Bagels – Page 3 – The Celiathlete

March 16, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels – $7.25

You know, I’m already one of those “crazy bagelers” that your parents warned you about. I’m a girl who grew up in the capital of bagel country. New York. If you are from New York, you better know how to get your bagel on.

Bagels, while they get a bad rep, are one of my most favorite things in life. Mmmm…carby goodness for sure. They are filling, crunchy, chewy, and slathered with some sort of delicious schmear of goodness…making it both an epic morning breakfast and a treat.

And while the gluten-free market is becoming inundated with gluten free versions of bagels…none have really had that authenticity…that dense, chewy, but crispy on the outside authenticity of a true New York-Style bagel.

Until…Sweet Note Bakery…

Now, Sweet Note and I have a really fun history. It all began with a simple tweet. Yep. The Twitter is what brought them into my life. I had reviewed Canyon Bakehouse’s new bagels and Sweet Note chimed in with how if I liked Canyon Bakehouse…I’d love their stuff. So, I took the bait…went to their Web site…and found a plethora of gluten free and vegan bagel goodness. It took me awhile to talk myself into ordering anything…but when I did…it was the start of something good. Now, my freezer is never without some variety of Sweet Note Bagels.

And, with winter finally leaving and spring warming our hearts and bodies, Sweet Note decided to spread a little spring fever as well…with the introduction of not one (1) but FOUR (4) new bagel flavors.

I must have died and gone to gluten-free bagel heaven. The four flavors are Tomato Basil, Salt, Garlic, and Garlic & Herb. The last three are exclusively available ONLY online in their shop. When the release date for the bagels came…I immediately placed an order and got all four new flavors. When it comes to bagels, I don’t mess around. They arrived on Thursday of last week…so this week…I’m starting to try them out.

I asked my roommate what flavor she wanted to try first, and, without any hesitation, she said, “Garlic & Herb.” I had a feeling that would be the case, though. Anything with garlic makes her happy…throw in some herby goodness…and she’s in food heaven (or coma…depending…).

Yesterday was the big premier. After my 5:30 am spin class, I came home and pulled the Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels out of the freezer and pulled 2 from the packaging. I thawed them for a minute (I have discovered that if you do 30 seconds on one side, then flip it over and do 30 seconds on the other, you get the perfect thaw) in the microwave and sliced each one in half, placing it on a baking sheet and prepping it for some toasting while I took my shower. Into the preheated 350°F oven it went.

I showered, I dressed, I came out of the bathroom and noticed that the aroma in the apartment was crazy goodness. It was like I stepped into an Italian Trattoria or something. Roasted garlic and those powerful herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano…plus others) just invaded the apartment…and it was enough to set my mouth to watering. I couldn’t wait to get these out of the oven and tried them. If they tasted as good as they smelled…these could be dangerous indeed. A few more minutes (between 15-20 total) in the oven, and I pulled the bagels out, noting the light toast on the cut side and the golden color of the crust…a perfect bagel toasting if I did say so myself. Each half got a hearty schmear of Daiya Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Style Spread and…breakfast was served.

bagels2 — Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels with a schmear of Daiya Onion & Chive Cream Cheese Style Spread

I didn’t wait to even sit down before taking a bite of mine…

The Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels…are bagels at their finest. Rich with powerful flavors and packed with hearty and healthy herbs (that can come straight from an herb garden!), this bagel was one of the most delicious things I have put into my mouth. And, as a marathon runner, I eat a lot. HAHA! The garlic was a strong flavor, but it was tampered down and kept in balance by the earthy and robust flavors of the herbs that were incorporated into the batter. I loved the intense, but subtle flavors each bite brought. I love how Sweet Note Bakery makes their bagels in the proper New York-style. Not the size of a steering wheel, but smaller…denser…thicker…yummier. Hey…I know a good bagel when I bite into one. These toasted up to perfection. These tasted of perfection. The ladies (and gentleman) of the Sweet Note Bakery team hit this one out of the bagel ball park. MVB (Most Valuable Bagel)…right here. SO GOOD!

So…let’s discuss the ingredients that go into Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels. These bagels are made from LOVE (yep…that’s an ingredient!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, garlic, salt, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, basil and oregano. As always when it comes to Sweet Note’s bagels, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!!

As far as nutrition goes, I love how all four of the new flavors are under 300 calories per bagel. One full bagel (not half a bagel…but a full bagel) with under 300 calories. Yep…speaking my language. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels come with four (4) bagels per package. The serving size is one (1) bagel. This one bagel will deliver unto you 280 calories, 3.5 grams fat, .5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 60 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. POWERHOUSE of nutrition…especially for the endurance athlete. And the higher fiber and protein content will keep you fuller longer!

This flavor is only available in their ONLINE STORE!

I am so thankful for Sweet Note for bringing authentic bagels to the gluten-free world. No fillers…just real ingredients. That’s one reason their bagels are so amazing. Making them in the classic New York-style also helps. So, my dearest friends at Sweet Note…keep making these awesome breakfast goodies…keep exploring new flavors…and keep bringing only the best…because it is companies like you…and products like this…that make the this gluten-free girl rise and shine in the morning. Your Garlic & Herb Bagels are a ray of sunshine…schmeared with a healthy dose of awesomesauce!

January 19, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels – $7.25

It’s no secret. Not anymore. When it comes to gluten-free bagels, my mind has been blown by the amazing ladies (or the crazy bagel ladies, as they dub themselves), at Sweet Note Bakery, based out of Bensalem, Pa.

Seriously, I had loved Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels…and Canyon Bakehouse’s Gluten Free Bagels…and I had been less excited about other brands…but it was the pioneering spirit of the Sweet Note Bakery ladies that really got me to step outside of the commercially known product line and try something…different.

And after a little prodding on Twitter…I took the leap and ordered their standard bagel offerings (Plain, Sesame, Everything, and Cinnamon Raisin). I fell in love with the very first bite of the very first kind I tried. And my appreciation has only since grown. During the fall and winter, two seasonal flavors are introduced to the line-up…Pumpkin Spice and Snickerdoodle.

HELLO SNICKERDOODLE!

But…before I digress on how Sweet Note Bakery took my favorite cookie and turned it into my favorite breakfast (I’m a New Yorker…of course I love bagels!)..let me introduce you to Sweet Note Bakery…that is, if you don’t know anything about them.

