More Than Just Food - Day Three

Looking back over my experience at The Fancy Food Show, it’s clear to me that each unique item was born out of a love for quality food.  Though my encounter with vendors were brief, I walked away with a story about the product’s conception, where it came from, and how it has changed lives.  I now feel a personal connection to nearly every product I tasted.    

I’ll never look at specialty food the same again.  Instead of products on the shelves, I’ll see deep love and passion that has, with much determination and care, become an expression of the person who created it.  I can’t help but wonder what brings more joy - the food or the people behind it.

Good Morning, Morning Glory Coffee by Caffe Divino

Being a coffee lover, and a little jetlagged from travel, I snagged a cup of coffee wherever I could without getting a sales pitch to go with it.  After I finished this particular cup of coffee, I found myself almost on autopilot, circling back around for more.  It was smooth and full bodied without being overly acidic or too strong.

D’Ann, the daughter of the product’s creator, shared the story behind this perfectly balanced cup of joe.  Her mother and father always shared a cup of coffee before starting their day.  After D’Ann’s mother passed away, her father worked fervently to create the perfect lighter, flavorful blend in honor of his wife as way of celebrating their companionship, friendship, and love.

Good Morning, Morning Glory is more than just 100% high grown Arabica beans.  It’s a reminder of the important things in life – family, friendship, loyalty, and love. Go to the Caffe Divino Website for more information.

Glow Gluten Free Cookies

I’d heard about Glow on Twitter before coming to the show but never had any real contact with Jill Brack, the product’s creator.    

I was in for a real treat.

Jill and I had the opportunity to talk at length.  I learned that her cookies were developed as a way to give her gluten-intolerant daughter sweets that were healthier.  A caring mom, she didn’t want her daughter eating gluten-free cookies made out of starch.  She started baking with a healthier cookie being her end goal.

She uses no white starches, trans fats, or preservatives in any of her dairy-free cookies.  Instead, she uses a garbanzo & fava bean flour mix and insisted throughout the manufacturing process that the cookies contain fiber and protein.

The result? Gingersnap, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate Chip Cookies that any mom can feel good about giving her children.  

Find more information about Glow Gluten Free on Twitter, Facebook and on their website.

Falafel Republic

I can’t recall ever having a falafel before, and gosh have I been missing out.  I had falafel the first day and headed back for more on day two when I needed something nourishing and substantial. 

What’s a falafel?  It’s a nutritious, Mediterranean  vegetarian blend of chickpeas, fava bens, onions, parsley, herbs and spices that are formed into balls and lightly fried.  Developed to be healthier, the Falafel Republic falafel is high in protein, fiber, vegan and free of cholesterol, gluten, dairy, soy and sugar. 

How do you eat a falafel?  Just about any way you want.   I topped my falafels with greek yogurt and they were fantastic.  Try them as an appetizer with hummus and tabouli.  Serve your falafel Italian style on pasta topped with your marinara sauce.  Make a pita or sandwich wrap with the toppings of your choice.  The Falafel Republic folks say their falafel is even substantial enough to stand up to a Texas-style chili.

Learn more about Falafel Republic on their website.

Julie Ann's All Natural Granola

True, Julie Ann’s All Natural Granola doesn’t fit in my gluten-free, refined sugar free diet but I was thrilled to see her at The Fancy Food Show.  Her granola is a favorite of my husband’s and we’ve shared it with friends and family with rave reviews.

Another product with a great story, Julie made her granola at home for years using the very best ingredients available.  Her friends and family started requesting batches of granola for themselves and to give as gifts. Hence, a product and brand was born.  Though a newer product, it’s already a wild success and is being sold in many Whole Foods and other retail grocers.  You can also purchase directly from her on-line store.

I’ve personally given Julie Ann’s All Natural Granola in gift baskets and it’s always a hit.  Find more information on their website, Twitter, and Facebook.

1-2-3 Gluten-Free

Quite often, I get questions about how to mix gluten-free flours.   Many people are worried about flavors, proportions, and most of all making a mistake.  I can relate to their fears because learning to bake from scratch gluten-free requires some tenacity and a sense of adventure.

Kim Ullner, the founder of 1-2-3 Gluten-Free, has taken the guess work out of baking sans gluten.   She’s put together a line of baking mixes that can easily be prepared with commonly stocked pantry ingredients.  After watching her sister’s lifetime struggle to bake gluten-free, Kim decided to create a product that would make life simpler and still produce delicious tasting food.  Yet another fine product created out of a need and lots of love. 

Before going to production, all of the mixes are taste-tested on family and friends.  So far, they have 14 different mixes out of which you can create 80 different baked goods.  And, three of their mixes are sugar-free with more on the way. They’re also allergy friendly, free of tree nuts, peanuts, soy, egg, dairy, and casein.

Try Micah’s Mouthwatering Southern Style Corn Bread, Lindsays’s Lipsmakin’ Roll-Out & Cut Sugar Cookies, Yummy Yellow Cake Mix, or Southern Glory Light & Fluffy Biscuits for starters.  Or, hop over to their website to explore the rest of their product line.

Blogger Bio

Amy Green, a culinary arts student, authors Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free where she shares her passion for making food simple and healthy.  Amy’s food choices have helped her maintain a 60+ pound weight loss and loves to show that others that eating healthier doesn’t equal deprivation.

Website: simplysugarandglutenfree.com

Twitter: twitter.com/Amys_SSGF

Facebook: facebook.com/amys.ssgf

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