I’ve been really honoured to participate for the last 4 or 5 years as a judge in the Free From Food Awards, the UK’s awards celebrating the best of free from products. You can read my write up from last year’s awards here.
Each year I discover new-to-me products. What I like about this are that these new products are not just from the large retailers, but also from the small producers who are passionate about supplying fantastic quality (free from) products to this rapidly expanding food sector. It also gives me the opportunity to catch up with a growing group of friends I’ve met over the years as part of the free from community. This night is always a real highlight of my year and something I look forward to enormously.
For a full list of winners and runner’s up in each category, please click here.
A couple of photos from the awards party buffet featuring the winner’s products (aka the free from buffet of dreams) with my top picks from the winners in 2016.
– Tesco garlic baguette – Hard to tell this was gluten free, the baguette was so crusty. Even harder to think of this without thinking of the Peter Kay sketch. (Gluten and Dairy free) Garlic? Bread? It’s the future.
– Oast to Host Quongo (quiche on the go) utterly delicious quiche from this small Kent producer.
– Hotch Potch pies – Loved this pie from another smaller producer based in Dorset. I’m off to Dorset very soon so will try and track one down.
– White Rabbit Pizza – the one that keeps getting away. Not only had this pizza run out by the time I got to the winner’s buffet, each time I’m in Planet Organic (stockists of this pizza) there’s always some reason why I can’t buy it. Being the pizza fiend I am, I need to rectify this pronto.
– Nutribix – this breakfast cereal which is the gluten free version of Weetabix was the big winner of the night. Nutribix is made from 96% sourghum, an ancient grain. I haven’t tried this but I will be soon. I’m not keen on eating cereal with milk (lucky, really, in the scheme of things!) so will be trying this with natural yoghurt. On the evening so many people raved about just how great this is, I really need to try.
Image thanks to Nutribix website
– Borough 22 Doughnuts – Special mention to Ryan who managed to keep smiling despite his doughnuts being pipped to the top spot in not just one, but two categories. although highly commended is still a fantastic achievement in these awards.
And, finally, a selfie. This has become something of a tradition for this gang of free from bloggers. It’s blurry, yes, but look at those happy faces. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the great gluten free beers in the bar on the night….
Are there new to you products in this list? What do you think of the winners? Any surprises?
Great round-up – and very nice to catch up with you on the night! I think you may find the Nutribix too dry with yogurt – it really does ‘take’ a LOT of milk. I had it this morning with Oatly and needed a substantial amount. Not sure what to suggest if you’re not a milk drinker …. Maybe lots of wet fruit in the mix with the yogurt?
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Thanks, Alex. It’s such a fun night & always lovely to see you. Thanks for the info on Nutribix. I’ve ordered some in this weekend’s delivery so I shall report back! (I’m ok with milk in tea and coffee, just not cereal).
I was really excited to try the Nutribix too, but echo the comments above – it takes a huge amount of liquid! It’s tasty but sadly I found myself hungry again not long after. Still looking for the holy grail gluten free breakfast that fills me up yet isn’t hugely unhealthy!
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Thanks, good info on the Nutribix. I also struggle with gluten (and nut) free breakfasts, especially as I eat my breakfast at work. I have a Pod next to my office which does gluten free porridge or tasty gluten free yoghurt and chocolate granola (depending on how healthy I want to be!). But it’s weekends I struggle with. I often have toast but don’t find that keeps me going to lunchtime either. I have the Nutribix in the cupboard, I’ll report back when I’ve tried it!