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Bake KIRARI WEST BAKE SHOP IS WHIPPIN’ UP YOUR FAVORITE GLUTEN-FREE GOODIES WRITTEN BY: TRACI CARTER HOLSEY PHOTOGRAPHED BY: BENJAMIN BENOIT
From the moment you enter Kirari West Bake Shop, you sense something special. Located off PCH in Redondo Beach, Owner Hiro Saito describes the bakery’s style as “no-wheat baking; onethird Japanese, one-third European and one-third American.” What makes the fusion—European bakeshop unique is that all of the pastries are 100 percent gluten free with a few vegan offerings as well. Most people don’t associate gluten free with tasty, sweet treats but the casual bakery is as much a favorite of those in the gluten-free community as it is for those who aren’t. Saito was not initially familiar with the South Bay. “I applied to at least five locations before this. As a first time business owner, I wasn’t able to get those locations and they ended up going to bigger chains.” He was persistent and eventually came to his current location. “I liked that it was close to the beach. There was a sense of community. My first
KIRARI WEST BAKE SHOP 707 N Pacific Coast Hwy Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310.376.5313 www.kirariwest.com
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impression was awesome,” Saito said. Although when he first laid eyes on the store, it was a bit of a fixer-upper, but his idea to design it in a modern way has transformed Kirari to the current open, airy floor plan. A fan favorite on the menu is the Almond Butter Brioche. The handmade brioche bread is baked to perfection with a generous amount of eggs, butter and a little sugar. Crisp on the outside and moist on the inside, it is served warm with just a hint of sweetness. The Japaneseinspired Custard Cupcake is another crowd-pleaser, filled with creamy custard bursting through the top. The White Chocolate Shortcake, a gluten-free sponge cake filled with layers of strawberries and white chocolate mousse, is a white-chocolate lovers dream. Not to mention the Vegan Brownie’s unique walnuts and its moist banana filler. No matter which pastry you choose, you’re sure to keep coming back to Kirari West Bake Shop for more!
Big in Japan • Owner Hiro Saito’s family owns a gluten-free cake shop in Japan named Kirari. It inspired him to name his bake Shop Kirari West. Native Knowledge • Instead of wheat, Kirari West uses rice flour, blended with various flours including tapioca flour, almond flour and corn and potato starch for texture.