Gluten Free Granola: Two Moms in the Raw Blueberry Granola - Product Review #22

Gluten Free Granola: Two Moms in the Raw Blueberry Granola

PRODUCT NAME:                       Gluten Free Blueberry Granola

BRAND:                                      Two Moms in the Raw

COST:                                         $11.25

SIZE:                                           8oz

COST PER OZ:                            $1.40/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                   YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           Natural Food Certifiers

VEGAN:                                       YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:              NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Lafayette, CO                               

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:
Dilemma Dilemma Dilemma…
We reviewed the blueberry granola…well safe to say no one on our team really loved this product…Chewy yes … A bit too chewy.  For us, the taste seemed laden with salt, agave, lots of millet, buckwheat, flaxseed, sunflower, sesame, pecans, almonds, pepitas, apples, and somewhere in there, some blueberries.  There is of course a story on the rear insert that talks about how the idea of Two Moms in the Raw came about and it is a touching one.  Shari, founder and owner of Two Moms in the Raw, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and found that a raw food diet worked the best to help her heal.  Now we are one of the few to commend the pluck of a determined and creative businesswoman.

We thought that we should search out reviews by raw blogs as this is a RAW product and we found that the reviews are superlative… The Raw community comments range from being appreciative to delighted that Starbucks is now a retailer of the product…  Yes, you can buy raw products in a national chain which is the good news… So what can we say but… There are two distinctly different interpretations of taste!!!  

If you are a raw food eater, then you will probably love this product.  If you aren’t, then this is probably won’t enjoy this product as much as Shari would like. 

Taste: We are not raw eaters so our tastes are different, but we thought that the granola was a little on the salty side and actually tasted more like apples than blueberry.  It was also very chewy, a little too chewy for our tastes. 

Labeling: The labeling on the package was very simple.  Raw…check…gluten-free…check… organic…check.  This product has all its healthy guidelines covered. 

Packaging: Non-recyclable resealable plastic packaging.  Some reviewers we found online liked the packaging because they reused them as reuseable sandwich bags, but we don’t think it’s too good of an idea unless you want whatever you put in it to smell like the granola bar. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING (from a non-raw eater):

Texture:                2                             

Taste:                    1             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:             1.6

Reviewed 11/01/10 by TD + CC

Gluten Free Crackers: Glutino Gluten Free Crackers - Product Review #21

Gluten Free Crackers: Glutino Gluten Free Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                          Gluten Free Crackers

BRAND:                                         Glutino

COST:                                           $3.00 (on sale)

SIZE:                                              4.4oz

COST PER OZ:                               $0.68/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:             NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

ORGANIC:                                      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

VEGAN:                                          NO

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                 UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                Italy

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Glutino is a very popular company that produces gluten free products.  They have several lines of products which include snacks, frozen meals, bakery goods, baking mixes, and cereals, all of which are gluten free.  We have had several of their products in the past and, for the most part, liked them.  When we saw these crackers, we were sure that we would enjoy them.  The problem with gluten free cookies and crackers is that they tend to have a weird texture.  It’s hard to describe, but I would probably best describe it as a soft and powdery texture.  Those of you who have tried gluten free crackers will know what I am talking about. 

When we opened up the box of these crackers, first thing we noticed was that many of the crackers were broken.  It didn’t bug me too much because they would all eventually end up in my belly, but it does make it difficult to scoop the right ratio of dip and cracker with sections of the cracker missing.  This cracker was a little on the soft/powdery side, but it wasn’t too bad.  I had these with some hummus and it went together perfectly. 

In the end these are just crackers and don’t have much flavor by themselves, but they make for great dipping food.  These crackers are great for everyone.  They have just the right amount of crunch, yet they are still a little soft, so that just about anyone can eat them. 

Taste:  Taste and texture can be a little tricky for gluten free products.  Overall, Glutino did a good job with this cracker.   We had the original flavor crackers and I didn’t expect them to be much other than great for dipping and I was right.  They are a tad bland by themselves, but great when accompanying your favorite dip.  If you’re looking for a cracker with a little more flavor that can be enjoyed without anything extra, I would look into their other varieties which include cheddar, vegetable, and multigrain flavors. 

