Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Whole Grain Bagels - Product Review #77

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

PRODUCT NAME:                    Whole Grain Bagel

BRAND:                                   Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

COST:                                     $6.00

SIZE:                                       4 Bagels (14oz)

COST PER BAGEL:                  $1.50

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        COLORADO

*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 tried Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bagels in the past and we loved them, so when we got a chance to try their Whole Grain variety, we jumped at the chance.  Last time, we went with the sweet so this time we decided to go with savory.  It was a nice sunny day so we decided that we would have lunch by the water.  The perfect lunch to go along with the view was open faced bagel sandwiches using toasted Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bagels, fresh cream cheese, sliced pork tenderloin and green onions sautéed with garlic.  Everything went together perfectly. 

Udi’s bagels are great.  They have the perfect texture because they have a similar texture to a regular bagel, firm and chewy, but with an even lighter texture.  We received these bagels last week and because we couldn’t get to them right away, we decided to freeze them.  Even after being frozen for about a week, after a quick toast they came out tasting fresh.  These bagels worked especially well for a sandwich because they are firm and can hold piles of toppings.  Bite into the sandwich and you have the perfect balance of textures.  The sandwich was delicious and filling. 

When we wrote our review for Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, I expressed concern about the nutrition facts because I thought that the sodium, calorie and fat content were a little high.  Unfortunately I had the same concern with this bagel.  I know these bagels are whole grain and whole grain is supposed to be good for you, but with 280 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 470 milligrams of sodium, these whole grain bagels have even higher fat and sodium content than the Cinnamon Raisin Bagels.  Despite this, I wouldn’t say that these bagels are unhealthy to eat. It just means that you have to pay attention to what you are eating so you can plan your day’s meal accordingly to ensure that you don’t go over your recommended daily values.  It would be a shame to miss out on these delicious bagels because Udi’s makes the best bagels I’ve ever had, this includes regular bagels that contain gluten.

Ingredients for Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

Overall, we really enjoyed Udi’s Bagels.  They are delicious and have one of the best textures I’ve ever had in a bagel.  You get the best of both worlds; the firmness and chewiness we’ve come to expect from a bagel but with a lighter texture that makes chewing this bagel not such a workout.

Nutrition facts for Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

Taste: This bagel has a great texture.  It is chewy and firm like a regular bagel, but lighter.  Toast these up and make a sandwich for a great lunch.

Labeling:  The labeling on this packaging is very simple and strait forward, everything you need to know is stamped right on the front.  Gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, whole grain, certified gluten free, and kosher, it’s all there on the front.    

Packaging:  You will find your normal bagel packaging here.  It is the typical plastic bag with the bag tie ring to seal it up.  If you decide to freeze these bagels, you might want to put them in a freezer safe resealable bag. 

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 

Reviewed 022311 by Calvin C

Gluten Free Sauces: Shiloh's All Natural Bearnaise - Product Review #58

Gluten Free Sauce: Shiloh's All Natural Bearnaise

PRODUCT NAME:                          Béarnaise Sauce

BRAND:                                         Shiloh’s All Natural

COST:                                           $7.40

SIZE:                                             11fl oz

COST PER OZ:                              $0.67/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             GFCO

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

VEGAN:                                         NO

GLUTEN 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:
The other day, we got some arctic char (a mix between a trout and a salmon) to cook up for lunch. As the resident chef here at the studio, I was looking for something to flavor it with. I had thought about flavoring it with some gluten free teriyaki sauce, but then I remembered that I had gotten some Béarnaise sauce from the nice people at Shiloh’s All Natural sauces at the Fancy Food Show. Béarnaise sauce is a French sauce that kind of looks like tartar sauce, but is flavored with lemon juice, tarragon, and shallots.

It all started when Shiloh’s Steakhouse, owned by Fabrice and Geoffrey Ghanem, opened up in Los Angeles, California. With a successful restaurant up and running, demand for their sauces and marinades grew. That’s when they decided to team up with their executive chef Katsuji Tanabe to create sauces they can bottle up to sell. They’ve gone to great length to ensure that these sauces are of the highest quality. You might be pleased to see that the entire line of sauces is certified parve as well as certified gluten free by GFCO.