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

This is truly a love story between me and these bagels. Every single flavor has been outstanding. No joke. You know, I’m very blunt about things I eat and if I don’t like them, you know it. There is nothing NOT to like about the bagels that Sweet Note Bakery puts out there. Fantastic quality…fantastic flavor. Never once have they let me down. And that’s why all other bagels stay in the freezer section now…and Sweet Note is the only one that actually makes the journey home to my own freezer.

So…Snickerdoodle Bagels.

Yes…they really are as epic as they sound. Yes…they really do taste like a snickerdoodle. YES…this is coming from a cookie monster who just happens to call the snickerdoodle her favorite cookie. Ever. In the history of cookies. Seriously.

This morning, I returned to my apartment after my 5:30 am spin class (yeah…you read that time right), ready to have something substantial for my post-workout breakfast. I pulled out a package of the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels and tore them open. I had been waiting a long time to try these. I pulled out two (1 for my roommate and 1 for me) and gave them the standard 1 minute defrost in the microwave before slicing each one in half and placing them on a baking sheet to toast up in the oven while I took a shower and got cleaned up for work. Don’t worry, the roomie was awake and in the vicinity of the kitchen, so I wasn’t leaving anything unattended. That’s a no-no. I love my home too much to burn it down. When I emerged…the apartment was smelling like…warm cinnamon and sugar. I might have said, “Mmmmmmm!” as I strode toward the kitchen to check on the bagels. Toasted to perfection. I removed them from the oven, I knew these would not disappoint me. They smelled like perfection. If perfection had an aroma…it would be warm cinnamon and sugar. For sure.

I went to get my vegan cream cheese out of the fridge, but, alas…I had used it up and failed to put it back on the grocery list. It was also 4 degrees out this morning, so I wasn’t going to just pop on down to the car (wet hair and all) to scoot down the street to my grocery store to pick some up. Instead…I used peanut butter. Delicious, amazing, delightfully yummy peanut butter. Natural. No added sugars, salts or any of that craziness. This required a good amount of stirring, but I got the peanut butter right to the creamy consistency that signifies a perfectly stirred peanut butter…and then…slathered a healthy schmear on each bagel half. I served my roommate hers, went to pour my coffee, then sat down on the couch with the morning news on and a delicious bagel on my plate.

THIS…my friends…is the perfect balance between sweet and savory. Perfect. I loved how the cinnamon sugar coating hits your tongue first, and then it melts into that classic, bready, bagel flavor. The peanut butter really tamped down on the sweetness, and really kicked up that savory level, making a perfect balance between both worlds. I am certain I would have loved this just as much with my usual schmear of vegan cream cheese, but the peanut butter was the perfect match, in my opinion. The bagel is all kinds of amazing. I love how the focus of the bagels by Sweet Note is not so much as the “bigger is better” but the quality and taste. In fact, they take it back to the classic New York-style bagel…smaller, denser, and perfect. PERFECT. Every single flavor has been perfect. When toasted, the outside gets that perfect golden crust and the inside remains chewy. It’s dense, and flavorful, and just…awesome. It’s awesome. There. And the snickerdoodle flavoring kicks this bagel up to iconic status. It’s the Freddie Mercury of bagels. They will rock you. They are the champions. You’ll want them all. Yep. Freddie Mercury of bagels.

What I love about Sweet Note Bagels is there is nothing artificial in their recipes. In fact, the Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels are made from LOVE (yes…that is a true ingredient and one that is in every variety of their bagels), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. All of this…makes one hell of a bagel. Because…hello…SNICKERDOODLE = BEST THING EVER!

Let’s discuss nutrition now, shall we? A serving of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels is 1 bagel (128 grams) and there are 4 servings per package. One bagel will provide you with 310 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium, 65 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 14 grams sugars, and 3 grams of protein. These bagels are a bit higher in sugar due to their snickerdoodliness. But that’s okay. They are filling and amazing and one of the best bagels ever created. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, peanut-free, tree nut-free, kosher and non-GMO.

Snickerdoodle Bagels are real and they are taking on the classic snickerdoodle cookie for sure. I can’t thank Sweet Note Bakery enough for their innovative thinking and coming up with a merger of the best cookie ever with the best bagel ever. If you can’t find the Sweet Note Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagel in stores…order those puppies on line. They will rock your world. But act now…as they are only available for a limited time.

I also encourage you to order from their regular menu as well…get a taste for their amazing New York-style bagels and fall in love like I did. But first…order the Snickerdoodle.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels with a schmear of Peanut Butter — Sweet Note Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Bagels with a schmear of Organic Peanut Butter

October 19, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels – $7.25+

As much as I want for the weather to stay warm and mild…it’s already cold outside. The nip of fall is in the air, and while I do love this time of year, there is one thing even more important that I can count on around this time:

PUMPKIN SPICE…EVERYTHING!

And while this is a lot easier to come by when you don’t live in a bubble (aka: food allergies), it’s little things like non-dairy pumpkin spice flavoring in coffee…and my homemade (because no one else has made it yet) vegan pumpkin ice cream. And it’s Sweet Note Bagel Girls getting me all kinds of “OH HELL YES” with the return of their Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels.

Seriously, these ladies are my new BFFs. OR…as they say on their Twitter account, GFFs (Gluten Free Friends). If they ever want to sponsor an athlete to endorse their stuff, I am their girl. Because when it comes to things that runners (and New Yorkers, mind you) love…it’s BAGELS! Especially this native New Yorker who just happens to be…a runner. And while the gluten-free market has a good number of companies that have gluten-free bagels out…none have tasted like the actual real thing…until Sweet Note Bakery found me and enticed me to give them a try.

They totally peaked my curiosity. So, without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections. Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety. I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they offered at that time. To be clear, they normally have five (5) standards: Plain, Everything, Sesame, Poppy, and Cinnamon Raisin…and they add limited time goodies like Snickerdoodle (didn’t get to try that one, so I hope it makes a return appearance this holiday season), Chocolate Swirl, and yes…Pumpkin Spice.

Now, let me be the first to admit…I am a pumpkin spice junkie…fanatic…enthusiast. I love all things pumpkin. So, when I discovered that they were bringing back Pumpkin Spice for a limited time to their bagel line-up…I treated myself to a birthday present and purchased a package of them. I was out of town a lot, so I’m just now getting to devour…I mean…taste them. But with things finally settling into a rhythm…I pulled these bad-boy bagels out of my freezer this morning to have for breakfast.

