Gluten Free Cookies: Original Caveman Cookies

Gluten Free Cookies: Original Caveman Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                     Original Caveman Cookies 

BRAND:                                    Caveman Cookies 

COST:                                       $5.45 

SIZE:                                         3oz 

COST PER OZ:                          $1.81 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         GFCO

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          YES

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:

The folks at the Caveman Cookie bakery pride themselves on creating a product similar in nutritional content and ingredients to the snacks our Paleolithic ancestors would have enjoyed. Their treats are all natural and made with minimal ingredients; the Original Caveman Cookie is made with only seven ingredients, all of which are foods and spices I recognize. They promote the “caveman” diet, which is a natural, holistic eating regiment based on easily digestible foods that early Homo sapiens would have sustained themselves on. Followers of the “caveman” diet focus on consuming whole, healthy foods like meat, veggies, fruits, and legumes and avoid foods like dairy, wheat and other grains which are common in the modern human diet.

Nutrition Facts

Caveman Cookies are sweet, chewy, and delicious, but to think of these desserts as a traditional, unhealthy cookie would be inaccurate. If you are craving a sinful treat full of bad fat and sugars, Caveman Cookies are not for you. These healthy snacks, which are more like granola bars than actual cookies, will satisfy your sweet tooth while providing nutrients and fiber, making you feel full. Free of preservatives but packed with all the good stuff, like honey nuts and berries, these tasty little snacks are great for bagged lunches or work as a healthy alternative to combat an afternoon sugar binge. Individually wrapped, they are a very convenient gluten-free alternative used to fight the inevitable hunger pangs that occur when everyone around you is munching on communal, wheat-filled snacks. 

Soft and chewy, these cookies have a consistency similar to a healthy, nut and honey filled version of the nostalgia-inducing oatmeal raisin cookie. Like the original oatmeal raisin, these cookies have sugary raisins and small chunks of walnuts. Instead of the allergic reaction provoking oats and wheat present in the original, these safe cookies were made from dough consisting of almond meal and honey. The Caveman Cookie would be an ideal healthy breakfast on the go because they are energy filled with 3 grams of protein per serving. I enjoyed mine with a cup of coffee on the bus and I was ready to face the day.

Taste: Chewy and sweet, these cookies tasted like a simple, healthier version of an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Labeling:  The information provided on the package was minimal and clear. On the front of the bag the phrase “gluten free” is obvious. The facts were limited to only necessary nutritional information, ingredients list, and a short blurb about the cookies inside.

Packaging:  Adorable! The cookies were all individually sealed in little plastic sleeves, making it easy to slip one in a purse or lunch sack. The cookies were housed in a brown paper bag with a sticker on the front and back which featured a cartoony bearded caveman enjoying one of his cookies.

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:                    2
OVERALL:              3


Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Pasta: Schar Multigrain Penne Rigate - Product Review #120

Gluten Free Pasta: Schar Multigrain Penne Rigate

PRODUCT NAME:                       Multigrain Penne Rigate

BRAND:                                      Schar

COST:                                         $3.99

SIZE:                                          12oz

COST PER OZ:                           $0.33/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          Germany

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:
Schar makes a great tasting line of gluten free products. They have been in business for over 30 years so they know their stuff. It’s no surprise they are Europe’s number 1 gluten free Italian Pasta. It’s because their products are high quality and taste great. Perfect example is this Schar’s Gluten free Multigrain Penne Rigate. We were lucky enough to have received a sample of this product from Schar to try. It was one of the best we’ve had.

Gluten free pastas can sometimes be a tricky thing to master. Leave it in too long and it becomes a big pot of mush. Take it out too early and you’re stuck with pasta that is tough to chew. Schar has come up with the recipe for the perfect balance. We cooked this pasta up with some vegetables and chicken and it was terrific. They even held their shapes perfectly. Pasta is really just there to compliment your sauce so flavor isn’t much of an issue. It’s all about the texture and this one is perfect.

