The foodie's afterglow

Well, I'm home again after an exhilarating day at Luna Fest. 

With only one hour of sleep in the last 31+ hours, I can honestly say it was completely worth it!

I gave out around 200-250 samples, including all of the Key Lime Ginger (un)Cheesecake, all of the Raspberry Chocolate (un)Cheesecake, and all of the "Every Day's Your Birthday" Cake -- which ended up being a big hit with adults as well as kids. (One of my favorite moments was watching a woman eat a cake sample, move to throw out the wrapper, then, on second thought, keep it to lick off the remnants of the gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate icing. Score!) 

All that remains is somewhere under half of my banana bread samples, but not for lack of interest. I just had so many bread samples.... 

I enjoyed speaking with everyone throughout the day about the Bloomington Kitchen Incubator, gluten intolerance, and the need for more safe dining options. I especially appreciated all your kind words and compliments! (The cheesecakes definitely had universal appeal. I have to say, I think the key lime was my personal favorite, but the raspberry was an equal contender with the crowd. I was doubly pleased that no one could tell it was dairy-free, or gluten-free.)

So again, many, many thanks to everyone who came out to support the Luna Festival participants and everyone who stopped by my booth, especially those who stayed to chat or came because they were invited. I really appreciate your support. 

Also a big thank you to the event's organizers from Women Inspire; we couldn't have done it without you!

That's all for now. Stay tuned to this blog* for information on other sampling events on the horizon, and other news related to the BKI -- and of course, more information on Kat's Kitchen's products and services! Catering: yes, please!

all best,

Kat

*the easiest way to do this is to subscribe to this blog, with email notification of new posts.

Welcome!

Hello! And welcome to the blog for Kat's Kitchen - "Good Food Gluten Free."

Kat's Kitchen is a startup food business in Bloomington, Indiana, geared towards using natural, organic, and local ingredients (whenever possible) to create flavorful, nutritious, and intriguing gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian products. 

This venture grew out of a need for more gluten-free (AND dairy-free, AND vegetarian) food choices in our region. Some places (especially large cities) are doing really well with this, and many grocery stores and restaurant chains have increased their gluten-free options exponentially in the last few years. But since many people have multiple food sensitivities or dietary restrictions, the trick is to find places that carry food that meets all your needs -- while also avoiding the cross-contamination with the products you can't eat.

While there are many ready-made gluten-free products on the market today that are really wonderful, I think we have a long way to go to close the gap between the glutinous and gluten-free eating schemes, particularly when it comes to eating out and carrying in. So Kat's Kitchen is my attempt to help move this mission forward, to increase the meal options for people with Celiac's Disease and other gluten enteropathies in my community.

I know it can be daunting for some people to have to give up so many foods they love all at once, but what makes it hard is not that good gluten-free food is not available -- because it is -- it's just a matter of figuring out where to find it (or how to make it! :).

I'll be making periodic posts about gluten-free events, opportunities to sample products, recipes, and other tips on how to make the conversion to a gluten-free lifestyle a little easier. 

I'll even have monthly polls to find out what products you'd be most interested in -- but you don't have to wait for a poll! I'd love to hear from you with any ideas or suggestions you may have.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you find something you like here.

To your health!

best,

Kat

The big day is here

That's right, today is the Luna Festival! 

For the last few weeks, members of the newly formed Bloomington Kitchen Incubator have been working hard in preparation for the second annual Luna Festival: A Celebration of Women in Business and the Arts, an expo featuring women entrepreneurs, musicians, and artists. 

I've just finished putting the final touches on my food samples -- key lime ginger (un)cheesecake, raspberry chocolate (un)cheesecake, a wonderfully chewy banana bread, and for the kids, a classic birthday cake -- all made without gluten or dairy products. 

These goodies and more from the BKI will be available today, from 11am to 4pm at City Hall. There will be plenty of samples (I hope), but come early for the best selection! 

The event is free and will have a lot to offer for all ages and interests. I hope you'll take a few minutes on this beautiful summer-like day to stop by and see us!

Kat