Labeling: The labeling on these crackers is nice and simple and includes an enlarged image of the cracker on the back to show the texture and the image is accurate.  It also clearly states that it is gluten free right on the front of the box. 

Packaging: The packaging is your typical cracker box printed on 100% recycled fibers.  It may be the American products that I am used to, but the amount of product in the box seems a little low compared to other non gluten free crackers that are available at the supermarket.  Only 4 servings in this box…it just might be a smart thing because gluten free products don’t usually last as long once opened. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 3             

Taste:                     3

Value:                    4

OVERALL:              3.3

Gluten Free Pasta: Andean Dream Quinoa Macaroni - Product Review #20

Gluten Free Pasta: Andean Dream Quinoa Macaroni

PRODUCT NAME:                          Quinoa Pasta Macaroni

BRAND:                                         Andean Dream

COST:                                           $5.99

SIZE:                                             8oz

COST PER OZ:                               $0.74/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:             NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

ORGANIC:                                      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              IMO-Switzerland

VEGAN:                                          Unknown

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                 Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                Bolivia

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

When coming to the table today, we knew exactly what to expect from this pasta.  It was the same brand of pasta that we had for lunch yesterday only in a different shape.  Our expectations were met with the great texture and taste we had experienced the day before. 

Consistency with cooking is also another thing to note with this product.  We got the same texture that we expected 2 days in a row which is important.  When you cook spaghetti, you want to be sure that spaghetti is what you get unlike the surprise that we got the other day when we found rice in place of the spaghetti that we put in.

He was quite intrigued by our daily gluten free lunches.  So from our office and from Brian of Brian Martin Metals, we give the 280 families a perfect 5 for this product.  

Taste:  We had a few guests for lunch today, Brian of Brian Martin Metals, who said that the pasta tasted “clean” and that came as a compliment.  Quinoa is a great grain that has a very good flavor. 

Labeling: The labeling on this packaging is very simple.  On the front, is just the brand and type of pasta; no unnecessary jibber jabber.  On the back is a nice background story on the quinoa grain and how the grain is grown in the Bolivian Andes at an elevation of 13,000, which they claim is where the finest quality of quinoa is grown.   

Packaging: Good packaging as it is made out of paper, which can be recycled.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    2                             

OVERALL:              4

Gluten Free Stuffing: Four Sisters and a Brother Gluten Free Herbed Stuffing - Product Review #18

Gluten Free Stuffing: Four Sisters and a Brother Herbed Stuffing

PRODUCT NAME:                       Gluten Free Herbed Stuffing

BRAND:                                      Four Sisters and a Brother

COST:                                        $6.99

SIZE:                                          10oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.70/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

VEGAN:                                       YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Dallas, TX

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

With Thanksgiving just two days away, what would be more fitting than reviewing food associated with Thanksgiving?  So when we came across this gluten free stuffing, we were excited.  Stuffing is usually made with bread, which in turn would make it off limits to people with gluten intolerances or celiac.  So what’s there for them to eat?  Four Sisters and a Brother have the gluten free answer with their Gluten Free Herbed Stuffing.  It is made using rice flour and garbanzo bean flour and it is seasoned with different herb seasonings. 

Open up the package and you see dried ingredients that slightly resemble the look of granola clusters.  Breathe in the smell of the flavoring and you will find a very familiar scent that will bring you back to the good ole days when you were a starving college student.  You guessed it…it smells like the flavoring powder for instant ramen.  This scared me a little because I thought about why I stopped eating those things and I remembered it was because of all the sodium in those things.  But rest assured because I checked this package and found only 3.5mg of sodium per serving.  Multiplying that by the 10 servings in the package, you get a very reasonable 35mg of sodium for the entire package.   

