Celiac Food Reviews

Crackers: Kitchen Table Bakers: Aged Parmesan Mini Crisps

2010-06-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

At this point Rob and I have sampled quite a few of Kitchen Table Bakers' crisps. But really how can we count when these wheat free, gluten free and sugar free delectables are so good. We recently had the chance to try one more - the Aged Parmesan Mini Crisp. Every bit as full flavored and yummy as their larger-sized counterparts, I really loved the minis. They are about half the size and are packed with the same rich parmesan flavor. Because these crackers are made entirely of cheese the smaller size makes them slightly less decadent. The mini crisps will certainly appeal to a sophisticated palette and pairs perfectly with a glass of wine. The only draw-back if I may say is that you really don't need more cheese with them. These are best left on their own.

So without a doubt - you would never even guess the Aged Parmesan Mini Crisp contains no wheat or gluten. These can and should be appreciated by everyone- not just the gluten-intolerant. It's definitely one of the few products out there that can be served with confidence. You won't even have to offer the usual gluten free disclaimer- which Rob hates- other than to indicate to your celiac friends that they are indeed safe and delicious!

Ingredients:

Aged parmesan cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, non-animal rennet). 100% Aged Parmesan is made in the United States.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 15 crisps (15g)

Servings per container: about 3.3

Calories: 80

Calories from fat: 50

Total fat: 6g

Sat fat: 3.5g

Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 15mg

Sodium: 150 mg

Total carb: <1g

Dietary fiber: 0g

Sugars: 0g

Protein: 7g

Snack bars: Glenny's Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats - Peanut Caramel

2010-06-07T09:06:00.000-04:00

Admittedly I'm not a big snacker - and I try pretty hard not to eat too much sugar and/or carbs. This can be a particular challenge with so many gluten free snack foods out there- which tend to contain tapioca and rice flours, etc. On the one hand when you are running out the door and haven't prepared a decent breakfast - or you're on the road traveling and looking for something celiac-safe - and there is only fast food in view- having a convenient travel-sized gluten free snack is a necessity.

Here's where the Glenny's Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats come in. Brightly packaged these yummies contain 9 grams of whole grains, are gluten free, contain 100 calories, are certified USDA organic and 100% vegan. The first one I tried was the Peanut Caramel. I was a bit surprised at how miniscule the bar actually was- I guess I was thinking traditional Rice Krispie treats- which tend not to be celiac safe. Ok so yes- Glenny's does contain all natural ingredients and they certainly resembled those marshmallow bits of heaven, and did indeed have a "peanutty" caramel flavor - but I really found them too sweet. Kids on the other hand - especially those with a gluten intolerance, will love them - and possibly even forget they are gluten free.

Happy (Gluten-Free) Snacking!

Ingredients:

Organic whole grain brown rice, organic marshmallow recipe (organic brown rice syrup, organic evaporated cane juice, organic guar gum, sea salt) organic peanut butter, vegetable glycerol, organic rice bran extract, organic peanut flavor, organic caramel flavor. Allergens: May contain traces of tree nuts, sesame seeds and soy.

Nutrition Info:

Serving size: 1 bar 24g

Servings per container: 5

Calories: 100

Calories from fat: 20

Total fat: 2.5g

Sat. fat: 0.5g

Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 35mg

Total Carb: 17g

Dietary fiber: less than 1g

Sugars: 7g

Protein: 2g

Simply Boulder Culinary Sauces: Pineapple Ginger

2010-06-02T20:04:00.000-04:00

Rob and I at last had an opportunity to do some grilling and we were anxious to try Simply Boulder's Pineapple Ginger culinary sauce. These sauces are gluten free and dairy free and made with agave nectar and extra virgin olive oil. We tested ours out by marinading 4 chicken breasts in most of a bottle of the Pineapple Ginger for about 8 hours.

Once we had the grill sizzling we let the chicken cook about 20 minutes. We shared our Pineapple Ginger chicken with an ear (each) of grilled corn and a grilled sweet potato. Wow what a delectable dinner this turned out to be! Our chicken was tender and had a terrific taste that wasn't too overpowering. It was such a treat too to have a gluten free sauce that didn't contain wheat free tamari or soy sauce as its main ingredient. Nothing against it- but it sure is nice to catch a break from it. This pineapple ginger rather had a fresh, light flavor that complemented the chicken rather than became it.

We will definitely be purchasing more Pineapple Ginger in the future- especially if this heat keeps up!

