Pip's Place - the Gluten-Free Cakery on the Upper East Side

Pip's Place Cakery, the new gluten-free bakeshop on the Upper Eastside has opened last month. The shop is owned by Denise Cumming who became a gluten-free baker to satisfy a daughter with celiac disease, an autoimmune digestive disorder  triggered by the consumption of the gluten which is found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye. Ms. Cumming named her bakery Pip’s Place after her daughter, who is nicknamed Pippi. The Upper East Side shop has few seats and an open kitchen, where Ms. Cumming bakes cakes, muffins, cookies and squares. Instead of wheat flour, she uses white and brown rice flour and teff, a type of grain, as well as potato and corn starches. The blueberry muffin that I tried was delicious. Pip’s Place is located on First Avenue (westside between 89th and 90th Streets). Shipping is available and baked goods are shipped frozen. Contact information: Telephone (212) 380-6400, pipsplacenyc.com.