Divine12 Cafe

Gluten Free, Organic Dining in Baltimore County

I tend to speak very dramatically about food, and even more so in the years I’ve been gluten free. Growing up in a very food-centric household probably didn’t help matters. Maybe anyone living with dietary restrictions can relate to the sometimes extreme range of emotions around food: elation upon finding a great recipe or substitute for an old favorite, frustration when looking for a safe place to eat out when your family is hungry or disappointment after purchasing a pricey product that was inedible. So please excuse me as I get (very) excited about a new 100% gluten free restaurant in Baltimore County: Divine12 Café (10709 York Road, Cockeysville, MD; 443-832-3530).

Opened by a food connoisseur and a chef with severe gluten intolerance, the irony is not lost on me that Divine12 Cafe is my holy trinity of food: the entire menu is 100% gluten free, organic and non-gmo. This cozy Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and the complete menu is available all day, perfect if you feel like breakfast for dinner or want to pick up dinner at breakfast time.

In addition to smoothies, salads, soups, acai bowls and house-made bone broth, their extensive menu includes plenty of comfort foods like the elusive gluten free fried chicken and wings. There are also plenty of kid-friendly options like macaroni and cheese, grass fed beef burgers and lasagna.

Vegan and vegetarian menu items are clearly marked on the menu and many dishes can be made vegan upon request.

I’ve visited three times and sampled a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items. One thing was consistent at each visit: portions are hearty and satisfying. Here is what I’ve sampled so far:

Breakfast/Brunch

Breakfast is served all day and the menu has classics and breakfast twists. All eggs are cage-free and organic and breakfast meats are organic.

The Warm Hug – Pancakes, eggs and turkey bacon. This is a comfort breakfast that took me back to by diner days growing up in New Jersey. Their pancakes are flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg and good enough to eat without syrup. Pancakes can also be made vegan.

Frambled eggs – If you haven’t heard of frambled eggs before now, don’t feel badly. Neither had I! Frambled eggs are a combination of a fried and scrambled egg and Divine12’s version is an amazingly light and fluffy (mostly) scrambled egg.

Breakfast sandwiches include a choice of meat, egg and cheese on a muffin toast or bagel. I picked one to go with frambled eggs, turkey sausage and cheese on an English muffin. This was a two-hander, it was substantial and made even more filling with the side of country potatoes.

Crab Hash – I decided to forgo my traditional omelette order for this hash and am glad I did. This breakfast hash is a delicious combination of country potatoes, diced veggies, frambled eggs, cheese and crab meat.

Lunch/Dinner

Curry Bean Hash – this hash is a unique and filling combination of white beans, veggies and country potatoes, perfectly seasoned with curry.

Crab Cakes – Divine12’s crab cakes are made with no fillers, just lump crab and served with hand cut fries. It was so nice to be able to order this Maryland staple.

Soups – I love soup and was anxious to try them. The soups are served on a rotating schedule with two vegan options – Curry Lentil and Rustic Tomato. The two I’ve tried – Curry Lentil and Maryland Crab – were extremely filling and truly a meal in a bowl. The Lentil Soup was brimming with lentils and vegetables and served with a side of corn bread. The Maryland Crab soup was bursting with vegetables and crab. Unlike some crab soups that make finding the crab meat a treasure hunt, this soup was filled with LOTS of crab.

In addition to the cafe, Divine12 also offers catering for parties and events as well as meal prep. I’m looking forward to trying other menu items soon and supporting this gluten free business where we can eat well and safely. Let me know if you go and leave your thoughts in the comments.