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 2 tbsp.
Servings per container: 12
Calories: 45
Calories from fat: 20
Total fat: 2.5g
Sat. fat: 0g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 130mg
Total carb: 6g
Dietary fiber: 0g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:
Water, organic agave nectar, cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, pineapple juice concentrate, organic blackstrap molasses, lime juice concentrate, ancho chile powder, dried garlic salt, dried onion, hungarian paprika, xanthan gum, spices, dried ginger.

Please note the manufacturer provided a free sample, but that didn't change the taste one bit.

Crackers: Kitchen Table Baker's Sesame Parmesan Crisps

2010-04-14T22:24:00.008-04:00

I had the fortunate opportunity to try Kitchen Table Baker's Sesame Parmesan Crisps on a train ride from New York to D.C. Granted I was a bit hungry- but with a purchased fruit plate and a glass of chardonnay- I enjoyed a tiny bit of gluten free heaven. Made entirely of cheese, the sesame crisps were smooth, rich and buttery. The nuttiness of the sesame seemed to balance the potentially over-saltiness of the parmesan- and all rolled wonderfully well with the wine.

So yes though I have reviewed all the Kitchen Table Baker crisps I could get my hands on- the Sesame Parmesan really is my fave. It's not as intense as the Everything or the Rosemary; but it just has that perfect combination of a mild crunchy gourmet cracker without overpowering the palette. Sometimes you just want a delicious bite that works together. Make no mistake I'm not saying these yummies are bland- just perfectly delectable and of course wheat free, gluten free, sugar free and all natural to boot.

Ingredients: Pasteurized part skim milk, sesame seeds, cheese cultures, salt, non-animal rennet.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 3 crisps (15g)
Servings per container: About 6
Calories: 80
Calories from fat: 50
Total fat: 6g
Sat. fat: 3.5g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 15mg
Sodium: 150mg
Total carb.: 2g
Dietary fiber: 1g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 6g

Crackers: Grace Island's Baked Asiago Cheese Crisps

2010-02-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

This is the last in a series on Grace Island Baked Cheese Crisps that Rob and I had an opportunity to taste test.

Asiago Cheese Crisps

Like the Parmesan & Italian Herb, Baby Swiss, and Romano & Black Pepper, Grace Island's Baked Asiago crisps are gluten free, grain free, sugar free, MSG free, contain no artificial flavors or chemicals, contain 10 grams of protein per serving, 3 grams of fiber per serving and are low carb.

But the taste is what really appealed to me. The Asiago is crunchy, sophisticated and flavorful; complex enough to please the palette but not as salty as the Parmesan or Romano. These definitely remind me of cheese straws and like the straws- preferably served on their own. They are the best part of the cheese in a cracker- so rich in fact that adding more cheese would just be over the top too much (see the fat content). Yes I definitely see these paired nicely with a good wine. No additional cheese necessary. I think I see a an upscale celiac-safe cocktail party in the near future. But be fore-warned I doubt there is a party-size package- so you will be opening quite a few 1 oz. bags to satisfy the crowds.

Ingredients:

Cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, vegetable-based rennet, calcium chloride, salt), egg white, sesame seed, garlic, onion, salt, spices, natural flavorings. Contains milk, egg.

Nutritional Facts:

Serving size: 1 bag (29g) (approximately 18 crackers); Servings per container: 3

Calories: 160

Calories from fat: 120

Total fat: 13g

Sat. fat: 4g

Monounsaturated fat: 4.5g

Polyunsaturated fat: 3.5g

Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 10mg

Sodium: 200mg

Total Carb.: 4g

Dietary fiber: 3g

Sugars: 0g

Protein: 10g

Crackers: Grace Island's Baked Baby Swiss Cheese Crisps

2010-02-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

Recently Rob and I taste-tested Grace Island's Baked Cheese Crisps in Baby Swiss flavor. The crisps are wheat free, gluten free and soy free. Here's what we thought-

Baby Swiss

Like the Parmesan & Italian herb, these Baby Swiss cheese crisps are an irregularly shaped artisinal product. These are (not surprisingly) lighter in color and don't have the same wonderful aroma of the parmesan and herb- but still distinctly tasty. The Baby Swiss reminded me of a decidedly gourmet Cheez-it. Now I mention this because Cheez-its are absolutely NOT gluten free and not edible for celiacs. However maybe prior to diagnosis you might have had them- so these may conjure up a few sentimental memories. I know they did for me! Fortunately Grace Island's Baby Swiss are much better for us all. They have a mild buttery smoothness just like swiss itself, and are slightly less in fat and sodium than the Romano & Black Pepper.

