Gluten-free flour developed for Keller’s The French Laundry, now available for home cooks, is the subject of my latest Character Approved Blog post.
Remember carob? A blogger I read regularly mentioned it in a recent post, reminding me for the first time in years of this dreadful so-called healthy substitute for chocolate. It may have been healthy, but it was no substitute for chocolate, especially the good stuff. And guess what? Now chocolate has been given a clean bill of health.
Carob’s very badness points up the problem with many dietary substitutes: They’re not very good. In fact, many of them are downright awful. But gluten sensitivity—allergic reaction to wheat products—is a huge and growing issue. And wheat is a huge part of so many of the foods we eat—especially baked goods. So finding satisfactory substitutes for wheat products is a big deal.
The number of people affected by gluten sensitivity—full-blown celiac disease in severe cases—has grown alarmingly in recent years. Perhaps it’s due to better diagnosis, but the numbers are staggering. Recent studies show that at least 3 million Americans suffer from the genetic disorder. Here’s what Livestrong.com says about it: “Current statistics indicate that about one in every 100 people is affected with celiac disease (also known as sprue). Symptoms range from mild to severe bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, fatigue, aches, flu-like symptoms, and/or mood swings… Those afflicted with celiac disease are also at higher risk for more serious conditions, including osteoporosis and gastrointestinal cancer.”
There are any number of gluten-free substitute products out there, but few come with the pedigree of C4C Gluten-free flour. It was developed by a research chef in the kitchen of Keller’s legendary The French Laundry. The Michelin-starred chef has famously exacting standards. The breads and brioches made with the flour couldn’t just be good for gluten-free; they had to be good enough for The French Laundry. They were. Now C4C is available for home cooks and bakers. To find out more about its development—and where to buy it—check out my latest post on the USA Character Approved Blog.
Thanks for the good news, and the excellent & accurate report. For those of us with Celiac Disease and severe allergies, being viewed as a fad is dangerous, but having a true alternative is wonderful. I’m off to purchase C4C gluten free flour to give it a try.
Good luck, Caroline! I hope the C4C lets you enjoy baked goods again.
I cannot wait to try this new flour. Unfortunately cannot find it anywhere. The only place that sells it is Williams-Sonoma which is about an hour from my home. I drove there and was told they were out of it and did not know when they would be getting any. I waited a month and ordered it on line and its been almost 1 month since i ordered it and they keep saying “shipping soon”. When i placed the order they did not say it was on back order. Why is it not sold anywhere else? I live close to a whole foods market i wish they would sell it.