Hello readers! This is RS bringing you our first special edition health post…”Detox Diet”. About 5 months ago, I discovered, through endless research and exploration of my chronic symptoms, that I am gluten intolerant. It was not through the endless doctors that I visited in hopes of obtaining at least a hint as to what was going on with me, but instead was through my wife’s nursing school classmate whose description of her prior symptoms resonated with my own. She was gluten intolerant, and changing her diet made all the difference in her life. I set sail on my gluten-free journey and it is with the support of our team over here that I have found a wealth of products that make it possible.
I know there are many out there who’ve had similar experiences in which after endless doctor visits and consultation with specialists they feel no closer to determining the cause of their ailment. This was the case for me and boy do I wish I had met Anne Angelone (M.S, LaC) earlier! As you may recall, Anne was a guest at our studio back in December and she brought us the “Kaia Foods Sea Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips” for us to review. Not only has Anne proven to be an excellent resource for products to try, but her practice here in San Francisco deals with the very nature of our community’s health challenge… food sensitivities!
In our commitment to support our local vendors and healthcare practitioners, I have begun a treatment program with Anne and in the process of reviewing my experiences with her, I hope to provide you, our readers, with what I have found to be inspiration and hope for restoring balance in my health.
Anne’s acupuncture practice is no ordinary practice. She actually focuses on allergens and the foods that cause inflammation and the domino effect which follows… what I think of as a holistic approach. In addition to her regular practice (which I have now started and am absolutely inspired by!), Anne also offers monthly “Detox” workshops.
In these workshops, Anne takes people through the Chinese medicine philosophies and a structured analysis, through a series of health-related questions, to connect physical/mental manifestations with the underlying cause. Here is an excerpt from Anne’s workshop posting:
10 Day Detox with Real Food:
Learn tools to master:• Better digestion and elimination
• Fewer symptoms of Chronic Illness
• Improved Concentration, Mental Focus and Clarity
• Improved Mood
• Increased Energy
• Less congestion and fewer allergic symptoms
• Less joint pain
• Increased sense of relaxation
• Great sleep
Sounds great to me!! I experience each of the items above so I am really excited about something which could potentially help. So I’ve signed up for this weekend’s workshop. But I’ve heard of these types of diet programs before and usually sound great but are unrealistic. However, what I like about this one is the fact that it is only 10 days, a reasonable $25, and you continue to eat REAL food… sounds like something I might actually be able to stick with and make it through! We will see…
Next weekend, I will post a recap and review of the workshop in which I will describe what I have learned and what my journey through the 10-day program will involve. The weekend following that, I will post how I feel after the 10-day program and whether I was able to complete it as she describes.
Gluten Free Reviewer Grocery
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Weekend Edition Hot Off The Press #5: Fact or Fiction...The Gluten Free Diet
To answer this question we have to look deeper into the purpose of gluten free food. I think one of the biggest misconceptions of gluten free food is that all of it is healthy and good for you. Our society is easily won over by the latest flashy package label. Many people see “Gluten Free” on a package and automatically associate it with being healthy without even reading the nutrition facts. What we have to remember is that this is food made specifically for people with a genuine need for it…the people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
As reviewers, we have paid close attention to the nutrition facts. If you take the time to look at it, you might find some of it surprising. When we review an item, I like to compare it to the regular gluten version of the product. The most recent example is my review for Glutino Gluten Free Sesame Pretzel rings. I compared it to a major brand of pretzel and found that the gluten free version actually had more calories and fat than the regular version. In other products it was salt or sugar or some other flavor additive that had much high levels. A lot of times, gluten free foods don’t have as much flavor as the real thing. So to make up for that deficiency, the manufacturers add higher levels of sodium or sugar to the product. It’s not intentional, but what happens is that these products end up having more sodium or fat or calories than the regular version.
Given the nutrition information above, will you lose weight on a gluten free diet?...Probably not. The trick is more in your eating habits than anything. Like with any food, the more you eat, the more weight you will gain. If you follow the general rule of thumb of portion control, you might be able to shave off a few pounds, but that’s a result of watching what you eat.
So are there any real benefits to a gluten free diet? For a celiac or someone who is gluten intolerant, it will make a huge difference, but for a normal healthy person, there is no real advantage of going gluten free. In fact some professionals in the field have actually said that it may be harmful. I’m not quite sure why, but I believe it has something to do with nutrients that are associated with gluten products that your body would be deprived of. If you are considering a gluten free diet, make sure to check with your doctor or nutritionist to determine if it is right for you.
