CafeLaDeDa Will Open On Saturday, July 2 in Highlands, NJ

CafeLaDeDa Is Coming To Highlands, NJ Opening On Saturday, July 2. The Public Is Invited To Nourish Their Well-Being With Healthy Fresh Fare & To Enjoy Lots Of Sampling Beginning at 8 a.m.

Highlands, NJ is gaining a business dedicated to promoting health and wellness in the community. CaféLaDeDa, a designated 100% gluten-free and Celiac-safe retail market, bakery and deli, will open for business on Saturday, July 2 at 8 a.m. at 71 Water Witch Avenue on the corner of Shore Drive, Highlands, NJ. The telephone number is (732) 993-7423. The website address is www.cafeladeda.com. Hours on July 2 are 8 am to 7 pm. The public is invited to attend, become acquainted with the range of products, enjoy a sample tasting, and to meet the new owner who is eager to engage with the community.

CafeLaDeDa was started in early 2016 in Middletown, NJ by lifelong entrepreneur Grace Sepe, now known as the ‘Gluten-Free Guru.’ After the closure of her original location due to the pandemic and increasing demands for gluten-free fare outpacing her second location in North Middletown, Sepe moved her base of operation to Highlands. The new location will allow for expansion, and Sepe is in the process of renovating and constructing space for a market, bakery and deli counter. Offering extended hours, the market will carry several gluten-free snacks, packaged treats, prepared meals like gourmet pizzas, and imported pastas as well as organic produce, chicken and eggs sourced by local farms. Gluten-free food and dessert options for vegan, keto and dairy-free will be available as well. The deli will offer hot and cold sandwiches and charcuterie boards. The bakery will have an array of decadent desserts such as the popular gluten-free cinnamon buns and donuts, just to mention a few, freshly baked bread & bagels, and custom cake ordering for special events. Catering services will also be offered. In the Fall, an online grocery store with delivery and shipping will be operational. For those who want to learn the art & science of gluten-free food preparation, CaféLaDeDa will have chefs providing cooking and baking lessons.
Many locals are already fans of the delicious gluten-free fare prepared by CaféLaDeDa as the truck has been stationed at ‘The Sandbox’ at Seastreak with favorites like wraps, salads, desserts, fruit bowls and parfaits. The food truck is available for private parties and events. The email for CaféLaDeDa is cafeladeda1@gmail.com. News & updates will be posted to Facebook, and Instagram as well as the website, www.cafeladeda.com

CaféLaDeDa opened in early 2016. It was not designated as a gluten-free facility, although there were many healthy food options. Sepe closed that location during the pandemic and moved to a larger facility in North Middletown, where she decided to wholesale gluten-free food and desserts to area businesses including Livoti’s, Corrado’s Markets and Taliercio’s Deli. The general public literally started knocking on her doors in North Middletown requesting gluten-free food, and Sepe noticed the demand was increasing. She started curbside pick-up and opened a dedicated pick-up spot, but demand grew so much that another move was necessary. Her new Highlands location will be a benchmark for health & wellness and a place where the community can gather to learn about living healthier lifestyles through dietary changes.

A dedicated spokesperson for raw, organic & gluten-free lifestyles, Sepe stated, “The pandemic has forced many people to think long and hard about health issues. Food can either help us or harm us, and nobody should be subject to risk-taking with regards to food safety.” One of her biggest concerns is cross-contamination. “There is a lot of cross-contact and potential for cross- contamination of food when restaurants try to produce gluten-free food in their existing kitchens. If they do not create some separation when trying to prepare gluten-free food in their existing facility, it can cause a lot of problems for customers, especially those with celiac disease. This is something that should be taken far more seriously.”
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