If you’re looking for prepared Christmas food that is gluten-free or vegan or meets other dietary needs, you’re in luck. It’s never been easier to find these eats in Greater Portland. But for the people running the food businesses, it can be hard to keep up with demand.
A prime example is Chris McClay, who runs Modern Vegan. Her company offers private cooking lessons, public cooking classes and personal chef services. In April, she launched a meal delivery service, thinking it would be a decent sideline to her main business.
With three customers, she only needed to make 15 meals each week and it was all very manageable.
“Then all of sudden one week it went up to 15 clients and 45 meals,” said McClay, whose company is based in Westbrook. “Then it went to 70 meals and 112 meals. It was word of mouth and it totally took off.”
By August, McClay was in a tough spot. The orders were more than she could keep up with in her home kitchen.
She considered discontinuing the service, but ultimately decided to partner with Mary Ledue Paine, who owns the vegan-friendly Pepperclub.
Now the Portland restaurant cooks and boxes an average of 250 vegan meals each week for 50 clients. McClay delivers the meals on Tuesday mornings.
“There’s a huge demand,” McClay said. “Every week I get six to 10 new people on the email distribution list. Six weeks ago we were doing 125 meals, so we’ve doubled in six weeks. I think we’ll be at 500 meals by March.”
McClay and Paine are putting together a special Christmas week menu that will feature an entree with three side dishes and a dessert. Like all the dishes offered through the meal delivery, the holiday menu is vegan, gluten-free and free of added oil.
Modern Vegan will accept orders through Dec. 20.
Over in South Portland, Alexandra Gildart also is taking holiday orders. Gildart started a business in June specializing in baked goods that are vegan, gluten-free or meet other diet needs.
Called Clothespin Baking Co., the business only does custom orders and has no storefront. Gildart hasn’t done any advertising, meaning all her customers have found her through family or friends.
“Orders are going really well, really steady,” Gildart said. “It’s enough to keep me busy but not enough to overwhelm me.”
She will take holiday orders through Dec. 18.
Gildart, the mother of two, started the business because her 7-year-old son has a wide range of food allergies and can’t eat eggs, milk, nuts or sesame seeds.
“I was having a hard time finding kids’ cakes, so I started doing them myself,” Gildart said.
Soon others were requesting her colorful creations and she saw a business opportunity.
“My biggest specialty is the vegan part of it, but I also do gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free,” Gildart said. “Because I understand the importance of the safety aspect of food allergies, people come to me because they know I get it.”
Where to buy prepared Christmas food for special diets
Bam Bam Bakery, 267 Congress St., Portland
Menu: Holiday-themed cupcakes, coffee cakes, sticky buns, cookies and cakes. Everything is gluten-free and some items are dairy-free as well. Call or visit the website for the full holiday menu.
Ordering deadline: Saturday, with the exception of cookie platters, which can be ordered with 48 hours notice.
How to order: Call 899-4100 or visit the bakery.
More info: bambambakery.com
Bomb Diggity Bakery, 200 Anderson St., Bay 1, Portland
Menu: Vegan and gluten-free cakes, cookies and other sweet treats. Email or visit the website for the full menu.
Ordering deadline: Dec. 20
How to order: Email bombdiggitybaker@gmail.com.
More info: bombdiggity bakery.com
Clothespin Baking Co.
Menu: Offering vegan buche de noel cakes and iced pumpkin cookies. This custom bakery takes orders for any vegan or gluten-free baked good you’d like to enjoy this holiday.
Ordering deadline: Dec. 18
How to order: Call 749-1219 or email clothespinbaking@gmail.com.
More info: clothespin bakingco.com
Local Sprouts Cooperative Cafe, 649 Congress St., Portland
Menu: The holiday menu features gluten-free chocolate almond torte, vegan Maine apple caramel upside down cake, vegan pumpkin pecan crumb coffee cake and vegan cookie platters.
Ordering deadline: Dec. 17
How to order: Call 899-3529 or visit the restaurant.
More info: localsprouts cooperative.com
Lois’ Natural Marketplace, 152 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough
Menu: Includes gluten-free cranberry coffee cake, vegan carrot cranberry salad and vegan pies, including pumpkin, apple, strawberry rhubarb, raspberry rhubarb, blueberry and mixed berry. Call or visit the deli for the full holiday menu.
Ordering deadline: Dec. 18 for pies and Dec. 21 for everything else.
How to order: Call 885-0602 or visit the store.
More info: loisnatural.com
Modern Vegan Delivery Service, Pepperclub, 78 Middle St., Portland
Menu: Holiday meal kit includes an entree with three sides and one dessert. All the food is vegan, gluten-free and made without added oil. Visit the website for the full menu.
Ordering deadline: Dec. 20 at 5 p.m.; delivery takes place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 24.
How to order: modern-vegan.com/meal-delivery
More info: 409-7778
Whole Foods Market, 2 Somerset St., Portland
Menu: Numerous vegan items including sweet potato kale chowder, butternut squash puree, wild mushroom gravy, cranberry-orange relish and a full vegan dinner.
Ordering deadline: Dec. 22
How to order: Visit shop.wholefoodsmarket.com, call 774-7711 or visit the store
More info: wholefoods market.com/stores/portland-me
Wildflours Gluten-Free Bakery, 54 Cumberland St., #1, Brunswick
Menu: Gluten-free pies, stuffing mix, dinner rolls, flourless torte, cakes and other baked goods. Some items are dairy-free and/or vegan as well.
Ordering deadline: Dec 16
How to order: Call 725-7973
More info: Find the bakery on Facebook
Avery Yale Kamila is a freelancer who lives in Portland, where she writes about health food and takes advantage of all the vegan and gluten-free prepared foods made by local chefs. She can be reached at:
avery.kamila@gmail.com
Twitter: AveryYaleKamila
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