I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave. You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods. Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden. Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast. I will note, the Pumpkin Spice are special because you actually see flecks of orange pumpkin in the halved bagel itself. Love that. Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. They smelled amazing as they toasted away, getting to that perfect level of golden on top. Out they came, cooling for a moment…then I topped off one half with vegan cream cheese and the other half with organic pumpkin butter. I passed one plate off to my roommate and, after pouring myself a cup of coffee, I settled in to my own.

Forget pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin spice waffles and pumpkin spice oatmeal…or whatever might be out on the non-gluten-free market…that we don’t have. We have one better. We have The Great Pumpkin of all things pumpkin spice: Sweet Note Bakery’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels. OH YEAH! Real…REAL New York-style bagels here…made from real ingredients and not all that processed…stuff. These bagels have to be filled with hocus-pocus, because they are, perhaps, one of the best things I have ever had for breakfast. The bagel itself is full of pumpkin flavor. No skimping there. And that’s important, when you bill yourself as a “pumpkin spice”…whatever. So often, that flavor goes missing…but not here. It is spooky how much flavor is packed into these dense, little bagels. The crust of the bagel was toasted and crisp…the inside…chewy and just…filled with pumpkin goodness. I was blown away. And, even as I told myself to savor each bite, I think I hoovered the bagel like it was candy. I’m thinking another order is happening in the very, very near future.

So, let’s get down and talk about some of what goes into making the Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels. These bagels are made from Love (yes…an actual ingredient!), Water, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Sweet White Rice Flour, Sorghum Flour, Sugar, Cane Syrup, Pumpkin, Carrots, Molasses, Yeast, Xanthan Gum, Psyllium Husk, Salt, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger. Note…all recognizable and real ingredients. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, you’ll love these stats like I love pumpkin! A serving size is 1 bagel (128 grams). This serving will give you 260 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 10 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing how much more filling a food is when it’s made with real ingredients. These bagels will definitely get you through your morning!

What are gluten-free bagels made of? Pumpkin Spice and everything nice…if you’re talking about the return of Sweet Note’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel. And if you’re not, then you should be…so head over to their Web site and place an order. Don’t delay…these are only around for a limited time!

And…if you haven’t already, you might as well order some of their standards while you’re on their page. I promise you…you’ll fall in love with these bagels too.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel with a schmear of vegan cream cheese and organic pumpkin butter

September 1, 2015

Product Review – Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels – $7.25

There are few things in life as perfect as a bagel, right? All my New Yorkers, let me hear those cheers of agreement. They are crispy, and soft and chewy and…just amazing little morsels of bready goodness that actually due fill you up and keep that motor running all the way through lunch time. Bagels and I have been BFFs for years.

Well, we were breakfast besties until I was diagnosed with Celiac. Then the bagel and I had to break up. Yep…because I just couldn’t find a decent one out on the market. Which…sucks. Yep. Sucks. The closest I came to bagel perfection was Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels (now available in a variety of flavors) and also Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels (Plain & Everything), which were just released this past year. They weren’t perfect…but they were the best out there. Most of the other ones I tried were wrong in texture, taste, or everything. Katz Gluten Free offered some good ones…but again…not anything like the bagels I grew up consuming.

And then, one day, that all changed…

I had just posted on Twitter about trying the new Canyon Bakehouse bagels, when I was tweeted at by the PR person at this random gluten free bagel company, called Sweet Note Bakery. I was, naturally, intrigued. So…I did find myself scoping out their Web site and seeing all the amazing bagel flavors they have to offer. Their bagels not only looked amazing, but sounded amazing too. To top things off and really sweeten the deal for this former New Yorker and bagel-enthusiast, they were New York style! And yes…New York does have a style for bagels. Smaller and more dense. For such a big and bustling city, you wouldn’t think small and dense would sum up the bagel style. But it does…beautifully.

So, Sweet Note Bagels started in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

And, as you know, I have already sung the praises of the Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Chocolate Swirl and Poppy. Which means…Sesame was the last holdout. I’d been meaning to place an order with Sweet Note Bakery…but life’s been a bit hectic as of late. It kept slipping my mind, although in the mornings I’d be all “I wish I had bagels.” So, one would think I would take drastic action. But, alas…craziness.

But then I finally made the trip up to Columbus, Ohio, to visit my friend Jenn for a weekend. And, one of my favorite stops to make (and one reason I travel with a cooler) is at The Raisin Rack. It’s a great natural food store with a gluten-free section that blows my mind. And, as I was meandering down the aisle…what should I see in the freezer…but Sweet Note Bagels – Poppy and Sesame variety. The two that I hadn’t tried yet. It was an omen. It was a sign. Yes…both flavors were in my basket, in my shopping bag, in my cooler, and then in my freezer.

With Poppy long gone, and a hectic and even more stressful week this week than originally planned…the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels made their debut in my kitchen (and my belly) yesterday and were polished off today. Let me tell you…these were completely worth the wait. I pulled the sleeve of Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels out of the freezer yesterday morning, just as I was about to make them. Why? Because the bagel goddesses in charge of the Sweet Note Bagel Empire instruct per the packaging that you should not let these bagels thaw to room temperature…and instead, microwave them to perfect softness for about 60 seconds. Allow to cool (or don’t) and slice in half. Toast these bagel halves to perfection, either in a toaster, or, if you’re like me and don’t own a toaster, in the oven at 350°F for about…15-20 minutes. What emerges is sheer toasty bagel perfection, all golden brown and ready for their liberal schmear of the vegan cream cheese that is in my fridge. Time to dig in.

