Gluten Free Christmas ~ Gifts For All

It's Christmas week, or so the calendar and insane amount of Christmas sales splattered on every media outlet are proclaiming. Being in California, it's tough to gauge what month we're in since temperatures still climb into the balmy 60's each afternoon and no rain has fallen or is in the forecast...quite different from snowy Christmases past. But I'm not complaining.

As the old saying goes..."better late than never," which is also the motto I've adopted for this holiday blog post. I know there are many of you out there still caught up in the last minute rush of Christmas gift shopping, and if there's a Celiac on your list or a gluten-intolerant elf or two, this helpful list is for you...and them!

Cosmetics/Products ~

Every woman (or man) can appreciate finding gluten-free cosmetics and products that are "safe" and free of any kind of gluten/wheat bi-products. Recently I began researching many products that I previously thought were safe and free of all gluten, only to find out through more research that it wasn't the case. Visit this list and research what you are using on face and body to put yourself and skin at ease. After years of trying product after product that wouldn't cause a skin rash and just plain worked, here's a few of my favorites that are really great:

Erbe Dermacosmetica

This wonderful company is from Italy and has created the most nourishing and awesome products. The fact that I'm sharing their name and website is quite the Christmas miracle, as I swore to keep this one to myself! The Chamomile line is totally GF, along with their essential oils, cleaners and body washes. The product line is tough to find. The easiest way to order is through their website and if you have any questions about gluten in any products, pick up the phone and call them in New York City. Their customer service is wonderful and they'll thoroughly review any product with you.

Sundari

If you are looking for really nourishing and balancing essential oils for the face, then look no further. I've been using their chamomile eye oil and essential oil for dry skin for years. They come in a prefect travel size bottle, as well. Once you try these oils, you'll never be without.


Gluten Free Savonnerie

This little mid-west company is a true find with consistent, healing products. Gluten Free Savonnerie carries a really pure and wonderful line of the perfect stocking stuffers. From GF soaps to lip balm to the absolute best GF lotion I've found, and that's saying a lot! They are reasonably priced and a great company to boot.

Goodies for the Tummy ~

Oh boy, where to start? This is a very condensed list of some fun treats and places to find those treats that will make any GF boy or girl very happy this holiday season.

Pure Pantry

I have to admit that I literally was just introduced to this fantastic on-line company this week by a friend's mother. The site offers a wide range of GF products, cookbooks, educational information and wholesale pricing.

Kara's Cupcakes ~

Who says that Santa only gets cookies and milk? If I were Santa, I can promise you that I'd want one of Kara's Cupcakes waiting for me on the hearth with a nice glass of almond milk! I ate my first GF cupcake from Kara's this past weekend. It was literally five minutes in Heaven as I politely devoured a sweet vanilla, coconut cake. Wow. Find a location near you. They would make a wonderful Christmas dessert or breakfast...or a snack. Kara's has seven location throughout the greater Sand Francisco Bay Area.

Tieton Cider Works

Never mind that my fabulous Aunt and her amazingly talented farmer husband founded this hard cider company, the fact is, their cider is just damn good! Fresh from their beautiful orchards in the Yakima Valley of eastern Washington, Tieton Cider Works produces some of the most organic and delicious apples and pears in the Pacific Northwest. All naturally gluten-free, TCW offers seven wonderful varieties to choose from and it's not too late to sign up your loved one(s) for their Tieton Cider Works Cider Club.




Shibumi Knoll Vineyards Shibumi Knoll Vineyards is the dream-come-to-reality of my "second father," who envisioned his passion for years then made it his reality. Perched atop a gorgeous knoll in the heart of St. Helena, CA, Shibumi is a site to behold...and their award-winning Chardonnay that's featured at The French Laundry is one you won't forget. Shibumi Knoll produces very good to outstanding wines, all at a fair price, with Don's vision of bringing the grace that is Shibumi into your life...and every glass of his wine.



There are two protein/snack bars that I can't live without; Think Thin Crunchy Peanut Butter (thanks Mom!) and Kind Bars; Cranberry is the bomb. They make perfect stocking gifts and both come in a variety of flavors and to crunch, or not to crunch. Try them all!

Gift cards to your favorite grocery store are always a hit, especially given the increased costs of gluten-free foods. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods both carry a huge selection of GF foods, as well as offering handy gift cards you can load and share.

