California Gluten Free Gourmet Gift Baskets
Food is almost always a welcome treat, especially for those who are gluten sensitive. Imagine receiving a cheerful basket, cleverly wrapped and filled with delicious cooking items or snacks. This is a great gift without a doubt. Now imagine that all these foods are suitable for a gluten-free diet! This can be a great gift for any occasion. There are many food companies that are now making delicious, high-quality gluten-free foods; gourmet, so to speak. You just have to know where to look.
The idea of sending a gift basket full of cooking items is the best! High-quality olive oil is a good starting point. In many parts of California, olive trees thrive and there are many small artisan food companies that make superior quality olive oils. An abundance of exceptional olive oils are produced in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. For example, Homestead Olive Ranch in Templeton makes delicious Mission Olives olive oil. Carriage Vineyards in Paso Robles produces excellent olive oil from the Arbequina olives. These can be purchased shortly after being pressed, so they have a high concentration of the nutritional characteristics you want from olive oil. Try this in your next salad dressing!
California is the second largest rice producing state in the nation, and there are some great rice products from ‘The Golden State’. For example, you will find several wonderful rice mixes from Lundberg Farms in Northern California. El Cerrito’s Lotus Foods also has many outstanding rices, although many of theirs are imported heirloom varieties such as China imported Forbidden Rice. From Lundberg and other companies there are also many rice pasta; Another staple for any gluten-free pantry.
If you like olives, try some of the fabulous tapenades available. There are the traditional olive tapenades made with capers, garlic and sometimes anchovies, and others that are made with a variety of vegetables such as artichokes, aubergines, red peppers and carrots. Hand to Mouth Edibles is a Los Angeles company that makes delicious tapenades. Try their Provencal olive green. It is made with green olives, extra virgin olive oil, red peppers, capers, Italian parsley, carrots, garlic, basil, lemon juice, Provencal herbs, red pepper; all gluten free. Tapenades are a delicious snack when spread on gluten-free biscuits or bread. They are also a great addition to many recipes and add great flavor when mixed with rice, quinoa, or pasta.
Of course, you can find many delicious gluten-free snacks. Lundberg Rice Chips are a more flavorful snack and can be dipped in any tapenade or fabulous sauces. San Diego Whale Tail Tortilla Chips are delicious chips made with organic, non-GMO corn. From Sun Flour Baking Company in the capital city of Sacramento, you’ll find great gluten-free cookies in a multitude of tantalizing flavors. CJ Olson’s Cherries in Sunnyvale has a variety of high-quality dried fruits and nuts, as well as their tempting chocolate covered apricots and cherries.
These are just a few ideas for superior ‘gourmet’ foods that would make a wonderful gluten-free gift basket. Food is always a welcome treat. Gluten-free gift baskets make a great gift for anyone who enjoys delicious gourmet meals and is trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.