MARY STEIGER and SUSAN FULTON, chef/owners
Mary Steiger started cooking as a child and by the time she was 7, knew she wanted to be a baker when she grew up. Susan Fulton came from a family with a passion for food and always fantasized about owning a restaurant. The two traveled different roads until their paths met seven years ago in Tucson, where they discovered a mutual desire to promote wellness through food choices. The dedicated, certified gluten-free bakery/bistro is the result of their collaboration.
Q&A with Mary Steiger
Was your mother a good cook? What memories do you have of cooking with your mother?
I started baking when I was 8 years old, and not with an Easy-Bake Oven. I jumped right into the real thing, making desserts for the family from scratch every day. My mom taught me how to read recipes and work with fractions during the process. We celebrated the end of each nightly meal with a dessert created by the two of us.
What is the first dish you ever learned to make?
The very first meal I ever made was scrambled eggs and toast to feed my mother, who was having a sick day. And so began my lifelong passion for nurturing with food.
What’s your favorite cooking tool?
In general, anything stainless steel! In particular, I love whisks of any size.
GOURMET GIRLS GLUTEN FREE BAKERY/BISTRO
5845 N. Oracle Road. 408-9000. gourmetgirlsglutenfree.com. Tues.-Sun. 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 5-8 p.m. Tucson’s only dedicated and certified all gluten-free kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and weekend dinner. Fresh, real food.
