Delicious Baked Goods by Gluten Free Gourmet

We hit the jackpot this time!  Finding a gluten free bakery is a challenge.  Finding a gluten free bakery that makes great tasting bread is even more of a challenge, but that’s exactly what we have found this time.   Gluten Free Gourmet, located in Campbell, CA is a dedicated gluten free bakery that makes a large variety of great tasting baked goods.  Owner Dana Hoppe, has really done her homework…and it really shows in her products. 

It all started in 2000 when Dana discovered that she was gluten intolerant.  At that time, gluten free products were slim to none and finding good tasting gluten free products was near impossible.  This gave her the motivation to take things into her own hands.  She started by trying recipes in gluten free cook books, but she found them to be frustrating because of all the special ingredients they required.  Not to be discouraged, she decided to take her own approach; convert recipes that she used prior to being diagnosed into gluten free recipes.  With her desire for great tasting gluten free food and the support of her family and friends as motivation, she set out to create what we know today as Gluten Free Gourmet.

Cookies, brownies, cakes, bread, muffins pies… Gluten Free Gourmet does it all!  In a dedicated gluten free kitchen too!   Since 2008, Dana has been creating great tasting gluten free baked goods.  She started at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market with four products: mini loaves of carrot cake, zucchini bread, fudgy brownies and pumpkin apple bread.  They were a hit!  She has now expanded her selection to 23 different products not including her made to order cakes and pies.   

If you have a special occasion you need a cake for, Gluten Free Gourmet can make it for you!  Dana puts a lot of love and care into her baked goods.  When you make a special order, she will sit down and talk to you about your allergies to ensure that it fits your needs.  As an extra precaution, everything is washed between batches to prevent cross contamination.  In addition to being gluten free, the facility is also peanut-free, although they do use tree nuts from time to time. 

Barbeque Gluten Free Rosemary Bread Baguette topped with Tomatoes

Gluten free baking can sometimes be tricky.  Dana has put a lot of work into perfecting her recipes and it shows.  Gluten Free Gourmet products taste great!  So good you probably wouldn’t even be able to tell that they are gluten free.  We were especially impressed by their Gluten Free French Bread and Gluten Free Rosemary French Baguette.  It is one of the best tasting gluten free products we have ever tasted.  The flavor is great and the texture is spot on.  It is no surprise that it happens to be Dana’s favorite too.  It is unlike anything else on the market and can be used in many different ways.  We decided to barbeque the bread and it was delicious.  No matter how you decide to enjoy it, it is definitely a treat you will enjoy. 

Gluten Free Gourmet is definitely off to a great start.  With the care that Dana puts into her products combined with the unique selection of great tasting gluten free baked goods, it is no wonder they are a huge hit.  With Dana in the driver’s seat, we can’t wait to see what else they come up with.  For more information about Gluten Free Gourmet Products, visit their website at: www.gluten-free-gourmet.com.  We are also proud to announce that GFR Grocery is a retailer for Gluten Free Gourmet products.    

Gluten Free Bagels: Mariposa Gluten Free Bagels - Product Review #39

Gluten Free Bagels: Mariposa Gluten Free Bagels

PRODUCT NAME:                            Gluten Free Bagels

BRAND:                                           Mariposa

COST:                                             $3.95

NUMBER OF BAGELS:                     2

COST PER BAGEL:                          $1.98

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:              NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:               N/A

ORGANIC:                                       NO

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:
Mariposa bakery specializes in gluten free baked goods.  They make everything from brownies to breads.  They even make bagels, which is what we had for lunch today.  Traditionally bagels are dense breads that are hand formed into circles, much like donuts.  The difference between a bagel and regular bread is that bagels are usually boiled before they are baked.  Your end product is a dense bread that is a little chewier than regular bread.