Ingredients:

Cheese (part skim milk, cheese cultures, rennet, calcium chloride, salt, annatto (vegetable sourced) color), egg white, sesame seed, salt, natural flavor. Contains milk, egg.

Nutritional Facts:

Calories per 1 oz serving (approximately 15 crackers)

Calories: 160

Calories from fat: 120

Total fat: 14g

Sat. fat: 4.5g

Monounsaturated fat: 5g

Polyunsaturated fat: 4g

Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 10mg

Sodium: 140mg

Total Carb.: 4g

Dietary fiber: 3g

Soluble fiber: 0g

Insoluble fiber: 3g

Sugar: 0g

Protein: 10g

Crackers: Grace Island's Baked Romano & Black Pepper Cheese Crisps

2010-02-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

Recently Rob and I were asked to try a new brand of cracker aka cheese crisps that are wheat free, gluten free and soy free. We received a free sample of Grace Island's Baked Cheese Crisps. I had a chance to try out the Parmesan & Italian Herb, Baby Swiss, Romano & Black Pepper, and Asiago Cheese. Here are the results of our taste test.

Romano & Black Pepper

Like the Parmesan & Italian Herb, the Romano & Black Pepper crisps have a rich aroma of cheese and pepper. This is clearly an artisinal product, and browned to a toffee color. They are satisfyingly crunchy and the pepper gives the crisp a nice kick. My only issue with the Romano is they are a bit on the salty side. I probably wouldn't eat a whole package without copious amounts of water but I would put them high on the list of gluten free consumables. Note to self- these are extremely addictive - and not surprisingly rather high in fat.

Ingredients:

Cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), egg white, sesame seed, garlic, onion, salt, spices, natural flavor. Contains milk, egg.

Nutritional Facts:

Calories per 1 oz serving (approximately 12 crackers)

Calories: 170

Calories from fat: 120

Total fat: 14g

Sat. fat: 4.5g

Monounsaturated fat: 5g

Polyunsaturated fat: 4g

Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 10mg

Sodium: 370mg

Total Carb.: 4g

Dietary fiber: 3g

Soluble fiber: 0g

Insoluble fiber: 3g

Sugar: 0g

Protein: 10g

Crackers: Grace Island's Baked Parmesan & Italian Herb Cheese Crisps Cheese Crisps

2010-02-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

Rob and I had an opportunity to try out a new brand of cracker aka cheese crisps that are wheat free, gluten free and soy free. We received a free sample of Grace Island's Baked Cheese Crisps. Here are the results of our taste test.

Parmesan & Italian Herb

First I love that these crisps resemble exactly what they say they are- baked up dollops of cheese. They are irregularly shaped like any good artisanal product and have a nice browned-up color. Second the package itself has a wonderful aroma of parmesan. I was pleasantly surprised by the crunch, the actual taste of parmesan and the hint of herbs. It's like eating all the flavors of a cheese and cracker without having to you know go through the effort of buying the cheese, slicing it and assembling a cracker... well not exactly but close enough. But because parmesan is itself a saltier cheese, I would say these seem a bit on the salty side.

Still these are definitely decadent and perfect for celiacs.

Ingredients:

Cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, rennet), egg white, sesame seed, garlic, onion, salt, spices, natural flavor. Contains milk, egg.

Nutritional Facts:

Calories per 1 oz serving (approximately 12 crackers)

Calories: 160

Calories from fat: 110

Total fat: 12g

Sat. fat: 4.g

Monounsaturated fat: 4.5g

Polyunsaturated fat: 3.5g

Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 10mg

Sodium: 240mg

Total Carb.: 4g

Dietary fiber: 3g

Soluble fiber: 0g

Insoluble fiber: 3g

Sugar: 0g

Protein: 10g

Blog Feature Upgrades

2009-12-27T10:32:00.002-05:00

Just a quick FYI

I've changed our commenting system over to Disqus - it's really flexible and better at combating spam.

You'll also notice Google Voice on the right hand rail. You can call us and leave us a message. We'll try to answer as quick as possible. We won't call you back, but we'll post the answers on the blog.

Flour: Premium All Purpose Flour from the Nearly Normal Kitchen

2009-11-11T07:03:00.000-05:00

I had the rather fortunate opportunity to try out a gluten-free premium all purpose flour from the Nearly Normal Kitchen- (now apparently re-named Jules Gluten Free). Touted as "a combination of softer starches and flours that mimic the taste and texture of whole-wheat flour," I was anxious to see how it fared in a recipe calling for all-purpose flour.