Arctic Char with Shiloh's Gluten Free Bearnaise Sauce

Let me say that I was blown away by this sauce; it was the perfect complement to the fish. I pan fried the fish and at the last minute spread the sauce over it so that the sauce would melt into the fish. It added a nice buttery taste to the fish with just the right amount of herbs. At 190 calories and 21g of fat per 2 tablespoons of sauce it is more on the indulgent side of things, but you don’t really need to add too much of this sauce to infuse the fish with flavor. I think I only used about half a table spoon on each of the fillets of fish. On the plus side, the sodium is relatively low for such a flavorful sauce at 125mg per 2 tablespoon servings. My suggestion is to hold off on adding salt when using this sauce because you probably won’t even need it.

Overall, we loved this sauce and can’t wait to try it on some chicken and steak. At $0.67/oz, it’s not a bad value either for such a delicious sauce. The fact that it is has a parve certification and is certified gluten free is just the cherry on top. If you are interested in purchasing some Shiloh’s delicious sauces, right around now they should be available at your local Whole Foods or you can always find them on their website at: www.shilohsauces.com.

Taste: Delicious sauce that is the perfect flavor addition to your favorite fish, but seeing how much we enjoyed it, I’m sure it’ll go great on chicken or steak as well.

Labeling: This sauce is certified gluten free and parve and it’s nice to see those certification seals on this bottle. The nutrition facts are a little difficult to read. Due to the size of the bottle, it is in paragraph form rather than the traditional nutrition facts table.

Packaging: A very attractive glass jar that you can probably find another use for.

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:               3
OVERALL:         4.3

Reviewed 012711 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Rice: Lotus Foods Bhutanese Red Rice - Product Review #55

Gluten Free Rice: Lotus Foods Bhutanese Red Rice

PRODUCT NAME:                        Bhutanese Red Rice

BRAND:                                       Lotus Foods

COST:                                         $4.49

SIZE:                                           15oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.30/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                   UNKNOWN

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            Bhutan

*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:
Rice is one of the most popular food items in the world. It is very versatile and can be made into a countless number of things including porridge, pilaf, risotto and even pudding to name a few. Not only is it versatile, but it is also gluten free. With something so popular, it was a matter of time before we finally reviewed a variety of this food marvel. And I think we picked a good one. Lotus Foods, out of El Cerrito, CA has a unique variety of rice that not only tastes good, but is also good for you. It’s called Bhutanese Red Rice.

Bhutanese Red Rice, grown in the Paro Valley of Bhutan, is heirloom rice that is specific to this region. If you were wondering what heirloom rice is, the Lotus Foods website states that it is a term used for plants that are grown from indigenous seed stock that are often ancient and have not been hybridized or genetically engineered. In other words, it is a natural. With over 45g of whole grain per serving, this rice is considered 100% whole grain which means it is good for you. Add to that the fact that this rice is irrigated with 1,000 year old glacier water rich in trace minerals and it is high in fiber and vitamins, this rice proves to be a great healthy rice.

The rice is easy to cook too. You can do it the traditional way on your stove top or you can do it the easy way like we did in a rice cooker. Just add water and in about 20 minutes you have delicious rice. At first, I was a bit apprehensive because the rice looked like it would be hard, but it was actually very nice and soft. It was not overly sticky either like many other short grain rice varieties tend to be. With it’s nice rich red color it also looks very pleasing to the palette. The rice we have had in the past have all been pretty bland with most of its flavor added with whatever sauce we decide to pour over it, but this rice was different. It actually had a nice nutty flavor to it.

If you are looking for a high quality rice that not only tastes great, but is also good for you, this is the rice you are looking for. At $0.30/oz, it isn’t the cheapest rice out there, but I wouldn’t say it’s unreasonable for the quality of product you get.

Taste: Great nutty flavor with great texture. It is soft, but not overly sticky like many white rice varieties.

Labeling: Very simple labeling that gives a lot of great information about the rice on the back. Who would have known that there is rice that is irrigated with 1,000 year old glacier water rich in trace minerals?

Packaging: Air sealed plastic packaging. The amount contained in the package is good for about 5 big eaters.

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:            3  
OVERALL:      4.3

Reviewed 012411 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Crackers: Nicole's Divine Crackers "My Dreams Come True" - Product Review #51

Gluten Free Crackers: Nicole's Divine Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                     My Dreams Come True

BRAND:                                    Nicole’s Divine Crackers

COST:                                      $4.99

SIZE:                                        5oz

COST PER OZ:                         $1.00/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                Organic Grains

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        UNKNOWN

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          Chicago, IL

*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:
My Dreams Come True! It’s not just a saying. It’s actually the name of one of the varieties of gluten free crackers made by Nicole’s Divine Crackers. They make a line of gluten-free crackers with very catchy names. “My Dreams Come True” is the one that we tried and it is definitely an interesting combination of flavors that I would never have thought of…Cranberry Pepper. They also have “Tomato-Tomahto”, “Be Sure to Flax Me”, and “Dilly Dillingham”, all of which are very catchy.

