I’ve written about Chef Lila Colello many times before. The first article dates back over ten years ago and last summer, about the pop-up shop she ran in Narberth. Since her Celiac disease diagnosis many years ago, classically-trained pastry chef Lila has been helping gluten-free folks with fresh-made artisan bread, pastries, and other baked specialties. Her award-winning Flakely gluten-free baking operation has grown significantly in recent years, and there are no signs of slowing down.
After a string of highly successful pop-ups throughout the city and suburbs, she soft-launched a pick-up window at her new commissary kitchen at 220 Krams Avenue in Manayunk earlier this year. The move has allowed her to accommodate a large volume of orders and offer more products. Folks who pre-order can pick up at the window (near the pink door), and occasionally, she has extras for walk-up orders.
One of those newer products she can offer at the new location are kettle boiled and freshly baked gluten-free bagels, often requested by her customers. Commercially produced GF bagels leave a lot to be desired, and knowing only place in New York City that offers them, she knew there was a market for fresh bagels locally.
“After months of writing and re-writing recipes, and throwing away dense balls of garbage dough, and getting it wrong many times, I finally got it right and cried tears of joy!” Collelo recounted.
She was right. The response to her new gluten-free bagels has been overwhelming. The demand is so high she often sells out quickly.
Everything sells out frequently, so she hired a part-time baker to help with the volume. Because she not only sells locally, she ships nationally! Her gluten-free bakery empire in Philadelphia is on the rise, and she’ll be one to watch not only locally but also on the national gluten-free level.
Oh, and don’t sleep on the Peanut Butter Flakely Cakes, an elevated, gluten-free version of Tastykake’s “Kandy Kakes” – a childhood favorite!
Another good thing about Lila to know? She donates a percentage of her sales to organizations that stand up for social justice, racial equity, and feeding the underserved community. This month, though, she is donating 5% of Flakely’s sales to World Central Kitchen, which is currently at the border of Ukraine and Poland, feeding families who are fleeing the war-ravaged nation.
Follow Chef Lila’s Instagram to keep up!
Let us know another woman chef to feature. Get in touch!
Food enthusiast. Travel lover. Social media maven.
Independent Journalist. Food marketing/PR.
https://sogoodpr.com/
https://original.newsbreak.com/@marilyn-johnson-1587690
https://southjerseyfoodscene.com/
Email: phillygrub@gmail.com
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Marilyn Johnson
Food enthusiast. Travel lover. Social media maven. Independent Journalist. Food marketing/PR. https://sogoodpr.com/ https://original.newsbreak.com/@marilyn-johnson-1587690 https://southjerseyfoodscene.com/ Email: phillygrub@gmail.com
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