Alanna Taylor-Tobin on her Gluten-Free Baking Journey and Life with Ground Up
At Ground Up, we believe that empowering women is not just the mission behind our apprenticeship program. It is a value we see reflected in the community around us. The She's Empowered series spotlights women who are building purposeful careers, creating work that matters, and inspiring others along the way. This month we are sitting down with Alanna Taylor-Tobin, the blogger, recipe developer, photographer and cookbook author behind The Bojon Gourmet. We've been a big fan of hers for a long time and cannot be more excited to partner with her and Raaka Chocolate on our newest limited-edition flavor: Chocolate Hazelnut!
Tell us a little about you!
San Francisco cat lady who loves to bake and creator of The Bojon Gourmet (Bojon = “no job” backwards).
What do you do for work? Tell us about your professional journey.
I’ve worked in the food industry since I was 16, when I got a job as a pantry cook at a local restaurant. Most recently I was a pastry chef at a small San Francisco restaurant, which I left to pursue The Bojon Gourmet in 2014. I’ve been a full-time content creator since then and authored the cookbook Alternative Baker: Reinventing Dessert with Gluten-Free Grains & Flours.
How do you stay motivated?
I don’t! Sometimes I go through periods of burnout just like everyone else. But every time someone tells me that they made one of my recipes and loved it, that they never thought they’d get to enjoy dessert again after going gluten-free, it feels really gratifying.
My older sister was diagnosed with gluten intolerance in the 90s, before most people even knew want gluten was. It made me sad to see her feeling left out when she couldn’t have the treats that everyone else was enjoying, so I started experimenting with alternative gluten-free flours.
I learned that I’m also sensitive to wheat, and also that GF flours have so much more to offer in terms of textures, aromas, and flavors. Buckwheat and teff are two of my all-time favorites!
What are your favorite ways to #spreadgood in your community?
I support small, local businesses, farms, and co-ops whenever possible!
Who is one person who inspires you and why?
My mom! She’s a psychologist who fought for women’s rights in the 1960s, and continues to engage in progressive activism now that she’s in her 70s. She’s fierce!
How do you work to stay centered and practice self-care in your busy day-to-day reality?
I cook three meals a day, take walks, spend time in nature, get bodywork, do a short Headspace meditation every night before bed, stretch, take baths, stay connected to close friends and family, and watch comedies because laughter is medicine.
What do you like to do for fun, when you aren't working?
I love hiking in the redwoods of Northern California, doing Latin dance, and snuggling my cats (though they don’t love that as much as I do!)
What are some of your favorite recipes with Ground Up?
They’re all so good on their own that I usually just eat them straight from the jar with a spoon. But I also love them dolloped over warm breakfast porridge, pancakes, or overnight oats.
Inspired by Alanna's story? At Ground Up, we are surrounded by women building something meaningful every day. Learn more about the women in our apprenticeship program and the mission behind every jar.
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