Based on the other products that we have tasted out of the Mariposa bakery, we had high hopes for this bagel.  It was good, but we thought it could’ve been a little better.  We tasted the bagels 2 ways…toasted and without being heated in any way.  First was the toasted version.  It was good…nice and crispy and had good texture.  The last was as is without being heated in any way.  This version was very crumbly and tasted more like dry bread than a bagel.  It reminded us a lot of the gluten free brown rice bread from Trader Joe’s.  It leaves a weird film on your tongue after eating it.  It wasn’t horrible, but we were expecting a little better. 

This bagel is best suited for people who enjoy toasted bagels.  It is great when toasted, but without, it’s just bread. 

Taste: The bagel was great toasted.  It browns nicely and gets pretty crispy.  Untoasted on the other hand, it crumbles easily and is rather dry.  For a bagel, the texture was too light.  It needs to be denser. 

Labeling: Very simple labeling on this bagel, as with their other products.  One thing I noticed on this packaging was that it has a shelf life of 3 months when it is frozen.  This is a big plus as these are a little harder to get.  You can stock up and freeze them to enjoy later.    

Packaging:  Simple cellophane plastic 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:                 3             

Taste:                     3

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              2.7

Reviewed 12/10/10 by CC

Gluten Free Pizza: Mariposa 10" Pizza - Product Review #38

Gluten Free Pizza: Mariposa 10" Pizza

PRODUCT NAME:                        10” Topped Pizza

BRAND:                                       Mariposa

COST:                                         $10.75

SIZE:                                           10oz

COST PER OZ:                             $1.07/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A       

VEGAN:                                         NO

WHEAT 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:
Pizza…who doesn’t like pizza?  Only problem most of the pizza out there are made with wheat flour.  Enter…Mariposa with their 10” Topped Pizza, which is a frozen cheese pizza that just happens to be gluten free.  Celiacs and the gluten intolerant can now rejoice, finally a gluten free pizza that actually tastes like a pizza! 

A little background about Mariposa…they are a company based in Oakland, California that specializes in gluten free baked goods.  Mariposa has been producing delicious handmade gluten free baked goods that are just as good, if not better than their glutinous equivalents since 2004.  They bake everything at their dedicated gluten-free facility in Oakland, California.  You won’t have to worry about cross contamination with these baked goods.  So what is their secret to making such delicious baked goods?  It’s their special gluten free flours, which are combinations of organic brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, potato starch and tapioca flour.

This gluten free pizza was great.  We baked the pizza up with some sausage and garlic as toppings and it was DELICIOUS!  It was very easy to make.  Dice up your favorite toppings sprinkle them on top and bake it in the oven until the cheese is melted.  What you end up with is a delicious cheesy pizza with a cripy crust.  The texture of the dough is perfect.  If we didn’t know any better, we wouldn’t have known it was gluten-free.   You can tell this is a high quality pizza crust.

This pizza was great.  Produced by a local company producing handmade high quality food is definitely a plus.  Some might think the price is a little high, but you’re paying for quality.  Just compare it to a frozen pizza you would get at your local grocery store.  You’d probably pay about $8 for one of the gluten filled frozen pizzas…I don’t’ think it’s too much to ask to pay a few more bucks to get a high quality gluten free product.

Taste: This pizza is great.  There was no weird aftertaste like some of the other gluten free bread products we have tried in the past and it had great texture.  We baked it just long enough to get a nice crispy outer crust and it was perfect.  The dough had the perfect consistency; not too chewy but not too flaky.  With our added toppings, it made for a delicious lunch.

Labeling:  There wasn’t much in the form of labeling, just a simple sticker on the front with the company logo, the name of the product, and the ingredients.  This was one of the inspirations for the weekend blog about missing nutrition facts.  This pizza does not have nutrition facts on the packaging and I believe mariposa is exempt from it because they qualify for the Small Business Exemption. 

Packaging: The packaging is very simple as well.  No double packaging here, just a Ziploc bag and a round piece of cardboard to keep the pizza from deforming. 