Flavor is a big part of how we rate the products that pass through our tasting station. With a name like “My Dreams Come True” my expectations ran high especially with the unique combination of flavors of cranberry and pepper. Open up the bag and you’ll find it filled with 5 ounces of pita chip-like crackers. I popped a cracker in my mouth and began chewing. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? I saw what looked like pita chips so I expected a nice firm crunch. Although it was close, there was just something about it that was just different. I would describe it as firmer than your traditional cracker (think Ritz) and not as crispy as a pita chip. Something else was different too…the flavor. I’m not sure if it was the dried cranberries, but there was a hint of flavor I’m just not used to. We decided to try these with some blue cheese dip and they did a good job with scooping up the thick dip. It held its shape and because of its firmness, you can actually get a good amount of dip on there.

Overall, I thought these crackers were alright. They wouldn’t be my first choice of crackers, especially at $4.99 a box. But there are some advantages to these crackers. They are relatively healthy compared to a lot of other crackers at only 70 calories and 95mg of sodium per serving. So if you are looking for a healthy cracker to enjoy with your favorite dip, these are probably the crackers for you.

Taste: These crackers had a good firm texture and had a very unique flavor, probably from the cranberries.

Labeling: Nice labeling with very catchy names.

Packaging: Simple, yet attractive paperboard outer packaging. Inner packaging is sealed plastic. One thing to note is that the paperboard package is resealable, but the inner one isn’t.

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:            3
Value:           2
OVERALL:     3

Reviewed 011811 by CC

Gluten Free Cookies: Mariposa Cinnamon Toast Biscotti - Product Review #49

Gluten Free Cookies: Mariposa Cinnamon Toast Biscotti

PRODUCT NAME:                    Cinnamon Toast Biscotti

BRAND:                                   Mariposa

COST:                                     $7.50

SIZE:                                        6.3oz

COST PER OZ:                         $1.19/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                Partial

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         Oakland, CA

*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:
For those of you looking for something to enjoy with your morning cup of coffee or tea, Mariposa has the perfect answer for you with their delicious Gluten Free Biscotti. Biscotti are Italian cookies, usually almond, that are baked twice. They start off as a long loaf that is baked and after they are baked through, are cut into strips, separated, and baked again. The end product is a dry, but very crunchy cookie that is unique to biscotti. It is the perfect complement to a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Mariposa did a great job with the cookie. They offer it in three varieties which are cinnamon toast, ginger spice and, of course, the classic almond biscotti. We opted for the Cinnamon Toast variety and it was delicious. The cookie has the distinct biscotti texture, but with a twist. It might be their special gluten-free flour mix, but this cookie is a little big lighter than the traditional biscotti’s and that makes it just that more enjoyable. It’s hard to explain, but the easiest way to describe it is you won’t have to fight with it too much to break a piece of it off. Bit into it and you will be greeted with an explosion of texture and taste. The cinnamon in this biscotti adds just the perfect amount of sweetness to complete the cookie.

This gluten free biscotti might actually be better than the regular version. If the almond and ginger spice varieties are anything like the cinnamon toast ones we tried, I’m sure they are delicious too. For those of you with nut allergies, sorry but you might want to stay away. There is a disclaimer on the box saying that it is “NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH NUT ALLERGIES”. For those of you who have sensitive teeth, you might want to be careful with these because as with most biscotti, they are a little hard on your pearly whites.

Taste: Great flavor especially with the addition of the cinnamon. Texture that resembles biscotti, but just a little lighter, which I believe makes it more enjoyable as you won’t have to fight with it when you chew.

Labeling: Mariposa does a great job with their labeling. It is very simple and elegant. They do a good job of highlighting important information, such as being gluten free, wheat free, and dairy free (note although it is dairy free, it still contains eggs so it does not qualify as vegan). I also liked that it is labeled as not suitable for people with nut allergies as I know people who have those allergies sometimes have severe allergies.

Packaging: Very attractive packaging with a sealed plastic package within a paper box package. The package looks great, but does not provide you with any way to reseal it.

