Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro has been a go-to spot for not only folks seeking gluten-free meals but for those looking for a great-tasting meal. Mary Steiger and Susan Fulton are celebrating the restaurant’s 15th anniversary the week of November 11. Furthermore, they will offer free meals to veterans on Veterans Day, November 11.
Stop by, say hi, give them a big congrats, and have a complementary pink champagne cupcake to celebrate!
Here’s the interview with Mary and Susan of Gourmet Girls:
How did Gourmet Girls get started?
Gourmet Girls: Although we opened our brick/mortar 15 years ago, we sold our wares at the Heirloom Farmer’s Markets for a couple of years before we opened the bakery/bistro. Mary and I met in 2008 at a business networking group when we both had other business ventures where discovered our mutual love for making and eating food. Mary is a Scottsdale Culinary Institute valedictorian graduate and I’m just a girl who loves to eat, it was a match made in heaven.
We formed a catering company and early on had a guest who needed gluten-free pastries. We thought we could just buy some products, but all those years ago the offerings were terrible, and we didn’t want to put our names on that! So, we started experimenting with baking gluten-free goodies, both adopted the gluten-free lifestyle and the rest is history, as they say!
What was your inspiration and what set your vision apart from Tucson’s then-current offerings?
Gourmet Girls: We saw that there was an almost total lack of gluten-free products available for the local population in Tucson. We began selling a few products at the farmers markets and were blown away by the response and the number of customers that came to our booth. Many of them had been missing their favorite foods for years so we started making what everyone missed the most and our product line kept growing.
We quickly realized that in addition to bakery products, our guests were craving meals as well so we began searching for a location to open the bakery/bistro and opened our doors at 11 a.m. We were blessed with an enthusiastic clientele from the get-go since we were known from the markets.
How has Gourmet Girls evolved and grown since then?
Gourmet Girls: We have continued to grow our bakery product line and expand our breakfast and lunch offerings. We still continually ask our guests “What do you miss the most?” and then try and create it. Some recent additions: Pita Bread, Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Biscotti, and Pecan Sticky Buns — we are having way too much fun!
We have also become enthusiastic supporters of the Tucson community, longtime members of the Tucson Originals, recently awarded the Tucson City of Gastronomy Certification, participate annually in numerous fundraisers. We are members of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) and are honored to be working side by side with Tucson’s wonderful variety of chefs to produce multiple dinners for the public each year. And even more exciting, we became Chef Ambassadors for the Tucson City of Gastronomy, one of our proudest achievements.
What are some of the most memorable moments or milestones you’ve experienced during these 15 years?
Gourmet Girls: Memorable moments are every time we see a smile on a child’s face who never had a birthday cake before, or see a guest cry in the dining room because they are so happy to be eating fried pickles and onion rings.
What values or principles have guided you in maintaining the success of Gourmet Girls?
Gourmet Girls: That’s easy. Treat your employees like family (in some cases better) and every guest as if they are the most important person who ever walked in the door because they are. We have learned over the years that every guest has a gluten-free journey story, and the ability to help them is the most rewarding part of our business.
What never ceases to amaze us and what is the driving force behind what we do, is that there is a whole emotional side to being gluten-free, and for many people, it’s very traumatic, because they are left out of a lot of things. We are here to change that! Food is very much a part of culture and a focal point of most festivities and social events. We have created a warm, caring, and understanding space for our guests.
How have you adapted and innovated in response to changing food trends or customer preferences?
Gourmet Girls: We try to roll with some of the trendier foods and although we started out not making fried foods, we learned that our gluten-free peeps miss having those things. So, we installed a couple of fryers and now offer all kinds of items traditionally cross-contaminated and out of bounds for GF diners.
Can you share some insights into the local and sustainable sourcing practices at Gourmet Girls?
Gourmet Girls: Our favorite thing is that Mary harvests and makes all our prickly pear jams and syrups we use in drinks and cupcakes. She has become a pro at it, processing gallons every season. Also, we source sprouts, grass-fed beef, citrus, herbs, and pomegranates locally.
Is there anything you’d like to express to your loyal customers and the Tucson community as you mark this milestone?
Gourmet Girls: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Tucson rocks as a food center of the universe and we are so proud and honored to be a small part of it. We have the most loyal, supportive guests ever and you are the reason we do what we do. We are beyond grateful to all of you.
Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro is located at 5845 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit gourmetgirlsglutenfree.com.
(Editor's note 11/09/2026: This article was originally written in 2023 and updated to reflect current information.)