Taste: This stuffing has a lot of flavor, maybe a little too much flavor.  We found it to be a tad salty but we ate it alone and if it was accompanying another dish, it would probably be perfect.  Texture wise, it was good, but a little gummy.  This is probably because of the ingredients.  Typically stuffing is made with cubes of bread or bread crumbs, but this stuffing is made with clusters made of garbanzo beans flour and rice flour making it a chewier than traditional stuffing.  In the end, it’s not your typical stuffing, but it’s definitely a good alternative. 

Labeling:  The labeling is very simple.  On the front it boasts a long list of healthy reason why you should use this stuffing. Gluten Free, no trans fat, no dairy or yeast, no GMO or MSG, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial colors or flavoring…it’s all there.  Out back is of course the family story of how this product got its start in grandma’s kitchen.  It probably isn’t exactly how grandma made it, but it’s probably close.

Packaging: Non recyclable plastic packaging. 

Inspired by grandma’s cooking, Four Sisters and a Brother did a good job offering an alternative for those of us who can no longer have gluten in their diets.  Bottom line, a little on the salty side and the texture isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but it’s a darn close to the real thing.   

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product...

RATING:

Texture:                 3             

Taste:                     3

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              3

Gluten Free Falafels: Orgran Gluten Free Falafel Mix - Product Review #17

Gluten Free Falafels: Orgran Gluten Free Falafel Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                              Falafel Mix

BRAND:                                             Orgran Gluten Free

COST:                                               $3.59

SIZE:                                                 7oz

COST PER OZ:                                  $0.51/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 FACE

ORGANIC:                                          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

VEGAN:                                             YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                     UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                    Australia

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

What are falafels?  Up until recently, I had no idea what they were, but I have since figured out that they are ground up chickpeas or fava beans that are mixed with various spices, formed into balls and fried up.  They are delicious.  When I saw the Orgran Gluten Free Falafel mix in the kitchen, I knew we had to have these for lunch.  What separates this mix from other falafel mixes is the lack of wheat flour that many other mixes use. 

Preparation is very easy…mix with water, let it sit for about 15 minutes, roll them into balls and fry them up.  What you end up with is a delicious falafel…crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  You can really taste the spices in this delicious snack.    

Taste: The flavor of the falafel is just right, nothing too overpowering and everything seems to blend together nicely.  I’ve had good and bad falafels and this is definitely one of the better ones.  Falafels can be too cakey or to dry.  This was just right.  

Labeling: Right on the front you see a delicious dish of a few falafels and a nice couscous salad.  Combine that with the long list of healthy reasons to eat these falafels, who wouldn’t buy it…Gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, egg free, yeast free, soy free, nut free, vegan, not to mention Kosher.  It’s like a health food junkie dream.  Healthiness aside, this falafel is a great choice if you’re trying to eat healthy or not.     

Packaging: Recyclable paperboard packaging. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 5                             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    4

OVERALL:              4.6

Reviewed 11/17/2010 by CC

Weekend Edition Hot off the Press #1: Salt to taste

This is the first edition of our weekend health awareness segment.  Every weekend we will be discussing health topics that we have encountered in our food reviews.  This weeks topic…SODIUM!

Sodium is important to have in our diet.  According to Dr. George Obikoya in his article titled The Benefits of Sodium, sodium helps maintain balance of ions in our body fluids and tissues and it stimulates muscle contraction.  (http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/sodium.html)  We of course can’t forget that sodium chloride, better known as salt, is also one of our favorite flavor additives and is one of the main contributors of sodium content.  Sodium can be tricky…too much sodium can lead to kidney disease and high blood pressure, but too little sodium can lead to malnutrition.  As we have been taste testing all of these gluten-free foods we have been paying more attention to the nutrition facts on the packaging.  What you find might surprise you.

So how much sodium should a healthy person really be ingesting to stay healthy?  According to the American Heart Association, you should aim to ingest no more than 1,500mg of sodium per day. (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4708)  That translates into just a little more than half a teaspoon of salt.  Doesn’t seem like much. 

