3 Apples Bakery: An artisan's touch and all gluten-free
In the village of Pakenham, west of Ottawa, there's a painted rainbow that stretches along a portion of its main street.
It leads to a place where dreams come true.
The dreamers are Cordon Bleu Chef, Matthew Dobry, and his wife, Kealy Mann, a doctor of naturopathic medicine.
The couple's dream is to make delicious baked goods - sourdough breads, croissants and pastry - all of it scrumptious and gluten-free.
"We wanted to make an uncompromisingly good gluten-free product," said Dobry.
"Whether you're gluten-free, or gluten-friendly, it's really something everyone can enjoy," said Mann.
Dobry is excited by the culinary challenge. He's worked in restaurants, hotels, and Parliament.
"My Dad is the best," said 7-year-old Esmee Mann-Dobry.
"He went to cooking school when he was 15, and he was amazing," she said with pride.
Matt Dobry prepares his artisan gluten-free sourdough loaves for the oven. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
Dobry owned and operated a catering business, but chose to close it during the pandemic. His wife, Kealy, gluten-free for 20 years, encouraged Matt to use his culinary gifts in the village where they live.
"For years, we’ve really seen the impact that food has on people’s health, so we really wanted to create a place to provide that healthy food for people," said Mann.
"She bought me a course on gluten-free sourdough baking and I started messing around with it. I baked a few loaves of bread and thought, 'Wow, this is pretty awesome,'" said Dobry.
Dobry believes his breads rise above other gluten-free varieties because of the process he follows. He makes five tasty varieties and each loaf takes two and a half days to complete. Long cold fermentations and superlative ingredients give his gluten-free loaves rich flavours and elasticity.
"It develops that texture and crumb that people identify with a hearty homebred bread," said Dobry.
The bakery is called 3 Apples - appropriate given family is at its core.
"It's called 3 Apples Bakery because my mother and father have three daughters," said a smiling Esmee.
Unofficially, though, there's another reason for the name of the business.
"It's something we shouldn't say because there might be some issues," laughed Rhemy, one of Esmee's older sisters.
Still, her father spills the beans.
"My mother-in-law calls me '3 Apples' because that’s how tall I am--three apples stacked on top of each other. Like the Smurfs," smiles Dobry.
Customers line up to purchase gluten-free breads, croissants, pastries and cookies from 3 Apples Bakery in Pakenham, Ontario. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
Mother-in-law, and fashion designer, Paddye Mann is the bakery's cookie chef. She hand rolls up to 600 cookies a week.
"I can't imagine not wanting to be a part of this dream," said Mann.
"People come from everywhere. They come from Kingston, Chelsea, Orleans, Stittsville, Ottawa - the support has been unbelievable," she said.
Often, customers' line up before the bakery is open.
"I just fell in love with the atmosphere and the people," said bakery employee, Zoe Thorne.
"The instant gratification that you get from individuals walking in the door. They’re just blown away that they can have everything in here," said Thorne.
The 3 Apples - Dobry and Mann's daughters - have their own views about why the bakery is a hit.
"Because it’s a gluten-free bakery and you can actually have something that doesn’t taste like garbage," said Rhemy.
Her older sister Lilah agrees, but also believes her family adds a special ingredient to everything they make at 3 Apples.
"It's this amazing place that’s forged by hard work and people helping each other," she said.
"You can really tell that a lot of love went into it.”
Her Dad agrees.
"We’re limited only by how much we can make right now. The more I can make, the more we can share with people, said Dobry.
"I see a very, very bright future for 3 Apples Bakery.
3 Apples Bakery in Pakenham is open Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza, prompting Israel to say it would send a delegation to negotiate – though it warned the proposal remained far from the 'necessary requirements.'
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
2024 Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's annual soiree
Fashion's biggest night out — hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each year on the first Monday of May — is both a forever-evolving spectacle and a carefully crafted event.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Concern over speeding in Fredericton neighbourhood grows after 2 teens, young adult killed in crash
Three people – including two teens – are dead, and two others are injured after a crash that has left a greater Fredericton community shaken.