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 12/10/10 by CC

Gluten Free Brownies: Crave Bakery Dark Chocolate Brownies - Product Review #36

Gluten Free Brownies: Crave Bakery Dark Chocolate Brownies

PRODUCT NAME:                      Dark Chocolate Brownies

BRAND:                                     Crave Bakery

COST:                                        $13 (6-pack)/$23 (12-pack)

SIZE:                                          2.8oz/piece

COST PER PIECE:                      $2.17-$1.92

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:
If you are from the San Francisco area, chances you have probably heard about Crave Bakery’s Dark Chocolate Brownies.  What you may or may not have known is that they are actually gluten free.  What can I say about these chocolate treasures other than…They may very well be one of the best brownies I have ever had. 
There are plenty of brownies out there, but not too many gluten free ones.  A lot of times, the lack of gluten flour can give a gluten free brownie a weird taste.  You won’t find that here.  These brownies are great.  They have the right texture, the perfect consistency, and, of course, the rich chocolate flavor we have come to expect in a brownie.  Crave uses bittersweet chocolate in these brownies and it gives it just the right amount of sweetness.   The texture is firm, but a little just a little flakey, which is the perfect texture for a brownie.   
Crave has lived up to their name with this brownie.  They use high quality ingredients, make everything on designated gluten free equipment, and they even perform strict testing to ensure that there is no cross contamination.  After eating it, I still find myself craving for more.  If you are looking for a high quality brownie made with only the best ingredients, this is the brownie for you.  Whether you are gluten intolerant or not, this is the brownie for you.  And if you are a chocolate addict, you will definitely satisfy your cravings with these brownies. 

Taste: Great rich chocolate flavor in perfect brownie form.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to try these brownies, you must. 

Labeling:  You will find the signature Crave Bakery label on this packaging.  Like I have said before, it provides just the right amount of information and lets the contents of the packaging do all the talking. 

Packaging:  We got these brownies in a plastic container, but I believe they also come individually packed.  No matter how they are packaged, I’m sure you will enjoy these brownies. 

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  122210 by CC

Gluten Free Tart: Crave Bakery Lemon Tart - Product Review #35

Gluten Free Tart: Crave Bakery Lemon Tart

PRODUCT NAME:                      Lemon 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:

When Cameo brought this tart into our office, it was the first thing RS, who is the one that is gluten intolerant in our office, noticed.  He hasn’t had a lemon tarts in months since he learned of his gluten intolerance and was excited to try this lemon tart.  It looked so good in its packaging.  It comes in a nice plastic package that resembles an upside-down Tupperware container.  I thought this was pretty clever because it keeps the tart in place and prevents it from getting crushed or moved around too much. 

We had this tart at room temperature and it was good.  The filling had just the right amount of flavor without overpowering the crust too much.  The crust had a nice texture, but was a little on doughy.  If you’re a fan of a soft tart crust, this is the tart for you.  If you are a fan of a firm crispy tart crust, this is also the tart for you, but you may want to throw it in the oven for a few minutes to cook the crust a little more.  I didn’t try it myself, but it seems like a logical solution. 

Overall, Crave bakery did a great job with this tart and I can’t wait to try the other baked goods Cameo brought over.  After tasting this tart, I know why she has such a good reputation. 

Taste: The lemon filling in this tart is great, not overly sweet like others I’ve had and just enough sour to remind you that it is a lemon tart.  The dough had great flavor.  It is made with sweet rice and tapioca flour so the crust itself has a slightly sweet flavor.  The texture of the tart was okay, but we thought it was a little on the soft doughy side.  Some prefer this, but we however prefer a firmer tart crust.  I think putting it in the oven for a few more minutes could remedy this by firming up the crust a little.  It’s nice that it is this way so it gives you a little more flexibility with the tart. 

Labeling:  Same labeling as found on Crave’s other baked goods…very simple labels so that the item just behind it can do its job looking good. 

Packaging:  Very clever packaging here that is pleasing to the eyes.  It also doubles to keep the tart air tight so it will last longer.    

