b'and even customers helped them digWefoundTrueSalvageafter VILLAGE DENTAL GROUP out and rebuild. People really want- the transition to a gluten-free caf, edustomakeit,shesays.Thatsays Sarah Fischler of West Orange. Dr. L. Dawn Christian, DDS mattered. As an allergy family, it has become Butthemostdefiningchapteroneofthoserareplaceswherewe H = in True Salvages story wasnt a pan- feelcompletelycomfortable.They ealthy demic or natural disaster. It began asremember our needs, ask clarifying a health crisis. After getting sick fol- questions and practice extreme care mouth lowing the pandemic, Heffernan waswithout being asked. eventually diagnosed with celiac dis-ealthy ease. Working with gluten was mak-Body ing her dangerously ill. It was get-ting into my skin, my hair, the air, she says. I was sick all the time.Doctors warned her that continu-ing could cost her life. The choice was stark: close the caf or complete-ly reimagine it, says Heffernan.InApril2025,TrueSalvage Kitchen went gluten free.Sheknewthedecisioncould meanlosingcustomers,especially those who came for familiar staples. Oral HealthCosmetic Services But what emerged was somethingThis roasted turnip dish was served at a Restorative ServicesOrthodonticsImplants unexpectedandextraordinary,sherecent tapas night.says. A community of people who 71 Valley Street, Suite 101South Orange, NJ 07079 finally felt safe. That sense of safety comes from 973-761-4800SouthOrangeDentist.com For people who spent years navi- precisionasmuchascare.Rei-gating food with fear, this has becomemagining True Salvage didnt mean a place where they can finally relax,chasinggluten-freesubstitutesor says Heffernan. It also means wel- recreatingfamiliardishesexactlyshampoo & conditionercoming families who are managingastheywere,saysHeffernan.In-multiple allergies and then watchingstead, she rebuilt the menu from the bars that actually work their kids eat a brownie (safely) forground up, centering flavor, texture, the first time. and intuition over imitation. Veg-etables,slow-cookedprosalon quality teins,umami-richmush-rooms, pures and carefully -sustainable balancedfatsbecamethe -scentsational foundationelements that neverreliedonglutenin the first place.Heffernan describes her approach to food as intui-OUR CUSTOMtive. I can taste dishes in my head before I ever make SCENT DROPS: them,shesays.Yearsof FEB 11th cooking and being unable to eat her own food sharp-enedhersenses.Smell, texture, balance, she says. Nothing is accidental.We listen closely, says Heffernan. If the commu-nity tells us they want more 1875 Springfield Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 ofsomething,wepayat-tention.Thatphilosophy The cafe always has freshly baked goods such goodbottlerefillshop.com as these blondies and brownies, all gluten free.may be why people travel Photo by Julia Maloof Verderosa. from Queens, Washington, 14/ matters magazine / winter 2026'