10, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Wow! I want a piece of that cake. The one that’s half gone — chocolate with white icing. Oh my gosh, I can’t even remember the last time I had a piece of cake like that. Great photo! And you look like a happy girl. I don’t blame you. Hope you enjoyed every bite!
Melissa
8 Les // Jan 11, 2008 at 6:44 am
So, there’s a neighborhood (like within walking distance) of the Flying Apron, right? Cuz that’s totally where you should live… or maybe not…
😉
Glad you found such an awesome place!!!
9 Kristen // Jan 11, 2008 at 7:12 am
sounds really good!
10 Amanda // Jan 11, 2008 at 7:16 am
oh, sally.
i’m so happy for you. 🙂
11 sally // Jan 11, 2008 at 2:01 pm
ThickChick, we visited Portland last year and really loved it; it’s also on our list of considerations. My husband finishes his Ph.D. in computer science soon (we’re hoping next Dec.!), so we’re figuring out where to go & what to do next. I’m visiting a grad school in Seattle tomorrow to see if that’s where I want to go. The problem with Portland is that, thus far, there are only two places that have potential to offer the type of work that my husband wants to do. One is Portland State, which he just learned will probably not be hiring in his specialty within CS. The other in Intel Research Portland, and it remains to be seen whether they are or will be doing the kind of work he’s in.
12 ThickChick // Jan 12, 2008 at 9:30 am
Ah, yes, jobs here are difficult. A lot of people move here because it is still a relatively affordable west coast city (housing prices and such), and has a lot to offer otherwise, but then find the job market is tough to break into. I know far too many overly-educated waiters and baristas. Seattle/Bellevue makes a lot of sense for a computer science phd.
13 Ricki // Jan 12, 2008 at 11:35 am
It’s great to read that you’re having such a wonderful time and have discovered so much to eat! The photo of the baked goods looks awesome. I’d love to know what they use instead of soy or eggs.
Also, congratulations on sticking with those good eating habits. You are really an inspiration!
14 Sarah // Jan 12, 2008 at 2:22 pm
So glad you are having fun in Seattle. I LOVE Seattle and am considering moving back this year once I finish school 🙂
15 Jenn // Jan 12, 2008 at 5:36 pm
How wonderful! I was just telling Dan the other day how much I can’t wait for our upcoming trips this year so we can try out some great vegetarian and vegan restaurants in other cities (St. Louis is absolutely not a veg-friendly city). As excited as I am about that, I can’t imagine how excited you must have been to find The Flying Apron!
16 Beth // Jan 14, 2008 at 6:19 am
Your story almost brought me to tears too. :’) I have almost the same intolerances as you, not gluten, but wheat, soy, milk, and eggs. It’s also my dream to open a bakery like this after college, when my love and I get to wherever we end up (likely Chicago or Pasadena), and your amazing story has solidified my dream a little more. Also, the food in that picture looks amazing!
Beth–How exciting! Will you move wherever I’m living then, please? :)–SPA
Leave a Comment