International Food Bloggers Conference 2014 Giveaway

 

2014 IFBC

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!

Aneto Personalized Apron from IFBC 2014

Aneto Personalized Apron from IFBC 2014

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.

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference Bordeaux Wine Tasting

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference Bordeaux Wine Tasting

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.

Bigelow Tea at International Food Bloggers Conference 2014

Bigelow Tea at International Food Bloggers Conference 2014

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.

Tulalip Resort Casino at International Food Bloggers Conference 2014

Tulalip Resort Casino at International Food Bloggers Conference 2014

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.

Crisp Cooking Kitchen Tools

Crisp Cooking Kitchen Tools

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).

Krusteaz Gluten Free Baking Mixes

Krusteaz Gluten Free Baking Mixes

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.

Tofu Shirataki Noodles

Tofu Shirataki Noodles

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!

International Food Bloggers Conference 2014 My Swag

International Food Bloggers Conference 2014 My Swag

And here’s the picture of what all I’m giving away to YOU my loyal readers!

International Food Bloggers Conference 2014 Giveaway

International Food Bloggers Conference 2014 Giveaway

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Comments: 71

  1. Sarah September 23, 2014 at 10:08 pm Reply

    It sounds like fun! Makes me reconsider careers. 🙂

  2. Amy Acree September 23, 2014 at 10:13 pm Reply

    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!

  3. Reese K September 23, 2014 at 10:16 pm Reply

    I am intrigued with the Lekue microwave steamer. I haven’t seen this kind of tool yet.

  4. Melissa September 23, 2014 at 10:18 pm Reply

    So many goodies love new kitchen tools so many to choose from awesome giveaway

  5. Christy Smith September 23, 2014 at 10:21 pm Reply

    You are amazing! Such awesome prizes you are giving away! My daughter would love them!

  6. Jo Bishop September 23, 2014 at 10:37 pm Reply

    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 !

  7. Amy September 23, 2014 at 10:37 pm Reply

    I love soy vey but I’ve never had anything like chocoperfection and it sound super yummy

  8. Todd Bliss September 23, 2014 at 10:47 pm Reply

    You are one awesome lady
    I hope to see you in Utah next month

  9. Nancy Doyens September 24, 2014 at 12:24 am Reply

    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!

  10. Cassi September 24, 2014 at 3:05 am Reply

    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!

  11. Margaret Clegg September 24, 2014 at 3:34 am Reply

    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)

  12. Amanda K September 24, 2014 at 3:36 am Reply

    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!

  13. Sheila September 24, 2014 at 3:39 am Reply

    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.

  14. Kate September 24, 2014 at 3:42 am Reply

    I would love to find a cheaper gluten free baking mix.

  15. Mollie September 24, 2014 at 5:35 am Reply

    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.

  16. Merissa September 24, 2014 at 5:48 am Reply

    I’d love to try more products from Sahale Snacks — I absolutely love their Cashews with Pomegranate + Vanilla mix!

  17. Jessica September 24, 2014 at 6:07 am Reply

    Would love to try Krusteaz products. I’ve never heard of them

  18. Alexis L September 24, 2014 at 11:11 am Reply

    One of the Krusteaz mixes! I used to use them before I went GF.

  19. Audrey Dix September 24, 2014 at 1:32 pm Reply

    You mean I have to choose just one thing I’d be excited about?? I would have to pick the tofu shirataki noodles!

  20. Merissa A September 24, 2014 at 2:36 pm Reply

    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!

  21. Holly @ My Plant-Based Family September 24, 2014 at 4:02 pm Reply

    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!

  22. Susan Martin September 24, 2014 at 4:03 pm Reply

    Sur La Table of course!

  23. cat September 24, 2014 at 5:30 pm Reply

    Wow! I’d like to try the Krusteaz mixes.

  24. Wendy September 24, 2014 at 5:54 pm Reply

    Everything looks so good! Would love to try some!

  25. Margaret Herron September 24, 2014 at 6:36 pm Reply

    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.

  26. Nadine L. September 24, 2014 at 9:34 pm Reply

    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…

  27. Eli Glu September 25, 2014 at 6:53 am Reply

    This is the best looking swag giveaway so far.
    Thanks Erica for all your amazing work!

  28. j September 25, 2014 at 5:14 pm Reply

    The krusteaz gluten free line would be great to try

  29. Vicki W. September 26, 2014 at 6:17 am Reply

    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!!

  30. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine September 26, 2014 at 6:28 am Reply

    Manitoba Harvest!

  31. Paige c September 26, 2014 at 8:54 am Reply

    I want to try the crisp food gadgets! I love kitchen tools

  32. Jeff Sonnenburg September 26, 2014 at 9:11 am Reply

    Great post and thanks for sharing it! See you at the Food-Allergy Bloggers Conference in Vegas this weekend!

    Jeff Sonnenburg, Affinity

  33. EVA September 26, 2014 at 11:15 am Reply

    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!

