Stephanie Spear There’s a cafe on the George Mason University campus that’s in a class of its own: it’s the first certified allergy-free cafe on a college campus in the US. Patrons can get allergy-safe items such as breakfast sandwiches, pasta, sweet treats, and more, all thanks to the Difference Baker, a local business founded by Ashburn resident Alyssa Sobecki. Read on for more about Alyssa’s path to the Difference Baker and what makes the cafe so special.
The Backstory
Founder Alyssa Sobecki has had many careers before she became the Difference Baker. She has been a hairstylist, in the mortgage business, and a personal coach. While her career took her down different paths, her and her family’s dietary needs were leading her to what ultimately became the Difference Baker. “And I have been blessed with many food allergies,” she said, wryly. “And all three of my kids and husbands have food allergies.”
Alyssa Sobecki. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Sobecki.
As Alyssa tinkered in her kitchen with food that was safe and enjoyable for her family, she realized how many other people faced similar challenges. “We saw the need, and realized the demand was there,” she said. “I didn’t even realize what I was doing until now. I can look back and realize, I was actually creating the difference baker all along.”
“We decided to make it into a business in May 2019 and by September of 2019 were in our space in Ashburn,” Alyssa said. She worked with a recipe developer to tweak her own recipes and to get things up and running, and found a space in Ashburn that a commercial kitchen and a small cafe space. Then, we all know what happened in 2020. “COVID shut us down for about six months, but we kept going,” she said.
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The recipes are tested for quality and tastiness, and the ingredients are certified free from the top six allergens: gluten, peanut, tree nut, soy, fish, sesame, and crustacean. The Difference Baker became the first bakery in Virginia to receive the Certified Free From™️ accreditation. This accreditation is a third-party testing certification process to ensure foods are allergy-free.
Campus Connections
The Difference Baker has a cafe and shop on the main campus of George Mason University. Alyssa originally reached out to the GMU team to talk about starting a vending machine, but the conversation evolved, and now the Difference Baker has been part of the campus community since 2023. “The reaction from students and families has been phenomenal,” Alyssa said.
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In addition to the breakfast and lunch menus, there are freezers stocked with ready-to-go options. Per a statement from GMU, The Difference Baker [is] the first retail location on a college campus in the nation to offer a truly allergy-friendly experience, surpassing all expectations with its unparalleled dedication to allergen inclusivity.”
Cinnamon rolls. Image courtesy of the Difference Baker.
“This whole space is allergy safe,” she said, gesturing to the cafe. “No outside food is allowed in and we have separate microwaves and toaster ovens for students to use.” Part of being on the GMU campus means that Alyssa has worked with Dining Services to educate them about food allergies and cross-contamination. “They do a really good job,” she said. “We’re able to take things to another level here.”
Current Offerings
The menu at the Difference Baker includes sweet and savory options, snacks, treats, and meals. There are also frozen items for patrons to take-and-bake. Two items of note, per Alyssa, are the chocolate doughnuts, “my favorite,” she said, and the strombolis, which were one of her original family recipes translated for the business.
Perhaps what’s notable about the menus is that they’re typical: all of the classics, such as a breakfast sandwich, a waffle, or chicken tenders, a baguette, are there. But the twist is that it’s all allergy safe, from the ingredients to the prep kitchen to the ways the team works to prevent cross-contamination. This approach encompasses the retail and cafe items, plus the catering that is available through the Ashburn location.
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For someone without food sensitivities or allergies, these things barely warrant a second thought, but for the many people with food sensitivities or allergies, some of which can be severe, these steps are what make it possible – or not – to enjoy a meal. “The best compliment for me is when someone who doesn’t have an allergy says how good the food is,” Alyssa says. “We have to do the best job of creating really good food, and a lot of allergen-removed food is not good.”
In addition to its two retail and cafe locations, items from the Difference Baker are available through several wholesale partners, including local coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels. Looking ahead, Alyssa looks forward to creating more delicious-but-safe menu options and expanding the Difference Baker’s operations.
The Difference Baker’s Ashburn, located at 20937 Ashburn Rd #130, Ashburn, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10AM to 7PM; Friday 10AM to 5PM; Saturday 9AM to 4PM; and Sunday 9AM to 2PM.
The Difference Baker’s GMU location, situated at 4400 Aquia Creek Lane, Fairfax, has both the Bakery Cafe and the Market. The Bakery Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 11AM to 4PM. The Market is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 9PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 9PM.
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