Gluten Free Meals: Roland Mediterranean Quinoa

PRODUCT NAME:                    Mediterranean Quinoa

BRAND:                                   Roland

COST:                                      $3.49              

SIZE:                                        5.46 OZ

COST PER OZ:                         $0.64/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO      

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA    

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA    

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          New York, NY

SHELF LIFE:                             1 YEAR+

*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:

Quinoa is considered an ancient grain that has been harvested for thousands of years originally by the Incas. Known as the Mother grain to the ancient South Americans who founded it, this cute little grain is rich in immune system supporting amino acids like lysine. It also provides important vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron. Each small round kernel is full of protein and is a great alternative to white rice because it is more nutritious than rice and has a similar cooking time. It can be cooked exactly like rice and can easily be used as an alternative in any dish, providing more and different textures and flavors to people who already have limited diets due to gluten sensitivities.

Roland’s Quinoa was savory and tasty, flavored with garlic, bell peppers, onion, spices, and lemon. Different than rice, quinoa is a nutty and chewy grain. This flavorful mix contains no preservatives and was all-natural. It also was extremely convenient to prepare; all I needed to do was add water, heat it up, and wait fifteen minutes for an appetizing, healthy side dish. Quinoa is usually very delicious unflavored, with nothing but a little bit of butter and salt; by adding spices and veggies to an already easy to prepare grain, Roland accentuated the taste of the quinoa, transforming it into a gourmet treat. The manufacturer recommends serving Mediterranean Quinoa as a side to chicken or lamb. Since I am a vegetarian, I enjoyed my quinoa alongside sautéed peppers, onions, and mushrooms, a small leafy raw salad, and a handful of fancy olives for a light dinner.

Quinoa naturally contains saponin, a bitter tasting substance which coats the quinoa grain, protecting it from being eaten by birds and insects. Because of this, quinoa usually has to be rinsed before cooking, which can be a huge nuisance since this ivory grain is so tiny. Roland’s quinoa was pre-washed, which made preparing dinner much faster.

Taste:  This quinoa was savory and tasty. It has a nice garlic flavor, but was not too strong. Leftovers were also very delicious for lunch the next day because the flavors had more time to develop.

Labeling: The front of the package stated that the quinoa was all natural in addition to being gluten free. The back had nutrition facts, cooking instructions, and an ingredients list.  It also had some information about the origin of this ancient food.

Packaging:  Three ¼ cup dry servings were inside a plastic pouch.

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

Reviewed by Jennie L

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Mung Bean Thread - Product Review #25

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Mung Bean Thread

PRODUCT NAME:                       Mung Bean Thread

BRAND:                                      Five Grain Brand

COST:                                        $0.99

SIZE:                                           5.3oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.19/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

VEGAN:                                        UNKNOWN

WHEAT 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:

Being in San Francisco has its perks; one of them being the large Asian community which gives us the privilege of cheap Asian food.  As we have said before, Asian rice noodles are a good cheap gluten free alternative.  Asian rice noodles usually only contain rice and water.  Today, we had mung bean thread, which looks a lot like rice noodles.  And much like rice noodles, the ingredients were very simple… mung bean, broad bean and water are the only ingredients in these noodles.  Being that they are from Chinatown…these were extremely affordable.  $0.99 for the 5.3oz pack, which calculates out to just $0.19 an ounce. 

Many of these noodles are best when served in hot soup.  These particular noodles  are very firm and would do great in soup.  If you plan to serve them dry, cook them a little longer so they aren’t as tough to chew.  I undercooked them a little and found them very firm and springy. 

Taste: Taste-wise…there isn’t too much to these noodles.  Not much flavor, but really good texture.  Fry them up with some stir fried vegetables and meat or serve them up in some piping on noodles…they will be perfect. 

Labeling: These noodles are pretty simple and there isn’t much too them so there really isn’t too much to be said about the labeling. 

Packaging: Non recyclable 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:                     3

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4.3

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

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 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

Gluten Free Pasta: Rustichella D'Abruzzo Organic Rice Spaghetti - Product Review #6

Gluten Free Spaghetti

PRODUCT NAME:                              Organic 100% Rice Spaghetti

BRAND:                                             Rustichella D’Abruzzo

COST:                                               $7.75

SIZE:                                                 8.8oz

COST PER OZ:                                  $0.88/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

ORGANIC:                                         YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 Istituto Mediterraneo Di Certificazione

VEGAN:                                             Unknown

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                    NO

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:

This pasta is the same brand and style as the pasta we tested yesterday, however We boiled the pasta and tossed it with olive oil and a little salt and pepper and served it with onions, squash, chicken and cheese.  Upon boiling it and draining the water, the spaghetti looked like it was mushy because of all of the starch that came out of it and when we tasted it, we realized that it was a coating of starch over it and it still had okay good texture and flavor.      

Taste:  This pasta was good, however it did not have as much flavor as the corn spaghetti from the day before.  This is a rice-based pasta, and generally speaking, rice pasta is really good at absorbing flavors from whatever it is topped with.  That was the case for this pasta; it absorbed the flavor of the chicken, onions, and squash really well. 

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.  A little wasteful in material as it is pretty much double packaging, however with a wonderful taste and texture like this, I guess it can be forgiven.  

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 9/28/10 by CC

Gluten Free Pasta: Tinkyada White Rice Spaghetti - Product Review #4

Gluten Free Pasta: Tinkyada White Rice Spaghett

BRAND:                                     Tinkyada

PRODUCT NAME:                      White Rice Pasta: Spaghetti Style

SOURCE:                                   The Pasta Shop

COST:                                       $4.50

SIZE:                                         16 oz

COST PER OZ:                          $0.28/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

ORGANIC:                                  NO

VEGAN:                                      Unkown

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:

Good texture for a rice pasta.  It was firm unlike many other rice noodles we have tested that came out mushy.  This pasta was a little chewy, but not so much that you would notice.  Cooking time was much longer than traditional pastas.  Most pastas cook in 6-8 minutes, this one calls for a 16-17 minute cooking time on the directions. 

Taste: Rice noodles are very good at absorbing flavor.  By themselves, they are bland, but with the right sauce rice noodles can be very tasty.  We served this with green onions and chicken.  It went very well with this pasta. 

Labeling: You will see right away that there is A LOT of writing on the packaging and the writing is in many different directions.  It is a little distracting and looks a lot more complicated than it needs to be.   

Packaging: Non recyclable packaging made of 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:                4             

Taste:                    3

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed 10/18/10 by CC

Gluten Free Sauces: San J Organic Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce - Product Review #1

Gluten Free Soy Sauce

You probably wouldn’t have guessed it, but most soy sauces actually have gluten in them.  We do a lot of Asian style cooking here in our studio and when we started cooking gluten free, we missed our salty friend.  When we discovered this Gluten Free Soy Sauce, we were thrilled to say the least.

At first, we were afraid that gluten free soy sauce might taste different, but in fact we actually like it better.  Pour a little you will see right away that this soy sauce, although it looks very dark, actually has a very light consistency.  We were originally using Pearl River brand soy sauce, which was very dark and thick.  It overpowered the food, making a lot of it salty.  This soy sauce has a much nicer flavor it is light and slightly sweet.  This soy sauce gets a 5 in our books.

• Brand: San J
• Name: Organic Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce
• Price: $7.15
• Rating: 5

Reviewed by CC