Since it was fall and I always seem to have a yen for figs in the fall- I found a tasty-sounding recipe for Chocolate Fig Oatmeal Cookies. (I think it came from the Sun-Maid Mission fig package). The ingredients are as follows: butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, figs, quick oats, chocolate morsels, nuts, and crunchy nugget cereal.

Before I could get started I had to do some searching for a gluten free crunchy nugget cereal. I didn't want granola- so I used Nature's Path Organic Acai Apple Granola with Pomegranate. Minor/Major disclaimer here: this cereal is not specifically branded gluten free- but Rob gave it his okay. (Ingredients: organic rolled oats, organic evaporated cane juice, organic crispy rice (organic brown rice flour, organic evaporated cane juice, sea salt, organic molasses), organic pomegranate juice concentrate, organic oat syrup solids (organic oat syrup solids, tocopherols (natural Vitamin E)) organic dried coconut, organic acai powder (organic freeze dried acai, citric acid). This cereal is produced in a facility that uses wheat, peanuts or tree nuts.

But back to my Chocolate Fig Oatmeal Cookies. I followed the recipe to the letter, forming the dough into balls, flattening into 2 in. rounds, and baking on an ungreased cookie sheet for 9 minutes. I took the first batch out of the oven and let them cool for 2 minutes as directed. And then disaster sort of struck. I could not get them off the pan. Each time I wedged the spatula under a cookie the cookie parts went flying; they literally just fell apart. Now I must admit this is often the case with gluten free flours- there just isn't the same gluten that keeps your baking together. But I can't be for sure- I mean it could have also been my oven which has a hard time maintaining 375 degrees, or maybe I made the cookies too thin.

But on the up-side the cookie pieces tasted fabulous. And all was not lost. Instead of baking on a sheet, I Pam'd a square glass pyrex dish, pressed the dough in and baked until the toothpick came out clean. Well I can just tell you these now Chocolate Fig Oatmeal bars were astoundingly delicious. They were dense enough to stay together and tasted fabulous.

In wrapping up my adaptive-gluten-free re-use cooking experience- I would highly recommend From the Nearly Normal Kitchen's Premium All Purpose Flour. My cookie bars were great and gave no whiff of being gluten free. They certainly weren't around for very long.

Please note we did receive a free sample.

Ingredients:

Potato Starch, Corn Starch, Expandex, Modified Tapioca Starch, White Rice Flour, Cornflour, Xanthan Gum.

Nutritional Facts:

Serving size: 30 g (1.1 oz.)

Servings per container: 32

Calories: 100

Calories from fat: 0

Total Fat: o g

Sat. fat: 0 g

Trans fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 5 mg

Total Carb: 25 g

Dietary Fiber: 3 g

Sugars: 0 g

Protein: 1 g

Restaurant: Pie By the Pound, NYC Pizza

2009-11-06T11:32:00.006-05:00

Admittedly I've been a bit lax lately in getting my reviews to you. But a recent gluten free dining experience put some urgency back in my tank. Last week Rob excitedly told me about Pie By the Pound, located at 124 4th Avenue in NYC. Actually he was more like a kid on his first trip to the candy shop. Pie By the Pound creates gluten free pizzeria style pizza - and for a life-long celiac to find a real pizzeria serving up gluten-free pie - well you can imagine how his enthusiasm spread like wild fire.

So of course we had to go- and pronto. Like any authentic pizzeria the pies were displayed behind glass and you could select which one you wanted. The gluten free pizza does have to be specially made- but all you have to do is let your server know how you want it. We ordered up 2 pies - the Fresh Cubed- made with cubed tomatoes, cubed fresh mozzarella, extra tomato sauce, oregano, garlic and basil; and a Caprese- made with mozzarella, sliced tomato, basil, no sauce, plus we added portobello mushrooms.

As the wait was about 20 minutes I ordered up a regular Snow White slice to keep my hunger pangs at bay- and to compare how the regular fared with the gluten free. My Snow White was delectable with a thin, flavorful crust and just the right amount of cheese. When our gluten free pies arrived, I was struck that they looked exactly similar to the regular pizza. There was the same thin crust, bubbling cheese, fresh tomatoes etc. Not that this should strike anyone as particularly notable- just sometimes the gluten-free pizza is smaller or has a thicker crust.

Okay okay so we literally attacked both pizzas and it was awesome. The thin gluten free crust was so similar to the regular I'm not totally sure I could tell the difference. Usually the gluten free pizza offered by restaurants has the tell-tale gluten-free after-taste. Pie By the Pound had none of it. I really loved the Caprese with the portobello which had the perfect marriage of flavor and texture. Though the Fresh Cubed was just as tasty I think the extra sauce makes the crust a bit softer. How in the world Pie By the Pound makes such a perfect gluten free crust- I'm sure I will never know- but take my word for it- it defies all the gluten free odds.

