Joan’s GF Great Bakes Italian Bread
June 15, 2010 by Nancy
Filed under Product Reviews
Living in the San Francisco Bay area, there has been a little missing piece to our diets (and our hearts) since going gluten free – a crusty loaf of sour dough bread now and then! We’ve been on the hunt for several years for a nice replacement and I think we have found it.
It’s not sour, but it’s crusty and soft and satisfying. It’s Joan’s GF Great Bakes Italian Bread. Looking at the pictures on their website, you can’t imagine that Gluten Free baked goods could really look and taste as great as they seem there. Today was my first taste of a Joan’s GF Great Bakes product, and so far, it’s true. These products are available in stores in many states, but not in California, so I’ve never seen them! A few of our Face Book friends (Michael Hoyt, Adam Sheinkin, and David Galinkin) all mentioned Joan’s last week, so I rushed to get some. Thanks, guys!
The Italian Bread comes in 3 small frozen loaves. When the package arrived, the entire order was packed in dry ice and frozen solid, which is why shipping is not inexpensive. Following the directions, I defrosted a loaf in the microwave for a few minutes (you can also do it the old fashioned way, of course), and then let it rise for about an hour while I cooked the rest of my dinner. I baked it for 25 minutes to a crispy, golden brown and was really excited to cut into it and see that it is far superior to other gluten free French breads I’ve tried. It looks great, smells great, and tastes awesome! The slight dusting of flour on the crunchy crust makes it all the more authentic, and the soft, chewy texture is not too heavy, but just right.
This bread is gluten free, dairy free, soy free and egg free.
I brought a little to my gluten free neighbor who hasn’t had French bread in 3 years and she was thrilled with it, too! Can’t wait to try the rest of their products! Stay tuned!
Check on store availability near you.
Click here to browse and order online.
Gluten Freeville Product Reviews: Products are either purchased by us or sent to us for sampling. If we don’t LOVE it, you won’t see it reviewed here. No money is ever accepted in exchange for a product review. The sole purpose of our product reviews is to introduce you to great new products we have found as a resource to you, the reader.
OMG! Your review is soooo exciting because the item I long for is a crusty bread, especially in the sour dough version. Thanks for sharing this valuable resource. We definitely need to see these products in Colorado!