Tri-State answers gluten-free call

Gluten-Free Chicken Enchilada Soup

The Tri-State Food Expo wasn't supposed to be a research opportunity for this blog. It just turned out that way. 

Held last week at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, the event was intended to highlight emerging trends, the latest innovations and new products within the food industry. I was happy (but not so surprised) to learn that "gluten-free" is one of the biggest trends in the grocery and food service industries. 

I WAS pleasantly surprised to see my new friends from Schar at the expo. (We had met early last month at the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo). They were launching a new line of frozen products that include bagels and pizza.

The generous pizza sample was just really good. I will be purchasing it in the near future.

The Schar folks, who operate facilities in Lynhurst and Swedesboro, also were informing visitors about their new training program. Tested in Chicago, it was recently unveiled in the great Garden State via a restaurant in Clifton. The program aims to educate kitchen staffs about how to provide gluten-free foods and avoid cross-contamination.

 

Also at the expo were the lovely ladies of Sugar & Spice Market. 

Operated by three sisters, including two based in Jersey, the company offers a variety of flours, mixes and meal solutions. In addition to being gluten-free, these products also are mostly void of common allergies, including dairy. 

The brownie sample I was offered was moist and delicious. 

The market is open online, as well as in specialty grocers located in Little Silver, Fairfield and Wayne.

Also showing their stuff was Kettle Cuisine, which makes a variety of gluten-free soups. I've had some varieties in the past, but the taste of chicken enchilada soup was my first. It was creamy, full of flavor and pushed the limit of spiciness for my temperature-sensitive mouth without going too far.

Other gluten-free vendors at the Expo were Cherrybrook Kitchen, makers of cake and cookie mixes; and Happy Family, the company with age-appropriate fruit and vegetable pouches that are designed for babies through big kids, as well as items for grownups.

My daughter loved the sweet potato blend I brought home from last month's expo. Alas, there were no samples this time.

All photos by Gluten Free Garden State