Beautiful Food to Read About ~

I still love the tangibility of holding onto a magazine and turning actual pages glittered with beautiful photos of tantalizing foods and great articles that cause you to pause, fold pages of favorite tips to revisit, and pile up on a night stand or coffee table. Here are a few favorites that make the best gifts during the holidays!

Sunset Magazine

Bon Appetit Magazine

Edible Magazine

Sun Valley Magazine

Gift of Apps ~

I'm one of those people who professed to never purchasing an iPad...ha. Well, five months later I'm hooked and believe that iPads are actually meant to be staples in one's kitchen. It's so much fun to cook interactively, watching videos, receiving virtual tips inside every recipe, and being inspired by amazing photographs. There are also some fairly good GF apps that make the life of a Celiac just a little bit easier and definitely more educated. Here's some fav's:

Jaime Oliver's app is gorgeous and awesome. Super interactive and includes a library so you can shelve your favorite recipes then when you purchase new ones they're automatically stored for you. Love Jaime!

Epicurious - Seriously, if you don't have this on your iPad ask Santa! It's so easy to use and the shopping list that melds all your chosen recipes into categories makes it a breeze when hitting just the right aisles at the store, not missing a beat or an item.

Food52 Their new holiday app is beautiful and deserves a large chunk of time spent perusing the recipes, photos and awesome tips for the home cook. I found this app via one of my favorite GF blogs, Gluten Free Girl and The Chef. To pull a well-written description of this app from her site..."This app not only contains recipes for the holidays like Le Bernadin’s Crispy-Skinned Fish, Kale with Pancetta, Cream, and Toasted Rosemary Walnuts, and Tipsy Maple Corn, but it also has a photographic guide to the most basic cooking techniques, baking 101, and prep for drinks. There’s also a holiday tip sheet for how to survive these crazy weeks. And, if I were more adventurous and had more time this year, I’d make the gingerbread house according to the specifications they provide."


Last but not least...I had to mention the new GOOP City app featuring NYC. Just came out this past week and though I don't live in NYC, nor maybe do you, this app put together by Gwyneth Platrow is loaded with really great finds, hot spots, delish eateries and shop-'til-you-drop ideas for your next long weekend on the Island.

Art/Jewelry ~


You can never go wrong at any time of the year giving art and jewelry to someone you love. Here are two recent finds that make giving both more affordable and realistic, as well as hip and stylish.

BSDA (Buy Some Damn Art): Funny, no? Buy Some Damn Art brings a hand-picked selection of some of the best independent art directly to buyers, arriving in their inboxes every week, with the intent to bridge the gap between prints and far-too-expensive originals for a new generation of art buyers.

Shibumi Gallery - Located in the art district of Berkeley, CA this lovely little industrial-style gallery sells some of the most intriguing and lovely pieces of jewelry I've seen. From affordable dangles to more complicated, expensive pieces, the variety of artists are as varied as the prices. If you can't get to Berkeley, give them a call or visit their site where you can view and shop from your laptop or iPad.



Perfect stocking stuffers ~
For Your Health ~

Finally, for that active, healthy, gluten-free gal in your life visit Women's Quest and check out the inspiring adventures for body, mind, and spirit they offer. They can accommodate gluten free guests and are understanding of all celiac dietary restrictions. Their trips look amazing and the company was developed and refined over 16years by world champion triathlete, Colleen Cannon.

Yoga Works has become a favorite place of mine to reunite with my body, mind and spirit after a long day at work. If you or those you are shopping for are living in California or New York then you're in luck. With beautiful studio locations located throughout both states the variety of classes offered, including mat and reformer Pilates make every workout challenging and new.

In reviewing this list it's clear there are some wonderful products and offerings however, I would be remiss if I didn't mention (from my heart) where the true meaning of Christmas and giving comes from for me. This Christmas season I'm counting my blessings and all of the abundance in my life that can't be bought in a store or wrapped and beautifully placed under the tree. I'm thankful for my faith and for that tiny baby boy that was born one cold night in Bethlehem long, long ago.

A very Merry Christmas to you all and a blessed New Year!

See you in 2012! Can't wait to see what the New Year will bring.

Napa Valley Road Trip ~

There's something special about the Napa Valley besides the obvious...VINO...it's the smell of the air, the earth, and the beauty that is present everywhere you look, which makes it a fabulous place to visit any time of the year.

