Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA drew record numbers this year with over 63,000 industry members in attendance and close to 2,500 exhibitors. Every year it seems, the volume, variety and quality of gluten-free food products on display increases and this year was no exception. Over three days, this Examiner sampled countless food and beverage products from national and international vendors and we’ve selected a handful as our top picks of the show. Part one follows; watch for part two and more event coverage in the days to come.
Amy’s Vegetable Pot Pie, Biscotti, Brownies and more: Amy’s unveiled a wide array of gluten-free items this year including a flaky double-crusted Vegetable Pot Pie, Biscotti in Chocolate and Orange flavors, decadent frozen Brownies, two more Light & Lean entrees, two Asian entrees, and Mushroom Bisque with Porcini. They also broke new ground with a line of organic coconut-based frozen desserts in Vanilla, Chocolate, Mocha, and Mint Chocolate Chip. All of the items we tried were irresistibly delicious and lived up to the quality you’d expect from the Amy’s brand. The Pot Pie, Orange Biscotti and Brownies were particularly divine. We’ll be reviewing some of the new products soon, so watch this space for more.
Glutenfreeda Pocket Sandwiches: Once again this year we bestow the highest praise on Glutenfreeda, which has achieved what no other gluten-free brand has: they have created the perfect pocket sandwich. Available in four varieties, Hickory Smoked Ham and Cheese, Bacon & Eggs with Cheddar, Roast Beef with Caramelized Onions and Provolone, and Southwest Chicken Chipotle, these frozen pocket sandwiches are non-GMO, contain no preservatives and take only about a minute to cook. We think they taste even better than conventional pocket sandwiches—definitely our top pick of the show.
Glutino Toaster Pastries: Glutino took their time with these and got them right. Available in two flavors, unfrosted Apple and unfrosted Strawberry, these toaster pastries are flaky, soft and lightly sweet. Impressively, they contain no corn syrup or artificial colors either. We’re looking forward to seeing more additions to this line in the future.
Kinnikinnick Soft Bagels: Unlike other gluten-free bagels that are just bread baked in a ring shape, these are boiled then baked in the traditional way, making them chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. They come in three varieties: Plain, Cinnamon Raisin and Blueberry. In our opinion, they are the best gluten-free bagels on the market, bar none.
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