Natural Products Expo West: Gluten Free Breakfast But Not Really

If I could eat Boulder Brands products for breakfast every day, I'd be just fine with that.

Boulder Brands brings their Glutino, Udi, Evol, and Earth Balance to Natural Products Expo West each year and makes a breakfast out of it. This year, it was housed outside underneath a huge tent. I am appreciative of anything gluten free and especially when it comes to Glutino and Udi's.

However this year, something odd happened. The Marriott hotel servers were telling people that only part of the breakfast was gluten free. When a server told me that, I questioned her, saying that all the bread goods were gluten free because beyond Evol, Boulder Brands doesn't make non-gluten free products to my understanding.

She checked with a head server who confirmed what she told me: that only the front triangle section was gluten free and the rest was not. That included the baked goods beyond that front section. And the section from which I had just grabbed some muffins from. I knew the information was false, but anytime someone tells me something is not gluten free, I'm going to have to listen. Especially when I'm going to be away from a bathroom for the next 12 hours.

Reoccurring
The same thing happened last year at the Gluten Free Expo in Pasadena. The GF Expo was clear in saying that everything served was gluten free but the servers were confused because there was a Vegan section which they interpreted as NOT gluten free.

The server at Expo West pointed to the toaster sign indicating that it meant only that section was gluten free. They however, as I understand it, put the sign up so attendees know that the toaster is a dedicated toaster.

Evol Contributes
The Boulder Brands acquisition of Evol several years ago can partly be blamed as well. Evol is not entirely gluten free while Earth Balance, Glutino, and Udi's are. I was skeptical when I discussed this with reps from the company. When you are a dedicated gluten free company but then bring a brand that is not, it calls into question the entire company and whether all the products are really gluten free or just labelled gluten free and then in tiny print states that it shares equipment that processes wheat. I know that's that not the case for Boulder Brands but it raises doubts and that's not beneficial for a company.

So, technically, the servers were right in saying that the entire breakfast was not gluten free because Evol products that were not gluten free were served. They were however wrong in saying that the the entire back section of the breakfast including the baked goods was not gluten free.


On a good note, I didn't have any major gastro problems beyond being gassy toward the end of it.  So it's safe to say I didn't eat anything I shouldn't have.

But it'd probably be a good idea for the show organizers to insure that every server know all the details about the breakfast so that in turn, all the attendees know that as well.

Side note: Looks like Boulder Brands needs a better Twitter handle since everyone was tweeting at an account that looks bogus.

See more Expo West posts including previews on GizmoPorn.com

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.

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. 

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: