Hi all,
Hope everyone isn't as shocked as me that we're already over a week into November 🙃!
I don't have any major updates, but I did recently post about my experience at SunCafe Organic in Studio City. I can say with confidence that I will be returning to this quaint, comfy, vegan spot with lots of gluten free options.
Okay, let's get into it...
WHAT'S COOKING LOS ANGELES?!
Kirari West Bake Shop
The artisanal, gluten-free bakery in Redondo Beach opens up a sister shop right down the road!
The new shop, Confections by Kirari West, opened in June of this year and is dedicated to cookies, cookie sundaes, and coffee. The best part, it's only 300 feet away from the original shop - which is more of a traditional GF bakery offering sandwiches too. (Points for Redondo!)
The story of this small family-owned business is a lovely one, as the original Kirari debuted in Japan and was the only one using rice flour for pastries at the time. Another thing I love, they post their GF bread recipe online and there's a vegan version too! (*Note, both recipes still require buying their unique bread mix).
The trend of free-from bakeries is nothing new, and like Kirari West, most of them ship out their goodies if desired. Here's a list of GF and Vegan-Friendly bakeries in LA that Eater compiled. I'd get into micro-bakeries next, but there are too many to count. DM me if you're interested :)
What Else is Simmering...
(restaurant news)- "Follow Your Heart" has gone totally vegan. The formerly vegetarian market and café that's been around since the 70's has made the switch.
(food news)- The LA City Council recently voted unanimously to adopt its resolution in support of the global Plant Based Treaty initiative. The treaty aims to freeze expansion of animal agriculture, and promote a shift to plant-based diets.
(food news)- Whole Foods' Trends Council (yes, apparently there is a council...) has released its product predictions for 2023. At the top of the list: non-dairy pulp, kelp, alternative pasta, and avocado oil.
(product)- Do you miss Rice Krispies Treats? Well, fear not! Blake's Crispy Treats are primarily seed-based, meaning top-9 allergen free, and delicious! [ps: you can get them on Amazon]!
(guide)- The Starbucks holiday menu is back! Here's a quick-hitter including new additions as well as tips on how to request free-from adjustments [and dial-down the sugar content].
(online event)- Slow Food USA is hosting an online event tomorrow surrounding Abra Beren's new book GRIST. It will include a panel discussion and cooking demo on ways to save, cook, and eat grains, beans, seeds, and legumes.
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY EATING?!
Lab-Grown Meat: What the (not so distant) future of food could look like — nutrition.tufts.edu
Also referred to as cell-cultured or cultivated meat, lab-grown meat involves creating real meat products from the growth of cells (forming animal tissue) in bioreactors. The process bypasses the need for animal feeding, raising, and slaughter. As of today, cultivated meat is not sold in the US, but it could be approved in the coming months. Still, it's going to take the handful of venture backed companies some time to scale production in a profitable manner. As an FYI, other cultivated foods like seafood have also been on the rise, and the largest related associations recently formed a first-of-its-kind global alliance.
What Else is There to Digest...
(article)- HEADS UP: Thanks to a combination of inflation, supply-chain issues, and the avian flu, your Thanksgiving turkey may be more expensive and harder to get this year. [Chicken anyone? 😬]
(video event)- 100's of participants recently attended an online panel honoring Silent Spring [which just had its 60th anniversary]. The recording covers the current landscape of pesticide use in American agriculture and the hope for a pesticide-free future.
(article)- Did you know that other countries around the world have government policies protecting/assisting people with celiac disease? The UK for example provides patient prescriptions which include GF food mixes at heavily discounted prices.
(conference)- The UN Conference on Climate Change (COP27) is underway in Egypt and food and climate conversations are showing up in force. The link includes a list of major programming from orgs like Food Tank that you can register for and watch online for free.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
"Wrought" on Vimeo — vimeo.com
An entrancing, dazzling time-lapse shows how microbes spoil our food – and sometimes enrich it. Perhaps different, but visually spectacular, it's worth taking a peak into this close-up world... (minute 6:30-7:30 is one of my favorite sections).
(podcast)- Trader Joe's has it's own podcast where the hosts answer customers' questions and give you a little BTS action. For the TJ's fanatics out there, this is a treasure trove.
(article)- Anna Delvey (yes, the con-artist from THAT Netflix show) is launching a home-dinner party series while under house arrest. [I'm sure the guests will be "Very VIP"].
(article & images)- Farm to table is taken literally throughout this Washington state school district & it's beautiful to see.
(article)- NPR has released a "how to" piece on butter boards which means they've officially taken over the internet.
(article)- This chef in LA cooks up 2,500 healthy meals a day for Los Angeles residents with serious illnesses.
Closing Thoughts...
Given the many interpretations of s'mores I had to share a brand that I learned about recently, Stuffed Puffs. They sell marshmallows pre-stuffed with chocolate and other flavors... I know, it's a "why didn't I think of that!" moment. FYI, the ingredients seem to be GF but they're not a certified GF product.
As always, feel free to shoot me an email at thechoosyfoodiela@gmail.com or DM on Twitter. I'd love to hear your feedback on how I can improve this newsletter to better suit our free-from community.
I'll be in your inbox in a couple weeks!
Hugs,
Noam Leead
🙆🏻♀️ website: https://noamleead.carrd.co/
📖 book editor: Happier Being by Dr. Tal Leead
I can't wait to visit Kari West Bake Shop! Thanks for the recommendation.