Our hope was that with 2 pies we would take the rest home- fat chance of that. We couldn't stop ourselves and ate it all. It was pure heaven.

Bread: Glutino Gluten Free Sesame Breadsticks

2009-09-12T09:25:00.002-04:00

Diana came across these Glutino breadsticks at the local health food store this week and I (Rob) must say they aren't too bad.

Asking Diana for her feedback:

1. Their coloring makes them look uncooked, almost like a cross between a meringue and a cheese stick.

2. They taste airy and have a starchy taste with a nice hint of sesame.

3. You need to serve them right side up, as they do have a weird looking baked side.

So if you're a celiac and you never had real bread sticks you probably are fine, but if you're a gluten ingestor living with a celiac you're probably not impressed.

Ingredients:

Corn starch, potato flour, rice starch, cocoa oil, sesame seeds, yeast, dextrose, carob seeds flour, and salt

Nutrition Facts:

Serving size 9 sticks

Servings per container ~10

Calories 60

Calories from fat 15

Total fat 1.5g

Saturated fat 1g

Trans fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 100mg

Total Carbohydrate 12g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 0g

Protein 0g

Enjoy Life Foods deal at Amazon

2009-09-12T09:21:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since we've updated the site. Our personal lives have been a bit hectic, but we will be getting back on the horse this week.

I did come across this 15% off of Enjoy Life Gluten Free offer at Amazon.com.

We love their products.

Cookies: Josef Glutin-Fre-ee O's Chocolate Sandwich

2009-04-19T19:31:00.007-04:00

Rob brought me some Josef Glutin-Fre-ee gluten free chocolate O's- which are happily Oreos for celiacs. Not such a bad thing. So the O's resemble Oreos with two chocolate wafers hinging on a slab of cream, and they even have the filigree imprint stamped on each cookie. In addition to being gluten free, the O's are egg free and contain no wheat and dairy. They are also made in a dedicated gluten, lactose, casein, peanut, and tree nut-free bakery. Wow!

Taste-wise Josef O's are pretty good. They aren't as chocolaty as Oreos, but they have a good crunch and the cream filling is not too sweet and certainly rich enough. They look decadent but fortunately aren't- meaning that after having a few you can still button your jeans. It's probably not likely that we'll make a steady diet of O's- but who can resist a gluten free Oreo from time to time.

Ingredients:
Chocolate sandwich cookie ingredients:
Base: gluten free flour: Contains brown rice flour, tapioca flour, soy flour, white rice flour, potato starch, non hydrogenated shortening (palm oil), powdered sugar, sugar, water unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, vanilla, xanthan gum. Contains soy.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 2 cookies (31g)
Servings per container: 9
Calories: 150
Calories from fat: 70
Total fat: 8g
Sat. fat: 3.5g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg

Bagels: Glutino Bagels

2009-03-29T21:02:00.010-04:00

I've been seeing many more Glutino gluten free products lately. Though I shouldn't have been, I guess I was surprised to find Glutino brand bagels in the frozen section. I've had Glutino mac and cheese and pretzel sticks, etc. but it was a relief to think Rob would have something to eat for breakfast over the weekend that wasn't too time consuming to make.

The bagels- even in their frozen state are actually normal sized- not small and shrunken. I microwaved one for 20 seconds, then split in half before toasting. It was not like slicing a gluten bagel- it was smoother in consistency. When the bagels had popped and were nicely browned, I did the shmear of cream cheese on one side and olive oil on the other. Though this is going to sound bizarre, the hot bagels emitted a bit of that gluten free flour smell. Maybe it's the glucono-delta-lactone- or perhaps just my sensitive nose. Who knows, but once I got past that and took a bite and actually tasted the bagel- there was redemption!

These bagels are actually quite good- with a crunchy exterior crust and a soft inside. Did I say they are regular sized? That of course is a definite plus too. The best thing is that they can be on hand in the freezer and made just like a Lender's Bagel. Remember them? But really this makes eating gluten free in the a.m. not too hard.

Ingredients:
Corn mix (corn starch, skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, salt, glucono-delta-lactone, pectin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, modified vegetable cellulose), water, tapioca starch, margarine (palm and palm kernel oils, soy lecithin), skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, liquid egg whites, safflower oil, liquid yolks, guar gum, yeast, salt, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, iron, calcium.

