1. You must be a fan (like) the Tia’s Bakery Info page on Facebook.
2. You must post a comment in the comment section below telling us WHY YOU INITIALLY CHOSE TIA’S BAKERY GLUTEN FREE & YOUR REACTION TO YOUR VERY FIRST TASTE, in no more than 300 words.
3. You must post using your exact name on Facebook (so we can see you’re real) and also use a REAL e-mail address since that’s how we’ll contact you.

You can post your entry until Monday, the 2nd of May, 9:00 AM PST. We will choose the 3 best comments based on how much we all smile while reading them. I will contact the winner via e-mail (also announce him or her on the website, our Twitter account and our Tia’s Bakery Fan Page on Facebook) and send the prize.

You can only send one message. People who try to send multiple messages using multiple aliases will be visited in their dreams and forced to address their high school debate club wearing only fuzzy slippers and a bathrobe. All comments that are not related to the contest will be read while slowly shaking our heads and mumbling. Let’s play nice and fair – and don’t forget to let all your friends know about this contest!

Now tell us below why do you like Tia’s Bakery Gluten Free and get a chance to win our prize! GOOD LUCK!

Today, Tia’s Bakery if focusing on the Hy-Vee store located in Windsor Heights, Iowa, a city that has the unique distinction of being the only community that borders Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, and West Des Moines – in the heart of the Des Moines Metro area.

The Windsor Heights Hy-Vee store carries more than 700 gluten free products in their HealthMarket and there is even a dedicated gluten free sections in both the dry grocery and frozen.

Remember when we mentioned that Hy-Vee is committed to “appreciative service”?  To service members of their comminty who require a gluten free diet, this store has committed more than 48 feet of dry food selections and 12 ft of frozen – all gluten free!   Big changes are in wind for this well loved community store. Soon, an additional 60 ft will be added to the Health Market section of the store and even more frozen shelf space will be added – much of the new space will be dedicated for gluten free products.

Krissi Rosenberger, the dynamic HealthMarket/HBC Manager is a tireless advocate of healthy eating/lifestyle and she remains committed to meeting the dietary needs of her customers. Did you know that each month Krissi reviews dozens of new products and adds 10-12 new items monthly?

One other thing that we here at Tia’s Bakery Gluten Free love about this store is “Wellness Wednesdays.” Customer receive 10% off of ALL HealthMarket purchases EVERY Wednesday at the Windsor Heights Hy-Vee.

For continuing a tradition of service and customer appreciation that started more that 80 years ago, we salute the Hy-Vee stores.   Krissi and the entire staff there truly know how to help us all to Live, Love & Laugh.Hy-Vee Windsor Heights store is located at 7101 University Ave. Windosor Heights, IA 50324.  Krissi and her staff can be reached at (515) 279-4225.

Tia’s Bakery, of course, was present with our booth and ready to introduce our gluten free goodies to the Floridians.

But first, we had to get there.

OK, yes. Yes, we were transporting 600+ frozen, gluten-free cakes, cookies and brownies. Since when is that not allowed?

"Exactly how many cakes and cookies are in these boxes?"

“No, I don’t want to have my boxes bombarded with x-rays.”

“Yes, I’d be happy to open my boxes………….. No, you can’t have a samples of each flavor.” Sheeesh, TSA officers are tough!

Well, I did actually make it to the Gluten Free Expo and it was a blast. The South Florida Chapter of the Celiac Disease Foundation is one active group, I tell you what!
Last year their expo was in a 6,400 sq.ft. venue.  This year the expo hall was 25,000 sq.ft. (and if you ask me, it could have been larger based on the number in attendance.  Our hats are tipped, and all of us at Tia’s Bakery extend a hearty “Thank You” followed by a rounding “Job Well Done” to CDF Director Phyllis Kessler, her staff and team of dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the expo a top-notch event.

