Our mission here at Renby's Sugar Shoppe is simple: handcraft delicious, gluten-free treats that everyone--even people without gluten sensitivities--can enjoy. We use local, organic ingredients when we can, and our wonderful gluten-free flour mix results in cookie and cake textures that closely match those of wheat-based products. Some of our goods are even vegan! And we promise you won't miss the eggs or butter :)
Ren Buenviaje was raised in a Chicago home where the stove was primarily used for boiling water and baking was a myth. Nonetheless, by the time she was 17 she had developed an affinity for baking, making cookies from scratch and attempting cheesecakes in her mom's $15 toaster oven. A job with the City of Chicago Farmers' Markets after high school enabled her to interact with food artisans and growers, solidifying her interest in food and cooking.
Although Ren currently works full-time as an IT security consultant, she spends her off time working in professional kitchens, most recently at San Francisco's Sour Flour and New York's wd~50. After meeting several coworkers with gluten sensitivities and recognizing the demand for gluten-free desserts, she founded Renby's Sugar Shoppe in August 2010 and is constantly in the kitchen developing new, gluten-free versions of classic sweet treats.
For more info, you can follow Renby's Sugar Shoppe on Twitter or check out our Facebook fan page.