The gluten free diet…fact or fiction? Unfortunately it just might be fiction. Those of you looking to shed a few pounds in the New Year, you might want to find another diet or better yet, just stick to the good old days of watching what you eat and portion control.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gluten Free Pasta: Rustichella D'Abruzzo Organic Corn Fusilli - Product Review #50
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| Gluten Free Pasta: Rustichella D'Abruzzo 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
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Gluten Free Cookies: Mariposa Cinnamon Toast Biscotti - Product Review #49
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| Gluten Free Cookies: Mariposa Cinnamon Toast Biscotti |
BRAND: Mariposa
COST: $7.50
SIZE: 6.3oz
COST PER OZ: $1.19/oz
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: Partial
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: NO
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: YES
LOCATION OF FACILITY: Oakland, CA
*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.
REVIEW:
For those of you looking for something to enjoy with your morning cup of coffee or tea, Mariposa has the perfect answer for you with their delicious Gluten Free Biscotti. Biscotti are Italian cookies, usually almond, that are baked twice. They start off as a long loaf that is baked and after they are baked through, are cut into strips, separated, and baked again. The end product is a dry, but very crunchy cookie that is unique to biscotti. It is the perfect complement to a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Mariposa did a great job with the cookie. They offer it in three varieties which are cinnamon toast, ginger spice and, of course, the classic almond biscotti. We opted for the Cinnamon Toast variety and it was delicious. The cookie has the distinct biscotti texture, but with a twist. It might be their special gluten-free flour mix, but this cookie is a little big lighter than the traditional biscotti’s and that makes it just that more enjoyable. It’s hard to explain, but the easiest way to describe it is you won’t have to fight with it too much to break a piece of it off. Bit into it and you will be greeted with an explosion of texture and taste. The cinnamon in this biscotti adds just the perfect amount of sweetness to complete the cookie.
This gluten free biscotti might actually be better than the regular version. If the almond and ginger spice varieties are anything like the cinnamon toast ones we tried, I’m sure they are delicious too. For those of you with nut allergies, sorry but you might want to stay away. There is a disclaimer on the box saying that it is “NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH NUT ALLERGIES”. For those of you who have sensitive teeth, you might want to be careful with these because as with most biscotti, they are a little hard on your pearly whites.
Taste: Great flavor especially with the addition of the cinnamon. Texture that resembles biscotti, but just a little lighter, which I believe makes it more enjoyable as you won’t have to fight with it when you chew.
Labeling: Mariposa does a great job with their labeling. It is very simple and elegant. They do a good job of highlighting important information, such as being gluten free, wheat free, and dairy free (note although it is dairy free, it still contains eggs so it does not qualify as vegan). I also liked that it is labeled as not suitable for people with nut allergies as I know people who have those allergies sometimes have severe allergies.
Packaging: Very attractive packaging with a sealed plastic package within a paper box package. The package looks great, but does not provide you with any way to reseal it.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 5
Taste: 5
Value: 3
OVERALL: 4.3
Reviewed 011111 by CC
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Gluten Free Pretzels: Glutino Sesame Pretzel Rings - Product Review #48
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| Gluten Free Pretzels: Glutino Sesame Pretzel Rings |
BRAND: Glutino
COST: $4.99
SIZE: 8oz
COST PER OZ: $0.62/oz
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: YES
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF FACILITY: Israel
*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.
REVIEW:
Glutino is one of the biggest names in gluten free products. They manufacture and distribute over 80 different gluten free products. They have everything from baking mixes and snacks to frozen entrees and pizza. With such a successful operation, they must be doing something right. We have tried a few of their products in the past and have liked them a lot. When we saw these Gluten Free Pretzel Rings, we knew we had to try them.
There are a few things that jump out at us about these pretzels. Not only are they gluten free, but they are also milk free, casein free, and egg free. So that makes these good for people with gluten free diets as well as vegan diets. It’s nice that these pretzels are good for people with special diets, but really, how does it stack up to regular pretzels? I will say that I am personally not the biggest fan of pretzels. I don’t mind them, but they wouldn’t be me snack of choice. If all pretzels were like these, I might have to reconsider. These pretzels were great and got a unanimous two thumbs up from everyone in our office. They have the pretzel flavor, but are lighter and crispier than regular pretzels.
