Susan Fulton & Chef Mary Steiger – Chef/Co-owners, Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery & Bistro
Mary Steiger started cooking as a child and by the time she was seven years old, she knew she wanted to be a baker when she grew up. Susan Fulton came from a family with a passion for food and always fantasized about opening a restaurant. The two traveled quite different roads until their paths met in Tucson in 2008.
Chef Mary attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, graduating as class valedictorian. She worked as a pastry chef in a variety of high-end venues, managed several large retail bakeries and owned and operated a bed and breakfast inn. Not so straightforward, Susan’s career path included studying anthropology, working in the business/accounting field and taking time off to live on a small sailboat in Mexico. She always returned to her interest in the culinary field by working in numerous restaurant kitchens and dining rooms.
Mary and Susan met in a business networking group and soon discovered they were kindred spirits who loved creating (and eating!) delicious, healthy foods, and who shared an interest in alternative forms of wellness care. They formed a small catering company and encountered a client who requested a gluten free cake. The pair began researching available products and were challenged to create something better. Thus began an exciting and ongoing journey of experimentation and education for the “girls” as they started creating their own repertoire of recipes while adopting the gluten free lifestyle themselves.
After selling their wares at local Farmers Markets, Chef Mary and Susan opened their bakery/bistro, where everything is gluten free. Gourmet Girls baked goods can also be found in many local restaurants. Thanks to community support, the girls are living their dreams while at the same time fulfilling the needs of their guests.
