I just got back from the 2014 International Food Bloggers Conference from Seattle with a nasty cold. However, I also brought back with me a lot of products that I think you’d be interested in too. While I plan on several other posts about what I learned at IFBC, this post is just about products and a giveaway (but you have to read it all to get to the giveaway at the end, no cheating and skipping ahead).
**DISCLOSURE: I am a blogger and therefore get a discounted rate to attend IFBC every year. In return, I am required to write three posts about the event. However, it doesn’t matter what is in them – which I think is awesome because that doesn’t mean that just because I get in for a discounted rate, I am required to LOVE everything about the conference, because I don’t. Just like any conference there are hits and misses. However, I’m here to tell you about the cool products I found, because I think that’s why you come to Celiac and the Beast afterall!**
Like most bloggers, I had tears well up in my eyes when I saw a personalized apron swag made just for me. Aneto is a foodie broth brand from Spain, and they managed to win the hearts of bloggers everywhere with monogrammed aprons for every attendee. My biggest regret of the conference was to not grab some of their liters of broth (all of which are gluten-free). You should check out their ingredients of their paella broth (including rabbit, duck, pork, and chicken). A foodie’s dream!
It wouldn’t be IFBC if there wasn’t a wine tasting session. I learned mostly squat from this session (I did jot down a few notes) – the opposite of what happened last year. However, some scallywags from last year in their drunken messiness, ruined it for everyone. Instead of pouring our own wine and comparing tasting notes with an awesome teacher, everything was regulated down to people who were pouring our tasting samples for us (our very very small tasting samples), which threw off the whole tasting event and hindered us from comparing tasting notes. To make the session worse, we were pinned against each other on a game of who had the best nose as we had to endure a “what’s that smell” challenge. I understand that the purpose of this event was to craft our senses and help us smell wine better. I just considered it :30 minutes out of my life where I had to smell weird crap in a glass of wine stone sober. Where’s the fun in that? It seemed that this year was more of a “let’s see who knows their shit about wine” more than last year’s “let’s teach you thinks about the wine and the different senses using the wine while we all taste it together and have a jovial time.” I should have known that this part of the conference was going to be different from last year, as one blogger wrote ahead of time in the conference group that we should make sure to use the spit buckets so we don’t do harm to our brand. Excuse me, my brand is built on a glass of wine. Most of my book was written a few glasses of wine in. I love wine – but I don’t think that you have to be an expert in it to enjoy wine, and I don’t think it should always be a game of who knows best. It should be a game of “who is the coolest person after three glasses of wine without getting too handsy.” I would win that game.
But enough about wine. Let’s move onto non-alcoholic beverages that are slightly less dramatic.
During our Sunday morning session, I smiled seeing the little “gluten free” line on Bigelow teas! I was excited to learn about teas and their new product line of high-caffeine teas which are not quite as high as coffee, but 50% more than avg. black tea. Plus they have a new Airstream trailer full of tea. For those of you who know my love of all things vintage trailers, I can really get behind any company who has a mobile trailer full of gluten-free anything.
At the Gourmet Fair/Taste of Seattle Night – Tulalip Resort & Casino killed it. They had the best gluten-free dish, hand’s down. Their veggie sushi roll from Journey’s East was magnificent, and the salty spice of pico de gallo really tied the whole roll together. I think I ate an entire roll just standing at their table. I considered slipping the sushi chef a $20 and asking for a to-go box.
Crisp is a new company with awesome little kitchen gadgets. I was so excited to go home with an avocado multi-tool and a citrus zester! Because gadgets are awesome.
Krusteaz came out with a new line that is certified gluten-free and I was so excited to take all of them home (or huff the dry mixes in my room at 10pm, whatever). However, all of the mixes contain milk or may contain milk. However, if you can do dairy I think these are going to be great alternatives to products that are out there that may be too expensive for some budgets, or readily available at traditional stores (ex. not at a Whole Foods or Sprouts). I’m super tempted to just make them and take a digestive enzyme, but I’ll let you the readers do some taste tests with the products (they are included in the giveaway).
