Kith & Kin Bakeshop & Bistro, Western New York’s only gluten-free full-service all-day restaurant and bakery, expanded its area of service to the University at Buffalo’s Amherst Campus.
In the Capen Cafe, Kith & Kin’s rolls, bread, and sweets, are a fresh locally-produced gluten-free option for undergraduates. The UB bridgehead is another step in the family-run homegrown gluten-free enterprise started by a frustrated mom.
Lisa Jermyn started the gluten-free bakery that would become Kith & Kin 14 years ago, betting on a West Avenue Lockport storefront to produce gluten-free bread, cakes, and more baked goods from recipes she devised herself.
After she moved Kith & Kin to a larger space on Dyson Road, the gluten-free bread business grew steadily. The recipes that she’d carefully worked out over the years because her three children had celiac disease and the alternatives were dreary became the basis of the new family business.
When it kept growing, Lisa’s husband Tim shut down his construction business to join the Kith & Kin team full-time. “That’s when I closed my construction business that I had for 16 years and started going back to cooking,” he said.
Good thing he was handy, because the business expanded again, into its current location, a former doctor’s office.
Now the former garage is a standalone bakery, while the former office is a proper family restaurant-bakery, with a glass-fronted case full of sweet and savory treats. There’s a dining room with table service, and a short-order counter with stools. Kith & Kin added a full bar with dinner service.
So far, Jermyn said, they’ve had to expand the parking lot three times. Starting out, Lisa Jermyn said, she would make five loaves at a time, and freeze some of it to sell later in the week. Just this week, the Monday baker knocked out 55 loaves, she said.
From just her, Kith & Kin has grown to 32 employees. That includes their daughter Morrin, who’s been working at Kith & Kin for 12 years. Which is how a mother figuring out how to feed her daughter made it pay for both of them.
5850 S. Transit Road, Lockport NY, kkbakeshop.com, 716-471-3305
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
REVIEW: Vinnie’s Minis has become a sleeper Niagara Falls favorite for two main reasons. First, the peerless cheesesteak on a perfect housemade roll. Second, tomato pie that deliberately evokes Trusello’s, doled out by the slice or the half-sheet. If you don’t know what the big whoop is about Trusello’s, find someone from Niagara Falls to explain it to you. If you can’t warm to the best cheesesteak in town, I can’t help you. (Later this week, for patrons.)
ASK THE CRITIC
Q: Where can I find deep fried cheese curds in Niagara County?
– Chris H., via email
A: There certainly may be others, but one place I know for sure has deep-fried battered cheese curds is Hoover’s Restaurant, an indoor hot dog stand from the dairy folks, guaranteed to have the best flavored milk selection in town.
6035 Ward Rd, Sanborn, NY 14132, hooversdairy.com/restaurant, 716-731-3830
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.
More local food and restaurant stories compiled by Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:
- Mr. Galarneau told us about the steak sandwich and Argentinian cuisine at Tangos 716 [Four Bites]
- Andrew also wrote about his favorite dumplings in WNY from places like China Taste, K Dara Noodle Bar and more [Four Bites]
- Bridget Fleissner is a local influencer focusing on gluten-free dining. Find her on Instagram –@gf_buffalo_and_beyond [Buffalo Spree]
- The Spree released its annual guide to farmers markets and urban food stands [Buffalo Spree]
- Christa wrote about local farms where you can enjoy a summer dinner like McCollum Orchards, Erba Verde Farm [Buffalo Spree]
- Brian gave us three craft beer golf tournaments that we shouldn’t miss [Buffalo Beer League]
- The Underground Niteclub has now introduced a loaded grill menu – Underground Grill [Buffalo Rising]
- Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about the 8th anniversary of Eli Fish Brewing, Water Street Brewing’s opening in Jamestown and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- Francesca wrote about the newly opened franchise of Kaylena Marie’s Artisan Bakery + Cafe [Buffalo News]
- Chrusciki Bakery has closed [Buffalo News]
- Brett told us about the flower cupcakes at Bakery Bish in Lackawanna [Step Out Buffalo]
- Newell wrote about Elmwood Village Convenience Store [Buffalo Spree]
- Mister Pizza has reopened on Elmwood [Buffalo Rising]
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