Gluten Free Tart: Crave Apple Frangipane Tart - Product Review #92

Gluten Free Tart: Crave Apple Frangipane Tart

PRODUCT NAME:                   Apple Frangipane Tart

BRAND:                                  Crave Bakery

COST:                                     $5.49

SIZE:                                       5.6oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.98/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

ORGANIC:                                Partial

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         Designated GF Equipment

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:
We have seen a lot of good things come out of Crave Bakery’s kitchen. This Apple Frangipane Tart is no exception. Cameo Edwards brought it over to us a few weeks back to try and I’m glad she did. We didn’t get to try it before closing up shop for the holidays, so we decided to freeze it. It held up perfectly. As you may recall, we thought that the tart crust was a little too soft for our tastes. Being that the crusts on this tart was the same as the last. We attempted to firm the crust up a little by putting it in the oven for a few minutes. This did the trick. It firmed up the outer layer of the crust just enough to our liking.

If you’re wondering what a frangipane tart is, it is a tart with an almond flavored filling. This one was great. It had a nice light crust and a perfectly sweet filling. The aroma of the almonds was a nice added touch. Combine the gluten free crust and the tasty frangipane filling with some apples spread over it, and you have a great gluten free dessert alternative.

This is just one of Crave Bakery’s many gluten free treats. They are a company that specializes and really cares about providing the gluten free intolerant and the celiacs high quality baked goods. You can see it in her ingredients...she uses locally grown free range eggs and organic brown rice flour just to name a few. If that wasn’t enough, is dedicated to making sure there is the least amount of cross contamination in her products. Those of you with severe gluten allergies, you will be pleased to hear that Crave tests to 5ppm, which is higher than many certification agencies. They also make everything on dedicated gluten free equipment.

Those of you who are looking for a delicious gluten free dessert, look no further than Crave Bakery’s Apple Frangipane Tart. These tarts are good for just about everyone except for those of you that have allergies to eggs and tree nuts. If you enjoy a nice soft crust, enjoy it as is, but if you enjoy a firmer crust, take our recommendation of putting it in the oven for a few minutes to firm it up.

Taste: Despite being in the freezer for a couple weeks, this tart held up great. It had great almond flavor with just the perfect amount of sweetness. This time around, we decided to put it in the oven for a few minutes to firm up the crust, and it paid off as our mouths were greeted by a crust with great texture.

Labeling: Same labeling as found on Crave’s other baked goods. I didn’t notice it before, but they have actually put allergy information on the label to warn of potential allergy risks. Those of you with other allergies will appreciate that label.

Packaging: Great packaging that we have come to expect from Crave. We put it in the freezer and there was no weird freezer aftertaste so you know the package is doing its job to keep the tart fresh.

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:             3
OVERALL:       4

Reviewed 011211 by CC

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 Pasta: Rustichella D'Abruzzo Organic Corn Fusilli - Product Review #50

Gluten Free Pasta: Rustichella D'Abruzzo Corn Fusilli

PRODUCT NAME:                   Organic 100% Corn Fusilli

BRAND:                                  Rustichella D’Abruzzo

COST:                                    $7.00

SIZE:                                       8.8oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.79/oz

CERTIFIED GLUETEN FREE:    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

ORGANIC:                               YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       Istituto Mediterraneo Di Certificazione

VEGAN:                                   UNKNOWN

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:
If you look at some of our previous reviews, you will some of our reviews of Rustichella D’Abruzzo pasta. We really enjoy their pasta, so we seek out their different varieties of gluten free pastas to enjoy. A few months back, we actually had this pasta, but just never got a chance to write a review on it. If you know this brand, you might know that it is a little difficult to find, but we managed to find it at a grocery store in Napa, CA. At $7.00 a box, it is a little pricy, but what you get is a high quality pasta.

The Italians do things a little differently too in the gluten free world. Although I am not sure if this company has made the transition to the new regulations (all companies must comply by January 1, 2010), European countries have much stricter regulations on what can have the gluten free label on its package. Namely, all items marked gluten free must contain no more than 20ppm of gluten. That’s the levels that many gluten free certification agency test to.

This organic corn fusilli is one of the best we’ve tried. The box has specific directions on how to prepare this pasta and after following it, it makes a lot of sense. The box calls for you to boil the pasta for about 5-7 minutes. Here in the studio, we are cooking on hot plates that don’t get as hot as a traditional stove, so I cooked it for about 10 minutes to get it al dente. One thing that jumped out at me, was that it says “Do not rinse.” I am not sure what the reasoning behind that is, but my best guess would be to ensure that the pasta does not fall apart when rinsing.

In the form of flavor, there isn’t much to say about it as it is just pasta, but one thing to note is that you can really taste the flavor of the corn in the pasta. It adds a hint of sweetness to the flavor of the pasta. Combine this pasta with your favorite gluten free pasta sauce, and you have the perfect gluten free meal.

