Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Hannah An to Host C-CAP LA Benefit

Hannah An’s landmark “The District” will host a sumptuous Euro-Vietnamese feast  to benefit C-CAP Los Angeles, a non-profit dedicated to preparing underserved students for college and career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industries. 

Monday, October 24, 2016, dinner guests will have the opportunity to step through century-old doors of this stunning restaurant and be transported to Vietnam’s seductive French Colonial era evoking romantic Hoi An near the South China Sea. The innovative project is a first for Hannah, whose family’s restaurant portfolio includes the renowned Crustacean, Beverly Hills. The District’s creative nuanced cuisine, rooted in Vietnam’s regional food traditions, is suffused with California’s farm fresh attitude: carefully sourced organic meats and the finest produce, all delicately seasoned with fresh herbs and Asian spices. Diners will get a firsthand account of Hannah’s personal story of a family who escaped their homeland to build a restaurant empire in the United States.
 
The elegant, family style dinner menu will include Hors d’oeuvres such as Crispy Chicken Rolls, Tuna Poke on Sesame Rice Crisps and Filet Mignon & Blue Cheese Mousse Crostini; a first course consisting of a Lotus Salad (Julienne Cabbage, Crispy Shallots, Tiato Leaf, Thai Basil & Garlic-Lime Vinaigrette) or a Citrus Mixed Green Salad (Tamarind Ginger Vinaigrette); and entrees such as Hannah’s Signature Noodles & Grilled Beef Skewers, Cha Cha Chilean Sea Bass, Go Luc Lac Shaken Chicken, Sliced Organic Chicken Breast with Chinese Broccoli, Mushrooms & Traditional Sauce or Crispy Orange Cauliflower in a Sweet & Tangy Citrus Glaze. The meal will be accompanied by a surprise dessert and selected wines from the Central Coast area of California.

The benefit dinner at The District will feature a fabulous live auction. C-CAP students will also share their remarkable stories and aspirations with dinner guests.

The event at The District begins at six o’clock. For reservations, please call Gloria Barke at (818) 756-1260. Tickets are $135. All proceeds will support C-CAP Los Angeles' local programs. Space is limited. The District is located at 8722 Third Street, Los Angeles and the dinner will take place in the Feng Shui room. Valet parking will be available.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Licensing Expo 2016: TGIF Sriracha Ranch



Sriracha Ranch sounds like an awesome combination. Too bad TGIF didn't think of making these chips Gluten Free--it has wheat in it. 

Oh well. I'm sure people at the Licensing Expo 2016 will enjoy it. It's repped by Beanstalk which offers attendees plenty of snacks to try out while walking the floor. 


Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Exp: Enjoy Life Foods

I am an Enjoy Life Foods groupie.

At the Natural Products Expo West, I returned to their booth so many times. While they didn't bring as much product to the show as 2015, there were plenty of Plentils and packages of mini chips to partake in.

They were also handing out goodies at the Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo in Pasadena.

One of the great things about Enjoy Life is that their products are free of the 8 most common allergens. And the main other is that they taste really good. I haven't been disappointed in any of their products as of yet.

Now an attendee did put an Enjoy Life executive on the spot during the Celiac Disease Foundation conference. She asked whether or not the rice used in their products was tested and contained arsenic. The executive couldn't tell us where the rice was sourced from. Because rice flour is a major flour used in GF products, arsenic is definitely a concern for those with Gluten sensitivities.

Rebate on products
If you're headed to the supermarket to buy some Enjoy Life goodies, there's an iBotta offer of $3.50 when you buy 2 products at Target. Many people take issue with the app because once the offer is gone, you can't submit a receipt even though you bought in during the qualifying period. Others say Ibotta never gave them their money. I haven't withdrawn my money yet, but I haven't had a problem with getting credit with them.

I've also seen coupons on coupon.com for their products and you can definitely combine coupons with these app cash rebate programs.




Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo: General Mills

General Mills brought Gluten free treats to the Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo. Did you know that both Lucky Charms and Cheerios are gluten free? I was told by the rep that the cereals are made in a dedicated facility.





So it's not like they changed their recipe for marketing purposes. Some other attendees at the conference expressed doubt about how the oats are sourced but the cereals do meet the FDA guidelines of 20ppm.

Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo: Color Garden

Wanna have food coloring without the dye? At the Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo, Color Garden showed off their Gluten Free, natural, plant-based food color.

They don't stain and wash right out of clothes and fabric.

Their website is a little unwieldy but here's what you get for their Halloween assortment:
  • Four single-use transparent plastic packets (6g) each.
  • Contains: Purple, Orange, Black & Yellow
  • Each individual packet delivers enough color for one medium-sized cake or approximately 16oz of frosting.
  • Net Wt. 1 Fl. Oz.
  • 100% plant-based pure, natural color.
  • No artificial ingredients.
  • Includes insert with recipes, baking tips and more.
Ingredients: (Purple) Red Cabbage Juice, Baking Soda, Beet Juice; (Orange) Annatto, Caramel Color, Beet Juice. (Black) Caramel Color, Purple Carrot Juice, Turmeric. (Yellow) Turmeric; All colors contain less than 1% ethyl alcohol to preserve freshness.
 