This pasta has a lot going for it. Not only is it gluten and wheat fee, but it is also lactose, egg, soy and preservative free. The nutrition facts also look pretty good with 190 calories, no cholesterol and 15 milligrams of sodium per serving. The ingredients are very simple too with just corn, rice and buckwheat flour.

Overall, we loved this pasta. At $3.99 per 12 ounce box, it’s an average value, but take one taste of it and you’ll be in love too. This is definitely pasta we would eat regularly. For more information about Schar and their line of gluten free products, visit their website at: www.schar.com.

Taste: This pasta tasted great. It absorbed flavor perfectly, but the texture was the star attraction here. It was the perfect balance of firm and soft.

Labeling: Schar has put a lot of effort into their labeling. The picture and the colors are all very pleasing to the eyes and are sure to catch your attention on the shelf.
Packaging: This pasta comes sealed in a paper board box.

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:        4.7

Reviewed 5/16/11 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Crackers: RW Garcia 5 Seed Crackers - Product Review #103

Gluten Free Crackers: RW Garcia 5 Seed Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                       5 Seed Crackers

BRAND:                                      RW Garcia

COST:                                         $4.00

SIZE:                                           4oz         

COST PER OZ:                            $1.00 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           GFCO

ORGANIC:                                   YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           QAI

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             San Jose, CA & Lincolnton, NC

SHELF LIFE:                                 6 Months

*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:

RW Garcia’s philosophy is “great tasting can be good for you.”  We saw it with their tortilla chips and today we saw it with their 5 Seed Crackers they sent us a few weeks back.  They use only high quality ingredients in their products including organic non-GMO corn and additive-free and preservative-free seasonings.  Their 5 Seed Crackers live up to their philosophy. 

RW Garcia’s 5 Seed Crackers come in 3 varieties, Rosemary and Garlic, Onion and Chive, and Tellicherry Cracked Pepper.  These crackers, made with white corn, hemp seeds, brown flaxseed, poppy seed, black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds, pack great flavor.  You would think with just 50 mg of sodium per serving, there might not be much flavor, but you’d be wrong.  These crackers are flavored with things like garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and salt.  It doesn’t take much seasoning to make these crackers taste good either.  The corn and 5 types of seeds these crackers are made of are flavorful on their own.  The flavors work very well together.  The texture is also pretty good.  Biting into a cracker, you get a nice crunch, but I must admit that these are a little on the dry side.  It goes great with dip though.

Nutrition Facts

Part of RW Garcia’s philosophy is being a healthy snack.  With a serving size of about 16 crackers, these have 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, no cholesterol, and 50mg of sodium.  I’m by no means a health expert, but seeing the nutrition of similar products, I would say these are pretty healthy.  I wouldn’t feel too guilty eating these crackers. 

Overall we liked these crackers a lot.  They have great flavor, they pack a great  crunch and they’re pretty healthy.  Add to that the fact that it is certified organic and is Non-GMO Project verified, we’ve got a great snack on our hands.  They are a little on the pricy side, but what you’re paying for is a quality snack that not only tastes good, but is also good for you.  For more information about RW Garcia’s line of snacks, visit their website at: www.rwgarcia.com.

Taste: These crackers pack a nice light flavor that is great for snacking.  You can enjoy them on their own or with your favorite dip for the perfect crunchy snack.   

Labeling:  You can see right away that RW Garcia has put a lot of effort into their labeling.  All of the images are clear and all of the text is easy to read.  These crackers are Non-GMO Project verified, certified organic and, although it doesn’t say it on the packaging, certified gluten free. 

Packaging:  The packaging is very attractive with colors that are pleasing to the eyes.  A sealed plastic bag holds the crackers and is placed in a recycled paperboard box. 

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

RATING:

Texture:                 4             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              3.7

Reviewed 040711 by Calvin C.   