This product may contain sesame seeds.
Nutrition Info
Serving size: 1/2 bagel
Servings per container: 10
Calories: 200
Calories from fat: 50
Total fat: 6g
Sat fat.: 1g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 5mg
Sodium: 330mg
Total Carb: 36g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 3g

Glutino plain bagels are labeled gluten free, wheat free, with no refined sugar and no hydrogenated oils.

Restaurant: Ago, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

2009-03-26T08:00:00.002-04:00

This past December Rob and I celebrated our fourth annual “Festivus” trip to Las Vegas One of the 5-star highlights however, was dinner at Hard Rock’s Ago.

On a whim, Rob emailed the renowned restaurant and explained his celiac disease and intolerance to gluten. Truly we hadn’t expected anything other than the normal, “when you arrive for dinner just tell the wait-staff and we’ll see what we can do”- conversation.

Instead Rob received an email back from the executive chef of the entire Casino, Mark Sharlin, who assured him that it was no problem. Upon arriving at Ago, we were pleasantly surprised at the spacious room- other diners were far enough apart, yet there was a casual, intimate and sophisticated ambiance all at once.

After being seated, Rob informed our waiter, Victor, of his prior conversation- and within a few minutes- to our utter astonishment, Ago's chef Sergio himself appeared at our table! Obviously we are neither rich nor famous so this type of treatment was so unexpected and wonderful for us. There was to be no harried wait-staff acting as middle-person between Rob and the necessity of a gluten free meal- and a busy chef who may or may not have gotten the memo on the dinner ticket. It completely threw us for a loop!

In any case, Chef Sergio suggested the Wild Boar Ragout which he had prepared as a special. Sipping a crisp Sauvignon Blanc over a tasty bed of greens, Rob awaited the ragout. It arrived piping hot and picture-perfect. Nothing though could have prepared him for such a sumptuous gluten-free feast! It was divinity on earth with tender-cut-melt-in-your-mouth cubes of wild boar served with a rich sauce over gluten free papardelle pasta. Rob was positively ecstatic and nearly ate the plate. Mark Sharlin even stopped by as well to check in on how we were enjoying the meal.

It was probably the most memorable and comfortable dining experiences Rob has ever had. Not only was it fabulous- but assuredly gluten-free.

Thank you Ago!! Hope to see you in December!!

-Diana

Bread: Bob's Red Mill Hearty Whole Grain Bread Mix

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Bob's Red Mill is to me like a beacon of light in an otherwise dark supermarket. Bob's offers a wide variety of gluten free cookies, brownies, bread mixes, and flours. The Hearty Whole Grain Bread mix is a great product to have on hand in the cupboard- particularly on a cold weekend when you are inclined to drag out the bread machine.

Generally in our gluten free household we bake up a loaf of bread, freeze it and consume it over a few weeks. Since it does take some effort, we don't make it all that regularly- though we certainly should- especially if it's Bob's Red Mill.

I really love this bread- but mainly it has to do with what's in it. This is no shrinking violet; it has major heft to it, weighs a ton and is hearty beyond all recognition. But the best thing is that it can be sliced, frozen, toasted and consumed- all without falling into a crumbled mass like most gluten free breads. Bob's Hearty is one of the few breads that can actually survive being made into a sandwich- a rare feat in the world of mainly tapioca and starch-based gluten free flours. I can't even count how many times I've made Rob a sandwich- only to have it fall apart each time he picked it up to the point where the chicken salad sandwich has to be consumed with knife and fork.

Yes so Bob's is a bit on the heavy side- kind of like a dark brown molasses bread, but as I said, it's worth every slice- kind of like gluten free gold!

Ingredients:
Whole grain buckwheat, garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, cornstarch, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, whole grain sorghum flour, tapioca flour, turbinado sugar, cocoa powder, evaporated cane juice sugar, fava bean flour, dried molasses (molasses, maltodextrin, silicon dioxide), xanthan gum, caraway seeds, active dry yeast, sea salt, whole grain teff, potato flour, onion powder, guar gum, soy lecithin

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1/16 of pkg (35g)
Servings per container: 16
Calories:
Mix: 130
Baked: 190
Calories from fat:
Mix: 30
Baked: 70
Total fat: 3.5g
Sat. fat: 0g
Trans fat; 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 170mg
Total Carb.: 23g
Dietary fiber: 4g
Sugars: 3g
Protein: 4g

What You Need:
1 3/4 cups Water
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. cider vinegar

This mix can be made by hand or by a bread machine.

