our story
Inspired by the loving influence of my grandmothers, Gert and Lil, and my own journey with dietary restrictions, I founded a specialty dessert company to spread joy and inclusivity and named it after them. As someone who constantly cooks, bakes, and carries a cooler filled with allergy-friendly food wherever I go, I wanted to share the joy and sense of belonging I feel when someone bakes a special dessert I can eat.
After 20 years of public service and building sustainable communities through non-profit and legislative work, and over 20 years creating desserts I love with limited ingredients, I followed my passion to establish a company that not only serves individuals with dietary restrictions, but also aligns with my core values of prioritizing people, communities, and the environment.
Whether you have dietary restrictions or simply appreciate wholesome ingredients, we want you to feel the warmth and connection of a sweet treat made especially for you every time you indulge in one of our cookies, just like if grandma made it.
meet gert & lil
gert
As a young girl, Gert and her family moved from Quèbec, Canada, and settled in central Maine. Her work life ranged from farming with her husband, to working in a woolen mill and running a lodge in Bethel. In the late 1950’s-early 1960’s she co-owned and ran the Winthrop Pastry shop with her husband, until he passed. There she decorated cakes, filled pastries, arranged bakery display cases, and welcomed customers. As you might expect, she always had plenty of desserts at her house every time we visited.
Grammy embraced life’s challenges with a smile and had a positive, yet realistic outlook on life. She was always there for us with chuckles, sweets and support –things we still love to share.
lil
Lil had an amazing heart, amazing work ethic, and amazing tolerance for others, including our grandfather, who whisked her away from New York City, and brought her to Winthrop, Maine. She worked behind the counters at Winthrop Drug for nearly 40 years, running the soda fountain and assisting the pharmacists, before the store closed when she was 81. In town, she became known as an “unofficial grandmother to generations,” and we were lucky to have her as our own.
She was so generous and “enjoyed” our first baking experiments years ago even when they didn’t turn out as planned! We remember summer days and holidays in her kitchen, with sugary treats always in reach. Grammy sure had a sweet tooth and we’re pretty sure she’d love our desserts even more now.