There were nearly 100 vendors from across America, with an amazing variety of GF breads, mixes, soups, candies, pastas and beverages. National brands were well represented as well as regional and local producers. Names like: Nana’s Cookies, Pamela’s, Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery, The Gluten Free Cookie Jar Baking Company (love their name, don’t you?), Kinninnick (their name is nice too, but a real headache to spell!), Kettle Cuisine, French Meadow Bakery, Enjoy Life Foods.
And of course, yours truly – Tia’s Bakery (ta-da!).

Large retailers have also acknowledged the “star-power” of the event and had representatives on hand.
(Gosh, I feel like a roving reporter “We’re coming to you live from the red carpet at the CDF Expo in beautiful South Florida. All the beautiful people, products and stores are here. Oh, look! There goes Whole Foods Market, don’t they look great in a distinctive booth decorated with a table cloth and a banner. And who’s this? Well it’s the one and only Publix Super Market! What a statement they’re making with a large end-of -aisle booth. Just smashing.  It’s all gluten free goodness and goodies here. Back to you at the station.”)

For five feverish hours we were both delighted and amazed as the people kept coming and coming………and coming!

"Not now, Jane. Can't you see I've got a deadline to meet?" Sheesh!

Some had traveled from exotic locales such as New York, Maine, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia.

Best of all, none were disappointed. If you happened to have been in Florida the 19th of Feb. and missed the expo….”na, na, na, na, na!”
NO!  What we meant to say was, please check in with the CDF of South Florida for dates and time of next year’s event. And we’ll see you there.           :p

LIVE, LOVE & LAUGH

Dateline: Chicago, IL. Feb. 8, 2011

Chicago officials are investigating the arrival of Tia’s Bakery Gluten-Free cakes and cookies in connection with the recent extraordinary weather activity, called ‘Thundersnow,”affecting most of the Midwestern states.
Shoppers eager to get Tia’s Bakery cakes and cookies, which contain no refined sugars, wheat, yeast, dairy or soy have caused clogged aisles at local grocery store bakery departments across the city. Several shopping cart accidents (no serious injuries were reported) and requests from excited customers, backed up check-out lines from Evanston to Willowbrook to Chicago.
Patch.com, AOL’s community-specific news and information platform, sent their most experienced investigative reporter Steve Handwerker to cover the story. Handwerker reported that Tia’s Bakery’s famous Grandma’s Chocolate Cakes were completely sold-out in less than two hours from the Deerfield Whole Foods store. His report included a statement by longtime Lake Forest resident Andrea Wright who claimed, “I do love good flavor.” Wright went on to say, “The [Tia's Bakery] Strawberry Shortcake was really good; that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
The all-natural products from Tia’s Bakery arrived with such force into the Midwest grocery stores, that the area experienced a rare whether phenomenon known as thundersnow. The unusual atmospheric event, which some have linked to the awesome taste of Tia’s Strawberry Shortcake, even caught seasoned Weather Channel reporter Jim Cantore by surprise. Among his exclamations: “Just incredible”, “Holy Smokes” and “That’s unbelievable.”
Research into the case has centered around a mysterious man known only as Paul King, General Manager of Tia’s Bakery Gluten-Free. This man, who airline records show arrived in Chicago just days before the storm, was captured on airport surveillance cameras boarding a plane in Los Angeles airport. Unconfirmed TSA reports indicate the man was spotted traveling with over 350 gluten-free cakes, cookies and brownies. He was sighted in the Chicago metropolitan areas by hundreds of store shoppers as he gave away delicious samples of the Tia’s Bakery product line. Nancy Perlman of the GIG (Gluten Intolerence Group) Kids and Family Group of Chicago stated that her organization members “devoured” the amazingly tasty desserts. Below is a photograph of the man suspected of supplying shoppers with free samples of Scrumptious and Totally Healthy desserts such as, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (vegan), German Chocolate Cake, Grandma’s Chocolate Cake and the aforementioned Strawberry Shortcake.
Additional confirmed reports are that shoppers were enticed to try the wonderfully moist cakes and “oh-so-good” cookies after hearing this man exclaim in full earshot of the public, “I have cake, and I’m sharing.”  He has been spotted all over the greater Chicago area in the following towns; Deerfield, Willowbrook, Schaumburg, Chicago, Evanston, Wheaton and even River Forest.