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:             3
OVERALL:       4.3


Reviewed 011111 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: Ka Me Bean Thread - Product Review #45

Gluten Free Noodles:Ka Me Bean Thread

PRODUCT NAME:                               Bean Thread

BRAND:                                              Ka Me

COST:                                                $2.49

SIZE:                                                  3.75oz

COST PER OZ:                                   $0.65/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

ORGANIC:                                          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

VEGAN:                                             YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                   Taiwan



*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:

Looking at our library of reviews, you will see a lot of Asian style noodles mixed in there. With such a large Asian community in our area, it’s no surprise. We are accustomed to the Asian brands, which are a great affordable option. So what happens when an American brand markets and sells these Asian noodles? Do they taste better/worse? Is it as good a value as the Asian brands? These are some of the questions that popped into our heads when we saw the Ka Me Bean Thread Sai Fun.

Take a look at these 3.75oz packages of Ka Me Bean Threads or Sai Fun and you will immediately notice that the packages are pretty small. We are used to the Asian Brand varieties which are triple the size of this package. This package only contains 2 servings while most of the Asian brands contain 6 or more servings per package. So what about price? They have 1/3 the amount of noodles in them, do they cost 1/3 the price? You would think that, but they are actually close to double or triple the price. For value, these noodles get a pretty low rating.

Taste and texture-wise, these noodles are pretty good. They are a little sticky when you fry them up, but that’s a good thing. They have texture similar to silver noodles that you would find in a Korean or Thai restaurant. They are really good at absorbing the flavor of whatever sauce you fry them up in.

I think these noodles taste great and have great texture, but the price is a little on the higher side. It isn’t outrageously priced compared, but there are a lot of alternatives out there that are a better bang for the buck. Don’t be too discouraged by the price though because these noodles are very good.

Taste: The bean thread has great texture and is great at absorbing flavor. Stir fry them up with some vegetables, meat, and a little gluten free soy sauce and you have the perfect gluten free meal.

Labeling: You will find very simple labeling on this package. It isn’t marketed as gluten free, but just take a look at the ingredients and all you will see is mung bean starch and water so not only is it gluten free, it is also vegan.

Packaging: Air sealed package that will keep your noodles good for a long time. Our package had a use by date of Jan 12, 2013.

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



Reviewed 010611 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Guilin Rice Vermicelli - Product Review #40

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Guilin Rice Vermicell

PRODUCT NAME:                              Guilin Rice Vermicelli

BRAND:                                             Five Grain Brand

COST:                                               $0.59

SIZE:                                                 14oz      

COST PER OZ:                                  $0.04/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

ORGANIC:                                          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

VEGAN:                                              YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                    China

*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:
Looking at some of the other products we have reviewed in the past, you will see that we are a big fan of Asian rice noodles.  They are an affordable gluten free alternative to the fancier gluten free pastas.  That also might be because these noodles aren’t marketed as gluten free noodles.  Take a look at the ingredients, and all that is in the noodles is rice and water.  If you’re gluten intolerant and on a budget, I highly recommend trying these noodles if you have access to them.  Just look at the price…we got this 14oz package of Five Grains Brand Guilin Rice Vermicelli from Chinatown for only $0.59.  Try to find that in your local non-Asian supermarket… you won’t find anything that comes close. 

These particular noodles are Guilin Rice Vermicelli, which is a special type of noodle from Guilin, a city in China.  They are rich in history and have been around for over 2000 years.  It looks like they perfected the recipe too because they are some of the best noodles we have had, gluten free or not.  They come in different sizes, small to extra large, which references the diameter of the round noodles.  They are probably the closest you will get to regular spaghetti. 

The texture of these noodles is nice and firm.  A little uncommon for a rice noodle, but the people of Guilin, China have probably perfected the recipe for the noodle because don’t forget, these noodles have been in existence for over 2000 years.  One trick though when making though.  After boiling them up, put them in some cold water to prevent them from sticking together. 

Taste: Not much flavor as this is a typical rice noodle, but the texture is perfect.  It is nice and firm and doesn’t fall apart while cooking like many other rice noodles do. 

Labeling:  For an Asian noodle company, the labeling on this is actually pretty good…No typos and nice high quality image of the noodles on the front. 

Packaging:  Typical plastic packaging for noodles.  You won’t find double packaging here. 

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 120310 by CC