I love anything with sesame seeds on it, honestly, and these get a nice toasting, making the flavor really…pop. I was hooked at first bite, for real!! The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels are what sesame bagels are meant to be like. Perfectly coated, because bagel perfection is what Sweet Note Bakery is all about. They hit up the top with a nice layer…and speckle that bottom. No plain bottoms here. No way! Every bite gives you that sesame flavor that you love. The bagel itself…a nice crisp on the outside with that soft, chewy center. It’s amazing what a good bagel can do to start your day off right. And the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagel is not just a good way to start your day off on a sweet note (heh…see what I did there?), it’s a great way! This bagel is everything you love about that sesame flavor, without having to go to your favorite Asian bistro at 5 am. They aren’t open. But your freezer is open 24/7…365 days a year. So stock happy bagels in your happy freezer…whichever flavor makes you happiest. But trust me, a good sesame bagel…no…a great sesame bagel like the one from Sweet Note…is a happy place and a happy food. Even better, the inner bread, that soft, chewy part, is perfect. No holes or airpockets, like those you can find in the gluten-free bagels in the supermarket. You know what I’m talking about…so you don’t have that “I paid for holey products!” moment and feel like you wasted your money and you’re not getting your fill. Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels are, like all their bagels…love in a bag. Every flavor has now been consumed with eager anticipation and foodie amazement…and everyone has left me satisfied. Bagel perfection…in a gluten-free, New York-style way. It doesn’t get any better than this!

So…let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels are made with LOVE (and you can tell!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, sesame seeds, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. I also love that their ingredient list is all real food. No weird chemicals and preservatives. Just real…tasty…perfect ingredients.

And now…here is where we discuss the nutrition facts of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels. A serving size is 1 bagel (128 grams), and there are 4 bagels in a sleeve. This one bagel will dish up 310 calories, 5 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. Seriously…this is a great choice for breakfast as it does keep you energized and full throughout the entire morning. So much love. Oh yes…a sesame coated love-fest for sure.

And guess what? This is not where my Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagel journey comes to and end. Nope. For one thing…I intend to always have some of these delights in my freezer. I’d be missing out on life if I didn’t. BUT…more importantly…it is September and that means they have just released their limited time fall flavor…PUMPKIN SPICE!

And you know me…I love PUMPKIN EVERYTHING! As my birthday is in 19 days…I think I’m going to have to celebrate by ordering some of their Pumpkin Spice bagels. I mean, I’ve earned it, right?

If you are a bagel aficionado like me…and if you have to eat gluten free (or not…because you really won’t care. These are awesome and my gluten-loving roomie LOVES these!), hurry over to their Web site and place an order. OR…check your local natural food stores, as they might carry them. Me…I still have to do the online order…but they ship fast and get here in amazing condition. I am so glad that they pinged my tweet about my blog or I’d never know the goodness of a perfect gluten-free bagel.

Sweet Note…I am definitely a #CrazyBageler!! Proud flag waver and supporter of your crazy-good, crazy-tasty, crazy-flavorful, crazy-that-they-are-gluten-free New York Style Bagels!! Love is all I have, which works…because love is what you give us! Thank you!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels topped with a schmear of vegan cream cheese

August 17, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagels – $7.25

They’re back!! Not just bagels my friend. And not just those crazy poppy seeds that get everywhere, screw up drug tests (or so I’ve heard), and make everything taste amazing. Nope. I’m talking Sweet Note Bagels! If you missed out on my initial fawning over this brand of gluten-free bagel…then you’ve missed out. So it up and pay attention! And if you remember it all too well, welcome back…because they hit another one out of the endzone…or something!

You see, a long time ago in a Twitter-verse far, far away, I posted a blog regarding the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels that I had actually found in my area. Much praise and accolades were given. And then…a highly efficient PR person for another gluten-free bagel company replied to my tweet and told me that if I enjoyed Canyon Bakehouse…then I would love what they were serving up.

I was skeptical, naturally…but found myself clicking on the link to go to their Web site. And lo and behold…a virtual gluten-free bagel bakery awaited my every bagel desire. Well…maybe not every desire…but they had quite the variety. And what was even more important, especially to this former New Yorker and bagel-enthusiast, they were New York style! And yes…New York does have a style for bagels. Smaller and more dense. For such a big and bustling city, you wouldn’t think small and dense would sup up the bagel style. But it does…beautifully.

And, as you know, I have already sung the praises of the Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Swirl. Which means…Poppy and Sesame are all that remains. I’d been meaning to place an order with Sweet Note Bakery…but life’s been a bit hectic as of late. It kept slipping my mind, although in the mornings I’d be all “I wish I had bagels.” So, one would think I would take drastic action. But, alas…craziness.

And last Monday, I busted out the Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagels for breakfast. Per the instructions on the packaging, do not thaw these bagels on the counter. Just don’t. Obey the bagel goddesses who are in charge of these fantastic bagel-y treats. They say nuke each one for 60 seconds, until they are soft. Allow to cool slightly (or don’t)…and then slice in half. Toast…in a toaster or, if you’re like me and don’t own a toaster, in the oven at 350°F for about…10 minutes. This gave me time to toss them in the oven and then toss myself into the shower (Hey, Monday morning is spin class…and I had an office I didn’t want to offend with my workout funk!)…and upon my return, I pulled them out of the oven. And they were perfect. I mean…golden brown perfect. Each half got a liberal schmear of the vegan cream cheese that is in my fridge and then my roommate and I dug into the Poppy variety.

DUDE! YUM! The packaging says…“For flavor that POPS…” like Poppy Seeds…get it? HAHA! Well, the fact of the matter is, those little black seeds really are a powerhouse for flavor. And what’s more is that Sweet Note Bakery knows how to properly coat a bagel, prep a bagel, and put out a good quality bagel. Sure, some seeds fleck off, but that’s what happens. That’s life. You simply wet a fingertip and pluck them up, or turn your cream cheese side down and dab at them. It’s all good. The bagel itself…a nice crisp on the outside with that soft, chewy center. It’s amazing what a good bagel can do to start your day off right. And the Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagel is not a good bagel…it’s a damn good bagel. It’s a happy bagel. A poppin’ fresh bagel. It’s an everything is going to be okay bagel. The poppy seeds bring this nutty flavor and aroma to the toasted bagel. The bread itself is perfection…no airpockets of “WTF WHERE IS MY PRODUCT?” that can happen with gluten-free bread products. It’s…love in a bag. Every flavor I’ve tried has been outstanding. And this one just got added to the list.

So…let’s talk about what goes into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made from LOVE (Yes, that is on the ingredient list), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, poppy seeds, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. More of these! Like for life. Just keep them coming!

Now, let’s look at the nutritional information. A serving size is one (1) of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagels. This bagel will provide you with 310 calories, 5 grams of fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 520 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugars, and 5 grams of protein. Yes…these bagels are filling, and that’s what I love about them. With other gluten-free bagels on the market, I am full for an hour, then hungry again, despite being twice as big. Most others on the markets are made with fillers rather than real ingredeints, and that’ makes a difference by leaps and bounds.