Since I’ve been paying attention to nutrition labels a lot more lately, I decided to take a more in depth look at the nutrition facts of these gluten free pretzels. I decided to compare them to the nutrition facts of pretzels from a large manufacturer. What I saw was surprising. I saw that these gluten free pretzels actually have more calories (150 calories vs. 110 calories) and fat (8g vs 1g) than traditional pretzels with similar serving sizes. These gluten free pretzels did have less sodium though (390mg vs 420mg). All of these numbers are relatively close though, but the sodium content is a little on the high side. That goes for both the Glutino gluten free pretzels as well as the regular pretzels. That just reminds us that we need to pay attention to the nutrition facts and make sure we don’t overdo it. Remember that everything should be used in moderation.
These pretzels are suitable for just about everyone whether you are gluten free or not. They have nice flavor and are really crispy. If you are allergic to soy or sesame, you might want to stay away as these pretzels contain both.
Taste: Great pretzel flavor, but with the added bonus of being lighter and crispier than regular pretzels. I actually prefer them to the regular pretzels full of gluten.
Labeling: Very attractive labeling on this package that is also informative. They have all of their bases covered as these pretzels are gluten free, milk free, casein free, and egg free.
Packaging: The packaging is your typical cellophane package with an air tight seal. Opening it might be a little tricky though because it tears pretty easily once it is opened. If you plan to keep these for more than one sitting, I would suggest have a bag clip on hand to keep it fresh.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 5
Taste: 5
Value: 3
OVERALL: 4.3
Reviewed 011011 by CC
Monday, January 10, 2011
Gluten Free Chips: Boulder Canyon Rice & Adzuki Bean Snack Chip - Product Review #47
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| Gluten Free Chips: Boulder Canyon Rice & Adzuki Bean Snack Chip |
BRAND: Boulder Canyon Natural Foods
COST: $3.25
SIZE: 5oz
COST PER OZ: $0.65/oz
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: NO
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF FACILITY: Boulder, CO
*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:
Chips…who doesn’t like them? It is the one snack that often has its own isle in the grocery store. But why is it that we love them so much? Is it their nice savory flavor? Is it their crunch? Well these Boulder Canyon Natural Foods Rice & Adzuki Bean snack chips have it all. Not only do they have nice flavor and crunch, but they’re gluten free too.
Boulder Canyon Natural Foods in Boulder, CO have hit a home run with these chips. They are made with rice and adzuki beans. I’ve never heard of adzuki beans so I had to look it up and according to Wikipedia, they are red beans that are grown in East Asia and the Himalayas. They are the red beans that are used in many Asian desserts. I’ve had these desserts before. I just never realized that they can be used to make chips. It is a very unique idea and the flavor really compliments the chips.
We tasted the Chipotle Cheese flavor. Pop the inch and a half square chip into your mouth and you will be greeted by a nice smoky flavor from the chipotle. The chips are rather light. Think Sun Chips, but with an even lighter texture. There’s really nothing to not like about these chips. I took a glance at Boulder Canyon Natural Foods’ website and they have an entire line of gluten free chips. If these chips are any indication of the products they produce, I’m sure they are all equally great.
These chips are great for everyone, whether you are on a gluten free diet or not. It is crunchy and has great flavor. A big plus is that even though these chips are gluten free, they aren’t any more expensive than regular chips are.
Taste: Great flavor that is perfectly balanced a nice crunch. I’ve never had rice and adzuki bean chips before, but they might have just become my favorite.
Labeling: The labeling is very simple and is attractive. Combine that with a unique product and you have a very good snack alternative.
Packaging: Boulder Canyon Natural Foods has very nice packaging here. On the back, they explain that they purchase renewable energy credits to cover 100% of their Products. It’s nice to see a company that takes pride in their environment. On their website, I found that they are developing compostable packaging. I don’t think this packaging is compostable, but it’s nice to see that they are putting some effort into it.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 5
Taste: 5
Value: 3
OVERALL: 4.3
Reviewed 011011 by CC
Friday, January 7, 2011
Gluten Free Cookies: Cookie It Up Blueberry Cookie - Product Review #46
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| Gluten Free Cookies: Cookie It Up Blueberry Cookie |
BRAND: Cookie It Up
COST: $8.00
SIZE: 7oz (15 Cookies)
COST PER COOKIE: $0.53/cookie
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: NO
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: UNKNOWN
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:
A good gluten free cookie is pretty difficult to find. A lot of times they have a weird aftertaste or something just isn’t right with them. Not the case with these Cookie It Up Gluten Free Blueberry Cookies. These cookies were terrific. At 80 calories per cookie, they don’t seem outrageously bad for you, but considering that each cookie is only 16g, that does seem a little high so make sure you’re keeping track of how many you eat. Now that we have been paying more attention to the nutrition facts, I took a quick glance at the sodium content and was surprised to see that these cookies only have 10mg of sodium per cookie. That’s a very low number.
