Posted by glutenfr | Posted in Events, New products | Posted on 26-06-2012
Tags: gluten free expo, New products, Supermarket
Sydney’s annual foodie fest hit Darling Harbour this weekend and in proper form we munched our way though as many gluten-free biscuit and bread samples as possible.
We’ve never attended the Good Food and Wine show on behalf of our readers before – but this was the year that the Irresistable Gluten Free Expo merged with its larger cousin so we felt obliged to fork out a combined $83 for our tickets – which allowed two adults and one junior food sampler though the doors.
So how did it stack up against a dedicated gluten free show?
Well the first thing you notice is the absence of Coles banners. The supermarket has been a major sponsor of every other gluten free show we have attended – but this time it was Woolworths with its Macro branded gluten free goods that ruled the roost.
Woolies has built up an impressive range of gluten free foods – many of which they had on show (though frustratingly we couldn’t buy) – and we were thrilled to note that they have even cloned products like Cheezles and Twisties in gluten free form which could give our childrens’ parties substantially more ‘street cred’ in the future. Sadly though, neither of us lives very near a Woolies so it will have to be a special field trip for us to stock up on some of the more vital products in their range – like banana cake and crumpet mixes.
Eskal also had a large stand at the show with a number of interesting new products on display which we hope will make it into supermarkets soon.
Other than those, the gluten free section seemed more like a battle of the gluten free muesli mixes with none of the usual product diversity we’ve enjoyed from dedicated gluten free expos of days gone by. Many of the big name exhibitors like Orgran and Vitarium were missing from the show and a number of the delicious exhibitor products we discovered (like the delectable Brookfarm Muesli and bars) are not widely sold outside of health stores and some IGAs and Harris Farms (it is always worth asking your local store to stock favourite products if they don’t already).
Some of our readers who attended the Melbourne show really enjoyed the Macro demonstration area – but we didn’t get to spend much time there because the rest our kids were waiting for us outside with another family member. At $23 for a childs entry, we couldn’t bring the whole family to the show, and judging from the lack of children in the crowd we were not the only ones.
But perhaps it is just as well, given the beating heart of this show was obviously its cheese and wine areas (for those prepared to brave the crowds packed into some of those sections), with nary a gluten free cupcake in sight.
So I guess we’ll just have to wait until August for the Gluten Free Expo at Homebush to find out what is really going on out there in gluten free land.
And for those in other cities, here is a list of other upcoming shows.
Did you attend the Melbourne or Sydney shows – and if so, what did you think?
Lucy and Mandy
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I went to the Sydney show and wouldn’t go again.
For me it wasn’t worth the $30 entry price, but probably because I don’t eat gluten and I’m not into wine or alcohol in general.
I was really happy with the Macro section and I really liked the gluten free crumpets.
I love Brookfarm products, so was thrilled to be able to stock up.
Nothing beats the annual Gluten Free Expos in Homebush.
Here’s my review of the crumpet mix, would be great to hear from anybody else who has tried it…
http://glutenfreesugaraddict.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/if-you-cant-say-anything-nice-dont-review-macro-gluten-free-crumpet-mix/
Regards
Mikala
Thank you for the run down! I am really looking forward to the GF expo at Homebush, with my recently diagnosed 3 yr old daughter.
And I may be diagnosed with it by then too, though hoping not.
My daughter quite likes the cheezels and twisties! Not as much as the real ones, but I remind myself that that’s probably not actually a bad thing because then she doesn’t want to eat as many, and can eat more healthily.
Love the cred. they give at parties, like you said.
Am looking forward to buying ur lunchbox book too!! That’s by far the meal we find the hardest, even more so as she can’t eat egg. Look forward to reading and trying your ideas-thanks!
Sarah:)
Hi – we had trouble with egg too because our daycare would not allow it so we ended up making all our own bread etc! We’d love to know what you think of our lunch ideas – and how the recipes work out for you.