The other day, I was at the grocery store shopping and decided that I wanted to buy packaged deli meat and cheese to make a sandwich.  What I found surprised me…it actually scared me.  I saw that 1 slice of lunchmeat had 240mg of sodium and then I looked at the cheese slice and saw that it contained 250mg of sodium per slice.  I usually make a sandwich with 2-3 slices of meat and a slice of cheese and calculating the sodium in that is already 730-970mg of sodium depending if I use 2 or 3 slice of lunchmeat.  I’m not even including the sodium content of the bread and the mustard in my calculation and I’m already practically at my sodium intake limit for the day.  Needless to say, I tossed the idea of making a sandwich out the window. 

So what about those packages that say low sodium or reduced sodium?  Are those safe?  Well yes and no.  The important thing to do is to look at the numbers and make sure you understand them.  Pay close attention to the serving size.  Some of the serving sizes are ridiculously low and, if you aren’t aware of it, you may end up eating 5 or 10 servings in a sitting.  Also keep in mind that they base everything on a 2000 calorie diet and the sodium percentages are based on 2300mg, which is higher than the 1500mg that the American Heart Association recommends to aim for.  The American Heart Association website gives the meaning to all of the sodium content terms:

• Sodium-free – less than 5mg per serving
• Very low-sodium – 35mg or less per serving
• Low-sodium – 140mg or less per serving
• Reduced sodium – usual sodium level is reduced by 25%
• Unsalted, no salt added or without added salt – contains only the sodium that is naturally part of the food. 

Bottom line, we all love the taste of salty foods, but make sure you know what you are eating.  It may not seem like you are ingesting large amounts of salt, but you really never know.    

*I am not a nutritionist and this information is not meant to professional health advice.  You should always consult an expert before changing your diet.          

Gluten Free Pasta: De Boles Gluten Free Multi Grain Penne - Product Review #16

Gluten Free Pasta: De Boles Multi Grain Penne

PRODUCT NAME:                         Gluten Free Multi Grain Penne

BRAND:                                        De Boles

COST:                                           $2.99

SIZE:                                             8oz

COST PER OZ:                              $0.37/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

VEGAN:                                         Unknown

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:               Melville, NY

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Texture wise, this pasta was good.  Not too mushy and not too chewy.  It was served with corn salad, which went very well with the pasta.  The company has been around for a very long time and also produces other varieties of pasta including whole wheat flour pastas.  This leads me to believe that the pasta is not produced in a wheat free facility.  Case in point, their recall of one lot of Gluten Free Tubettini corn pasta labeled for Kids, which may contain undeclared whole wheat alphabet pasta.  If you are severely allergic to gluten, I would be very careful.      

Taste: We boiled the pasta in the same water we boiled our eggs in, which had a lot of salt in it, which may have been the reason the pasta was so tasty, but the pasta really did taste good. 

Labeling:  The packaging has very simple labeling with cooking directions and a few recipes on the back.  

Packaging: The packaging itself is actually pretty good.  It is made from paperboard that is made of 100% recycled paper fiber. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 4                             

Taste:                     4

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              3.6

Reviewed 10/01/10 by CC

Gluten Free Meal: Lundberg Gluten Free Wild Porcini Mushroom Risotto - Product Review #15

Gluten Free Meal: Lundberg Porcini Mushroom Risotto

PRODUCT NAME:                        Wild Porcini Mushroom Risotto

BRAND:                                       Lundberg

COST:                                         $ 3.59

SIZE:                                           5.9oz

COST PER OZ:                             $0.61/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            CCOF

VEGAN:                                        NO

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             California

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.          

REVIEW:

Lundberg Family Farms is a great organic rice farm in California that sells a variety of products ranging from noodles to risotto.  The product we had today was the Gluten Free Wild Porcini Mushroom Risotto and it was delicious although it might have been the 535mg of sodium per serving that we were tasting.  That sodium level seems a little high and people with high blood pressure and other heart problems might want to stay away. 

