This gluten-free lasagna appeals to everyone. All photography by Claire Freierman.
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KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE.
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April 2008
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Food Matters Gluten-Free Lasagna
Pasta & Other Healthy, Prepared Food Products
CAPSULE REPORT: Food Matters addresses a niche market: individuals with food allergies who want access to fine prepared foods. All products are gluten free, and there are options that are casein free and vegetarian. We tried the lasagna and meatballs, and without labels would not have known we were eating “special diet” food. The products can be shipped throughout the U.S. and arrive frozen. They’re delicious, and anyone would welcome them as a gift.
A growing number of Americans suffer from food allergies, food sensitivities and autoimmune diseases, such as Celiac Disease. Food Matters was formed to tap into this niche market, launching with a line of frozen entrées. The line includes Lasagna, Meatballs and Chicken Parmesan, and soon will offer Sesame Chicken and Pad Thai. Based on our trial of just the lasagna and meatballs, if you require gluten-free foods, or have guests who do, you can’t do better than to lay in a stock of these. The company’s mission is to create delicious, convenient, allergy-friendly meals that can be enjoyed by everyone. The recipes are developed with healthy ingredients, organic when possible, and sold in ready-to-eat meal portions.
Products
The founder of Food Matters, Vanessa Tayler Phillips, hails from a family of restaurateurs. When diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she set out to provide a solution to other fine food enthusiasts. She has taken the advice of good chefs: Use the best-quality ingredients in simple recipes that are well-seasoned. We tasted two products from the line, and her gluten-free lasagna and meatballs could pass for good Italian food anywhere.
- Gluten-Free Lasagna With Meat & Vegetables (photo above). Rice pasta lasagna (made from gluten-free brown rice) is used to make the noodles. The pasta looks and tastes like regular lasagna noodles—it’s just a bit softer than the al dente one can get from durum wheat. The lasagna noodles are layered with zucchini, eggplant, ground pork, ricotta and mozzarella—a traditional recipe in a tasty tomato sauce.
- Gluten-Free Meatballs (photo at right). Lots of delicious ground beef is bound together with a bit of potato flour. It’s in the same tasty tomato sauce as the lasagna.
Our dinner was so good that we can say without reservation: If one member of the party has a gluten allergy, the rest won’t mind eating these gluten-free dinners. In fact, they’ll probably ask for seconds! |
Meaty and gluten free. |
People with interest in casein-free, corn-free, soy-free and peanut-free meals are invited to contact the company.
FOOD MATTERS
Gluten-Free Frozen Entrées
- Gluten-Free Lasagna
With Meat & Vegetables
or Vegetables Only
Serves 4
$24
- Gluten-Free & Casein-
Free Lasagna
With Meat & Vegetables
Serves 4
$25
- Gluten-Free Meat Balls
Six Pieces
$18
Purchase online* at FoodMatters-Online.com
*Prices and product availability are verified at publication but are subject to change. Shipping is additional. These items are offered by a third party and THE NIBBLE has no relationship with them. This link to purchase is provided as a reader convenience. |
Top: Gluten-Free Meatballs. Bottom: Individual Lasagna.
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Lifestyle
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