If you’re a fan of shortbread cookies, you will surely enjoy these blueberry cookies. They have a similar texture and consistency to shortbread cookies, but with the added treat of dried blueberries. Bite into them and your mouth will be filled with a buttery goodness that is a blend of rice flour, butter, dried blueberries and sugar. I will note that although the blueberries were a nice touch, they found their way in between my teeth. So if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to think twice about these cookies.
Taste: This cookie had nice flavor, buttery and sweet, with just the right amount of sweetness added by the dried blueberries. It also had nice melt in your mouth texture that you would expect in a shortbread cookie.
Labeling: Very nice labeling with a nice story out back about the cookie. You will notice right off the bat that these cookies are from Canada as the text is written in English and French.
Packaging: The packaging was very nice, however it was double packaged. Inside the paper package, you will find a sealed plastic package to keep these delicious treats fresh.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 5
Taste: 5
Value: 2
OVERALL: 4
Reviewed 010711 by CC
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Gluten Free Noodles: Ka Me Bean Thread - Product Review #45
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| Gluten Free Noodles:Ka Me Bean Thread |
BRAND: Ka Me
COST: $2.49
SIZE: 3.75oz
COST PER OZ: $0.65/oz
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: YES
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF FACILITY: Taiwan
*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.
REVIEW:
Looking at our library of reviews, you will see a lot of Asian style noodles mixed in there. With such a large Asian community in our area, it’s no surprise. We are accustomed to the Asian brands, which are a great affordable option. So what happens when an American brand markets and sells these Asian noodles? Do they taste better/worse? Is it as good a value as the Asian brands? These are some of the questions that popped into our heads when we saw the Ka Me Bean Thread Sai Fun.
Take a look at these 3.75oz packages of Ka Me Bean Threads or Sai Fun and you will immediately notice that the packages are pretty small. We are used to the Asian Brand varieties which are triple the size of this package. This package only contains 2 servings while most of the Asian brands contain 6 or more servings per package. So what about price? They have 1/3 the amount of noodles in them, do they cost 1/3 the price? You would think that, but they are actually close to double or triple the price. For value, these noodles get a pretty low rating.
Taste and texture-wise, these noodles are pretty good. They are a little sticky when you fry them up, but that’s a good thing. They have texture similar to silver noodles that you would find in a Korean or Thai restaurant. They are really good at absorbing the flavor of whatever sauce you fry them up in.
I think these noodles taste great and have great texture, but the price is a little on the higher side. It isn’t outrageously priced compared, but there are a lot of alternatives out there that are a better bang for the buck. Don’t be too discouraged by the price though because these noodles are very good.
Taste: The bean thread has great texture and is great at absorbing flavor. Stir fry them up with some vegetables, meat, and a little gluten free soy sauce and you have the perfect gluten free meal.
Labeling: You will find very simple labeling on this package. It isn’t marketed as gluten free, but just take a look at the ingredients and all you will see is mung bean starch and water so not only is it gluten free, it is also vegan.
Packaging: Air sealed package that will keep your noodles good for a long time. Our package had a use by date of Jan 12, 2013.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 5
Taste: 5
Value: 2
OVERALL: 4
Reviewed 010611 by CC
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Gluten Free Pasta: Mrs. Leeper's Organic Rice Vegetable Twists - Product Review #44
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| Gluten Free Pasta: Mrs. Leeper's 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.
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
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Gluten Free Noodles: Oriental King Rice Stick - Product Review #43
BRAND: Oriental King
COST: $0.79
SIZE: 16oz
COST PER OZ: $0.05/oz
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: YES
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF FACILITY: CHINA
*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.