Following with our rice theme today, this risotto is rice based.  Risotto is made with Arborio rice…in this case organic Arborio rice.  Arborio rice is actually very special, it is used to make risotto and sometimes rice pudding and, according the packaging, exclusive to Italy.  The Lundberg family is very proud to say that they have successfully been able to plant this rice on their farm in California.

When cooking this we started off following the stovetop instructions on the side, but in the end we didn’t like the result because it was a little too mushy and moist.  We aren’t fans of that texture so we left it on the frying pan for a bit longer until it formed a nice crunchy crust on the bottom…it was delicious. 

Bottom line, it was delicious, but the sodium content concerned us.  If that doesn’t bother you too much, then this is definitely a product you want to try.  I think I’ve met my daily sodium limit so I guess I’ll be having water for the rest of the day. 

Taste: Great flavor and texture with this risotto, despite the high sodium levels, we actually didn’t find it too salty.  Maybe next time we can try adding less of the flavor packet to reduce the sodium levels.  The flavor the texture, just what we expect from the Lundberg Family

Labeling: Look at the sides and the back of the package, and what do you see?  Writing and lots of it, the story about the family farm…the history of Arborio rice…and of course cooking instructions.  The packaging is like reading a cook book and a history book while being told the family story.     

This product is gluten free and I think they should be proud of it.  Instead, the gluten free label is pushed to the bottom corner kind of hidden.  I don’t know about you, but I would have put it in big font across the top. 

Packaging: Great packaging and we’re seeing more and more of it.  This packaging is printed on 100% recycled paperboard. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 4             

Taste:                     4

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              3.7

Gluten Free Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers Gluten Free Crackers - Product Review #14

Gluten Free Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers Gluten Free Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                   Seed Crackers

BRAND:                                  Mary’s Gone Crackers

COST:                                    $5.50

SIZE:                                       6.5oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.85/oz                 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

ORGANIC:                               YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       ICS, inc.

VEGAN:                                   YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:          YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         USA                    

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.          

REVIEW:

Mary’s Gone Crackers…has Mary gone crackers or are her crackers so good that they’re gone?  No matter how you read the name, what really matters are the delicious gluten-free crackers in the box.  It has simple ingredients: brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds, sesame seeds, a little filtered water, and some flavoring like wheat free tamari soy sauce, salt and pepper for the salt and pepper variety.  Other flavors of course will have slightly different flavor ingredients.

So what is Mary’s story?  No backstory on the box, but a little digging on her website and I found that Mary has a gluten intolerance and when she found out, she set out to create snacks that she could enjoy and share with others.  What she came up with, were these delicious crackers that everybody loved no matter where she went.   

Taste: These crackers come in caraway, original, black pepper, herb, and onion.  We had the original, caraway and black pepper and enjoyed all of them.  While many other crackers have to load up on sodium to gain flavor, this cracker uses several different grains to give it flavor.  It’s not to say that these crackers don’t contain any sodium, but at 180mg for a serving size of 30g which is 13 crackers it is reasonable compared to other similar products.  Because this cracker is made up of several different grains, there are many different textures in this cracker, but overall it can be described as crunchy.  Some of the seeds are a little hard though and can spell trouble for people with sensitive teeth.  So if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to stay away. 

Labeling: Good labeling that covers pretty much all the bases; Organic, kosher, non-GMO, whole grain, made with love, vegan-dairy free, wheat-free, gluten-free, no hydrogenated oils, and no trans-fats.  All listed on the side are some of the reasons why you should buy this product.  Would we buy it again? Most Likely

Packaging: The packaging on these crackers is also very good even though it is essentially double packaged.  The crackers come in easy to tear plastic packaging to lock in the freshness and that is put into a 100% recycled paperboard box that is printed with 100% soy based ink.  It’s nice to see a company trying to be more environmentally friendly.   