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 Granola: Paleo People Cappuccino Crunch Granola - Product Review #59

Gluten Free Granola: Paleo People Cappuccino Crunch

PRODUCT NAME:                      Cappuccino Crunch All Natural Granola

BRAND:                                     Paleo People

COST:                                       $7.90 (2-pack)

SIZE:                                         5oz each

COST PER OZ:                          $0.79/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         GFCO

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                     YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           California

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

REVIEW:
Who thought eating like cavemen could be so enjoyable? Paleo People, formerly Paleo Women, did. Laura, the woman behind the product, set out to create a granola that would cater to her CrossFit community. Her goal was to create a product that was made with ingredients you would find in the cave dweller days because food back then was at their peak for health and performance. What she came up with was this all natural granola.

Today, we tested their Cappuccino Crunch flavor granola. First thing you will notice is the very attractive packaging that is resealable and of course if you’re familiar with gluten free foods, you will see that this granola is certified gluten free by GFCO. Made with almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, coffee beans, raisins, and dried cranberries among other things, this granola is one of the bests I’ve had. I was feeling a little sluggish this morning and this granola gave me that little pick me up that I needed.

Open up the package and you will be greeted with the fragrant aroma of fresh coffee. The clusters of granola vary in size, but grab a handful and pop it into your mouth and you will notice the nice blend of different textures. The chewiness of the dried fruit, the full bodied texture from the variety of nuts, and the crunch from the coffee beans all come together to create the perfect texture.

This granola is flavored with honey, cinnamon and the sweet flavor from the dried fruit and with 7g of sugar in each ¼ cup serving, it’s reasonable. The flavor is perfectly balanced and not overly sweet like you might find with other granolas that are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and ridiculous amounts of sugar. If you look on the nutrition facts and are scared by the 12g of fat, just remember that the main ingredient in this granola are nuts, which are naturally high in fat, but don’t worry because it’s the good kind.

This granola is good for just about anyone, except for those of you with nut allergies. At about $3.95 per 5oz package, the cost isn’t much different than your traditional granola. Don’t forget to practice portion control either. Just because granola is supposed to be good for you, don’t overdo it. Serving size for this granola is ¼ cup.

Taste: Great slightly sweet flavor coupled with a mild coffee flavor. Whether you like coffee or not, you will probably like this granola. The texture is also very nice with a blend of textures from soft to crunchy.

Labeling: Attractive labeling that is very easy to read. This product is also Certified Gluten Free.

Packaging: Resealable packaging that is great for people on the go.

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 012811 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Rice: Lotus Foods Organic Forbidden Rice - Product Review #57

Gluten Free Rice: Lotus Foods Organic Forbidden Rice

PRODUCT NAME:                      Bhutanese Red Rice

BRAND:                                     Lotus Foods

COST:                                       $4.49

SIZE:                                         15oz

COST PER OZ:                           $0.30/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

ORGANIC:                                  YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          QAI

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            Bhutan

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

REVIEW:
Lotus Foods has rice called Organic Forbidden Rice. I’m not quite sure what exactly makes it forbidden, but just because it’s called forbidden, I know I want to eat it. I was surprised to see that this forbidden rice is a black rice. Lotus Foods calls it a medium-size heirloom rice. If you remember from my review earlier this week, heirloom rice natural rice that is grown from indigenous seed stock that is often ancient and hasn’t been hybridized or genetically engineered.

Like the Bhutanese Red Rice from earlier this week, this Forbidden rice is also very good for you. Lotus Foods proudly boasts that this organic rice is high in anthocyanins, a class of flavanoid antioxidants, as well as iron. In fact, they have found a study that shows that a spoonful of black rice has as many antioxidants as a spoonful of fresh blueberries. When cooked, 10 spoonfuls have the same equivalent.

