For those with special dietary needs, navigating a fair can be difficult. But those needing gluten-free options will have multiple choices at one of the largest fair’s in the country this year.
The Big E will have 45 vendors offering gluten-free food options.
Some of the options include cupcakes, tacos and curry.
“It’s super important because I heard from so many people at the fair last year, ‘Thank you for having gluten-free. There’s so few options at a fair,’” owner Josh Virkler said.
LuAnn’s Bakery and Cafe expanded its gluten-free options this year to include all five cupcake flavors they bring to the fair — including the pickle cupcake.
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The bakery has a gluten-free kitchen, which is totally separate. And all the items will be boxed separate from the other cupcakes to be brought to The Big E.
Sassy’s Sweet Potatoes owner Mary Beth Shirzadi said she started offering gluten-free options because of her niece, who had stage 4 cancer.
“She couldn’t eat one thing, not even an ear of corn,” Shirzadi said.
The Thai Chili food truck were known for their two gluten-free fries, including their spicy “Thai fries,” which are made using local fresh cut potatoes, mixed cheese, spicy honey aioli and habanero lemon basil aioli and their “Moo Moo Fries” or Thai pulled pork curry with mixed cheese, pulled pork curry, microgreens and spicy mango sauce.
Vegan and gluten-free Karee Curry Rice Bowl from Thai Chili at The Big E.
But MassLive suggested trying the “Karee Curry Rice Bowl.”
“It is creamy with a little bit of spice,” MassLive reporter Juliet Schulman-Hall wrote. “Perfect for a hearty meal.”
See below for the full list of gluten-free vendors:
- The Nut Lady – Craft Common
- The Deep South Company – Industrial Avenue
- Tots-A-Lot – New England Avenue
- West Springfield Lions Club – West Road
- Big Kahuna’s – West Road
- Subway – Food Court
- The Indian Restaurant – Food Court
- Pig Park BBQ – East Road
- The Ultimate BBQ – Food Court
- Moolicious – Springfield Road & West Road
- Old Country Style Bavarian Nuts – New England Avenue
- Tripps – Outside the Maine Building
- Zach’s Mac – The New Hampshire Buiding
- Las Papiplatanos – The Front Porch
- LuAnn’s Bakery – New England Avenue
- Calabrese Market – Food Court
- Mass Maple Producers – Massachusetts Building
- The Deviled Egg – East Road
- Dragons Breath – Young Building
- Pickle Fries – East Road
- Macho Taco – Commonwealth Avenue
- Dole Whip – West Road
- Sweet and Salty – Springfield Road
- SoulFully Vegan – The Front Porch
- Storrowton Tavern Soup Shack – Avenue of States
- Red’s Red Apples – New England Avenue & Commonwealth Avenue
- Ferrindino Maple – BLC & Springfield Road
- Sassy’s Sweet Potatoes – East Road
- Barbies Ice Cream – New England Avenue
- Demetri’s – New England Avenue
- Poutine Gourmet – Springfield Road
- Crow’s Nest Mexican – New England Avenue
- Jungle Juice Smoothies – Commonwealth Avenue
- Las Kangris Food Truck – Young Building
- BoardWok Noodles – Front Porch
- Hammi’s BBQ – East Road
- Billies Baked Potatoe – Commonwealth Avenue & New England Avenue
- Deliplace – East Road
- Apple Fries – West Road
- Fresh Cut Fry Express – West Road
- Jack’s Fries – Commonwealth Avenue & New England Avenue
- KB Foods – New England Avenue
- Kettle Korn Express – Craft Common
- Butcher Boys – New England Avenue
- Chocolate Moonshine – Young Building
