A few weeks ago I was invited to dine with a few of my fellow bloggers and a charming representative from Rudis Gluten-Free Bakery at Las Margeritas on West 4th. I haven’t been there in ages, so how could I say no. Plus, my mom has found herself to be gluten intolerant so the two of us have been exploring the options and alternatives when it comes to trying to lessen the amount of gluten that we find in our daily diet.
Rudi’s Organic – formerly Rudi’s Bakery – first opened its doors in 1976 in Boulder, Colorado. Named after Swami Rudrananda, a spiritual leader of an ashram in New York who was instrumental in bringing Eastern culture and spiritual traditions to many Americans, Rudi’s soon gained a reputation for nutritious, flavourful, preservative-free breads, rolls and buns. I will admit to not being familiar with the brand but was happy to check out the products from a company with such a nice ‘crunchy’ background.
According to the information, all their breads are certified Gluten-Free and carry the recognizable Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO) GF Symbol for the U.S. and Canada.
Our dinner at Las Margeritas included Burritos made with Rudis Gluten-Free Tortillas. I can’t say I noticed any difference there between gluten and non. It was a delicious meal. The Tortillas are as soft and pliable as their gluten counterparts and work best as wraps after re-heating gently in the microwave or on a flat grill. I had no problem with them and my daughter was happy to use one as a sandwich wrap for lunch.
I just picked up a loaf of their Gluten Free Multi-Grain bread and it is delicious. Most Gluten-Free breads tend to not act like regular bread and are very crumbly. I find the texture to usually resemble banana loaf instead. Rudis has done an amazing job with this bread. I lightly toasted mine for a sandwich and it was delicious. Tara ate her sandwich untoasted and preferred it to the regular sour-dough that she also had on the plate.
So really the only drawback with these gluten free products is that it is best to keep them in the freezer.
Although Rudi’s gluten-free products are not certified organic, they do contain entirely natural ingredients. There are no artificial chemicals or preservatives in the breads and all of the ingredients in our gluten-free breads are non-GMO.
I picked up mine at Safeway and they are available at the likes of Whole Food and many other stores.
Their site has coupons for their products and I would love to hear from folks who have sampled a bit more gluten-free products than I have. It is an area I am just exploring as I am getting more and more concerned about the ingredients in our foods. Try to avoid:
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Preservatives
- Genetically Modified Organisms
- Emulsifiers
- Trans fats
Gluten-Free might not be the way to go for all of us, but eating healthier sure is and being aware of how our food is made and what is in it makes us better consumers. Tell brands what you want from them when it comes to quality and integrity.
Thanks Rudis for introducing me to your tasty products. My mom sure appreciates it.
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