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:                     4             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              3.3

Gluten Free Cookies: Crave Bakery Monster Cookie - Product Review #34

Gluten Free Cookies: Crave Bakery Monster Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                    Monster Cookie

BRAND:                                   Crave Bakery

COST:                                      $23(12-pack)/$13(6-pack)

SIZE:                                        2.3oz/cookie

COST PER COOKIE:                 $1.92-$2.17

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 had a nice treat today.  Cameo Edwards, founder and CEO of Crave Bakery, visited us today and brought us some nice sweet treats to try.  Among those treats, we found these Monster Cookies and we had to just dig right in.  First thing you will notice is that these are no ordinary cookies…these are “monster” sized cookies.  They are cut in squares to about the serving size of brownies.  In fact, that’s probably the best way to describe them; they are chocolate chip cookies in brownie form. 

If you aren’t familiar with Crave Bakery, read my blog from this past Saturday for more on them.  They are a locally based bakery (San Francisco) that specializes in gluten free baked goods… DELICIOUS gluten free baked goods.  They use only the highest quality ingredients in these baked goods and if you’ve had the chance to try one of their products, you will know it.  They use a lot of organic products and ingredients produced by small local family-owned farms with good operation practices.  What you end up with is a high quality product like these Monster Cookies.

Open up the packaging and you will find a soft moist cookie to fulfill your “Craving”.  This cookie has some substance to it.  It’s not one of those cookies where you have to eat like 10 of them to be satisfied.  These are about 2.3oz per cookie.  Take a bite and your sweet tooth is sure to be pleased.  The cookie is a little dense, but that’s a good thing.  The label says that it is milk-free, but I must say that this cookie would go great with a nice tall cold glass of milk.  If you like soft cookies and have a sweet tooth, this is the cookie for you.  If you’re sharing this cookie, make sure you make even cuts, because if you don’t, I’m sure you will end up fighting over who gets the bigger piece. 

Just to clarify, we are in no way associated with Crave Bakery or Cameo Edwards and the views expressed here are of those of us here at Gluten Free Reviewer. 

Taste: Great sweet flavor.  A little on the sweeter side, but with a glass of milk, it would be perfect.  The texture is great as well…moist and soft similar to the texture of a brownie.  The outer layer is also a little crispy, which is a nice touch to finish off the cookie.  

Labeling:  The labeling on this packaging is very simple with the company logo and a list of the high quality ingredients used.  You won’t find any nonsense here on this labeling, but really, it doesn’t need much because the cookie can probably sell itself.  

Packaging:  Plastic cellophane packaging that is clear so you can see the product. 

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:              4.7

Reviewed  122010 by CC

Weekend Edition Hot Off the Press #4: Crave Bakery

Ever since the issues of gluten intolerance and celiac disease showed up on our radar, we have been searching high and low for good gluten free food to review.  We have the pastas and snacks covered, but we haven’t been able to find very many options for good gluten free baked goods.  In our search, one name kept coming up…Crave Bakery in San Francisco.  Crave specializes in gluten free baked goods such as brownies, cookies, cakes, and tarts.  A quick search on Yelp brought up rave reviews of their baked goods.  Intrigued by this, we knew we had to get a hold of them. 

A few days ago, I got the opportunity to interview Cameo Edwards, founder of Crave bakery.  In 2002, after struggling to figure out the root cause of her illnesses, Cameo came to the realization that she was sensitive to gluten.  “Craving” for the baked goods she loved so much, she put her family tradition of baking to good use fulfilling her cravings for baked goods in delicious gluten free form.  It all started with her famous gluten free, casein free brownies, and Crave Bakery was born.

The company has grown a lot since 2003.  They now have about 15 different baked items on their menu and sell in specialty grocery stores in 12 states.  They sell delicious cakes, cookies, cupcakes, tarts, and of course their famous brownies all of which are made with high quality and organic ingredients from small, local producers and family-owned operations.  They even have a special edition Pumpkin tart that is only available September through December for the holidays.  And if you’re looking to host a special event, Crave even offers custom cakes for your guests to enjoy.  Even if you have special needs due to allergies, it’s no problem for Crave, because they will be able to whip something up for you.

