CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. — It's harvest abound inside Maximum Zen Bakery in Clarks Summit. Owner, Donna Vannan, has a whole lot of slicing, dicing, and chopping ahead- to fill orders this Thanksgiving week.
"A lot of people just want to eat locally sourced organic food, and a lot of people have family members coming into town, and they want to be able to accommodate them and have something for them, which is wonderful," said Vannan.
Her shop is primarily vegan, focusing on allergy-safe foods. It's a farm-to-table, using produce grown by farmers just miles away from the shop.
"I've been cooking my whole life, and I grew up on a farm," said Vannan. "My menu changes depending what I feel like making, but I definitely like to work seasonally."
Donna's been busy this holiday season, with more orders than ever. She says that's because of the growing need for allergy-safe food. The FDA said food allergies have nearly doubled over the last decade.
"One thing to know about allergies is cross-contamination is a very real and dangerous thing," she explained about home chefs tackling allergies in the kitchen.
So, Donna created her own Thanksgiving menu. She has options, including a 'vegan' beef wellington and, of course, the traditional fixings. She says she is working to accommodate any allergy, from gluten-free, to dairy-free and nut-free.
"People want to feel like they're part of a family dinner, like a celebration. I think it can be hard for people if they think they're going to go to dinner somewhere and there's not going to be anything for them," she added.
You can't forget dessert. She has gluten-free pumpkin pies and dairy-free tarts.
It's her specialty, serving up safe sweet treats. She's tackled just about everything, from wedding cakes to birthday cakes for kids with severe allergies.
"It really is so awesome for a kid to have their first birthday cake ever," she explained.
While Donna has a lot of work ahead of her to fill dozens of orders before Thursday, she says it's worth the work, making sure everyone has a safe plate to eat at the dinner table this Thanksgiving-
"I want to make food that my family eats because it's a way of showing love, affection, and just being together," she added.
Maximum Zen Bakery is no longer taking orders for Thanksgiving, but Donna says she's already working on a Christmas menu.