Jamie Oliver's FoodTube dubbed Kelowna's Nicole Knegt the Canadian queen of gluten free baking.
Image Credit: YouTube
December 12, 2014 - 2:29 PM
KELOWNA - A large cardboard cutout of a slice of bread caught food guru Jamie Oliver’s attention.
Matthew and Nicole Knegt of the Kelowna-based Four Spoons Bakery, which specializes in gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free goods, sent the lazer-cut two-by-one-and-a-half-foot cardboard toast with a bite mark in it to world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver’s production company on a whim, in hopes of being featured on his YouTube cooking channel, Jamie’s Food Tube. Engraved on the bread-shaped cardboard was the message, “Gluten-free bread can taste like cardboard. A special-diets Food Tube channel could help change this.”
“It was a gutsy move,” Matthew said.
Oliver launched a search last month for new foodie talent. This “fresh talent” will be uploaded to his Food Tube channel, where views and “thumbs-up” votes will help determine who is given the opportunity to work with his network.
In their package, the Knegts included a link to a custom portfolio website which invited Oliver to consider partnering with them to bring delicious gluten and allergen-friendly recipes to the world.
“We felt there was a niche for a food channel that caters to those of us who live with allergies, celiac disease, and other food sensitivities,” Matthew said.
Nicole is anaphylactic to all dairy and is also sensitive to gluten, yeast, and a number of other foods. Matthew also has a number of sensitivities to various foods.
The Knegts shot a video featuring a gluten-free and dairy-free adaptation of Oliver’s chocolate profiterole (cream puff) recipe from his most recent cookbook, Comfort Food. When Oliver’s team uploaded it to Jamie’s Food Tube, they dubbed Nicole “the Canadian queen of gluten free baking.” You can watch the video, and give the Knegts a thumbs up here.
The Knegt’s chocolate profiterole video is featured alongside eight fellow Food Tube fresh talent competitors, who have already earned considerable recognition within the food industry as MasterChef champions, TV chefs, authors and food writers. Seven are London-based and one is from Dublin.
“We are beyond thrilled,” Nicole said. “Please watch the video and give us a thumbs up. We hope to make Canada proud and to be able to provide high-quality gluten-free and allergen-friendly recipes.”
Since its kickoff in January 2013, Jamie’s Food Tube has become a cooking show and online recipe resource for the masses. It is the largest foodie community in Europe and boasts 1 million plus subscribers.
The Knegts created an online educational resource for individuals with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity and food allergies and also launched a YouTube cooking channel in September.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014