Taste: Great tasting pasta with good texture that we have come to expect from Rustichella D’Abruzzo. They really know their pasta.

Labeling: The labeling is very simple yet attractive. Combined with a few Italian words I cannot read, this pasta is the real thing…Italian pasta.

Packaging: The Packaging on this is a 2 part package. The dry noodles are placed in a sealed air-tight bag that is stuffed into a recyclable paperboard box (see photo for reference).

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 011211 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 Pretzels: Glutino Sesame Pretzel Rings - Product Review #48

Gluten Free Pretzels: Glutino Sesame Pretzel Rings

PRODUCT NAME:                          Gluten Free Sesame Pretzel Rings

BRAND:                                         Glutino

COST:                                            $4.99

SIZE:                                              8oz

COST PER OZ:                               $0.62/oz 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:             NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

ORGANIC:                                      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

VEGAN:                                          YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                Israel

*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 one of the biggest names in gluten free products. They manufacture and distribute over 80 different gluten free products. They have everything from baking mixes and snacks to frozen entrees and pizza. With such a successful operation, they must be doing something right. We have tried a few of their products in the past and have liked them a lot. When we saw these Gluten Free Pretzel Rings, we knew we had to try them.

There are a few things that jump out at us about these pretzels. Not only are they gluten free, but they are also milk free, casein free, and egg free. So that makes these good for people with gluten free diets as well as vegan diets. It’s nice that these pretzels are good for people with special diets, but really, how does it stack up to regular pretzels? I will say that I am personally not the biggest fan of pretzels. I don’t mind them, but they wouldn’t be me snack of choice. If all pretzels were like these, I might have to reconsider. These pretzels were great and got a unanimous two thumbs up from everyone in our office. They have the pretzel flavor, but are lighter and crispier than regular pretzels.

Since I’ve been paying attention to nutrition labels a lot more lately, I decided to take a more in depth look at the nutrition facts of these gluten free pretzels. I decided to compare them to the nutrition facts of pretzels from a large manufacturer. What I saw was surprising. I saw that these gluten free pretzels actually have more calories (150 calories vs. 110 calories) and fat (8g vs 1g) than traditional pretzels with similar serving sizes. These gluten free pretzels did have less sodium though (390mg vs 420mg). All of these numbers are relatively close though, but the sodium content is a little on the high side. That goes for both the Glutino gluten free pretzels as well as the regular pretzels. That just reminds us that we need to pay attention to the nutrition facts and make sure we don’t overdo it. Remember that everything should be used in moderation.

These pretzels are suitable for just about everyone whether you are gluten free or not. They have nice flavor and are really crispy. If you are allergic to soy or sesame, you might want to stay away as these pretzels contain both.

Taste: Great pretzel flavor, but with the added bonus of being lighter and crispier than regular pretzels. I actually prefer them to the regular pretzels full of gluten.

Labeling: Very attractive labeling on this package that is also informative. They have all of their bases covered as these pretzels are gluten free, milk free, casein free, and egg free.

Packaging: The packaging is your typical cellophane package with an air tight seal. Opening it might be a little tricky though because it tears pretty easily once it is opened. If you plan to keep these for more than one sitting, I would suggest have a bag clip on hand to keep it fresh.

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 011011 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: Oriental King Rice Stick - Product Review #43

PRODUCT NAME:                             Rice Stick

BRAND:                                            Oriental King

COST:                                              $0.79

SIZE:                                                16oz  

COST PER OZ:                                $0.05/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:
We here at Gluten Free Reviewer are lucky enough to live in an area with a big Asian community which gives us access to a large variety of affordable food.  This Oriental King Rice Stick is one of those items.  At only $0.79 for a 16 ounce package, what more can you ask for.  Noodles and rice are a large part of Asian culture.  They have rice or noodles with every meal.  It’s no wonder their noodles are so good.  This particular noodle is made of rice and is such, called rice stick.  There are many ways you can prepare it…boiled then sautéed, fried, or served in boiling hot soup.  No matter how you prepare it, these noodles are sure to be good. 

We opted to boil these noodles and sauté them up with some onions and garlic and it tasted great.  A lot of rice noodles seem to get mushy when you cook them, but these noodles stayed firm and held their shape.  Being that they are rice noodles, they are also good at absorbing the flavor of the gluten free tamari soy sauce we use.  I think I may have under cooked them a little bit because they were a little on the tough side, so if you decide to try these noodles out, make sure they are relatively soft before you sauté them.    

Taste: These are rice noodles so like most, they don’t have too much flavor, they are more like a base that you have to add to.  With some sautéed veggies and maybe some meat, these noodles are great.  Nice firm texture so they won’t fall apart like many other rice noodles.

Labeling:  The labeling on these Asian noodles is usually in Chinese or Vietnamese writing and I can’t read either, but this packaging wasn’t too difficult because there were actually English cooking instructions on the back.  

Packaging:  Simple plastic packaging with an airtight seal. 

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:                    5

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed  1/4/11 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