From diagnosis to dessert: Jacques Louise brings gluten-free baking to Midtown
“I want people to walk in and not even realize it’s gluten-free,” Savannah Kenney said. “I want it to be about the experience: the hospitality, the flavor, the joy of eating something truly delicious. Everyone is welcome at this table.” (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
For Savannah Kenney, food has always been about more than just sustenance. It’s about connection, comfort and community.
But when she was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2018 after years of searching for answers, that connection was suddenly severed. Gone were the Sunday suppers, the spontaneous coffee-shop pastries, the freedom to grab a slice of cake at a birthday party without fear. Her diagnosis demanded a 100% gluten-free lifestyle, one that came with strict limitations — and often isolation.
“I found myself sitting at the table but not really part of it,” Kenney said. “Everything had to be so carefully vetted. I started bringing my own food everywhere. It was safer, but it also felt lonelier.”
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Savannah Kenney Jacques Louise 17 Berkshire Overton Square Subscriber OnlyAre you enjoying your subscription?
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Christin Yates
Christin Yates is a native Memphian who has worked in PR and copywriting since 2007. She earned her B.S. in public relations and M.S. in mass communications from Murray State University.
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