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 3             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    4

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed 11/17/10 by CC

Inspiration for Week of Nov 15th

Wow! Look what the Japanese are growing! Incredible gluten-free art. Pictures from http://pinktentacle.com/

Gluten Free Pasta: Tinkyada Brown Rice Fusilli - Product Review #13

Gluten Free Pasta: Tinkyada Brown Rice Fusilli

PRODUCT NAME:                        Brown Rice Fusilli

BRAND:                                       Tinkyada

COST:                                          $4.50

SIZE:                                            16oz

COST PER OZ:                             $0.28/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

VEGAN:                                        Unknown

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:              YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Canada 

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.          

REVIEW:

We have been very impressed by this brand.  All of the pastas that we have tested from this brand have been great.  Great texture, good taste, good value are all things that come to mind when we here Tinkyada.  This fusilli that looks a lot like doodles drawn by a child, not only looks fun, but also has great texture and flavor. 

Although this pasta is not certified gluten free, they do clearly state on their packaging that they specialize, thus making all of their pastas in a gluten free facility.  There are a lot of good things going for this pasta.

Taste: This pasta is made with brown rice and you can taste it.  You can taste the hint of brown rice, but it’s not too strong.  The texture is one of the best we’ve seen so far.  We were pleasantly surprised by this because many of the rice based pastas we have had in the past turned out mushy and fell apart.   

Labeling: There is a lot of writing on this packaging, but it’s all there for a reason.  On the front, it is clearly marked Wheat Free and Gluten-Free.  Something that I haven’t seen on any other packaging is an energy saving cooking option.  It looks like these guys have done their homework with this one.  

Packaging: The packaging is the only part that is a little disappointing.  It is made of plastic and is not recyclable.  I would like to see recycled paper board boxes in the future. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product...

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    5             

OVERALL:              5

Reviewed on 10/27/10 by CC         

Gluten Free Chips: Brad's Raw Chips Kale - Product Review #12

Gluten Free Chips: Brad's Raw Chips Kale

PRODUCT NAME:                       Gluten Free Kale Chips

BRAND:                                      Brad’s Raw Chips

COST:                                        $7.99

SIZE:                                          3oz

COST PER OZ:                           $2.66/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

ORGANIC:                                  NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

VEGAN:                                     YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:            UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           Pennsylvania

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

OK.   There is really nothing we can say about this product other than it is inedible. Whatever these chips are …a concoction that tastes like kelp cardboard… has very reasonable sodium levels at 90 mgs and 120 calories  for 14 chips.  But gosh golly gee the taste is just…horrible.  There is of course a requisite  back of house story  …Brad was an overweight man with high cholesterol, low energy, and sleeping problems.  He was on a raw diet to .. As with other Raw products perhaps the Raw community tastes this differently.  We who are not Raw practitioners simply cannot recommend this product…all the health benefits in terms of content but simply inedible…too bad…

Taste:  The taste reminded us a lot of seaweed.  It’s good for the first 2 seconds, but after that, it gets bitter.  This is probably because we are not raw food eaters as we have not liked many of the raw food products that have come on our tasting table.  If you eat raw food, you will probably think it is delicious. 

Labeling: The labeling on the front is very simple.  It looks like it is stamped on.  Out back is a sticker with Brad’s story along with the nutrition facts. 

Packaging: The packaging is a brown paper bag lined with plastic so it is probably not recyclable.  It is nice that it is resealable though because you probably won’t be able to finish these chips in 1 sitting. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                                 2                             

Taste:                                     1             

Value:                                    2

OVERALL:                              1.6

Reviewed 11/01/10 by TD + CC

Gluten Free Chocolate: Gnosis Fleur De Sel - Product Review #11

Gluten Free Chocolate: Gnosis Fleur De Sel Chocolate

PRODUCT NAME:                     Fleur De Sel Chocolate

BRAND:                                    Gnosis Chocolate

COST:                                      $9.25

SIZE:                                        2oz

COST PER OZ:                          $4.63/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

ORGANIC:                                 YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         CCOF

VEGAN:                                    YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:           UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          New York City, NY

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.                          