When we first opened up this bag of rice, the first thing I noticed is that it is extremely fragrant. The smell is very similar to dried tea leaves. This rice is also very easy to cook. The package advertises a cooking time of 30 minutes. We decided to go with the set it and forget it way of cooking using our handy rice cooker. We had a little bean curd left over and decided to toss that into the pot with this rice. The final product was a delicious rice and bean curd mix. This rice was also surprisingly soft. It was just as soft as the Bhutanese Red rice from earlier in the week. I’m not sure if it was the bean curd that we cooked this rice with, but we sensed a hint of sweetness and nuttiness to this rice that was very pleasant.

If you are looking for a high quality rice that tastes great, is good for you, and is “forbidden”, this is the rice for you. At $0.30/oz or $0.50/serving, it’s a reasonable price to pay for a Forbidden rice.

Taste: Great nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness, although the sweetness might be from the bean curd we cooked with this rice. This rice also has great texture, nice and soft, but firm enough to hold its shape.

Labeling: Similar packaging to the Bhutanese Red Rice we had earlier in the week, but this rice is certified organic, unlike the last. There is also a nice story about this rice on the back, sans the 1,000 year old glacier water.

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

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

RATING:
Texture:           5
Taste:               5
Value:              3
OVERALL:        4.3

Reviewed 012511 by Calvin C.

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

Gluten Free Rice: Lotus Foods Bhutanese Red Rice

PRODUCT NAME:                        Bhutanese Red Rice

BRAND:                                       Lotus Foods

COST:                                         $4.49

SIZE:                                           15oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.30/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                   UNKNOWN

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            Bhutan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RATING:
Texture:         5  
Taste:             5  
Value:            3  
OVERALL:      4.3

Reviewed 012411 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free 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 Pasta: Mrs. Leeper's Organic Rice Vegetable Twists - Product Review #44

Gluten Free Pasta: Mrs. Leeper's Rice Vegetable Twists

PRODUCT NAME:                                 Rice Vegetable Twists

BRAND:                                                Mrs. Leeper’s

COST:                                                  $3.99

SIZE:                                                    12oz                      

COST PER OZ:                                     $0.33         

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                    N/A

ORGANIC:                                            YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                    CCPB srl

VEGAN:                                               YES

GLUTEN 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:
Finally! Pasta with flavor.  We have tasted a lot of different pastas and just about all of them have been pretty bland tasting.  They relied mostly on the sauces and other flavor additives for flavor.  Not so much the case with these Rice Vegetable Twists from Mrs. Leeper’s.  The flavor isn’t bold or anything like that, but they do have a nice light flavor of their own which would enhance the overall flavor of the dish.  I think this pasta would go great with some alfredo sauce or as a nice pasta salad. 

When I cooked this pasta, I will admit that I forgot about it and let it boil just a bit too long.  It was a little on the mushy side, but considering I overcooked it, it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated.    Despite overcooking it, the end product was still good.  It was a lot more forgiving than some of the other rice pastas we have had in the past.  We had a guest over for lunch and she even mentioned that it had great flavor.  I think we all might have enjoyed it even more had I cooked it for the correct amount of time.  Take this as a lesson from my mistake…try to remember that you’re cooking pasta and don’t let it overcook.

This pasta is great for everyone whether you’re gluten free or not.  It tastes no different than regular pasta.  If you have allergies, you will be happy to hear that this pasta is not only wheat/gluten free, but it is also casein free. 

Taste: Great flavor in this pasta.  That is probably because spinach powder and beet powder are added to it for flavor.  The texture is also pretty good, but to ensure that you enjoy it to its full potential…don’t overcook it. 

Labeling:  Wheat free, gluten free, casein free…this pasta has all the right labels to appeal to the celiac and the gluten intolerant.  The colors used on the package are also very pleasant and eye catching.  This pasta has a lot going for it. 

Packaging:  Simple sealed plastic packaging.  Looks like it keeps for a while too…our package had a “Best By” date of 041013. 

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  010411 by CC

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 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