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I have just heard of your bakery today - July 31st, 2009 Over a year ago, I started working a new job and all summer long, I had horrible pains in my stomach. Today even is not as bad as some days. Doctor visit after doctor visit - everything was normal to them. I tested negative for Celiac, but I still felt what I call, 'the fire crackers' go off in my stomach. My family thought it was nerves from the new job, but there was never silence in my tummy.
After consulting a Mom at church, who's family members are all gluten-free, I did the impossible...14 days with no breads/flour products. I felt like a million bucks - my family could not believe it. I was the bread lover...I was the family member assigned to bread products for holiday dinners. So if I don't have Celiac, then it must be a wheat intolerance - essentially the same thing as far as diet I presume.
I'm excited to come to your bakery in a couple weeks when I'm in St. Paul. I've survived all year eating meat, potatoes, cheese and veggies - but the desserts are hard to pass up, when kids want the cupboards filled. But I want to keep moving toward an entire gluten-free diet.
Looking forward to visiting your store.
Kari
Well about 3 months ago my mom found out that she had to start eatting Gluten Free stuff. Which was really hard for her because my family comes from people that love food! So it was hard for her learning that she couldn't eat just anything she wanted like she once could before. Then today my Mother, my boyfriend and I went to your shop after hearing about you from the Whole Foods Store and my mom was so excited that there was a gluten-free bakery. I had just made her day! Plus I actually have a couple of friends who are 19-20 years old (that's my age) and they have the same thing that my mom has. So I texted them about your store as well. I actually was thinking of maybe getting a cake from you guys for my mom's birthday that's coming up next month. Well I just wanted to tell my story and to also thank you for all you do to make people like Mom's life a little easier.
Thanks again
Nicole
I realized that I had to be on a gluten-free diet after my mother passed away this February. It was the last thing that I needed. I love bread. My diet for the past few years has consisted of mostly bread because it is convenient and my mom... a single parent... couldn't cook for her three children as she was dying of cancer. Being a teenager, I pretty much lived out of food from cans and off of grilled cheese and PB&J and bread. I ate a lot of bread.
When I realized that I was gluten-intolerant, I was really at a loss. Most people don't understand the power of food. Bread was a comfort food. In my moments of grief, I would forget my diet and order pizza or make a grilled cheese sandwich. I felt really sick most of the time, but the taste (in some odd way) was normal to me in the moments that I realized everything had changed. I was living in a new town, with a new family, without my mom or my siblings or my dog or the comfort of my room back home. Wheat was normal.
I had gone all of my life throwing up and feeling the emotional effects of gluten-intolerance. I would get sleepy and crabby. Still, after I knew the reason behind this, I craved bread. I had tried some of the gluten-free breads and wound up in tears because they were so bad. I feel stupid for admitting that, but it's true. I'd go grocery shopping and cry because it is not convenient to look for gluten-free foods and it really is hit or miss as to what tastes good. It's also ridiculously expensive to figure out what is good and what is not. I felt as if I couldn't eat anything. I was always hungry.
Then, this week, I found Cooqi. A friend of mine gave me a piece of gluten-free bread. I didn't believe her when she told me it was gluten-free.
I can make grilled cheese. I can make pizza. I don't have to eat the same thing everyday. I have bread. It's so odd how much better I feel, how much eating "bread" has helped my stress. Being gluten free is an uphill battle for me and will continue to be, but Cooqi has met my needs for sweets, for bread, for everything that I used to eat and all of a sudden could not.
Cooqi has helped me continue to do something normal in my new life. Cooqi has made eating mindless for me again. It's one less stress, one less minute wasted, one more moment enjoying what I'm eating instead of settling for what I can tolerate.
Kirstie
Currently, I'm almost 18. I started to feel symptoms on my 17th birthday/vacation in Kauai. That was the worst vacation I have ever been on. I lived with the symptoms for about a month until I cried nearly every day from the pain. I missed the first two weeks of my senior year because I was in and out of the hospital. The doctors never diagnosed me, I just simply stopped eating all gluten. The next day I felt like a new woman! By now I am diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and I'm proud to be able to educate people about it.
Emily in Illinois
I've been a customer since...the beginning. You saved me from a gluten-free denial tailspin and my daughter (diagnosed with Celiac at age 1) from never knowing what a good pizza tastes like. For that you deserve the Gastrointestinal Peace prize and our eternal thanks. Please continue to grow and be a part of making fantastic gluten-free baked goods a part of the main stream.