  34. Holly E September 26, 2014 at 11:57 am Reply

    I am interested in trying the tofu shirataki.

  35. Nicole September 26, 2014 at 8:39 pm Reply

    From the IFBC’s list of sponsors I would like to try the Food Should Taste Good the most.

  36. Karol September 26, 2014 at 9:57 pm Reply

    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.

  37. Marita Lynn Gaines September 27, 2014 at 11:10 am Reply

    I definitely want to try the Krusteaz Gluten Free Baking Mixes!

  38. Plumeria Yap September 27, 2014 at 12:35 pm Reply

    Would love to see how the Krusteaz product line can be incorporated into my baking recipes.

  39. Scott B. September 28, 2014 at 2:55 pm Reply

    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.

  40. April K September 29, 2014 at 1:33 pm Reply

    i would love to try it all, but right now that King Arthur Almond Flour is looking good.

  41. Tami October 6, 2014 at 8:05 am Reply

    You do some cool ish Erica!!!!

  42. Lori Williams October 6, 2014 at 8:06 am Reply

    I LOVE almond flour, so I am very excited to try King Arthur’s Almond Flour! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!

  43. Stephanie October 6, 2014 at 8:07 am Reply

    All of it looks delicious!

  44. Cathy Brereton October 6, 2014 at 8:10 am Reply

    I love the shirataki noodles. Would love to try some new products.

  45. Ellen October 6, 2014 at 8:10 am Reply

    I’m looking forward to the Krusteaz Gluten Free Baking Mix. I remember their products from before my diagnosis, and always loved them.

  46. Paula Trotter October 6, 2014 at 12:29 pm Reply

    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.

  47. Michelle October 6, 2014 at 9:02 pm Reply

    I would love to try the Krusteaz. I loved their stuff pre-Celiac.

  48. Amanda M October 7, 2014 at 3:32 am Reply

    Any of those Krusteaz brand GF items! Always looking for something else that is awesome 😀

  49. Michaella B October 7, 2014 at 7:46 am Reply

    Crisp! I could totally use new kitchen tools lol

  50. Tifany October 7, 2014 at 7:51 am Reply

    The kitchen tools look pretty cool. I’m pretty bad at cutting and peeling, so anything to help meal prep is fantastic.

  51. Toni October 7, 2014 at 11:57 am Reply

    I would like to try out the Krusteaz, and that yellow apron would look awesome in my yellow kitchen. : )

  52. CJ October 7, 2014 at 1:07 pm Reply

    Rather hard to choose. It’s an all-way tie between FSTG, Q’ia, and er, everything.

  53. Cecelia October 7, 2014 at 3:05 pm Reply

    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!

  54. Michelle October 8, 2014 at 3:29 am Reply

    I would look forward to the Krusteaz products and the Tofu Shirataki. I’m slow to try some new things, these look interesting.

  55. Speechercize and Gluten Free October 8, 2014 at 10:46 am Reply

    I have been hearing a lot about the Krusteaz mixes, but haven’t seen them yet.

  56. SASHA October 8, 2014 at 11:06 pm Reply

    I would love to try the microwave steamer!

  57. Celia Villa October 9, 2014 at 2:37 am Reply

    I’m interested in Crisp; I love a new tool!

  58. Diana October 9, 2014 at 8:06 am Reply

    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?!

  59. Patricia October 9, 2014 at 8:35 am Reply

    I would like to try the King Arthur almond flour!

  60. Lindsey Rivir October 9, 2014 at 8:45 am Reply

    Ooohhhh gotta try the Krusteaz mixes

  61. iae hulthage October 9, 2014 at 1:24 pm Reply

    the lekue steamer, seems like an awesome product to try

  62. Sonya October 9, 2014 at 3:22 pm Reply

    I would love to try the Krusteaz mixes!

  63. Meghan October 9, 2014 at 5:47 pm Reply

    Sounds amazing! really want to try the almond flour!

  64. Hilaree October 9, 2014 at 7:40 pm Reply

    Love the giveaway! I’d try the Krusteaz brand!

  65. pat pelland October 9, 2014 at 9:03 pm Reply

    Lekue microwave steamer!

  66. melinda S. October 11, 2014 at 12:08 pm Reply

    The lekue steamer looks perfect for my lifestyle.

  67. Beth October 13, 2014 at 6:36 am Reply

    I love Tofu Shirataki! <3 Would love to get my hand on some Krusteaz mixes!

  68. Jessi S October 13, 2014 at 6:46 am Reply

    I would love to try the Krusteaz mixes…they look so yummy!! Thank you for this opportunity to try new items! 🙂

  69. Marilyn :-) October 13, 2014 at 11:27 am Reply

    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!! 🙂

  70. Katie Parks October 13, 2014 at 12:14 pm Reply

    I want to try the Krusteaz cornbread! Also, I’m all about the kitchen gadgets.

  71. Lea October 13, 2014 at 1:37 pm Reply

    I’d like to try the Krusteaz different mixes.

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