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Perkier Porridge

8 Mar

I was recently offered the chance to sample the newly launched porridge from fabulous London based gluten free company Perkier Foods.  However, I’ve never been a porridge fan and so coeliac friend David Johnstone stepped up to review these for me.  Thanks very much David, over to you:

Perkier Foods and their Oat Free Porridge launch

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Carly Talbot, David Johnstone and Kevin Gollop – Perkier Tweeps!

I first stumbled (quite literally) across the Perkier pair, Ann and Steve, at the London Allergy & Free From Show last summer.  Wondering aimlessly along the aisles, in awe of all the Free From foods available.  I hadn’t really noticed their funky bright display; until Steve noticed my Coeliac UK sticker I was wearing and promptly beckoned me over with their tray of tasters as bait.

Thank god they did.  I was instantly amazed by the quality of the Brownies.  A little off subject side story… Way back, when myself and the GEW (Gluten Eating Wife) were first going out, pre Coeliac Disease.  We were at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed and stopped for a drink and snack from this posh mobile Coffee WW2 Army catering van.  We bought the most wonderful Brownie and from that day on, we have never been able to better it.  That had become the yardstick that every Brownie we’ve eaten since, had to measure up too.  Nothing came close until that moment and Perkier’s Brownie’s surpassed it… and this from a Gluten Free product. Wow!

But I digress… It was obvious from the very start that Perkier are a Premium brand, built around taste and quality.  Not just a poor over priced imitation of a Gluten-full product, that had come to disillusion me as a newly diagnosis Coeliac.  I have followed, purchased and enjoyed their wares ever since.

Its with great satisfaction that the Brand is becoming more successful.  You can easily see on social media that their kitchen – the “Yummery” – is producing ever more products, filling the selves in Whole Foods Market across the country, plus still selling and posting direct.  So its only natural evolution that their products will start being made outside, to meet higher demands.  First of their range to do this, is a Selection of their Gluten Free Porridges.

I have purchased their Porridges before.  Either from various fairs of sent direct from The Yummery.  All of which has been hand made/blended by the Perksters.  I seem to react to Oats and have really missed my porridge, so have tried the Millet variety from Holland and Barrett.  I wasn’t impressed, it took forever too soften the grains and remove the sweaty fifty pence flavour to make it palatable.  Not a problem with any of the Perkier Oat Free range.  Their mix of Millet and Buckwheat (obviously of a higher quality that the other I’ve tried) only needs 2 minutes in the Microwave, tastes smooth and rich.

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Not only this, but they come in range of amazing indulgent flavours. Fruity Berry; Gingerbread (with real Perkier made Gingerbread pieces) and Apple, Cinnamon & Raisin.  Making a Gluten and Oat Free breakfast a real treat.  I have always thoroughly enjoyed all of these.  A real Premium treat and a true Free From breakfast, makes you feel special about being a Coeliac.

Ginger is one of the flavours I crave the most since being Gluten Free.  The Gingerbread porridge is fantastic, the Gingerbread pieces often do not make it into the breakfast and I’m longing for a Perkier Gingerbread Man.  But surprisingly my favourite porridge has become the Apple, Cinnamon and Raisin.  Love the light spiciness to it and the juicy Apple pieces in the hot porridge.  Luckily for me, this is the only Oat Free porridge that has gone into mass production and launched nationwide in the new packaging.  And more good news, as the other two Oat Free flavours will still be made in the Yummery for direct sales.

Now the concern always is… that when a food product, delightfully hand made in a “cottage style” Yummery industry like these porridges, goes on to a larger scale production through a separate partner… Will it be different, will it change from the product I’ve come to love and enjoy?  The truth always is, that unfortunately it always does as it has to!  But the proof is in the pudding or breakfast so to speak…  so is it going to be as good???

It was very exciting to receive the parcel containing the new Perkier porridge.  First impressions see the new p was good.  Have kept the bright distant colours that separate the brand, its really going to stand out on the shelves.  Has Perkier’s mission statement, the packaging and labelling text speaks to you directly as all good Lifestyle brands should!  Everything’s there to fill you with confidence about the product, including the Crossed Grain symbol loud and proud.  Rather than hidden away around the back.  I particularly like the fact the serving measurements had changed from weight to spoonfuls, instantly calming and humanising the experience.

Perkier_insidebox Perkier_packaging

I made a serving it as per the box instructions; 4 heaped spoonfuls and 160ml of milk or water (I choose 50/50 water & semi skimmed milk mix, but that’s just me!).  Really wanted to see how this new batch was going to compare to how I fondly remembered the original. First impressions good came out of the microwave creamy and smooth.  Leaving to cool for 1-minute porridge steadily continued to thicken.  Perfect, I have always liked my Porridge to be served thick and smooth.  Then lightly sprinkle a small amount of sugar onto the top, allowing to melt into the porridge.  Then pour cold fresh milk around the edge, allowing it to pool at the sides.  Only then do I mix it all together and indulge in the warm porridge treat.  It tastes great, thank goodness.

