Wichita mom of 10 opens gluten-free cafe and bakery using her family’s favorite recipes

Another business is going to give it a go at the cafe space near Central and Tyler where Eddie’s Cafe recently closed.

Stacie Alvarez — a local mother of 10 who has spent more than a decade developing gluten-free recipes for her children with wheat sensitivities — has decided to open her own cafe. It’s called Cottage Crumbs, and it opened on Thursday at 8643 W. Central.

She’s serving a rotating selection of baked goods, including cinnamon rolls, cakes, doughnuts and soft pretzels, and the cafe also offers a menu of sandwiches served on gluten-free bread and pizzas made with gluten-free dough.

“I just love baking for people, and I wanted to be able to share the things that I love and that I know that work and that come out yummy for my family,” she said. “I took all of our favorite recipes. I’ve always loved to bake and be a host.”

Alvarez, who has been selling her pastries at The Coop for the past year, said her children range in age from 4 to 27, and she wanted to open a family business where her “littles” could be with her and where her older children could help out. Three of her children work in the cafe with her.

She has given the interior of the cafe space a makeover that includes new paint and black-and-white toile wallpaper. People can take their items to go or enjoy them at tables in the shop. Alvarez also serves bottled juices and sodas and is working on a coffee menu, she said.

For now, the cafe’s hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Alvarez may expand the hours as time goes on, she said.

She can take special orders for cakes if she’s given notice and can even make items that are dairy free and egg free.

“I would love for people to come and enjoy the space,” she said. “We made it to be a cozy and enjoyable place for people.”

The cafe isn’t visible from Central and Tyler: It sits in a strip center behind the Intrust Bank building. Before the space was Eddie’s Cafe, it was home to Carpe Diem Cafe.

For more information about the bakery, visit cottagecrumbs.com

Cottage Crumbs menu

Denise Neil

The Wichita Eagle

316-268-6327

Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Her Dining with Denise Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. She’s a regular judge at local food competitions and speaks to groups all over Wichita about dining.