REVIEW:
We here at Gluten Free Reviewer are lucky enough to live in an area with a big Asian community which gives us access to a large variety of affordable food. This Oriental King Rice Stick is one of those items. At only $0.79 for a 16 ounce package, what more can you ask for. Noodles and rice are a large part of Asian culture. They have rice or noodles with every meal. It’s no wonder their noodles are so good. This particular noodle is made of rice and is such, called rice stick. There are many ways you can prepare it…boiled then sautéed, fried, or served in boiling hot soup. No matter how you prepare it, these noodles are sure to be good.
We opted to boil these noodles and sauté them up with some onions and garlic and it tasted great. A lot of rice noodles seem to get mushy when you cook them, but these noodles stayed firm and held their shape. Being that they are rice noodles, they are also good at absorbing the flavor of the gluten free tamari soy sauce we use. I think I may have under cooked them a little bit because they were a little on the tough side, so if you decide to try these noodles out, make sure they are relatively soft before you sauté them.
Taste: These are rice noodles so like most, they don’t have too much flavor, they are more like a base that you have to add to. With some sautéed veggies and maybe some meat, these noodles are great. Nice firm texture so they won’t fall apart like many other rice noodles.
Labeling: The labeling on these Asian noodles is usually in Chinese or Vietnamese writing and I can’t read either, but this packaging wasn’t too difficult because there were actually English cooking instructions on the back.
Packaging: Simple plastic packaging with an airtight seal.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 4
Taste: 3
Value: 5
OVERALL: 4
Reviewed 1/4/11 by CC
Gluten Free Chocolate: Recchiuti Winter Collection Chocolate - Product Review #42
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| Gluten Free Chocolate: Recchiuti Winter Collection Chocolate |
BRAND: Recchiuti
COST: $19.99
PIECES: 8 Piece
COST PER PIECE: $2.50/piece
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: NO
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: Unknown
LOCATION OF FACILITY: San Francisco, 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:
I know I might be a little late with this one, but better late than never. A few weeks ago, we purchased Recchiuti’s Winter Collection Chocolate gift box to try out. If you haven’t heard of Recchiuti, they are a gourmet chocolate company based in San Francisco, which happens to be where we are from. On a recent trip to the Ferry Building, we saw their store packed with customers and knew we had to try some of their chocolate. Their store layout was something similar to a fancy jewelry store with the chocolate displayed in a glass counter. The chocolate was priced like it was jewelry too. $20 for a box of 8 chocolate squares totaling 3.5 ounces.
Was the chocolate worth the price tag? I would say it probably is. I am not usually a big fan of dark chocolate, but this dark chocolate is like no other dark chocolate I have ever had. Bite into it and it just melts. It has great texture and very rich flavor. You won’t need to eat several pieces to enjoy it although I can probably finish the entire box in one sitting. This chocolate is something special and is meant for only those special occasions. At $2.50 for a 0.4375oz piece, you can probably buy several Hershey’s chocolate bars that are triple its size. These chocolates are special though, they have special designs painted on them and are meant to be gifts, they just so happen to be in chocolate form.
If you’re in the mood to splurge a little on some delicious chocolate, look no further than a Recchiuti Chocolate gift box. Their flavor is worth their weight in gold. Despite the high price, I would probably still buy it just because it is that good. This chocolate is not marked as gluten free, however checking the list of ingredients, it is gluten free. If you are extra sensitive, you may want to check with the manufacturer for their manufacturing process to ensure that there is no cross contamination. If you are allergic to nuts, you might want to stay away as it is manufactured on shared equipment.
Taste: This chocolate is probably the best I have ever had. It has a firmer chocolate outer shell and the inside is soft and smooth like butter.
Labeling: There isn’t much labeling on this packaging…just a sticker on back with the name of the chocolate and a list of the ingredients. It doesn’t need much labeling either because the quality of the chocolate speaks louder than words.
Packaging: The packaging is the nicest packaging I have ever seen for chocolate. It comes in a box with a clear top that wrapped with a ribbon. It is something that you would feel comfortable giving as is to just about anyone.
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: 1
OVERALL: 3.7
Gluten Free Cake: Mariposa Sour Cream Coffeecake - Product Review #41
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| Gluten Free Cake: Mariposa Sour Cream Coffeecake |
BRAND: Mariposa
COST: $7.25
SIZE: 7.25oz
COST PER OZ: $1.00/oz
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:
In the past week or so, we have been testing a lot of Mariposa products. We have found that they are excellent gluten free bakers with a plethora of baked goods. Recently, we had their Sour Cream Coffeecake. So what is a coffeecake? Looking at the ingredients in this particular cake, there’s no coffee in it…so why is it called a coffeecake? The answer to this is pretty simple. The term coffee cake is used for cakes that are meant to be served with coffee so really, muffins, pound cakes, and anything of the likes can be called a coffee cake.