Love. Love is their main ingredient. And love is what I give back. Sweet Note Bagels is doing the gluten-free community a lot of justice by putting out quality, delicious, amazing bagels. If these were served to anyone, no one would be able to tell that they are gluten-free. That is how outstanding these bagels are. With this package polished off, all that remains is the Sesame…before I need to restock. Maybe the Pumpkin Spice will be back by then…

Stay tuned!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Poppy Bagel topped off with a schmear of vegan cream cheese

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels – $8.50

I’ve been burned by gluten-free products in the past. You hear about them via the Internet and you either find them at your local store (grocery or natural food) and you take them home and try them out and you find out all the hype was just hype. It sucks. You’re out a good meal/snack and money.

So, imagine how it felt for me to pour some money into a company that found me via my Twitter feed, when I was talking about the new Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels (plain and everything). They reached out to me, and didn’t say they had a better product, just that if I enjoyed those, I’d love theirs. They did it twice…and with me…this shows persistence and a great belief in the product they have. I had already made my way over to their page upon the first contact and was intrigued by what I found. The second time, they had me convinced I just needed to pull the trigger and place an order.

And this is where my love affair with Sweet Note Bakery and their New York style gluten free bagels began…

No buyer’s remorse happened either after I checked out of their online store. A couple of days later, a box arrived bearing my bagels. I made room for them in my packed freezer until it was time to crack into them. So far, they have wowed me with the Plain, Everything, and Cinnamon Raisin varieties. These are all commonly found as flavored with other gluten-free bagels on the market…

But Sweet Note really knows how to sweeten the deal. And this chocoholic jumped at the chance to try their latest flavor…

Chocolate Swirl.

Chocolate for breakfast? Hell yes! In fact, I am no stranger to incorporating sweet chocolate into my breakfast. I’ve made chocolate gluten-free hot cereal. My mom grew up making chocolate chip pancakes for my friends and I. And sometimes, I throw chocolate chips into my overnight oats or my breakfast parfait. We all deserve a little something sweet sometimes.

Per instructions on the packaging, in order to get your bagels done right, do NOT ever let them thaw to room temperature. This goes against how I prepare anything gluten-free from my freezer, but there is a reason for this. So…do it. Pop these into your microwave for about 1 minute, until they are soft. Cool slightly, and then the slice and toast. If you’re like me and you don’t own a toaster, pop them in an oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. They come out perfect.

Let me tell you, this bagel has everything working for it. Everything. It satisfies your sweet tooth without taking it too far. I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate for breakfast? The best part is…the Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels keep the chocolate subtle so that it doesn’t become more of a doughnut or cake, than a bagel. It is smoothly swirled into the bagel, creating this gorgeous pattern when you slice into the breakfast treat itself. And, let me tell you, nothing makes your morning better than the aroma of chocolate as it toasts in the oven (or toaster if you have one…I don’t!). My mouth was watering as it was being thawed in the microwave for a minute. This is more than a bagel. This is everything you want in a breakfast – savory and sweet – crunchy and chewy. Amazing. Just all-around amazing.

Want to know what else is amazing? The old-school style that these gluten-free bagels are produced in. They hit that traditional New York Style, not only in size, but in texture too! And, yes, I am 100% certain these are gluten free!! You wouldn’t believe it to taste it for yourself, but it’s on the packaging and a big part of the business. The authentic nature of all of the gluten-free bagels from Sweet Note Bakery is that they take you back to the classic 3-inch size of the traditional bagel. No mega-bagel here. You don’t need it. Instead of a 6-inch monstrosity, you’re chowing down on real, natural ingredients that will leave you feeling full and content. Trust me. And, with the way these are constructed, you get an amazing crispy outer crust and that warm, chewy middle that New York bagels are known for. Sweet Note, you’re doing it all right.

And by adding chocolate to create your very own (and unlike any other gluten-free bagel on the market) Chocolate Swirl Bagel, you’re taking it to the next level. All of us with a sweet tooth, or who enjoy a little treat in the morning, are dancing a happy dance. I happened to top off my Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels with some of my own homemade strawberry jam. Let me tell you…it was magical. Yep. I said magical. Because if you love chocolate-covered strawberries, imagine how amazing strawberry covered chocolate is. Yep…it’s amazing. And these bagels were the perfect vehicle to showcase my own hard work in the kitchen with fresh, local berries. Ah, the joys of being a foodie.

Now, let’s talk ingredients for a moment, shall we? The Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels are made from water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, vanilla extract, salt, chocolate chips (evaporated cane juice, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), and non-dairy cocoa butter). As always, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, and peanut & tree nut free. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels are a little more expensive because they have to go the extra mile to add allergen-free chocolate to the mix. It’s worth it. Vegan, gluten-free goodness in every delicious bite. Trust me…you don’t want to miss out. This little bagel company is going places. BIG places.

As far as nutirtion goes, for bagels, this hits the sweet spot. A serving is 1 bagel (4.5 ounces or 128 grams). There are four servings per package. This one serving will give you 310 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 280 mg sodium, 4 grams fiber, 18 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. See why you’ll feel full? Fiber-rich and packed with protein. Gotta love it!

Trust me, if you can’t find these in stores in your area, pop over to Sweet Note Bakery’s Web site and place an order. They need to be in your gluten-free life, stat!! And then, talk to your local natural food store, or Whole Foods, about stocking these. They would sell like hotcakes (or bagels) in an instant. Trust me. These are not to be missed. Sweet Note Bakery offers eight (8) different varieties of their NY style bagels: plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, sesame, poppy, chocolate swirl, snickerdoodle, and pumpkin spice. Their Web site says a Spinach Garlic is in the works. HELLO!! Want that. So, if you are a bagel lover like me…and gluten-free bagels have left you feeling cheated…get the real deal. And, if you like a little treat in the morning, twist up tradition with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels. They are not to be missed.

And this, sadly, concludes my stash in the freezer…so I guess it’s time to try out the other four flavors!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels topped off with my own homemade strawberry jam

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $7.29+

Some leaps of faith are just worth taking. Seriously. And nothing has surprised me more than how deeply I have fallen in love with the bagel creations by Sweet Note Bagels. It was fate that introduced me to these gluten-free goodies. Actually, it was a fantastic PR person at Sweet Note Bagels who was quick on the draw after seeing my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s Gluten Free Bagels (both plain and everything). And I have to say…persistence always pays off with me. Always. The recommendation that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse’s Bagels then I would LOVE theirs, had me clicking on a provided link and heading over to their Web site to check them out.

