Gluten-Free leaving you wanting more? Try Kizbee’s Kitchen in OCNJ
JENNA Kisby followed the playbook step-by-step: go to college, earn a degree in psychology, land a job within the field upon graduation and live life accordingly. Easy enough, right?
But what tripped her up was the last part – “live life accordingly.” Although she followed the protocol, there was still a little voice inside her head that told her this wasn’t what she was supposed to be doing. And that little voice grew louder and louder until she quit her job to pursue a very different career: baking.
But not just any baking. Since Jenna had been following a gluten-free lifestyle since 2008, she made it her life’s mission to create delectable gluten-free baked goods that are so good that you can’t tell if there’s gluten in them or not. After taking a handful of classes at Atlantic Cape Community College, Kizbee’s Kitchen was born.
“Our mission of the company is to raise the standards,” Jenna said. “Gluten-free food can be just as great, if not better, than everything else. People should be able to take anything from our bakery, enjoy it with friends and family and no one should tell the difference. Nine years of that, I’d say we’re on a pretty good streak.”
It’s not just gluten-free desserts either, as there are vegan options as well – with a sprinkling of savory selections, too. With everything from pop-tarts to wedding cakes, Kizbee’s Kitchen strives to be inclusive.
Another location
The flagship location is in Egg Harbor, and – lucky for locals – a satellite location opened in Ocean City on 611 E. 8th Street underneath the Blue Water Inn back in July.
The new location is roughly 500 square feet in size, so all of the baking is done back at the Egg Harbor location with deliveries made daily (and sometimes twice daily!) to the bustling secondary store. Luckily the two locations are less than a half-hour apart.
“It’s been great,” Jenna said. “Ocean City’s crowd and community has been so receptive, so amazing. We’re so happy we chose Ocean City.”
The reception is a two-way street, and while it is great that the community has loved what Kizbee’s Kitchen has to offer, it all starts from within. Making it a priority to raise the bar for what baked goods can be has catapulted Jenna’s place into the stratosphere.
For example, most everyone knows what a Cosmic Brownie is – that prepackaged brownie with icing, little neon candies on top, and a score down the middle for breaking. Unfortunately, those are not gluten-free, and Jenna hasn’t been able to enjoy one of her favorite childhood treats since the Obama administration. With that idea in mind, she created a cake that mimics the flavor of a Cosmic Brownie that can be enjoyed by those who are gluten-free.
“To recreate that and have it taste the same as my memory is awesome,” Jenna said.
Kizbee’s Cosmic Brownie success speaks to its mission which is, in short, to level the playing field. Jenna wants those who are gluten-free or vegan to have baked goods that taste as close to the original as possible, if not better.
“I want our food to feel like home,” she explained. “We’re not here to be the sugar-free place or the keto-place, we’re here to be a memory, a moment of happiness and nostalgia for all those people who have food allergies.
“Food is such a backbone,” Jenna continued. “It can be better, I know it can be better. I’ve spent half my life trying to make it better. I know it can be, I know it should be and there’s no reason we should accept less.”
And it’s not just Jenna making this dream a reality. She’s a firm believer that without a great team, none of this would be possible. She notes Katharine Baker, one of the head chefs who is the mastermind behind the bakery’s cookies, available in a jumbo size and by way of a special “cookie of the month” box. Then there’s Robbie Kisby, the general manager and vegan pop-tart creator. And there’s Ocean City manager Lara Isabella – to name just a few members of the Kizbee’s Kitchen team.
Kizbee’s features a rotating menu of baked goods: cookies, loaves of bread, cakes, cinnamon rolls and so much more. There’s always mac-n-cheese on the menu, too, as well as savory options such as baguettes. And with fall just around the corner, even more treats are coming. (We’re looking at you, pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon).
Good food is part of what makes Ocean City, well, Ocean City. Everyone has their favorite spot which is what creates that lasting memory of time well spent on the island with family and friends. Now the island has a gluten-free bakery up its sleeve, adding depth and creating even more possibilities for families to create those core memories down the shore.
“I hope we become a staple that’s here forever,” Jenna said.
Kizbee’s Kitchen can be found on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @KizbeesKitchen. They are available for wedding cakes and other large scale orders for parties by phone (609) 618-4528, email [email protected] or by filling out the form on the website KizbeesKitchen.com.
Text by Anthony J. Mazziotti III