One of the nice things about Beijing is that there are always new things to discover. On my recent outing to the International Newcomers Network (INN) monthly meeting, I bumped into Jonathan Ellis, a man whose business card pegged him simply as Baker. Fortunately for Beijingites, this “baker” is also the purveyor of Big Bear Baked Goods, i.e. cookies, pastries, pies, and confections. Frankly, it was difficult for me not to be ensnared by Jonathan’s table at INN because of the numerous bags of chocolate chip cookies for sale and the plate of free samples. But for my gluten intolerance, I would have gorged on the samples until he was forced to beat me away with a spatula. Instead, I opted to buy a bag to surprise my darlings back home.
When asked about the possibility of gluten-free options, Jonathan told me not to despair as he had heard the anguished pleas of others in my predicament and was formulating his own gluten-free recipes. Although he could not tell me exactly when his own gluten-free options would be available, I’ll be keeping an eye on his website, www.bigbearbakedgoods.com to see what he whips up. He mentioned that his website is being overhauled, so if you have any questions or want to place an order, you can also email him at bigbearbakedgoods@gmail.com.
As for the cookies I took home, they were eagerly consumed by my lovelies who seemed irked I hadn’t brought more. Fortunately, Jonathan will continue to bake so I don’t have to.
Photo courtesy of Fristle (Flickr)