And then my curiosity got the best of me. Without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections. Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety. I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they currently offer.

So, now we went for a personal favorite…

Cinnamon Raisin.

I love everything about cinnamon raisin baked goods. I was a huge cinnamon roll lover growing up. Anything with a little hit of spice and that bit of sweetness is winning in my book. Raisins…well, they are one sweet treat I love indulging in, without the guilt. Put them together in some sort of bread-like form and you have a happy girl on your hands.

So, it was this morning after my 5:30 a.m. spin class that I dodged some rain home and immediately removed the Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels from my freezer. I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave. You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods. Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden. Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast. Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. And I left my roommate in charge of not letting the apartment burn down while they toasted and I went to shower.

No tragedies. My oven didn’t burn anything while I was getting cleaned and dressed for my physical therapy appointment before finally making my way into work. I came out to an apartment that was carrying the warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon sweetness. I peaked into the oven, just to make sure I was hitting that perfect golden color, and not having it begin to char. It was right on point. And as I closed the oven to let the bagels finish up, I commented to the roomie, “Those smell SO good…like cinnamon rolls.” I got out the Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and some local Whipped Vanilla Honey that we had picked up at the recent Buy Local Fair in Louisville, Kentucky.

And so…out came the baking sheet with the perfectly toasted Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. And I contained myself by not drooling on them or devouring all four halves. I took one half of each bagel and gave it the classic schmear of the vegan cream cheese spread. The other half of each bagel got a touch of the local Whipped Vanilla Honey. We were in business now. I served my roommate her bagel then went to pour my coffee and settle in to do my PT stretches and eat some breakfast.

I was no longer apprehensive and wondering if I had thrown away my money when it came to Sweet Note Bagels. Nope…I knew they were amazing. But how amazing were the New York Style Cinnamon Raisin offerings? AMAZING! There is no way anyone could eat these and immediately say that these are gluten-free. They taste just like a good, classic New York Bagel. The resemble them too! A perfect three inches in diameter, dense, and just thick. Honestly…I am so impressed with the appearance right off, resembling traditional bagels…just without the gluten! This style of bagel means that you get this crispy, golden outer crust and a soft, chewy, dense center where all the good stuff hides. And it’s perfection. A swirl of cinnamon and dabbling of sweet raisins complete this bagel from the first bite to the last. There wasn’t too much spice or too few raisins. It was an ideal and perfect balance. And I took my time this time, to savor, each half…one bite of one, then another, pairing it with the selected topping and finding how each one worked uniquely with this flavor of bagel.

Cinnamon Raisin + Gluten Free + Bagel = HAPPY GIRL!

Let’s talk about what Sweet Note Bagels puts into their Gluten Free New York Style Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, shall we? Well…as with their other products, the first ingredient is LOVE! So, you have LOVE, water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, raisins, olive oil, molasses, vanilla extract, cinnamon, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

And now…the nitty-gritty. Let’s discuss the nutritional information of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, shall we? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams) and four (4) bagels come in the package. One serving will dish up 310 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 290 mg sodium, 69 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 17 grams sugar, and 4 grams protein.

One of the best things about these bagels is that they are really filling because they use real ingredients, No fillers, chemicals, and weird preservatives. This is real food…and will give you plenty of energy to get through the morning. I love eating a breakfast and knowing that my body is getting something good from it.

When it comes to Cinnamon Raisin anything…Sweet Note Bagels has won me over. My favorite flavor of bread-item…done in a perfect New York style bagel…yeah…you’ve won me over and won my gluten-free food loving heart. The bagels made by the fantastic team at Sweet Note Bagels has done their job and done it to perfection because, so far, their bagels have not let me down. If anything, they have shown me that there is so much more to the bagel market than the Udi’s and Canyon Bakehouse standards that are readily available in stores.

And thanks to their intrepid social media perseverance…I am forever a fan! If, like me, you love Cinnamon Raisin…then these will blow you away. Sweet and oh, so amazing!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels (one half with Kite Hill Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and one half with local Whipped Vanilla Honey)

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels – $7.25+

I think it has been well established that as a former New Yorker, I am a bagel lover. When I got my Celiac diagnosis, I became a one-time lover of bagels. Sure, there were a few different gluten free bagels out on the market…and I tried them all. Most of them were all wrong. I was enticed, because they had different flavors than the others…but in the end…just wrong. The closest I could get to a true bagel in my gluten-free world were the offerings by Udi’s and, more recently, Canyon Bakehouse.

But here is where the power of social media plays an important roll. I had recently reviewed the Canyon Bakehouse Plain and Everything Bagels that I ordered off their Web site, since they weren’t in stores yet (and still might be working their way there). After posting the review, I was pinged on Twitter by a company that literally does only gluten free bagels. Not just gluten-free, but also vegan, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. I was intrigued enough to Google search them and take a look at their Web site. Their name: Sweet Note Bagels.

New York style bagels…gluten-free? It sounded too good to be true. Usually very hesitant and cautious about ordering from a company I know little about or have heard little about, I decided to take a risk and a chance. And I went all-in, ordering half of their New York style gluten-free bagel flavors. Yep. They have eight (8) different flavors…I started with four of them – opting for the Plain (previously blogged), Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Swirl. In addition to these four, Sweet Note Bagels offers Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle and Pumpkin. And,according to their Web site, they are working on a Spinach Garlic offering as well (which sounds SO delicious).

She and her team are doing a fantastic job. And I hope it continues and more and more people try and discover these amazing bagels. Sweet Note Bagels are top-of-the-line. And I can now attest to that given that I have tried my second flavor that I purchased off their Web site…

EVERYTHING!

Yes, the Everything Bagel. Nothing gets as New York as this flavor of bagel. Unfamiliar with the Everything Bagel? Well, the basic information is these bagels appeared in New York back in the 1970s-1980s. They are basically a bagel that is topped with all the different topping varieties that are normally found on bagels. It is basically traditional to see a combination of seeds and dried herbs, with the most commonly used being poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, salt, and even caraway seeds. Everything but the kitchen sink. They are incredible.