So what makes this coffeecake so special? For one, it’s gluten free. It’s also really moist and is layered with cinnamon walnut streusel. The cinnamon in it is a very nice touch. It brings a nice fragrant small to the cake while also adding a little sweetness. The walnuts also do a great job of putting adding some texture to the cake. It seems like they did their homework with this cake because everything works so well together. While this may be a coffee cake, we aren’t very big coffee drinkers here so we just had the cake for dessert after lunch. We liked it a lot. Really, you can have this cake any time of the day and despite not being big coffee drinkers, we all agreed that this cake would go perfectly with a nice hot cup of Joe.
Whether you’re on a strict gluten free diet or not, you will probably enjoy this cake, well…except for those of you who have a nut allergy. This cake does contain walnuts so if you’re allergic, you’ll probably want to stay away. We had this cake at room temperature, but it would probably taste even better if it was put in the oven for a few minutes.
Taste: This coffee cake was great, it was moist, it was soft, and it had tons of flavor. It had the nice aroma of cinnamon and the crunch from the walnuts for the perfect blend of texture and flavor. What we liked most about this coffeecake was that it wasn’t overly sweet. It was a great balance. I haven’t gotten to try it with a nice cup of coffee, but I already know it would go hand in hand with a hot cup of Joe.
Labeling: Mariposa does a great job with the labeling on their products. They use stickers with just the right amount of information on it. It’s not like on some packaging where it’s so busy with information that it just gets distracting. All there is on this label is the name of the cake, a short description of what it is and, of course, the list of ingredients. One thing that is missing on this packaging almost all of their labels is the nutrition facts. Read my weekend blog titled “Weekend Edition Hot Off the Press #3: Where did the Nutrition Facts Go?!” for more information on that.
Packaging: Unrecyclable cellophane packaging, which is typical for baked products like this.
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
Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Guilin Rice Vermicelli - Product Review #40
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| Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Guilin Rice Vermicell |
BRAND: Five Grain Brand
COST: $0.59
SIZE: 14oz
COST PER OZ: $0.04/oz
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
ORGANIC: NO
CERTIFICATION AGENCY: N/A
VEGAN: YES
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY: UNKNOWN
LOCATION OF FACILITY: China
*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.
REVIEW:
Looking at some of the other products we have reviewed in the past, you will see that we are a big fan of Asian rice noodles. They are an affordable gluten free alternative to the fancier gluten free pastas. That also might be because these noodles aren’t marketed as gluten free noodles. Take a look at the ingredients, and all that is in the noodles is rice and water. If you’re gluten intolerant and on a budget, I highly recommend trying these noodles if you have access to them. Just look at the price…we got this 14oz package of Five Grains Brand Guilin Rice Vermicelli from Chinatown for only $0.59. Try to find that in your local non-Asian supermarket… you won’t find anything that comes close.
These particular noodles are Guilin Rice Vermicelli, which is a special type of noodle from Guilin, a city in China. They are rich in history and have been around for over 2000 years. It looks like they perfected the recipe too because they are some of the best noodles we have had, gluten free or not. They come in different sizes, small to extra large, which references the diameter of the round noodles. They are probably the closest you will get to regular spaghetti.
The texture of these noodles is nice and firm. A little uncommon for a rice noodle, but the people of Guilin, China have probably perfected the recipe for the noodle because don’t forget, these noodles have been in existence for over 2000 years. One trick though when making though. After boiling them up, put them in some cold water to prevent them from sticking together.
Taste: Not much flavor as this is a typical rice noodle, but the texture is perfect. It is nice and firm and doesn’t fall apart while cooking like many other rice noodles do.
Labeling: For an Asian noodle company, the labeling on this is actually pretty good…No typos and nice high quality image of the noodles on the front.
Packaging: Typical plastic packaging for noodles. You won’t find double packaging here.
Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…
RATING:
Texture: 5
Taste: 5
Value: 5
OVERALL: 5
Gluten Free Bagels: Mariposa Gluten Free Bagels - Product Review #39
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| Gluten Free Bagels: Mariposa 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
Gluten Free Pizza: Mariposa 10" Pizza - Product Review #38
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| 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
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
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