Wild in the Treats, Great Name, Great Eats
Call it bizarre, call it an anomaly, call it something different, but in actuality Wild in the Treats is truly a gluten-free bakery and vegan shop that opened Saturday at 183 First Ave, Atlantic Highlands with an official ribbon cutting ceremony that drew dozens of local residents to attend and sample scones, muffins, cookies and more at a shop filled with family, friends, and plenty of good things to eat.
Mayor Lori Gluckstein cut the ribbon to officially open the new bakery, along with its owner, Tony Panzica III, a former chef in a health food store who is fulfilling his life dream to own his own vegan business.
Council members Lori Hohenleitner, James Murphy and Jon Crowley were there with Gluckstein to congratulate the owner and his staff, along with officers of the Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber official Diane Marks, who presented a certificate to Panzica, noted the new business owner became a member of the Chamber even before he opened Wild in the Treats, saying he wanted to be part of the large and unique number of businesses that thrive in the borough.
Panzica was profuse with praise and thanks for his family and friends who helped him get the unique shop underway, particularly praising his father, Tony, Jr. of Middletown, and his sister, Dawn, as well as his late mother, who passed away four years ago and had been the baker at home who inspired him from childhood. The owner’s father, Tony, beaming with pride for his son, took some credit for Wild in the Treats, jokingly saying, “He wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. I’m his father!” The baker’s friend, Pam Valentine, designed the shop’s logo.
It’s clear that family and friends are uppermost in the bakery owner’s mind and heart, as he listed all those who helped redesign the building for the new business and helped ready it for the grand opening event.
But a gluten based and vegan bakery is already filling the needs of those who like desserts but have to watch their intake of this protein that is present in most wheats, rye and barley and can be serious,, even fatal for health, weight, or allergic reasons. It’s present in all breads, chips, cakes, cookies and pies and cakes. Health officials in the 21st century are urging either gluten free or less gluten in everyone’s diets for health reasons and to avoid serious intestinal disease.
Minutes after the official opening, Wild in the Treats buyers were in line out to the street to sample everything from granola bars and scones to a chocolate whiskey ganache and brownies. There are several varieties of scones, jelly bars, biscotti, muffins and turnovers. There are bags of granola and even applesauce molasses dog treats.
Panzica said though he is not a pet owner himself, he added the dog treat to his variety for the number of friends and customers he knows have dogs. “I just thought they would enjoy having a special treat for them as well,” he smiled. The baker said he has not yet added loaves of bread to his menu because of the size of the on-premises kitchen where he prepares all his recipes. The supply of more than two dozen varieties of baked and granola goods is only one portion of what while be offered on a regular basis, he said.
Large cakes, cheesecakes and bundts are currently sold by the slice, but whole cakes and breads like banana bread will also be offered in the future, he said.
Wild in the Treats will be open Wednesdays through Sundays every week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit them on Facebook, call and place orders, expect special offerings for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and welcome a new business to the borough. Located at the intersection of First Avenue and Route 36 in the mini mall that also houses a pizza restaurant, nail salon and Chinese restaurant, Panzica said there are parking both in front and at the rear of the building, with access to rear parking from W. Garfield ave.
However, hosing his pride in being a part of the borough and its Chamber of Commerce, he added “or you can walk up First Avenue and see some of the other businesses that make this town so great as well.”