REVIEW:

The fine people at Gnosis Chocolate some of the best chocolate that I have had.  High quality…check…good texture…check…raw…check…a long list of flavors.  Gnosis has a lot of flavors ranging from their Simplicity Bar to more adventurous flavors lie the Mayan Heat Bar.  We taste tested the Fleur De Sel (flower of salt in English) which is definitely an interesting flavor, but not for everyone.  When you sink your teeth into this chocolate, you can tell right away that this chocolate is something special. 

Price is one thing that will deter many.  $10 for a 2oz piece of chocolate??? Seems ridiculous, but there is a reason for it.  For one, this chocolate is made completely by hand.  This chocolate is also made of all raw materials so you won’t find any processed junk in this chocolate.  So if you want high quality chocolate and are willing to look past the price tag, then this is the chocolate for you.  If you don’t like salt crystals in your chocolate, you will probably want to consider a flavor other than Fleur de Sel.  We are not typically fans of raw food, but this is one raw food product that we could live with. 

Taste: The salt was not doing it for me, so to be fair, I’m basing this on just the chocolate.  This was a darker chocolate that was perfectly sweet.  It had a nice texture to it that was very pleasing to the palette however towards the end it was a little grainy.  This is probably because it is made of raw materials.   

Labeling:  The labeling is chock full of information.  On the front are all of the certifications it has.  On the sides are the ingredients and a little description of the flavor.  On the back is a story about the company.  For a small box, it sure does have a lot to say. 

Packaging: The packaging is very attractive.  It looks more like a gift than a container for chocolate.  A big plus is that the box is made of 100% recycled material and the label is Naturefex which is sustainably sourced.  This is the first label that I have seen of its kind. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 4             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              3.6

Reviewed 10/27/10 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: China Sea vs. Annie Chun's Maifun - Product Review #10

Today, we have a double play… two different brands of maifun, which is the Chinese version of rice vermicelli, China Sea and Annie Chun’s All Natural Asian Cuisine.  One is imported from Taiwan and the other from Thailand.  One has fancier looking packaging than the other.  So how do they stack up to each other? 

On one corner of the ring, we have:

Gluten Free Noodles: China Sea Maifun

PRODUCT NAME:                            Maifun (Rice Vermicelli)

BRAND:                                           China Sea

COST:                                              $1.59

SIZE:                                                6oz

COST PER OZ:                                 $0.27/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                N/A

ORGANIC:                                        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                N/A

VEGAN:                                            UNKNOWN

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                  Taiwan

On the other side of the ring, we have:

Gluten Free Noodles: Annie Chun's Maifun

PRODUCT NAME:                              Maifun (Rice Vermicelli)

BRAND:                                             Annie Chun’s

COST:                                               $2.59

SIZE:                                                 8oz

COST PER OZ:                                  $0.32/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

ORGANIC:                                         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

VEGAN:                                            UNKNOWN

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                    UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                  Thailand

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

These two products are very similar.  Both imported from Asia, both the same type of noodle but that’s as far as the similarities go.  They have different taste, different textures, different packaging, and a different marketing approach. 

Taste: These noodles both tasted great, but Annie Chun’s version gets the win here.  It is a softer noodle and it absorbs flavor a little better than the China Sea version.  Texture wise, China Sea sea wins.  It stayed together a lot better and had a firmer texture that we liked.  Annie Chun’s maifun kind of fell apart and was super soft.

Labeling: The labeling on this box uses 2 totally different approaches.  The China Sea version is more of an Asian style packaging with some Chinese characters on the front of a plastic package  There is no mention that it is  gluten free, but the ingredients are rice and water so it is definitely gluten free.  Annie Chun’s packaging is more of an American style package with a nice bowl of chow maifun (fried rice vermicelli noodles) on the front.  It also says that it is Gluten free.  The China Sea maifun is something you might find at your local asian market and Annie Chun’s maifun is something you might find at a health food store or an American supermarket. 