Fair warning, I didn’t try the House Foods Tofu Shirataki at the event. And from what I’ve heard on my social media feed so far, I’m not sure all of you are in love with the product. However, I am always for having alternatives in the market. Plus, it comes in different shapes! I appreciate an item that is certified gluten-free as well as certified non-GMO.
Also always awesome, but not pictured here, is Sante Nuts. These gluten-free nuts are in a peanut-free facility and I dished about how much I loved them on my Expo West post from this year.
So here’s a picture of my final haul (some from the KitchenAid/Sur La Table party I went to as well). Yes, this means removing everything I’m giving away to you guys!
And here’s the picture of what all I’m giving away to YOU my loyal readers!
This also includes items from my Sur La Table fieldtrip including a Kerrygold cookbook, King Arthur Almond Flour, and a Lekue microwave steamer. The giveaway is hosted on Rafflecopter, so make sure that you read the terms and conditions for the giveaway on the widget below. There will be two US winners drawn on October 14th 2014.
It sounds like fun! Makes me reconsider careers. 🙂
That all sounds like a wonderful fantasyland– thanks for the vicarious mix-huffing 😉 I am excited about any of those products but mostly about the Krusteaz line! Can’t wait to find it soon! Thanks for sharing!
I am intrigued with the Lekue microwave steamer. I haven’t seen this kind of tool yet.
So many goodies love new kitchen tools so many to choose from awesome giveaway
You are amazing! Such awesome prizes you are giving away! My daughter would love them!
I would love to win a Lekue microwave steamer. My attempts at steaming vegetables in a pan result in soggy over cooked vegetables. I am trying to overhaul my diet to be healthier . I have been gluten free for 8 years due to celiac and I am very excited about all the new products out now . I am happy that you are blogging about these products because I would not have found them on my own . Thanks Erica !
I love soy vey but I’ve never had anything like chocoperfection and it sound super yummy
You are one awesome lady
I hope to see you in Utah next month
I didn’t have any luck with the Twitter party the other day maybe this will be it. Crossing fingers as we are on a tight budget and this would help out a ton!
Great review! I am interested in your thoughts on the kitchen tools. The prize pack contains a few new products that I’ve never seen before. Great post!
Of the sponsors I would like to try the GF Krusteaz mixes. And anything from Sur La Table.A (Don’t have one in Flint, MI)
Everything looks awesome! I can’t wait to buy some of the higher calorie teas – and that sushi looks delicious! Glad the conference was good overall!
Wow. I have seen the posts on Facebook forever but never actually clicked on the link to read. I’ve been missing some good stuff! That won’t happen again.
I would love to find a cheaper gluten free baking mix.
I’m so excited to see that Krusteaz has gluten free options! Would love to try them! I must say, that when I was diagnosed last fall I sincerely was sad I couldn’t enjoy Krusteaz cornbread with my Dad’s fantastic beef bourguignon. An odd pairing, I know, but a family tradition.
I’d love to try more products from Sahale Snacks — I absolutely love their Cashews with Pomegranate + Vanilla mix!
Would love to try Krusteaz products. I’ve never heard of them
One of the Krusteaz mixes! I used to use them before I went GF.
You mean I have to choose just one thing I’d be excited about?? I would have to pick the tofu shirataki noodles!
I’m most interested in the King Arthur almond flour. Our house really enjoys the King Arthur brand, I didn’t realize they had an almond flour. The Lekue microwave steamer sounds pretty awesome too, I’m going to have to look them up!
That is a tough one. I’ve been wanting to try the new GF Krusteaz but I didn’t realize they have dairy, I’m tempted to try them anyway. I love mixes!
Sur La Table of course!
Wow! I’d like to try the Krusteaz mixes.
Everything looks so good! Would love to try some!
i would definitely try the gluten free Krusteaz products. Before celiac, which affects my family one adult and children, I loved and made the Krusteaz pancakes and brownies. By far they were my go too foods. Can’t wait to serve my family the best of the best.
I gotta say that I don’t know what to pick. I want to try all of them at once! Almond flour, Sahale snacks, the TCHO products and etc…
This is the best looking swag giveaway so far.