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In truth, this new production version of the Perkier Oat Free Porridge is a little different to the original Yummery version.  I think there is a bit more Cinnamon than before and the Apple pieces are a tad smaller but still as plentiful.  But in no way does it suffer or distract from the taste, I still very much enjoyed breakfast.  The porridge is still smooth and nowhere was there any trace of coin flavour.

At £3.99 RRP for 10 good servings, its a Premium product and priced reasonably as such.  But of course as with all Perkier’s wares, they are worth it.  Its not an over priced gap fill item capitalising on the Free From market.  I can’t wait to see it in my local Supermarket and hopefully further Oat Free options soon.

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Let Them Eat Cake

15 Jan

Back in November I was having a little grumble about Terry’s Chocolate Orange, and it’s lack of suitability for coeliacs.  I received a comment on the blog post from Lisa Hackett of Let Them Eat Cake suggesting that she could offer me a chocolate orange fix in the form of her Jaffa Slice.  In December I popped down to the Christmas food fair at Royal William Yard to meet Lisa and try her products for myself.  I found out Lisa is gluten free herself due to suffering from Crohn’s disease.  Lisa sent me her story of why she started Let Them Eat Cake, I really enjoyed reading it and she was kind enough to let me share it with you:

LTEC-Lisa

“After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease I had to undergo a period of trial and error to establish what triggers my symptoms. As I have had to cut many foods out of my diet that I had previously considered to be daily staples I wasn’t really left with much to enjoy. For months I had a very plain and dull diet. Then I started researching Crohn’s and Coeliac websites for dietary help,  I experimented with the few food stuffs I had left to enjoy and after a lot of trial and error I found ways of increasing my choice of foods. I could now eat cakes, bread, pastry and even Yorkshire puddings. Wow.  What I didn’t expect was the reaction from friends and family who also sampled these items and wanted more. Had I cracked the ultimate dream, to make gluten free products that the whole family can enjoy? I had been really upset on my birthday to receive my dried out, tasteless, shop bought ‘special’ cake whilst the rest of my friends enjoyed the selection of luscious ‘normal’ cakes that they had baked for themselves and that I couldn’t share. I realised then the isolation of my illness. It only got worse when we tried to go out for a meal, even my friends got to the point of thinking I was just being fussy. One waiter even jumped back in shock when I said I suffer from Crohn’s Disease, I think he thought it was contagious! I decided if I was feeling isolated and alone by my illness then others must be in the same boat, especially as many of the ‘free from’ foods really aren’t that great and the local people that do make gluten free products do it in a kitchen where they use wheat flour the rest of the time so the cross contamination risk is high. I therefore felt it was time to create a dedicated gluten free kitchen.

I did my first market in late October 2012, only supplying cakes, the feedback was so spectacular I was blown away by the response to my cakes. It became apparent that many people need to have both gluten and dairy free diet. As none of my cakes at that time had fat in them they where by default dairy free too. I now have introduced items such as Bakewell slice that has the traditional pastry bottom, but as I now have found a good quality dairy replacement these too are both gluten and dairy free. The cakes are made to my secret recipes that I have worked out for myself. Many of them are made using vegetable such as Beetroot, Aubergine, Squash, Carrot and even potatoes. The natural sweetness in the vegetables means that I do not need to load the cakes with sugar, some of them are totally sugar free. Some are made with honey, I keep my own bees so can use my honey from my garden to sweeten my cakes. I live in the Tamar valley so the fruit and vegetables that I use are local and organic, we even have locally grown Peaches. With the exception of my Christmas lines my cakes are great for those watching the weight, my cakes range between 90 and 180 calories per generous portion (Cornish Housewife Portions!) tee hee hee 🙂 Whilst i have been out selling my cakes it became crystal clear that there is also a need for savoury items so I have now introduced savouries into the range. In the New Year I will also be bringing Scones, Cookies and Biscuits into the range. I am also developing a Catering Service, doing Gluten and Dairy Free buffets for Weddings, Christenings, Parties.”

LTEC-Pasty

So gluten free, dairy free cake that’s low in calorie, could this really taste good?  I tasted some samples of cake at the food fair and the answer was yes!  The vegetable content of the cake not only makes them low calorie, but extremely moist and flavourful.  I purchased a pasty (of course!), the previously mentioned Jaffa Slice and a Bakewell Slice to take home.

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The Jaffa Slice was a delicious, moist orange cake topped with chocolate, which I demolished so fast I forgot to photograph.  I can see why this is so popular with Lisa’s customers.  The Bakewell Slice was equally as moist and I really enjoyed this too.  Of course I’m always on the hunt for a gluten free pasty and this one had a tasty filling and the pastry stood up well after the pasty was warmed up.  Overall I was very impressed with the products.

