Fi and Me
BAKING CO.
Tim Carl LLC photos
Calistoga home business creates delicious gluten-free desserts
R
ecent polls show that 20 million Americans are sensitive to eating gluten, with more than 65 million seeking to reduce gluten consumption in their daily diets. And yet — even in the Napa Valley, where delicious food is only second to sublime wine — there have been few options for those seeking gluten-free desserts. But no longer. Calistoga native Laurel Rios has recently launched Fi and Me Baking Co., which is wholly dedicated to crafting delectable baked goods that are devoid of gluten. Some are made without dairy or eggs, making many of her items 100% plantbased. “I think I got my sweet tooth from my grandfather,” Rios said. “He always had a ‘secret’ kitchen drawer full of Ritter Sport chocolates, and so when I learned I’d developed a severe gluten allergy, I was devastated. There few gluten-free options out there and sometimes you just need a really good cookie.” Reimagining the future During the early days of the pandemic, the Rioses, like many young families, were forced to reimagine their normal lives. Rios 68 | INSIDE NAPA VALLEY
TIM CARL
Owner of Fi and Me Baking Co., Laurel Rios crafts delectable baked goods with the help of her daughter Sophia (Fi) and husband, Gustavo. The business was a fixture at the Calistoga Farmers Market in 2020 and 2021 until health issues forced a brief hiatus. Rios hopes to return early in 2022.
had taken a leave from work at a local winery because she worried about exposure. Her husband, Gustavo Rios, executive chef at Solage, was spending more time at home while the restaurant was closed, and their six-year-old daughter, Fi (Sofia), was home,
too, learning remotely while the schools were closed. “Family comes first,” Rios said, “and with all that time I came to realize that I had an opportunity to redefine what our future might look like.” FALL/WINTER 2021
