Gluten Free Products

Once in a while something random, something very removed from your normal life comes along, takes you out of your normal everyday experience and knocks your socks off. Such was the case when a PR agency contacted me having found my blog to invite me to an event on behalf of one of their clients. Interesting, I thought. How random (but very cool) cyberspace is that they found me. When they sent through the details and I found out that not only it was Afternoon Tea at Claridges hotel (one of my favourite London hotels) and that it was organised by none other than Genius Bread. Well, I was beyond excited!

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne is a trained chef, cookery book author and mother of 3 children, 2 of whom have food allergies.

All photos copyright David Munns photography

She explained the driver behind her search to develop a bread was her gluten intolerant son for whom she wanted to make a ‘normal’ gluten free loaf. One which her son could take to school in sandwiches and be just like his friends.

With advance notice, Claridges are able to serve gluten free afternoon tea as part of their regular afternoon tea service. Prepare yourselves for some seriously, deliciously knock out gluten free eye candy, people!

Here’s a photo before the Afternoon tea was served:

The selection included the following sandwiches all on Genius gluten free bread:
– Smoked salmon with horseradish and dill
– Egg and cress
– Organic chicken with lemon remoulade

The delicious sweet treats included:
– Freshly baked raisin and apple scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry preserve
– Raspberry and rosewater macaroon (which a fellow table mate dubbed “dessert burgers”!!)
– Chocolate Ondulay cake (one serious chocolate overload)

Oh yes. It’s gluten free SCONES!

More gorgeous sweet treats:

What I really enjoyed (apart from the utterly delicious food) was meeting the team behind Genius who were energetic, enthusiastic and motivated people who were passionate about their brand. They were keen to seek feedback on existing products and future product lines. A fellow GF blogger and I offered some suggestions of things we really missed eating and we’d love Genius to produce. These included a seeded brown loaf, the Claridges/Genius scones and quiche. Yum…gluten free quiche, now wouldn’t that be nice?! The Genius team explained their philosophy in developing products was based around “yummy and hooray”. The “yummy” test involved asking if the product was as delicious and good as its gluten containing counterpart and “hooray” because it’s gluten free.

It was a complete pleasure to attend the Genius gluten free Afternoon Tea at Claridges. Based on the passion and positive energy in the room, Genius are surely a brand going places. They have plans to expand both their product lines and also into mainland Europe and the US. Great news for anyone with a gluten intolerance, and not just those based in the UK.

Next blog post: The Genius Goody Bag!

A Very Genius Gluten Free Afternoon Tea at Claridges

GF Bread Part 1: Genius Bread