Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – I have tried a lot of gluten-free bread over the years. Some crumbled before I could make a sandwich. Others felt more like a brick than something I wanted to eat.
Then I discovered Pan Celiaco.
This is, by far, the best gluten-free bread I have ever had. And my excitement doesn’t stop with the bread. Miriam Acevedo’s waffles are amazing, her cinnamon rolls are incredible, and honestly, I have yet to try something she makes that I didn’t immediately fall in love with.
Behind all of those delicious creations is a story of love, patience, and more than a few unsuccessful loaves.
It Started With Her Wife
Miriam’s wife has celiac disease. For years after her diagnosis, the couple relied on store-bought gluten-free bread that left them wishing for something better.
Miriam wanted to make bread with natural ingredients that her wife would truly enjoy. So she started experimenting.
For more than two years, she worked on her recipe. Some loaves came out like bricks. Others were mushy and unappealing. But she kept going.
Around August 2024, she finally baked a loaf her wife really loved.
Her wife encouraged her to share it with others. She knew there were more people craving the same thing: gluten-free bread that actually felt like bread.
In November 2024, Miriam began selling to the public. People with celiac disease in Puerto Vallarta started reaching out, and she has kept baking ever since.
A Bakery That Comes to You
Pan Celiaco is a 100% gluten-free bakery operating from a “dark kitchen,” meaning a kitchen dedicated to preparing orders rather than a storefront where customers walk in.
Everything is made to order and delivered to the client’s location. That means freshly baked, artisan-made bread without a trip to a shop.
For someone who has spent years settling for disappointing alternatives, that can bring a little joy back to everyday meals.
A sandwich you look forward to. Waffles that make breakfast feel special. A cinnamon roll that makes you pause after the first bite.
Those small pleasures matter.
Why Gluten-Free Can Mean Much More Than a Food Preference
For people with celiac disease, avoiding gluten is essential. Gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye—triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine. That damage can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Treatment requires a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.
But celiac disease is not the only reason someone may struggle with wheat.
People with non-celiac gluten or wheat sensitivity can experience bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and joint pain. Their symptoms deserve attention even when celiac testing is negative. Researchers are also studying other components of wheat that may contribute to these reactions.
These symptoms can overlap with thyroid conditions and other health problems, which makes finding the actual cause important. Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease are distinct conditions; sensitivity is not an established early stage that inevitably becomes celiac disease.
The message I want people to hear is this: you do not have to dismiss ongoing digestive discomfort, exhaustion, or brain fog as simply your normal.
If you suspect gluten is a problem, ask about celiac testing before removing it from your diet. Going gluten-free first can affect the accuracy of the results and make answers harder to find.
I personally do not need testing; I have my clients go one month without wheat and dairy. It’s only one month, and it can be very telling.
Bringing the Joy Back to Bread
Living with food restrictions can feel isolating. Familiar meals change. Favorite treats disappear. Finding something you can eat – and actually love – can feel like a small celebration.
That is what makes Miriam’s story so special to me. Pan Celiaco began with her determination to make something delicious for the woman she loves. Today, that same care reaches other people’s tables across Puerto Vallarta.
If gluten-free bread has disappointed you before, Pan Celiaco may give you a reason to get excited again.
And take it from me: make room for the cinnamon rolls.
Have a Healthy day!
Heather
Heather Gray, FDN-P, is a master certified health practitioner, best-selling author, speaker, stand-up comedian, and host of the Renegade Health Boss podcast. A proud Puerto Vallarta resident, she shares her passion for health, resilience, and personal transformation while enjoying the adventure, community, and fresh perspective she found in Mexico.