Crave puts a lot of care into their products.  From ingredients to manufacturing processes, they have everything figured out.  All of their ingredients are all of the highest quality and they make sure of it by researching all of their sources to ensure that they are confident about their operation practices.  Take for example

the eggs they use, which come from free-range, happy and active chickens in Petaluma.  In their manufacturing facilities, which are located in San Francisco and Sacramento, they have adapted segregated production which means that all of their products are made on gluten free specific machines that are run in their own section of the manufacturing facility.  And if you thought that wasn’t enough, they use third parties to ensure that their products contain no more than 5-ppm gluten.  That’s actually stricter than some gluten free certification agencies.  For those of you who have other allergies, you will also appreciate that they start their manufacturing everyday with the least allergenic products and end their production day with products that contain nuts.  

Cameo Edwards has done a spectacular job with Crave Bakery and we hope to see more from her and Crave Bakery.  If you’re interested in trying some of her products, you can find a list of all of their retail locations on their website or you can order directly online at cravebakery.com.  Visit us this coming week when we review some of the delicious baked goods from Crave Bakery. 

Gluten Free Cookies: Ca' Momi Brutti Ma Buoni - Product Review #30

Gluten Free Cookies: Ca' Momi Brutti Ma Buoni

PRODUCT NAME:                      Brutti Ma Buoni (Ugly But Good)

BRAND:                                     Ca’ Momi

COST:                                       $9.85

SIZE:                                         15 pieces

COST PER PIECE:                     $0.65

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NO

VEGAN:                                     NO

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:            NO

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:
On a recent trip up to Napa, TD found a bakery called Ca’ Momi that had delicious gluten free cookies called Brutti Ma Buoni. If you were wondering, that means “ugly but good” in Italian. The name is the perfect description for these delicious cookies. I apologize that the photo above is just a photo of the packaging, but we ate all of them before we got a chance to photograph them. The cookies look like they were scooped up and balled then put in the oven to bake, but judging by its name, I don’t think a fancy looking cookie is the purpose of this cookie. It’s the taste! These things are delicious!

They are made of all organic egg whites, sugar, and hazelnuts. I don’t know about you, but I’m a big fan of hazelnuts and when I saw that on the list of ingredients, I already knew I would like these cookies. Bite into them and they are very crispy and sweet and you can definitely taste the distinct nutty flavor of the hazelnuts. It was hard to eat just one. I will say that although I’m pretty sure just about anyone would love these cookies, but people with sensitive teeth should probably stay away. These cookies take a bit of effort to bit into because they are so crunchy. They crumbs also find their way to lodge themselves in between your teeth.

The only real downside I can see for these cookies is that currently, you can only get them at their store in the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, CA. You might think that the price is a little high, but it is actually very reasonable for what you are actually getting, which is a gourmet handmade cookie that is delicious, not to mention GLUTEN FREE. Hopefully in the future they will sell them online for everyone to enjoy.

Taste: Sweet, crunchy, and delicious, are the three words that come to mind when I think about these gluten free Brutti Ma Buoni cookies from Ca’ Momi. It makes a great dessert by itself, but I actually think it would be great crumbled in some vanilla ice cream. No matter how you end up having them, I’m sure you will enjoy them.

Labeling: A 2.5”x1” label with the name of the cookie, the company logo and the ingredients is all is all that is on this packaging. No nutrition facts or anything to hold you back. Knowing that they taste so good, I’m actually a little scared to see the nutrition facts.

Packaging: The packaging is simple bakery fresh packaging. Just a cellophane bag tied at the top with a ribbon. These are made fresh from scratch so I don’t think they will keep too long, but I doubt that will be a big problem because I can almost guarantee that these will be go quickly.

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:                   4

OVERALL:             4.5

Reviewed by CC 12/3/10