Before the fun and yumminess of EAT! Vancouver 2013 fade away into happy memories I wanted to tackle the wonderful list of things that I loved and discovered at the show.
Gluten Free Brewskies
I'm not much of a drinker, at least not much of one anymore. After not drinking throughout my pregnancy 7 years ago, I found that alcohol was really hard to tolerate. I would have a glass of wine and be rocked the next day. I later found out that I was allergic to sulphites found in conventional wines and of course, gluten found in most beers. When C turned one I turned off the alcohol. I couldn't hack it anymore. With the little sleep I was already getting from the super fussy, undiagnosed Celiac baby at that time I couldn't afford painful hangovers the next day from the cost of a pitiful few sips of alcohol. I've only recently started indulging in cocktails again. I usually have one and my tolerance for alcohol is far more pitiful than my intolerances for alcohol. I like to have one quality drink for pleasure with my friends and I am good for the evening. However, I figured I owed it to my fellow Celiacs to provide a quality taste test of the gluten free options at EAT! and here are my observations.
Mongozo Pilsner is where it is at. I believe if you are a beer drinker and you are Celiac then this is the beer for you. Although out of the gluten free beers at the event, this was my second favourite for taste, I believe I recognize what a beer drinker is looking for in taste and that can be found in Mongozo. I learned at EAT! there are two types of gluten free beers. One is made from gluten free grains and one is made from a grain that has the gluten removed. Monogozo is the latter. It is also the only organic Pilsner in the world, a Gold Winner Gluten Free Beer in a worldwide competition as well as a top voted Pilsner in Belgium, where it originates.
The other beer that I preferred to the Mongozo in taste, was True Grist by Lakefront Brewery in the US. I found this one light and refreshing in taste. It's made from sorghum, rice and hops and is certified gluten free. Lakefront offered two other gluten free beers that were much heavier in taste and barley based with the gluten removed. I found this one really nice. This one is easier to find at public and private liquor stores whereas Mongozo is only in private stores and available to order.
Next year, I'll tackle the sulphite free wines (and book the day off work!)
Gluten Free Treats
The product I went into EAT! looking forward to try the most was the Trugs Gourmet Hidden Garden Cookies. I had interviewed Catherine the creator of the Hidden Garden Ginger Snaps and Red Velvet Cookies, and I was excited. I love it when my treats have good stuff in them, especially if I'll be sharing them with my son. By far did these cookies deliver! They were fantastic. My favourite was the Ginger Snaps, but Catherine informed it was a real 50/50 run between the two and the favourites among the samplers at EAT! I absolutely look forward to whatever else Catherine's kitchen produces and hopefully seeing more of her products on local shelves.
Two products that were deceivingly good were the Giddy Yoyo chocolate bars and the the Fresh Unfiltered Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost. Giddy Yoyo provides raw chocolate bars that are organic and full of wonderful things. My preferred bar had spirulina in it. I'll take greens any way I can get them!
I've been wanting to try the Unfiltered Ginger Ale for a while now since I first saw it on the shelves at Whole Foods. It includes Original and specialty flavours like Jasmine Tea and Pomegranate. I overheard a conversation in regards to the Ginger Ale where Ontario doctors are recommending it to chemo patients. My ears perked up for my dad's sake who is suffering from nausea and this particular product seems to work wonders with it. I love the taste of real ginger. I never liked ginger ale as a child, not even flat and for an upset belly but I can assure you this will be in my medicine chest for any upset bellies of the future. Or it will just be there as a refreshing and delicious tasting beverage.
All But Gluten was a new brand that I've never heard of before. It had a huge display and was providing free lectures throughout the event. I tried their bread and their coconut macaroons and both were good to taste. I'd like to check out this company more as I've never seen it in any stores. I checked the packaging to ensure it wasn't a sugar first ingredient type list like some companies on the gluten free train are providing and it wasn't. A good sign of a potentially great gluten free product.
Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss ice cream was a welcome surprise. I love their products. Not only are they gluten and dairy free but they are also a non-gmo product. There was a big line to sample and I was amazed to discover how many more flavours they have than I originally knew of. I believe some grocers have been holding out on us or Luna and Larry have been busy in the test kitchen. I tried the Salted Caramel, my absolute favourite flavour as of late. So good! Love this product and love this company.
Gluten Free Pantry
Probably my absolute favourite discovery of EAT! Vancouver was West Point Naturals line of gluten free flour mixes. I am all over trying these out with my Saturday morning pancakes and other baking experiments. I had to this point thought they only provided dried fruit, nuts and dried herbs. I was very happy to discover organic gummy bears, lavender sea salt and an array of gluten free flours. I hope to further discover that I love their flour mixes!
Other delicious things include the Peanut Butter Co and it's amazing peanut butter mixes. Perfect for eating off spoons! Or as a friend recently demonstrated for me, including it in indulgent smoothies! And Maison Orphee, a boutique product that specializes in oils, mustards and vinegars. I'm a huge fan of their Organic Coconut Oil. For in and on the body, my favourite uses for coconut oil are for baking, smoothies and cooking scrambled eggs. Big yum.
Some other sights around EAT!:
In the end my Top 3 absolute favourite discoveries of EAT! were:
Trugs Gourmet Hidden Garden Cookies which barely lasted a serving in my house. A bag is a serving right?
West Point Naturals and its incredible line of products.
Fresh Unfiltered Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost. So yummy and good for the belly.
Honourable mentions go to Luna and Larry's, Mary's Organic Cookies, Snackbox by Foodee and Organika.
After an awesome experience I can only hope to take it a step further next year. EAT! offered so much more than just a bunch of vendors selling products. The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts was offering class, plus the celebrity chef stage, free cooking and baking lectures plus wine, cheese and beer tasting workshops! This is definitely an all around event. I highly recommend it as a to do for 2014 and personally hope to DO MOre at it then! XO. S