Prepping for the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo 2013

I can’t even tell you how excited that I am for the upcoming San Francisco Gluten and Allergen Free Expo in a few weeks. I went to the Chicago Expo last year when I just stared my Celiac and the Beast blog. You can see my recap from that expo here!

The Expo is February 9th-10th near the SFO airport. You can buy your tickets here. Here are some key points you’ll need to know about the expo:

  • It’s open to the public, everyone welcome
  • It’s only $20 for an adult admission!!!
  • The dates and times are: 2/9 & 2/10 – 10am to 4pm Daily!
  • If you want to be an early bird (and you totally should) you can purchase an Early Bird Admission that lets you in early from 9am – 10am
  • There are over 100 Vendors Sampling and Selling Products – come hungry and bring $$$
  • Purchase tickets in advance or at the door – although I would recommend advanced
  • Over 20 Classes & Seminars Available (read more below)

Celiac and the Beast will be representing our blog and this community at the SCHAR WI-FI BLOGGER LOUNGE (thanks Schar- for this, and those delicious chocolate sandwich cookies I wish I never knew existed).  We’ll be selling some of our CATB stickers, shirts, and hoodies (although we’ll only have a very limited quantity so email me if you want me to put something on hold for you to pick up at the expo)! And yes, we have a square, so use your cash buying lots of cookies, because we can take cards!

I met SO many new vendors and ate so many new products. There is seriously NO excuse not to go if you are gluten-free and live in the area (or can travel to it reasonably). It’s a HUGE expo, so save some hours to walk around and meet everyone. It is so much fun to meet the people behind what you eat on the regular. I like to feel connected to the companies that make the food I love – part of the reason why I became a blogger! On top of a vendor expo where you’ll find amazing samples of new and awesome gluten-free products, there’s also classes too!

Here’s the schedule and what I am excited about:

Lifestyle Stage Saturday

8:45 – 9:45 (you need a special ticket for this, so make sure you get one in advance)

Dr. Peter Green – Keynote: Celiac & Gluten Sensitivities

I’m super stoked about this, but I’m also stoked to see Dr. Green at the Phoenix Celiac Disease Foundation Expo too in April! I hope that Dr. Green doesn’t think that I’m stalking him by the end of the year. 

10:00 – 11:00

Melinda Dennis

Part I – What if I Still Have Symptoms But I’m Gluten Free?

Hellllllo, can you say RELEVANT TO ME!?!?! 

11:15 – 12:15

Amy Burkhart, MD

Part II – What if I Still Have Symptoms But I’m Gluten Free?

12:30 – 1:30

Carol Fenster

Pie Crust 101: Healthy Pies, Crumbles, Crisps from Traditional to Healthy Versions

Mmmmmmm pie!

1:45 – 2:45

Karen Morgan

The Science Behind GF Baking

Science nerds unite! How awesome is this!?!?

3:00 – 4:00

Naomi Poe

Deglutenizing the Hidden Source of Contaminants

OMG yes, I’m all about finding hidden things – since I’m still getting glutenated on the regular! 

 

Lifestyle Stage 1: Sunday

10:15 – 11:15

Tom Bohager

Gluten Intolerance – A Novel Approach Using Enzymes

I’m a big fan of enzymes and use them daily, I’d like to hear what more I have to learn…

11:30 – 12:30

Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN, CEN

Intro to the Paleo Diet

Nadine is an awesome lady, and she’s a fan of CATB. We love her and met her at the GIG expo a few months ago! And, I would love to hear about the paleo diet! Bonus!

12:45 – 1:45

Brandy Wendler

How Celiac Disease and the Gluten-Free Diet Affect Your Health

She’s like a real life Disney princess and an awesome advocate for her community in Alaska and nationwide! We adore Brandy!

2:00 – 3:00

Amy Ratner

Misinformation about GF Ingredients and Foods

We are crawling with misinformation in the GF community. Almost every day I hear something that is sort of false, mostly false, or way the heck out there. I’d love to hear about it all in one session.

 

Lifestyle Stage 2 Sunday

11:15 – 12:15

Amy Hull Brown

Steps to Recovery: Healing a Child with Autism

Although it’s not necessarily relevant to my family, I think this topic is super interesting. 

12:30 – 1:30

Dr. Ilya Skolnikoff

Triad of Health: Discover 3 secret causes of gluten intolerance / allergies & what you can do about them

Again, although not really relevant, cool for those who are investigating a new intolerance!

 1:45 – 2:45

Kim Koeller

Safely Eat Out and Travel Gluten and Allergy Free

Oy, this this and THIS!

3:00 – 4:00

Dr. Kenneth Fine

The Gluten Truth: What Really Happened to the Bread of Life

MODERN WHEAT MWAHAHAHAHAHAH (insert evil doctor laugh here). 

UP next are the Cooking and Dining Out classes – and needless to say, if it has food in it, I want to be there! Check out these great topics!

 

Cooking and Dining Out: Saturday

10:30 – 11:30

Mary Fran Wiley

3 gluten-free recipes to know by heart (brownies, pancakes and a birthday cake)

12:00 – 1:00

Silvana Nardone

Reclaiming the Rights to Your Favorite Retro Foods

1:30 – 2:30

Kyra Bussanich

GFCF Truffle Fudge Brownies and GFCF Dark Chocolate Peppermint Crackle Cookies

3:00 – 4:00

Laura B. Russell

Identifying Gluten in Common Asian Ingredients

 

Cooking and Dining Out: Sunday

10:30 – 11:30

Mary Capone

How to make Aunt Carmel’s homemade pasta with Capone’s Marinara and Sundried Tomato Focaccia

12:00 – 1:00

Amy Fothergill

Gluten Free/Casein Free Delicious Breakfast & Brunch Dishes

1:30 – 2:30

Natural Decadence Bakery

Gluten-Free Gourmet Desserts

3:00 – 4:00

Kathy Smart

Using Super Foods in Your Baking

At this point I’m not sure what else I can tell you to convince you to go – because it’s super awesome! I’ll be rocking it both days with Non-GFBF and other amazing bloggers as part of the official GFAF Blogger Team for San Fran. Let me know if I’ll see you there and please come say hello to me! If you can’t make it – make sure to follow us on Twitter with the hashtag #GFAFExpo OR Follow my Instagram! 🙂

Comments: 4

  1. Sarah Bakes Gluten Free Treats January 25, 2013 at 2:04 pm Reply

    seriously SO excited!! can’t wait to meet you and be on the blogger team at this AMAZING gluten free expo!

  2. Chaviva January 28, 2013 at 8:21 am Reply

    Hope we can see you at the GFAF Expo!!

  3. Alison | a girl defloured January 30, 2013 at 9:47 am Reply

    Looking forward to seeing you there! 🙂

  4. mary fran | frannycakes January 31, 2013 at 7:52 pm Reply

    I can’t wait to meet you! Hooray for gluten-free bloggers 🙂

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