As the Everything Bagel is a New York tradition, and one that I am most fond of, I had high hopes when I pulled these out of the freezer to thaw them in the microwave for a minute, slice them, and toast them in my oven (you can toast them in a toaster, I just don’t own a toaster). They smelled amazing. Like…garlic and onion and awesomesauce. I don’t know what awesomesauce smells like, but I have a feeling it would be these bagels. And my mouth began to water more in anticipation as they toasted and the aroma filled my kitchen. Oh yeah…New York heaven.

The best part is…Sweet Note Bagels gets EVERYTHING right with their Gluten Free Everything Bagel. Trust this New Yorker. This bagel is a perfect 3-inch diameter…just like bagels used to be made, not the monstrosities that exist on the market and in bakeries today. Old school, traditional bagels…minus the gluten. LOVE. What this also means is that the outside of the bagel gets this great golden crust that is crisp when you bite into it after toasting it. The center…soft, chewy, and perfection. With the Sweet Note Bagels Gluten Free Everything Bagel, I topped it with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread and went to town. I couldn’t help it. If anything brought back my memories of New York…it was this bagel…in perfect technicolor! The flavors were amazing. Nothing was overpowering, not even the garlic! Seriously. The outside was this perfect crisp, which gave the bagel texture. The top half was topped off with a healthy spread of salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. Yes…these are messy bagels. But messy bagels when you’re talking about an Everything Bagel…is just what you’re supposed to get. I thought there was the perfect amount of toppings on each bagel (4 come in each package). And they cooked up to perfection. I ate them faster than I intended…and I wanted another one! I mean, I literally wanted to go and prepare another one right then and there. I resisted…somehow. Even my roommate, who had a regular Everything Bagel back in New York City in November when I was running the marathon fell in love with this version. She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free…but she does about 90% at home…because of me, and these bagels have really, really impressed her. She didn’t grow up a bagel lover…so these have won her heart. They have won me over too. If I were asked to choose my final meal, I think a Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagel would be on the menu. Yes…they are that exceptional!

So…let’s talk about what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels, shall we? I can tell you this…these won’t leave you feeling hungry an hour after you eat them. These bagels are made with REAL ingredients, not just fillers and rubish. That’s another great thing about Sweet Note Bagels…they make real food made with real ingredients. The Gluten Free Everything Bagels from Sweet Note are made with LOVE (Yes…really on the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. These bagels, as mentioned above, are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

How about taking a look at the nutritional facts of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams). This serving will provide you with yumminess. Aside from that, you will be taking in 300 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 grams cholesterol, 540 mg sodium, 63 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. See why you’ll feel so full and stay full? LOVE IT!

Let me tell you, there are few things that win me over as quickly as these bagels did. I am so grateful that Twitter drew Sweet Note Bagels to my blog on Canyon Bakehouse, and had them reach out to me about their product. Never before have I been so blown away by a product. Bagels…they are simple pleasures, but the bagels that Sweet Note Bagels makes are a gluten free treasure. Nothing else will stack up to these. I’m sure of it.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread

June 19, 2015

Product review: Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread

Product: Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread – $5.99+

I’m always looking for good and healthy alternatives to the not-quite-so-healthy alternatives that I have to east since my body can’t really process the lactose in dairy. Dairy and I have all but broken up for the most part. It wasn’t an easy break-up either…but something had to give.

For awhile now, I’ve been purchasing vegan versions of cream cheese from Tofutti and Daiya. And these worked. They double as a cream cheese alternative, minus the actual dairy. Texture works. Tofutti tastes just like cream cheese. Daiya tastes like…Daiya…as pretty much all Daiya products do…but still amazing. These have been staples in my fridge since I found amazing gluten-free bagels (Udi’s, Canyon Bakehouse, and now Sweet Note) and have made a few attempts at making my own gluten free bagels.

But then…one day while in Whole Foods, I saw something new. Something…different.

Kite Hill was started due to a vision for a plant-based food that would have all the qualities we love in the best artisan dairy cheeses. Using simple ingredients and using traditional methods, Kite Hill has created artisan cheeses, yogurts, and cream cheeses that can all be incorporated into entrées and desserts. Created by a dedicated team with deep culinary, cheese-making, and scientific expertise, including Tal Ronnen, Monte Casino, Jean Prevot, Pat Brown, and Matthew Sade, Kite Hill has stepped up to the challenge to create a non-dairy cheese that met their high standards for quality. So often, vegan cheese tastes fake or plastic-like. After years of recipe testing and countless trials and errors to develop the perfect nut milk, cultures, and enzymes needed to create a worthy product, Kite Hill emerged on the market place.

And then…my weekly stop in at Whole Foods. I went early, because my allergen-free bakery wasn’t open yet. This allowed me time to sip on coffee from my local coffee shop and just roam, see what I normally would blow past because I was trying to miss the crowd or just in a hurry. There, over with the cheeses…I saw it. Kite Hill products galore. Something new!! Something vegan! Something I knew I wanted to try. I had places to be that day, though, so I couldn’t stock up. A few trips later, I still hadn’t tried it. So, one day, my roommate just surprised me with a container of the Kite Hill Cream Cheese Style Spread. I was SO excited. While there are two varieties (Plain and Chive), she had started with the plain…because…it’s the original. The classic.

I had to polish off the container of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese that was in the fridge before tackling this…but this morning, the packaging was ripped off. It was time to try Kite Hill for myself.

I had toasted up the amazing Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (go to their Web site…order them…STAT!) this morning. And, in true New York Bagel style…I needed my hefty schmear of cream cheese on top of each half. I lifted the lid and pulled back the plastic, revealing this soft and creamy spread. I thought it looked a little more like ricotta cheese than cream cheese. I scooped up a serving size and placed some on my roommate’s bagel and then some on mine.

Moment of truth.

First of all…I loved how it was all light and fluffy. Straight out of the refrigerator, it was the perfect texture to immediately spread on the bagel. No need to battle it out with a knife. This was smooth as (dairy-free) butter. The texture was very ricotta cheese like. It had this faint bit of sweetness…almost like a cottage cheese, without all the gross lumpy bits. The flavor was very light…not quite like you expect cream cheese to taste…(Tofutti has honestly been the closest on the flavor that I have tried)…but it worked. It worked brilliantly. I fell in love with it at first bite. The smooth, light, airy texture was the perfect complement to a dense, New York style bagel. It was harmony on my breakfast plate. I don’t want to ever have another brand again. This was it for me. Pure love in every bagel-y bite. Not sweet, but not savory…a perfect balance.