 

Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo: Frito Lay

Frito Lay was at the Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo in Pasadena last week. Many of their products have always been gluten free but they have taken steps to validate them as GF.

You can find a list on their website detailing which products are labeled as Gluten Free and which have no gluten ingredients.

This is the symbol that they use.


This is the leaflet they handed out:


Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Exp: Nairn



I don't remember stopping at the Nairn booth at the Gluten Free Expo, part of the Celiac Disease Foundation Conference weekend. But then all of the sudden, people were carrying cases of the products under their arms. I guess they deserted their booth early and had a mass giveaway.

As for the products, they're kind of like different flavored soda crackers. But gluten free. Not oh my God, I must have. But enjoyable nonetheless.

I mean, I wouldn't have said, "No" to a case of Nairn products.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo: Kirari West

If you're a guy and gluten free, you had me at gluten free. First.

But if you're a hot guy who owns a gluten free bakery,..I mean, wow, that's better than a Native Hawai'ian physical therapist on my list.

No, I'm not stalking Hiro Saito. But he is hot and his Redondo Beach bakery, Kirari West, is entirely gluten free.

Saito hails from Japan where his family has several bakeries. Saito took the philosophies and the delicious recipes here. Mainly rice based flour creations, Saito's baked goods are delicious.

And he's hot!

You can scroll through the photos on Kirari West's Facebook page to salivate on his baked goods as well as his hotness.

Mine's not a great picture; I wasn't specifically aiming at him--the photo just got lucky enough to catch some of his hotness.

Kirari West is located in Redondo Beach at 707 N Pacific Coast Highway; 90277.

I think that's the mall where Lucky used to be--it's changed a lot but great location near 190th and PCH. Looking at their Facebook photo of their bakery, I think that's a Baumkuchen Spit. OMG, I have to go there and gorge on absolutely everything.

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Bibimbap BackPackers Jaunt to Sunland Library

I saw Bibimbap Backpackers and Bibigo.com at La Times The Taste a couple of years ago. YThgis past weekend they popped up at the Sunland library bringing delicious bibimbap to the branches patrons.

After a short demonstration of the healthiness of the Korean staple, chefs prepared a bowl of bibimbap for all to enjoy. Really easy to make, bibimbap is a mixture of brown and white rice with vegetables and protein over it.

Yumm.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Renew Life Probiotic Not Kind to Gluten Sensitive



This may be a probiotic but it'll kill the stomachs of those with gluten intolerance. Why would you op to make a probiotic gummy with wheat? There's just no reason for it. But Renew Life with their Ultimate Flora Probiotic and their 2 million live cultures per serving chose to add one deadly ingredient to GFers: wheat.

And that does a stomach bad.


Monday, February 8, 2016

DQ says Don't Lie about no Date

Got nothing and nobody on V-Day?

A DQ--yes that is Dairy Queen--press release quoted some stats that men lie about having no date for Valentine's Day more than women--1/4 vs 1/6.

So DQ has an item on the menu for the lonely or who just like to date themselves. The Singles Blizzard Treat has salted caramel truffles, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and peanut butter topping blended with signature DQ soft serve.

And if you really have to be a couple this Feb 14th, DQ has its iconic Red Spoon in a custom jewelry box.

The Red Velvet Spoon Case looks like a traditional necklace box, covered in red fabric that opens to reveal the iconic Dairy Queen Red Spoon resting on white satiny fabric. It’s unexpected, amusing and the perfect utensil for sharing DQ’s Red Velvet Blizzard Cupid Cake. All net proceeds from the purchase of the Red Spoon Case will go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
 
There's also the made to order DQ Cupid Cake: soft serve blended with red velvet pieces. It’s perfectly sized for two, and custom messages can be added.

Both the Cupid Cake and Red Velvet Spoon Case can be ordered online at DQCakes.com starting Feb. 1. Cupid Cakes are $9.99 and Red Velvet Spoon Cases are $4.99 plus shipping.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Endangered Species Chocolate: Dark Chocolate with Caramel an Sea Salt

Fairtrade International certified, Non-GMO Project Verified and gluten-free, Endangered Species Chocolate's Dark Chocolate with Caramel an Sea Salt debuts in stores nationwide.

You can locate your local retailers at this link.

10% of profits are donated to ESC's conservation partners each year.
 
Spotlighting the American Bald Eagle on the wrapper, this rich dark chocolate surrounds handcrafted, organic caramel with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt. Each "Eagle bar" wrapper tells how Endangered Species Act protections have helped American Bald Eagle populations make a remarkable recovery.

The Eagle bar is currently available on Amazon.com in bulk (packs of 12), and will be available in Kroger and other natural food stores across the U.S. in early February 2016. More information is available on ESC’s website, www.chocolatebar.com