Packaging: The China Sea Maifun has a plastic packaging. Annie Chun’s Maifun is double packaged.  It is sealed in a plastic package that is put in a recycled paperboard box.  It is an attractive looking package, but is it really necessary? 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

China Sea Maifun RATING:

Texture:                 4                             

Taste:                     3

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4

Annie Chun’s Maifun RATING:

Texture:                 3                             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed 11/9/10 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: Dragon Fly Brand Rice Stick - Product Review #9

Gluten Free Noodles: Dragon Fly Brand Rice Stick

PRODUCT NAME:                  Rice Stick

BRAND:                                 Dragonfly Brand

COST:                                   $3.35

SIZE:                                     14oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.23

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      N/A

ORGANIC:                              NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                  NO

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:         UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Thailand

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.      


REVIEW:

Asian rice noodles are a hidden gem to gluten-free eaters.  They are typically cheap and you get a ton of noodles.  They come in various varieties and sizes.  Today we had the Dragonfly Brand Rice Stick in Size: XL and Size: M.  The size refers to the thickness of the noodles.  We found that both had pretty much the same flavor and texture.  We had these dry, but we can see the potential of these noodles in a nice soup.  They are very good at absorbing the flavor of whatever it is served with. 

Another thing to note with these noodles is the cooking.  It is very easy to cook these noodles.  All you need to do is soak them in warm to hot water for about 5-7 minutes depending on how firm you want them.  I would consider this energy conserving cooking as you do not need to keep the water boiling to get these noodles cooked. 

These noodles are perfect for pretty much everyone.  They are cheap…only $0.23/oz.  They are Gluten free…even though it doesn’t say it.  They are healthy…minimal sodium and only 200 calories per serving.  With a few packs of these, you can probably feed an entire army. 

Taste: The taste of these noodles by themselves are pretty bland, however it does a very good job at absorbing flavors.  The texture can be manipulated as well depending on how you plan to serve them.  If you want them a little chewy, undercook them, and if you want them soft, cook them for a little longer.  No matter if you prefer chewy or soft noodles, these are the answers. 

Labeling: Very simple labeling on this one with something written in what I assume is Thai, but whatever it says, we know we like the noodles. 

Packaging: The packaging is non recyclable plastic.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 5                             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              5

Gluten Free Pasta: Andean Dream Gluten Free Quinoa Spaghetti - Product Review #8

Andean Dream Spaghetti

PRODUCT NAME:                        Gluten Free Quinoa Pasta Spaghetti

COST:                                         $5.19

SIZE:                                           8oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.64/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            IMO - Institute of Marketecology-Switzerland

VEGAN:                                        Unknown

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:               Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              Bolivia

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.     

REVIEW:

Four wheat’s …ORGANIC + FAIR TRADE
O.K. It is true I could not pronounce Quinoa for the life of me six months ago. Now the word + the grain are  my new best friends.  Today we cooked this product + we give this yummy spaghetti the four wheat rating.

Why?

1.The cooking directions are accurate …we always put in a pinch of salt into the boiling water …in this case we used Hawaiian salt + olive oil from Costco.

 2. The texture is firm yet pliable + believe it or not you would have a difficult time telling this quinoa product from our beloved wheat products. 

3. We like this company’s story on the back of the box where we used to get all our important information before the incredible internet world.
THEIR story…as told to us on the back of the box…ORGANIC ROYAL QUINOA grown only in the Bolivian Andes @ an altitude of 13,000 feet by 280 families + there is a very sweet smallish picture of a Bolivian  farming couple who look like the real deal.

Taste: Quinoa pasta has a very clean taste to it.  Taste isn’t so much an issues as texture is because most pastas are pretty bland in flavor.  This pasta has great texture.    

Labeling: The labeling on this packaging is very simple.  On the front, is just the brand and type of pasta; no unnecessary jibber jabber.  On the back is a nice background story on the quinoa grain and how the grain is grown in the Bolivian Andes at an elevation of 13,000, which they claim is where the finest quality of quinoa is grown.  

Packaging: Good packaging as it is made out of paper, which can be recycled.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product.

RATING:

Texture:                4.5         

Taste:                    4.5

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4  

Reviewed 10/06/10 by TD