St. Paul MN
Actually my husband and I do not need gluten-free foods, but we
stopped by your bakery one day to get a present for my niece who does. And
I must say you have the best brownies we have ever had! We have told all
our friends and family that whether or not they need gluten-free foods, they
really have to try yours! I stop by as often as I can to get some treats!
Thank you!
Laurel Pass
I was just diagnosed with CD and have been very disappointed in the bread that I bought at Cub. I took one bite in a sandwich and had to spit it out because the "rice" bread was just awful. I was near tears and so discouraged. A friend told me today of your website. I am anxious to come to your bakery and try out your bread and many other items. Thank you for being there for us.
Brenda in Rosemount
I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1999. It has been very difficult for me to maintain the gluten-free diet because my symptoms aren't severe. It's easy to go into denial, but I know I have to follow it. Even though I've been able to find frozen foods and mixes, I really missed the fresh bakery goods. When I visited my son in Minneapolis he brought me to your bakery. I was thrilled to find so many choices to choose from. Now, whenever he comes to visit I make sure he brings a big order from Cooqi. We all enjoy eating your treats, even those who aren't celiacs. When he comes in for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will have him bring more and I will freeze it. If I run out before he returns again, I plan to place an order to be shipped.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful foods. It's so nice to have food
that tastes like the real thing again. You have saved the day!
Judi
I am in LOVE with your bakery! I live nearby and stop in often, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate and enjoy being able to find tasty treats and hearty breads that's easy on my body.
I've been gluten/wheat sensitive for the past two years and have gone through the "denial" phase like many others have. I really realized that wheat/gluten was not my friend, two years ago, after eating a piece of "regular" cake at a party, after my first gluten free week. I thought, "Maybe wheat really isn't problem for me" - needless to say, I was doubled over in pain (at a party no less!) and could barely stand up straight. That night I said to myself, "Ok, this thing is real. No more wheat, no matter what".
The change in how I feel since sticking to a wheat/gluten free diet is like night and day. People always say, "How do you eat if you can't have wheat?" I say, "Well, there's this great little bakery..."
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
This life change is SO much easier now that I can get fresh product, that's not loaded with the "bad stuff" that you can find in store bought wheat/gluten free bakery.
You are a wonderful establishment- too bad I can't take you all home with me!
Ann
I want to say "thanks" for starting a gluten-free bakery. I was diagnosed with Celiac disease a little over one year ago and it seems that many people have not heard of this. Sometimes I get the feeling that they think I'm one of those "health nuts" or just a picky eater when I try to explain why I can't eat certain foods. As people like you start in the gluten-free bakery business, word gets out to the public and that helps all of us "health nuts" become real people.
I haven't been to your bakery, but I'm excited to come and see what you have to offer. Thanks again!
I was in urgent care one Saturday morning with a pain in my left side, and was diagnosed as anemic. The doctor wanted me to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy, which I did. And then the dreaded diagnosis of Celiac Sprue, which of course I had never heard of.
That was in September of last year, and the next month we were leaving for Arizona (which we do every winter). I had little info about this disease, and for the most part I was in denial. I am 75 years old and have never had to watch my diet. Bread was my favorite food to eat.
After not really watching it for the five/six months in AZ, I saw my gastroenterologist here in Minneapolis and asked what was the worst thing that could happen if I didn’t watch my diet. Her answer: anemia, osteoporosis, lymphoma...
I have been very, very religious since then, and have found it quite a challenge to improvise, but I am learning to get along. Just yesterday, I heard of your bakery from a fellow gluten-free person, and found you on the internet. I have printed all your info and am most impressed with what I see. We will be visiting you in the next day or so.
God bless you for your efforts in making our eating more tolerable!!!!!
I had to start the gluten-free diet at the age of 18, (I am now 22). It was so hard for me to do after eating regular food my whole life. After a while I got pretty used to it and my gran and papa were always very kind and would get me new gluten free meals as they came out. The food just keeps getting better and better. Then one day they told me they had heard of a gluten-free store called cooqi and told me they were going to go for a car ride and find out what you had. They brought me a loaf of bread and OH MY
GOODNESS... it was the best bread i have ever tasted. They now go there about
ever other week to get me breads and treats from your store.
Sonja
Coon Rapids MN
