Charlotte Gluten Free Expo....favorite products roundup and new ones in the works

This weekend we were fortunate enough to attend the Charlotte Gluten Free Expo in North Carolina.  Gluten-free vendor fairs are a great way to network with people who follow the gluten-free diet, sample products, meet the people responsible for making these great products and find out what they are busily creating.  Listed below are my favorite products from the fair along with what they are working on next!

123 Gluten Free was there and the news is they are coming out with three new products: Bread Mix, 5 Grain All Purpose Flour and a Rice Based All Purpose Flour within the next two months.  The products will be available for sale on their website before they will appear in stores.  The owner of this company, Kim Ullner, used to be the Vice President of the Atlanta Metro Celiacs.  Our group was the first to try her Pan Bar mix when she was selling it out of zip lock baggies with typed up instructions.  So proud to see how far she has taken her company and can't way to try the new products. 

Jason's Deli was there handing out coupons and menus. According to the Regional Marketing Director Jim Gerlock they are creating an 'aggressive' training program for their stores. Their ultimate goal is to have a separate preparation area for the gluten-free sandwiches in every location. We gave them one container of each flavor of Glow Gluten Free Cookie to consider adding a baked good to their dessert options. Glow's cookies have two grams of fiber and protein per cookie and taste fresh baked. Sure hope they decide to add a gluten-free cookie to their dessert options!

Joan's GF Great Bakes - is busy creating three new products: Corn Muffins, Calzones and a mini Sicilian Pizza.  This Examiner was able to meet Joan's husband and her two grandsons who are the reason she started her very successful and unique business.  Joan demoed her English Muffins, which are my personal favorite to rave review.  A local sales representative took a photo of the product after trying it for consideration at their store.

Polka Dot Bake Shop - is a local bakery in Charlotte that makes a number of gluten-free/vegan baked goods. This Examiner was most impressed with their Sweet Potato Crackers. The crackers are a little fragile, but they have a good amount of both fiber and protein and they taste almost cheesy with just the right mix of seasoning. These crackers need nothing on them and can be thoroughly enjoyed plain. They are made in a dedicated facility and they are Kosher certified. These crackers should be available for distribution in October.  Ingredients: Sweet Potato, Water, Rice Flour, Sesame Seeds, Spices, Salt, Masa (corn), and Olive Oil.

World's Best Carrot Cake - is rolling out a Pecan Coffee Cake over the coming months.  This coffee cake is really light and almost creamy in texture with a powerful flavor topped with crystalized sugar for that extra crunch.  It would be perfect to serve either for bunch or for dessert and would make a fabulous gift around the holidays.  They were also demoing out their Chocolate Mint Squares which are just decadent.  The ingredients in the coffee cake are: Pecans, Sour Cream, Sugar, Brown Rice Flour, Baking Soda, Butter, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Eggs and Cinnamon. 

Luckily most of these products can be purchased locally in Georgia.  Return to Eden stocks products from: 123 Gluten Free, Joan's and Udi's.  Look for the Sweet Potato crackers on Return to Eden's shelves in October.  World's Best Carrot Cake can be purchased from Whole Foods.