Shops & Cafés

Why all the gluten-free…?
Amanda Pitt, BFC Retail Manager

To coincide with nationwide events in May relating to allergies and food intolerances, we’ve organised a series of tasting sessions, meet-the-producers and other events to showcase our wide range of gluten and wheat free products.

It’s been fascinating sourcing more and more goods which are gluten-free, whilst sticking as hard as we can to our organic credentials. We’ve even found a skincare range (see below). It just goes to show that these days you really don’t have to miss out on your favourite foods if you have to (or choose to) follow specific diets.

One of the most exciting things for me is how our staff have taken to these new products – we now have a great knowledge base among them – we love our ‘red dot’ system which helps customers identify relevant products.

This month, in our Gluten Free Special, we’ve got our first ‘contributed feature’ from our old friends and local heroes Pukka, as well as reviews and recommendations of some of our favourite gluten-free products.

Beautiful inside and out
From Pukka’s Liam Tullberg

Aloe vera is an incredible plant, used for centuries to maintain a healthy digestive system, support reproductive health and enhance beauty. We’ve sourced the highest quality organic aloe vera grown in pristine environments and harvested in peak condition to give you an incredible, natural juice. Its cold processed and unfiltered to maximise potency, and is high in active ingredients and healthy polysaccharides with a guaranteed minimum of 1000mg of polysaccharides per litre. Our aloe vera juice is made from the inner leaf gel, not the outer rind, so it’s deliciously mild and mellow and free from synthetic preservatives. We use hand selected leaves from mature plants from a certified organic source to bring you the best of nature.

We hope you enjoy it!

Sophyto skincare range

Sophyto skincare rangeNew, innovative and award-winning. Sophyto have produced the first professional skincare range to be certified gluten-free. Rich in plant botanicals, it’s also certified organic and vegan. Sophyto is a great choice for the ethically conscious as well and has particularly effective anti-aging properties. Available in both stores, and with us in St Werburghs on Friday 1st May (see tasting calendar).

Nairns

Oats in their pure form actually don’t contain gluten, but something similar called avenins. The problem is that oats are rarely available in their pure form. Oats become easily contaminated by the widely grown wheat, rye and barley and for this reason only certified gluten-free oats should be included in a coeliac diet. Having said that, it is still recommended that coeliacs avoid all oats for the first six months following diagnosis, and then begin by re-introducing them slowly.

We stock gluten free plain and cheese oatcakes and gluten free porridge oats.

Genius bread

Genius Bread was set up in 2009 by chef and food writer Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne (pictured). When two of her three children developed serious gluten intolerances, she was determined they wouldn’t miss out on the simple pleasures in life. ‘I wanted Robin, my son, to be able to enjoy ‘soldiers’ with his egg just like any other little boy’ she says. It took nearly three years to get the recipe right. ‘My children would come home from school to find 14 different loaves of bread waiting for them to try. I even broke my oven. But finally I got there’, she continues.

What a relief that now you can just nip along to your favourite local store and buy a loaf of bread.

Clive’s Pies

Clive began making his pies back in the day from a domestic kitchen in Dartmoor and since his retirement, the empire has expanded and the legendary pies have continued to grow in success. Now Clive’s (the company) is over 20 years old and the home of organic ‘free-from’ foods. They hand make pies, cakes, dips and ready meals using fresh and organic ingredients, and are one of our favourite suppliers. See Jim’s recommendation below. They supply us with a wide range of gluten free goodies: almond bliss (pictured) and choca mocha cake, pasties and pies, dips, stews and tagines.

Better Foodies recommend…

Jim, Whiteladies Road store supervisor, loves
Clive’s pies
Clive’s gluten free pies have a delicious, crumbly pastry loaded with tasty vegetables, pulses, herbs and spices – all organic. Good cold for a quick lunch or picnic … even better served hot with mashed potato for dinner …

They’re the match of any wheaten pie.

Local coeliac sisters Maddie and Alex Stanley recommend:
Raw Health Raw-tilla Chip Dippers Nacho Style
These raw, vegan, organic and gluten-free delights are stuffed full of healthy ingredients and have a lovely lemony bite and a hint of spice. It’s hard to believe such a great-tasting cracker can be created primarily from almonds and linseeds, and without the use of wheat or dairy products. They are not thin and crunchy as regular corn tortillas might be, but have a substantial biscuity texture and are pleasantly chewy. Their tangy cheesy flavour would go well with a tomato salsa dip or guacamole, but we eat them on their own and they’re incredibly satisfying.

It’s products like these dippers that make it much easier to be coeliac in 2012, rather than say 10 years ago, with all the many new tasty items on offer.

Susie King, BFC Finance Co-ordinator recommends:
Doves Farm gluten-free flour range
Doves Farm flour was a saving grace when my son was diagnosed with coeliac disease 6 years ago. I use it just as you would a normal wheat flour, in cakes, biscuits and béchamel sauces and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Doves Farm print some great recipes on the back of their packets and their website is a great resource too.

Being coeliac has never been so easy!

Olivia Desborough, BFC Marketing Assistant
Nature’s Path Crispy Rice cereal
These are the bees’ knees when I’m in need of a little comfort, and they should never be restricted solely to breakfast time. I love their simplicity. They’re tasty with a satisfying crunch and particularly good with oat milk. The only problem is just how moreish they are. Luckily they’re on offer at the moment – 2 boxes for £5 which simply means that I can justify eating more.

A perfect excuse.

In-store events for National Coeliac Awareness Month

Special event in-store

Wednesday 16th May, 6pm, St Werburghs Cafe
The natural treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and food intolerances
With Dr Jens Rohrbeck

We’re delighted to welcome Dr Jens Rohrbeck, who looks at why we develop allergies and what we can do to heal the gut. Dr Rohrbeck is based at the Helios Medical Centre in Stoke Bishop, where he combiens general practice with integrative medicine using complex homeopathy, herbal remedies and nutrition interventions. A weel-known figure in the field of intestinal health and Ecological medicine, he focusses on toxins, allergy, nutrition and environmental factors.

Gluten-free tastings in-store throughout May

Our programme of in-store tastings to introduce you to some of our wonderful suppliers continues…

Inspiral, Saturday 5th May
Gourmet raw food specialists introduce you to their wild and wonderful range of superfoods.
St Werburghs only

Pukka, Saturday 12th May
Local Ayurvedic herb heroes hail the benefits of aloe vera juice as well as a digestive aid, perfect for coeliacs.
Both stores

Naked Kitchen, Saturday 19th or Saturday 26th May (to be confirmed…)
Falafel gurus will be in-store sampling their Bristol-made falafel. They’re not organic but made so locally we couldn’t refuse. These are no ordinary falafel… come and sample the wild and wonderfully flavoured treats on offer.
Both stores

Sophyto Skincare, Friday 1st June
The world’s first professional skincare range to achieve gluten-free status. Award-winning and innovative. Because you might not have thought of that one. Products available in both stores
St Werburghs only

Isabels Free From, Saturday 30th June
Being gluten-free can be convenient as well as tasty. Foods with an irresistible gluten-like texture and free from all the nasties.
Both stores – to be confirmed…

SAMPLES ON OFFER … while stocks last
Including Nairns gluten-free oat cakes and biscuits, Raw Health, Clive’s Pies, Doves Farm, Aromafoods bhajis, Kallo, Amisa and more…