Gourmet hamper service—gluten-free guaranteed
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Gluten-free eating seems to be the food fad de jour, but for Canberra coeliac Kate Lord, living with the disease means any encounter with gluten can end in a trip to hospital.
And yet as a food lover and enthusiastic cook, Kate does not let gluten-free life get in the way of a fabulous dinner party, rollicking family meal or gourmet experience.
Now she wants to bring her expertise to other gluten-free eaters through a gourmet hamper delivery service—The Gluten Free Gift Collective—using all the products she swears by with a focus on local.
Gluten-free hampers just in time for Christmas.
The fact that Kate runs her own communications company, and has a 3-year-old and two teenaged step-kids to look after does not mean she was unwilling to roll up her sleeves and fill her house with boxes of fine food and wine to package up in beautiful hampers in her “spare hours” via the website she built herself.
Like many new business born out of COVID, Kate’s inspiration came during lockdown.
“I wanted to send a friend a hamper, she also follows a gluten-free diet and every option either contained gluten, or was full of products that no person who follows a gluten-free diet would ever go near…
“So, I did it myself! I think the difference is I know and use all of these products. I absolutely love to cook, so everyone around me has become a convert. You should try my gluten free Tiramisu!”
Kate has been gluten-free for 15 years and knows her products.
While a number of hamper delivery services offer gluten-free options, Kate says they don’t use the best products on the market, or offer a large range.
“Each product I use is, in my opinion, the best available. You really need to know gluten-free products and I think that’s what really separates us from the big mainstream operations.”
Kate’s gluten-free journey has been a long one. She was in her early 20s, and living in London when she got sick.
“I was tired all the time, had headaches and stomach issues. It took more than 50 blood tests, two MRIs, a few medical missteps, until a doctor finally worked out what was going on.”
The first few years after being diagnosed were challenging, especially navigating social events. There was a lack of understanding as the disease wasn’t so widely known about 15 years ago. But following a gluten-free diet resolved Kate’s symptoms, so there was no turning back.
She stresses that while gluten-free eating can be a choice for many, for Coeliac sufferers it is the only way to stay well.
“When I was first diagnosed, no one had any clue what Coeliac disease was, then it got wrapped up in diets like Paleo and Keto. The difference for those with Coeliac disease is that even a crumb can cause a huge autoimmune response. I’ve ended up in the ER before from a particularly bad reaction.
“So, at one level the increased awareness has made it easier to source good quality products, on the other, it has made it harder to explain cross contamination and the genuine risks associated with the disease.”
Her move into the hamper business is to offer an expert service and also to indulge in a “wonderful creative outlet”.
Spreading some gluten-free indulgence around.
“I just think of the difference it will make for people receiving these gifts. It means that for once they don’t have to scan labels and worry about what’s inside, they can just enjoy and switch off knowing they have been considered and catered for.”
Having only been online for the past few weeks Kate has been overwhelmed by the reaction and has already fielded dozens of orders—from the indulgent Ultimate Christmas Hamper, to the Beer and Nuts Summer Edition and the Watermelon Sugar High. She is proud to support local suppliers like Nick O’Leary wines and Altina alcohol free wines as well as Wild Polly Brewing.
She believes her customers are the partners, friends, family and colleagues of people who follow a gluten-free diet.
“The best part is, these hampers contain products designed to be shared by everyone, so really our customer could be anyone, but I’m hoping these find their way into the hands of those who would really appreciate them.”
The Gluten Free Gift Collective provides free delivery within the ACT within 48 hours or on a nominated day. She also delivers Australia wide, received within 3-5 days from order.
