No Label at the Table is described on the company’s website as “a gluten-and-dairy-free food company whose mission is to employ people on the autistic spectrum and provide job training skills.”
Located in the heart of the Arts and Design District on W. Main Street in Carmel, No Label at the Table is owned by Shelly Henley, whose oldest son, Jacob, has autism. When Jacob was turning 18 and transitioning to adulthood, he told his mother that he wanted to be a chef in a restaurant. So, with passion and heart — but without any formal culinary or business training — Henley created a business to help make Jacob’s dream a reality.
Jacob started eating a gluten-and-casein-free diet at a young age, and over the years, Henley and Jacob baked together, creating delicious recipes and fond memories. They used some of those recipes as the basis for their business and have experimented over time to substantially increase
their offerings.
“In this process, I’ve gained a few pounds and realized I hate frosting, but I’ve found meaningful work,” Henley explained.
Henley and her team began selling their baked goods at farmers markets, and on March 16, 2018, the physical store opened, staffed with over a dozen employees on the autism spectrum.
If you have never visited their storefront and are wondering what to order, the most popular item is the “Oatmeal Dream” cookie sandwich; it’s like an oatmeal creme pie, only larger (and even tastier). Other crowd-pleasers include pumpkin gingerbread, English muffins and garlic breadsticks. In the freezer case, you can usually find hearty soups and take-home meals. The bakery is carryout only, but if it’s a nice day, you can enjoy your goodies while you stroll along Main Street and the nearby Monon Greenway.
If you have questions about the business, make inquiries by emailing contactus@nolabelatthetable.com. Since a third of the employees are non-verbal, No Label at the Table does not have a phone.
If you go …
No Label at the Table
145 W. Main St., Suite 145, Carmel, IN 46032
No phone