"Bob's Red Mill products labeled Gluten Free are batch tested in our quality control laboratory. We use ELISA Gluten Assay test to determine if a product is gluten free."

Pizza: Amy's Cheese Pizza

2009-03-18T20:32:00.006-04:00

Recently I was thrilled to find that Amy's has made a gluten free frozen pizza. We are huge fans of Amy's Gluten free Mac and cheese so we looked forward to it. The rice crust cheese pizza is made with organic rice flour and tomatoes; it is marked gluten free and contains sunflower seeds.

Since I had some diced onion and peppers in the fridge, I heated the oven to the recommended 375 degrees and added the chopped veg on top. I did notice the cheese seemed to be a bit on the sparse side; quite a few frozen cheese bits fell off while I removed the pizza from the plastic wrap. In any case I drizzled the top with olive oil and sent it to the oven. This time I followed the directions and only cooked the pizza for 12 minutes. The package states that the pizzas are pre-cooked and delicate. I took this to mean the pizza could burn to a crisp if not removed in time- and I couldn't risk losing our lunch!

After the allotted 12 minutes, the cheese was melted and ready to go. I sliced and served up. I liked it- but didn't love it. The crust seemed at first grainy- as is often the case with gluten free flour products. But on further reflection, the crust was just very buttery. It was flavorful- but maybe more appropriate for a dessert pie than a pizza pie. There is no denying that the crust is light- not heavy like some of the mix-your-own types, but not like a gluten-filled pizza. It's on the sweet side too- which I guess shouldn't surprise me as honey, potatoes, tapioca flour and sunflower seed meal are listed in the ingredients.

So yes, though I think I would buy Amy's again, if I had a choice between Amy's and Foods by George Pizza, I would definitely opt for the George.

Ingredients:
Part-skim mozzarella cheese, organic sweet rice flour, organic tomato puree, filtered water, organic sunflower seed meal, organic tapioca flour, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic potatoes, organic honey, organic red onions, sea salt, expeller pressed high oleic safflower oil, yeast, soy lecithin, spice (100% pure herbs & spices (no hidden ingredients)), organic garlic, black pepper.
Contains Milk, Sunflower Seeds and Syou.
"This product is made in a facility that processes foods containing wheat, tree nuts and seeds. Amy's Kitchen does not use any peanuts, fish, shellfish or eggs."

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1/3 pizza (113g)
Servings per container: 3
Calories: 320
Calories from fat: 150
Total fat: 16g
Sat. fat: 4g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 10mg
Sodium: 590mg
Total Carb: 34g
Dietary fiber: 2g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 10g

Follow us on Twitter

2009-03-15T13:21:00.003-04:00

We're setup on Twitter since we figured it would be nice to have another outlet to discuss celiac safe foods. Things that would normally not merit a blog post can now be tweeted out. See gluten-free foods being prepared live, pictures of new products we find in the store, etc.

Follow us here.

Beer: Redbridge Label Update

2009-03-14T23:13:00.004-04:00

Just in case you haven't noticed, ANHEUSER-BUSCH got even smarter and redesigned Redbridge's labeling. It's now really CLEAR that it's gluten-free. This not only helps those celiacs who are unaware discover Redbridge, but helps increase general awareness.

Thanks again AB!

Wishing Everyone a Happy and Healthy Gluten-Free Holiday

2008-12-25T09:31:00.002-05:00

We're going to pick-up the reviews in 2009 with a kick-off post of our gluten-free dinner at Ago in the Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Las Vegas.

Best Wishes

Diana and Rob

Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers- Black Pepper

2008-12-15T21:42:00.007-05:00

Okay Okay- so I cannot believe I've never reviewed Mary's Gone Crackers brand of crackers. To be perfectly honest, we practically live on them. They've become such a staple in our diet that I guess I forgot to share! Major mea culpa on my part.

But back to basics. Mary's Gone Crackers are crisp, delicious and filled with flavor. They are best consumed by themselves- but certainly can accommodate any cheese, hummus, or side accompaniment you choose. These tasty crackers are organic, kosher, non-GMO, whole grain, heart-healthy, vegan, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free and contain no hydrogenated oils or trans fats. They also contain 450 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per serving. So it is a wonder to me too that they taste so divine! Ahh but they are nothing short of pure delicious-ness!

