A Wicked (good) Gluten Free Conference
While you may have experiences at times (insert on planes, near new york pizza shops, at weddings) when being gluten-free feels like a wickedly cruel curse, the Wicked (in a good way) Gluten Free expo is creating space where you’ll not only feel welcomed, but spoiled by the congregation of so many 100% gluten-free brands. Popping up in cities across the northeast, Isaac and I decided to check out the expo when it made its stop in the Philadelphia area. Hosted by “Wicked Gluten Free,” the founder, a gluten-free mom from Connecticut who is making it her mission to provide an online resource and in-person experience for those living a gluten-free lifestyle to connect with helpful resources and delicious products. Visit their website below for product and dining guides and other resources expanding each day with the mission to connect the gluten-free community.
With over a 100 vendors at the West Chester Expo Center, we had a great time exploring and discovering some new and some familiar gluten free brands! We were most excited about Queen St Bakery’s Bagels- my favorite was the cinnamon raisin; we are hoping to soon start stocking their bagels at our cafe! With both local and national brands, the most common product we spotted were gluten free pizza crusts,, along with a plethora gf bakeries!
The Wicked Gluten Free Expo also takes place in Boston and Connecticut- in fact, Boston’s event is coming up later this month! With long lines all day, the fairly new conference is only building momentum, their organizer sharing that they hope to see even more vendors at the next Philly event in May. Keep an eye out for at least one new brand- Tucker and Co will be setting up with our line of gluten free granola!
Our friend Natalie, founder of Honey Bear Ice Cream was at the expo in her scooping trailer, serving up 100% gluten/dairy- free, vegan ice cream; on their homemade gluten free waffle cones! If you haven’t gotten to sample one of their tantalizingly chunk-filled scoops of ice cream, you can grab a pint at the bakery cafe freezer where we keep a rotation of flavors in stock! Honey Bear is a harrisburg based ice cream company, made in small batches with the best, most simple ingredients- always prioritizing creaminess, with the goal of creating a vegan GF ice cream that holds up in a head-to-head with other national dairy ice cream brands.
After sampling our way through the Wicked Gluten Free Convention, we stopped at Tai Me Up in Phoenixville to enjoy some delicious Thai food. Our last stop was 260 Bridge Cafe where I got a hot herbal tea for the rainy car ride home. While discovering new nourishing gluten free brands is reason enough to attend, it’s also empowering to connect with and be surrounded by others in the gluten free community who understand what it’s like to seek delicious gluten free products that are safe and healthy for our body.