This reporter has received information from an undisclosed website (www.tiasbakery.com), that this man will again give away free samples of these amazing gluten-free, agave sweetened desserts Tues. Feb. 8th in Wheaton and Napervile, IL.
Important information about his whereabouts and how to experience for yourself the powerful goodness of Tia’s Bakery Gluten-Free can be obtained by clicking the link to the right entitled, “Helloooo Chicago.”

Tia’s Bakery Gen. Mgr. – Paul King. If he’s from Los Angeles, where’d he get the snow shoes?

Feb. 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Paul King, General Manager-Tia’s Bakery

I’m the youngest son in a family of three children and only a year and a half behind my older brother. My bother and I are friends. However, as we’ve grown older, gotten married and now have families of our own; my brother and I see less and less of each other. While in Chicago I had one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life…..I met a long lost brother!

This winter brought the worst blizzard to Chicagoland in decades; snow drifts, cars frozen solid on Lake Shore Drive and me ( a California beach-boy) colder than a witch’s &$@, in a brass bra. But I digress.

Having never explored Chicago or having the opportunity to experience the art, history and people of the area – I was a bit uncertain of exactly what to expect.  What I found was a city of (and this is the best way that I can describe it) friends. You may have read about my friends Marty, Ben &  Jasmine in Vol. I.   During the snow storm, a car became stuck in the snow in front of their home, before you could say “huh?”, Ben was out the door lending a shoulder to help the driver along their way. My wonderful hosts on 23rd Street were my first introduction to the friendliness of the people of Chicago.

After about a week of visiting stores and sharing our delicious cakes and cookies with customers, I meet my long lost brother for the first time.

Funny, we look nothing alike.

Pilsen Disrict, great area, great people!

But what about the people of Chicagoland?

Our first encounter with the people of Chicago was with an amazing group of young people in the Pilsen district.  Pilsen is the heart of Chicago’s Mexican American community with a wealth of restaurants, shops and a bustling Chicago Arts District.

While in Pilsen, Paul our General Manager was hosted by Marty, Ben, & Jasmine, members of the social networking group, CouchSurfers and three truly unique individuals.

Marty is a small business consultant and computer repair technician.

An active member of the social networking group Couch Surfers, Marty is a “dyed in the wool” fan of the popular television series StarTrek and has probably the most unusual laugh ever heard on planet earth.

Ben, a computer programmer, reminded us of a modern-day McGuyver type; always cool

and calm and with vast knowledge and experience which seems to serve him well in most any situation.  Ben also owned the most amazing pair of beaver pelt slippers. A native of Alaska, Ben assured us that he could get us a pair if we wanted them. Ben, we want, we want!

And finally, Jasmine is a beautiful young lady with a heart of gold. Her many civic activities include assisting with the organization and management of a local community garden and  providing a home and training for dogs prior to their adoption from a local shelter.  Don’t let her good looks fool you; this gutsy gal actual rode her bike seven miles through the harsh blizzard and was none the worse for wear!

These three amazing people allowed Paul to

share their lives in the Pilsen area for 8-days. “I can’t thank them enough for their generosity and hospitality. Their help made it possible for me to bring Tia’s Bakery to the Midwest.”

During his stay, Paul was invited to experience Marty’s birthday party and a meeting of the local CouchSurfingcommunity.

To Marty, Ben & Jasmine, Thank you all for your kindness & friendship.

Come join us at the Whole Foods store located at 2655 Pacific Coast Hwy in Torrance.
We’ll be there from 11:00 to 1:00 giving away delicious samples of all of our gluten free goodies.

Paul hopes to bring some of the sunny warmth of the west coast to beautiful Chicago

- blending Chi-town with Hollywood.
We highly recommend that you catch one of the shows at your local Chicago area Whole Foods.  See our earlier post for locations & times.

And please remember Live, Love & Laugh.