Thanks Erica for all your amazing work!
The krusteaz gluten free line would be great to try
I love all of the info about new products. I could get real excited about winnng some gadgets (a girl can never have too many kitchen gadgets), the Krusteaz muffin mix or the almond flour in the green bag (sorry can’t make out the brand name) plus anything else you wanted to send me. Thanks for keeping all of us followers up to date on the latest gluten free info!!
Manitoba Harvest!
I want to try the crisp food gadgets! I love kitchen tools
Great post and thanks for sharing it! See you at the Food-Allergy Bloggers Conference in Vegas this weekend!
Jeff Sonnenburg, Affinity
I already love shirataki noodles; I love the rubbery texture- sue me! That microwaveable steamer…if I don’t win this then I definitely need to put that on my Christmas list. A true college lifesaver!
I am interested in trying the tofu shirataki.
From the IFBC’s list of sponsors I would like to try the Food Should Taste Good the most.
The King Arthur almond flour is intriguing to me 🙂 And man, that sushi looks amazing. It’s one of the things I miss most since going gf. I love sushi, and it is hard to to get it and be sure it’s truly gf.
I definitely want to try the Krusteaz Gluten Free Baking Mixes!
Would love to see how the Krusteaz product line can be incorporated into my baking recipes.
I see a brand here that I haven’t seen before, Better Bean. Not sure what these products are but I am betting that the products are vegan? I’m trying to embrace the vegan foods into my diet and hopefully, I will like this.
i would love to try it all, but right now that King Arthur Almond Flour is looking good.
You do some cool ish Erica!!!!
I LOVE almond flour, so I am very excited to try King Arthur’s Almond Flour! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
All of it looks delicious!
I love the shirataki noodles. Would love to try some new products.
I’m looking forward to the Krusteaz Gluten Free Baking Mix. I remember their products from before my diagnosis, and always loved them.
I love your disclaimer and I really want to try the tofu noodles. I’m thankful you go to all these meetings for those of us who can’t go you make it possible for us to get the information. Thank you for your hard work.
I would love to try the Krusteaz. I loved their stuff pre-Celiac.
Any of those Krusteaz brand GF items! Always looking for something else that is awesome 😀
Crisp! I could totally use new kitchen tools lol
The kitchen tools look pretty cool. I’m pretty bad at cutting and peeling, so anything to help meal prep is fantastic.
I would like to try out the Krusteaz, and that yellow apron would look awesome in my yellow kitchen. : )
Rather hard to choose. It’s an all-way tie between FSTG, Q’ia, and er, everything.
Looks like you had a great time in Seattle! I’d either like to try the Krusteaz mixes or the Manitoba Harvest products- all in all it looks like there’s a lot of new things out there I definitely need to try!
I would look forward to the Krusteaz products and the Tofu Shirataki. I’m slow to try some new things, these look interesting.
I have been hearing a lot about the Krusteaz mixes, but haven’t seen them yet.
I would love to try the microwave steamer!
I’m interested in Crisp; I love a new tool!
I loved Krusteaz for lemon bars before… So I’m hoping their GF mixes are Just as good. Wonder when they’ll have a lemon bar mix?!
I would like to try the King Arthur almond flour!
Ooohhhh gotta try the Krusteaz mixes
the lekue steamer, seems like an awesome product to try
I would love to try the Krusteaz mixes!
Sounds amazing! really want to try the almond flour!
Love the giveaway! I’d try the Krusteaz brand!
Lekue microwave steamer!
The lekue steamer looks perfect for my lifestyle.
I love Tofu Shirataki! <3 Would love to get my hand on some Krusteaz mixes!
I would love to try the Krusteaz mixes…they look so yummy!! Thank you for this opportunity to try new items! 🙂
Oh my gosh, awesome list of sponsors! Who could resist trying leslie stowe’s raincoast crisps? AND I’m forever trying to save for a KitchenAid mixer, but who isn’t? lol Thanks for sharing your swag!! 🙂
I want to try the Krusteaz cornbread! Also, I’m all about the kitchen gadgets.
I’d like to try the Krusteaz different mixes.