ABOUT THE MISSING GRAIN
Our mission is to bring people together through exceptional gluten-free food and baked goods that never feel like a compromise. Everyone deserves to enjoy the comfort, joy, and connection that comes with sharing something delicious.
The Missing Grain bakery began with a simple belief that food should bring people together, not leave anyone feeling left out.
Owner Patricia Perkins has been developing gluten-free recipes in her home kitchen for more than a decade, refining them with the help of family, friends, and plenty of very willing taste-testers. She started her cottage industry business Craveable Bites Bakery in 2023, selling gluten-free baked goods that garnered rave reviews at local farmers’ markets in Georgia. Today, those proprietary recipes are the foundation of her first brick-and-mortar store The Missing Grain, a 100% dedicated gluten-free bakery and café.
Created for the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro regions, The Missing Grain combines the charm of a traditional bakery with a welcoming neighborhood café. Our menu features freshly made bagels, crepes, sandwiches, donuts, Patricia’s chocolate cake, and other baked goods—all made in-house without gluten or gluten-free wheat starch.
Our goal is not just to make great gluten-free food, it’s to make great food, period. The kind that makes you do a double-take that it’s actually gluten-free. Whether you have celiac disease, follow a gluten-free lifestyle for health reasons, or simply showed up because someone mentioned donuts, there is a place for you here.
We also offer select items made without nuts or dairy, along with rotating vegan options. Our focus remains the same: quality ingredients, broad appeal and the comforting experience of a classic neighborhood bakery. All of our bakery items are made without artificial colors or flavoring agents. We also offer select items made without nuts or dairy, along with rotating vegan options. Our focus remains the same: quality ingredients, broad appeal and the comforting experience of a classic neighborhood bakery.
More than a bakery, The Missing Grain is a place to gather, grab a coffee, share a meal and leave with more baked goods than you originally planned.
ABOUT PATRICIA PERKINS
Founder & Pastry Chef, The Missing Grain
Patricia Perkins is the founder, owner and recipe developer behind The Missing Grain. She has been following a gluten-free diet for over 13 years. Raised by a grandmother who taught her that food is one of the most meaningful ways to care for others, Patricia grew up understanding the power of a shared meal.
The Missing Grain is a deeply personal venture for Patricia. Her path to opening a gluten-free bakery began after a medical injury led her to discover she was unable to tolerate many foods, and required her to follow a gluten-free diet. During her recovery, baking became both a creative outlet and a source of comfort. It also opened her eyes to how isolating it can be when dietary restrictions prevent someone from enjoying everyday food experiences with family and friends.
While developing her recipes, Patricia began working with a food scientist to improve upon the taste, texture, and overall appeal of gluten-free baked goods. She also trained with Nashville-based pastry chef and chocolatier Heather Longpre to further refine and elevate her baking skills.
Today, Patricia’s carefully developed recipes are at the heart of The Missing Grain’s menu. Her mission is simple: to create inclusive, high-quality food that brings people together and is so delicious no one will ever feel like they are missing out.