One of my dearest friends from the Basque Country, Nere, was visiting here for a month and had never been to Napa, so recently we decided to jump in the car and make a day of it! Mind you, the predicted forecast for that day was in the high 80's, however, by mid-day it reached 107 degrees in St. Helena! We were sweltering and needed something cold to drink, of course, but first we stopped at the delightful and newer Historic Napa Mill and Napa River Inn - Napa's only Michelin starred luxury hotel. There some terrific history to this site in downtown Napa and it's all chronicled on their website.


There are four lovely restaurants in the Mill to choose from, so we decided on something more casual and "safe" for me, the Celiac, and dined at the The Napa General Store's cafe. The store is darling, filled with eclectic and Napa Valley-based products, and the cafe offers indoor or beautiful outdoor patio seating - but it was already 100 degrees at lunch time, so we opted for a table near the bar in the air-conditioned dining room.

The day we ate lunch there, one of the specials was Gazpacho soup, which I adore! After careful discussion with our waiter, I was assured that the soup was 100% gluten-free, and it was. Muy delicioso! In addition, I ordered the Greek Salad served with plain grilled chicken and all the traditional ingredients (romaine hearts, feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, Red onion), sans the garlic flat bread, and did very well. The waiter brought me a freshly mixed side of balsamic vinegar and oil and was very careful to ensure that my meal was completely safe and delicious - so I enjoyed.

As we made our way north on Hwy. 29 towards St. Helena, we decided to only taste at wineries that I had never visited before, and given this was my friend's first time in the Valley, we had quite a few wineries to choose from. Our first stop was the glamorous Opus One - just for a photo op. A single tasting is $30, so we decided to go elsewhere for a little more "bang for our buck"...so to speak. It's worth the visit though, and the architecture of the main building is quite something to see. I have drunk Opus One before, and it's a lovely Mondavi & Rothschild joint creation.

Next stop - Peju Province Winery for a tasting and to enjoy the beautiful grounds and Rutherford Estate Wine Tasting Room.



We tasted five of their most popular wines and then decided to purchase their Provence California Red & White Blend Table Wine which is served chilled and I have to say, has gone very well with spicier, BBQ'd dinners - I've really enjoyed this bottle.

Our next stop on the drinking tour...haha, was at V. Sattui Winery. Little did we know that the rest of the free world had also decided it would be a great place to pick up some lunch, do a little tasting at the massive bar, and sit outside for a picnic! The family-owned winery was established in 1885 and is quite an impressive stop on the tour. The grounds are well-designed and beautiful, and Nere and I thoroughly enjoyed the lively "bar" atmosphere and the "$5 for 5 wines" tasting. As we sipped our vino and enjoyed the people-watching, we discussed how the atmosphere was similar in a way to that of bar-hopping in San Sebastian, Spain and all the fun that goes along with "El Tapeo", or meandering from bar to bar in search of amazing Tapas(Pintxos).


V. Sattui also has an authentic, old-world style deli and it's loaded with goodies that any Celiac would enjoy; beautiful Italian and Spanish cheeses, fresh-cut salami, ham, turkey, you name it, along with some delicious and safe salads and plenty of chocolate that would pair so nicely with that bottle of wine. It's quite possible to simply bring your own gluten-free crackers and create a delicious meal to enjoy on the grounds of V. Sattui, without any worries about what you are eating.


Our next stop was to the quaint and posh town of St. Helena. I have some dear family friends who live there, growing and bottling their own grapes at Shibumi Knoll, as well as owning one of the most spectacular 360 degree views of the Valley - see for yourself.


The view and their wine are so spectacular that I had to take my friend by the Knoll for a visit where she fell in love with the views and the essence of Shibumi Knoll. I'm a bit biased, but I can tell you that their Chardonnay is simply fantastic and one-of-a-kind, with so much passion and heart put into every bottle.

As the evening was creeping up on us, we made one last stop at the famous Mondavi Winery. We missed the tasting by 30 minutes, but were able to tour the grounds and give my friend a little history about one of the most famous California wine makers. Honestly, I just love their location and how the Spanish-style architecture fits in so well with its surroundings.



Our final-final stop was at Dean & Deluca to pick up a few snacks for the road, and don't we just love that store! There are a lot of gluten-free items for sale and though we can't partake in the beautiful bakery selections, there is yummy Gelato that will do the trick when a sweet-tooth ensues.

By the way, October is a spectacular time to visit the Napa Valley and partake in not only the harvest, but the gorgeous fall colors that are appearing on a daily basis.



Viva la Vida ~