The black pepper flavor comes out best after a few crackers. You can't see the pepper but you can definitely taste the spice baked right in with the flax and sesame seeds. I think what I love best is the crunch and then the burst of flavor that follows. They really are a unique cracker- never mind that they are gluten-free. What's even better is that these are good for you with no sugar, yet contain a fair amount of fiber and protein. The no sugar part is usually the challenge when it comes to GF products. The one caveat is the price- and for the volume we consume- $6 for a 6.5 box can get steep.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 13 crackers (30g)
Servings per container: about 6
Calories: 140
Calories from fat: 45
Total fat: 5g
Sat. fat: 0.5g
Polyunsat. fat: 2.5g
Monounsat. fat: 1.5g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Potassium: 160mg
Total carb.: 21g
Dietary fiber: 3g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 3g

Ingredients:
Organic short grain brown rice, organic whole quinoa, organic brown flax seeds, organic brown sesame seeds, filtered water, organic black pepper, organic wheat-free low sodium tamari (water, whole organic soybeans, salt, organic alcohol), sea salt.

Manufactured in a dedicated wheat-free, gluten-free facility

Chips: Arico Cassava Chips- Ginger on Fire

2008-06-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

I am utterly baffled by Arico's Ginger on Fire Cassava Chips. I mean I just can't believe how much they resemble bar-be-cue- but they aren't. Instead these delectable little chips are actually made from cassava, a potato-like root grown in South America, and are cooked with spices, are free of artificial flavors and colors, are gluten free, trans fat free, cholesterol free, dairy free and contain a fair amount of fiber.

They have a smoky barbecue taste without all the faux ingredients that make regular barbecue-flavor chips verboten. Who knew gluten free could be so much better!

Ingredients:
Cassava, palm or sunflower or safflower oil, evaporated cane juice, sea salt, autolyzed yeast extract, spices, onion powder, garlic powder, leeks, silicon dioxide (natural anti-caking agent), natural flavors, medium chain triglycerides, natural Vitamin E to preserve freshness. Contains soy.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 oz. (28g) approx. 23 chips
Servings per container: 5
Calories: 150
Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 6 g
Sat. fat: 3 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 150 mg
Total Carb.: 18 g
Dietary fiber: 2 g
Sugars: 1 g
Protein: 1 g

Chips: Arico Cassava Chips- Sea Salt Mist

2008-06-02T22:17:00.000-04:00

Rob and I are loving Arico's gluten free products. This particular post is about their Sea Salt Mist Cassava Chips. With 30% less fat than potato chips, no trans fat, a bit of fiber and fairly low sodium- you'll be in for snack that's hard to resist.

These chips are on the small side- more like small oval disks- but man do they pack a flavor that surely rivals regular brand potato chips. These are so delicious, crisp and light. And you surely won't miss the greasy residue left by full fat potato chips.

The Sea Salt Mist are my favorite because the cassava/potato flavor really comes through with no other spice overpowering the taste.

Yep- they are a winner.

Ingredients:
Cassava, palm or sunflower or safflower oil, sea salt, natural vitamin E to preserve freshness.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 oz. (28g) approx. 23 chips
Servings per container: 5
Calories: 150
Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 7 g
Sat. fat: 3.5 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 140 mg
Total Carb.: 18 g
Dietary fiber: 2 g
Sugars: 0 g
Protein: 1 g

Cookies: Arico Double Chocolate

2008-05-20T21:59:00.000-04:00

Okay I know it's nearly impossible not to love a double chocolate cookie- particularly if it's gluten free, and I certainly love all of Arico's cookies- but the double chocolate gluten free is not my favorite.

Absolutely the double chocolate is rich with actual chocolate pieces baked in- but I find the cookie part itself a bit on the chalky side. It's almost like the cookie can't compete with the density of the chocolate pieces. I would love to taste a bit of walnut with it... but hey this is just me- and I'm not a huge choc-o-holic like my other half.

I can guarantee though that any chocolate bits that find their way to the bottom of the pouch cannot possibly disappoint!

Ingredients:
Flour base (organic brown rice whole grain flour, rice starch, rice protein, baking soda), organic dark chocolate (organic cane sugar, organic cocoa paste, organic cocoa butter, non GMO soy lecithin, organic vanilla, [chunks may contain traces of milk protein due to manufacturing equipment]), organic cane sugar, organic cage free eggs, organic agave nectar, chicory extract, organic palm oil, cocoa powder alkalized, organic sunflower/safflower oil, calcium carbonate, natural flavors. Contains eggs, soy and may contain traces of milk protein.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 2 cookies (27g)
Servings per container: 5
Calories: 100
Calories from fat: 40
Total fat: 4.5 g
Sat. fat: 1.5 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholest.: 15 mg
Sodium: 70 mg
Total Carb: 15 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sol. fiber: 2 g
Sugars: 7 g
Protein: 2 g