One of the biggest draws to Kite Hill is their ingredient list. While Tofutti and Daiya both have a lot of added fillers like ground nut pastes, stabilizers and artificial ingredients to make their cheese-like products, Kite Hill’s cream cheese spread is made from a short list of real ingredients. We’re talking clean cheating…er…eating at it’s very best. Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is made from almond milk (water, almonds), salt, enzyme, vinegar, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, and cultures. That’s it. It is soy-free, vegan, dairy-free, contains no saturated fat, trans-fat free, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. Is this love or is this love?

Yeah…love.

And I am also loving the nutrition facts as well. A serving size of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is 1 ounce (28 grams)…or about 2 tablespoons. There are 8 servings per container. One serving will provide you with 78 calories, 7 grams of fat (keep in mind this is made from almonds, so this is actually a healthy fat), 170 mg sodium, 2 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugars, and 3 (yes…3!) grams of protein! When compared to the other, more commonly found, vegan cream cheeses out there…hands down, this one wins the nutrition and ingredient prize!

So, if you’re ready to turn your gluten-free bagel up to eleven…then you need to get to your local Whole Foods (yes…Kite Hill is only available at Whole Foods) and find this brand ASAP! Now that I’ve tried it, I can’t wait to taste the other cream cheese and artisan cheese offerings that Kite Hill has to offer. Beyond impressed. I’m completely converted. Forget the rest…Kite Hill is best.

Really…it is. But you should try it for yourself. So…go on…Whole Foods awaits.

Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread on Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

June 18, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels – $7.25

Yep. This New Yorker has been introduced to a new gluten-free bagel. I had never, ever heard of Sweet Note Bagels before, until I got a response to a tweet on my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s new bagels. It came from Sweet Note itself, telling me that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse, then I would love their bagels.

Being the investigative reporter that I am…(HEY! I have a B.A. in Journalism, thank you very much), I immediately Googled their Web site and began to poke around. Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

So…here I was…sitting at my desk, looking at these amazing photos online of these gluten-free bagels. I decided to throw caution (and my budget) to the wind and place an order, choosing four of the eight gluten-free bagel varieties that Sweet Note Bakery currently offers. I didn’t even hesitate to order, which is very unlike me, as I’ve been burned by gluten-free products before. But…this involved bagels…

It was important.

The bagels arrived two days later, and via the instructions in and on the box, I immediately froze them. I had some homemade bagels to use up before diving into these, but that occurred over the weekend. So, on Tuesday morning, after a morning at the gym, I returned home and pulled the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels out (because you always start with the plain/original). The instructions that come in the box and on the packaging says not to thaw these to room temperature. This was certainly a different approach than how I normally do gluten-free bagels…but I obeyed. I plucked two bagels out of the package and tucked the remaining two back into the freezer. Then, each bagel got a 60 second meet-and-greet with the microwave. When they were removed, I did my best to slice them in half evenly. I admit, my bagel slicing skills will definitely need some work. I tossed these onto a baking sheet and into the oven to toast (I don’t own a toaster…that went away with my initial diagnosis, as my roommate was still eating regular bread and cross contamination was an issue…but since then, my kitchen went completely gluten-free) and went to get cleaned up for work. I returned and pulled these out of the oven, seeing the beautiful gold middles from the oven. I got the vegan cream cheese out of the refrigerator and applied a liberal schmear to each half. I served one bagel to my roommate and prepped my own, pouring a nice cup of coffee to enjoy with it.

Moment of truth.

For the first time…ever…someone finally got it right. Inside of each Sweet Note Bagel is the taste of a true New York Style bagel. From the size to the way it eats, you would be hard pressed to find someone who could immediately identify these bagels as gluten-free. First of all, forget the gigantor, plus-sized bagels on the market today. Sweet Note makes bagels the size they were intended to be, smaller, and more dense. That’s a true New York bagel. The average bagel 20 years ago was only 3 inches wide. Today, you’re looking at a 6 inch circumference. Is it any wonder we deal with an obesity epidemic in this country? So, returning to the authenticity of the true New York bagel, Sweet Note Bagels also achieve a perfectly crunchy crust and a chewy center.

My first bite brought back a wash of memories. These bagels are dense, chewy, crunchy and perfection. I loved sinking my teeth into each half, savoring the flavor, the way the crust would crumble and the middle would be soft, with a bit of melty vegan cream cheese. Heaven. Bagel heaven. I didn’t want breakfast to end. They say that it’s okay to have two…but I reigned myself in. There is nothing plain and simple about the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels. They have extraordinary flavor for being the most basic bagel available. This leaves me looking forward to the other three flavors that are residing in my freezer.

For the record, my roommate has never really experienced the joy of a true New York Style bagel. She said she wasn’t used to the chewiness. Not a slam at all, because she devoured her bagel just as quickly as I did mine. She did get a bagel in New York City back in November, but she can’t remember much about it apparently. HA!

So…let’s talk about what goes into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made from LOVE (yes…that is in the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. More of these!

Now, let’s look at the nutritional information. A serving size is one (1) of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels. This bagel will provide you with 300 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 340 mg sodium, 64 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugars, and 4 grams of protein. Yes…these bagels are filling, and that’s what I love about them. With other gluten-free bagels on the market, I am full for an hour, then hungry again. And I ate a six inch gluten-free bagel. It was made with filler more than real ingredients. And that makes a huge difference.

I will shout this from the highest mountain top, and throughout the realms of cyberspace. If you are like me, looking for an amazing bagel, but are confined to the gluten-free lifestyle…go over to Sweet Note Bakery‘s Web site and place an order for any (or all) of their eight varieties of bagels (Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle, Pumpkin Spice, and Chocolate Swirl). For the record, I went with plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, and chocolate swirl to start…and that was without ever trying them before ordering). Trust me, there is only sheer awesomeness in each bite of these bagels. You will not be disappointed at all.

Sweet Note…thank you for introducing yourself to me via Twitter. Without your reaching out to me, I never would have known about your bagels…and now…I don’t think I can live without them.

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (toasted with a schmear of vegan cream cheese)