Chef Mary Steiger, of Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro, has been named a finalist in the 2016 Women of Influence Awards in the category of Restaurant/Hotel Champion. This is a significant honor awarded by the local publication, Inside Tucson Business, which has been recognizing outstanding women contributors in their fields of expertise since 2004.

“It is a fitting accolade for Chef Steiger, who has greatly influenced the face of Tucson dining with her commitment to providing gourmet meals and baked goods to the ever-growing population who must avoid gluten in their diets,” says Susan Fulton, co-owner of Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro.

Steiger started in the kitchen early, and by the age of five, she knew her destiny was to nurture and cherish those around her through her passion for food. Her journey took her to culinary school and various restaurant and bakery venues around the U.S., including Denali Park, Alaska, and Sedona, Arizona, before returning to her home in Tucson.

In addition to designing and preparing gluten-free gastronomic delights, Steiger has created a warm, safe and caring atmosphere in her bakery/bistro, which is Southern Arizona’s only dedicated and certified gluten-free facility—where the spirit is nourished in addition to the body.

For more information, call 520-408-9000, email [email protected] or visit GourmetGirlsGlutenFree.com. See ad, page 30.