The range of cakes includes Peach, Poppy Seed and Sweet Potato Muffin, Lemon and Blueberry Muffin, Lemon Drizzle Cake, Chocolate Brownie Chocolate Torte, Apple Blondie and Fresh Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondie and many more.  The savoury range includes Hand Raised Pork Pies, Bacon and Egg Pie, savoury muffins and a range of quiches (note the quiches are not dairy free).

You can find Let Them Eat Cake’s products at Jeniffer’s Deli in Fore Street Saltash or at the following markets:

  • Liskeard Market, every second Saturday 9am to 3pm. This is an outdoor market situated on The Parade right outside the old Webbs Hotel building, it can be cancelled in severe weather conditions. Market currently not running until March
  • Crocodon Market St Mellion, every third Saturday, 9am to 3pm, next one is 19th January. This is held in a barn so we are in the dry even if it is pouring down outside (wear stout boots as it can get a little muddy in the car park) I have to date sold out at each market here so come early to avoid disappointment.
  • Royal William Yard – first Sunday of the month from March through to December. Next market is Sunday March 2nd

Note the full range of products are not stocked at every market, so if there was something in particular you want it’s best to contact Lisa in advance and she can ensure she has it for you.  You can contact Lisa on 07508360035, via email at fairies@talktalk.net or at the Let Them Eat Cake Facebook page.  Lisa is on the lookout for more stockists so contact her if you are interested, and I’ll definitely be stopping by to stock up on some Jaffa Slice if she can find a stockist in Plymouth.

LTEC-PlymGreengrocerLTEC-PorkPieLTEC-Quiche

Update 08/09/13: Let Them Eat Cake products are now available at the following locations:

River Cottage Canteen and Deli
Langage Farm Shop – Plympton
Food For Thought – Totnes
The West Country Deli – Brixham
Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

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Traditional Puddings from Tavistock

11 Dec

UPDATE 22/09/2014: Sad to report that Traditional Puddings has now ceased trading. Thanks to Tina for all her hard work and great puddings over the last couple of years, these puddings will be sorely missed. Another reminder that we really need to support our small local businesses else we will lose them.

Hi folks and apologies for the lack of posts on Gluten Free by the Sea in the last few weeks.  It’s been a very busy time for me personally, busy at work after the company I work for was sold and some disasters around the house to name but a few things.  A day off from work today has given me a chance to catch up on some blogging (after a second exploding radiator/flood in seven days this morning!).

I recently received an email from Tina Hurford who runs a small company called Traditional Puddings.  They are based out of Tavistock Pannier Market and offer a range of hand made luxury puddings.  Whilst the core range of products contains gluten, Tradtional Puddings make gluten free puddings to order.  Tina has a coeliac mother and daughter so an experienced gluten free baker, well versed in dealing with cross contamination.

Tina very kindly offered to send me one of her puddings to sample, and let me choose from the options on her website.  There is an amazing sounding list of flavours to choose from: Ultimate Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce, Vanilla Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce, Chocolate Pudding with Chocolate Sauce, Zingy Lemon Pudding, Sticky Stem Ginger with Ginger Sauce, Coffee and Walnut Pudding With Dark Chocolate Sauce or Almond Pudding With Cherry Brandy Sauce.

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I choose the Vanilla Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce and was really excited to try it.  When it arrived the package contained two very ample puddings, and a generous serving of butterscotch sauce.  I removed the lid and popped the foil tray in the oven for 10 minutes as per the instructions.  It came out of the oven smelling delicious and I have to say I was really impressed.  The sponge pudding was extremely light, I could really taste the vanilla and the butterscotch sauce was really tasty.  The puddings are big enough that the package states serves 2-4, but if someone wanted to pinch half of one of mine they’d have to fight me for it!

To be honest, this kind of pudding is right up my street.  A warm pudding in a toffee or butterscotch sauce would definitely be something I would have chosen in my pre-coeliac days.  In gluten free terms I’ve not really come across anything like this before, bar a couple of (bad) supermarket offerings.  Currently the packaging is labelled “no gluten containing ingredients”, but Tina is currently going through testing so she can start officially labelling the products gluten free (UPDATE: Testing successful and gluten free status has been granted).  She hopes to expand to other stockists when this is confirmed, and I hope a Plymouth based one can be found.  In the mean time, if you get chance to pick up a pudding at Tavistock Pannier Market I can highly recommend it, and Tina will do local deliveries within a reasonable distance too.  You can contact Tina at traditionalpuddings@hotmail.co.uk for more info.

Puddings cost £4.25 for two, but taking into account the size and quality I would say it’s definitely worth that cost as a treat.  It’s good to see another local producer doing good things in the gluten free world.

Update: 22/02/2012: Good news for those of you gluten free and living in Plymouth, Traditional Puddings are now stocked by Plymouth Greengrocer.  I tried the lemon pudding last week and it was delicious too, looking forward to working my way through the rest of the flavours now they are more readily available to me!

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

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