My Fooodie Review Round Up - Wahaca, Brioche Pasquier and Ilumi

Wahaca Sauce

Wahaca is bringing some Mexican heat to my cooking, with their range of Smoky Chipotle, Fruity Habanero and Fiery Arbol chilli sauces.  Created by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, they are made with carefully selected chillies to create a versatile sauce for marinading, drizzling or cooking.

I used the Fiery Arbol Chilli sauce to add a kick of heat to my Quorn and Vegetable Satay (made simply using sugar and salt free peanut butter and coconut milk).  It added a lovely warmth to the dish.

Brioche Pasquier 

My children are big fans of French bakery items, which bring back many happy memories of holidaying in France. When they were sent some Brioche Pasquier items to try out they were eager to tuck in!

The individually wrapped Pains as Chocolate and the new Pitch chocolate brioche rolls are perfect for snacking on the go or for lunchboxes.  The Pains au Lait are deliciously soft rolls  that little ones will love.

The kid friendly Pitch rolls are available in Chocolate, Choc Chip, Lemon, and Strawberry flavours.  The chocolate ones are filled with a dark chocolate centre. Kizzy absolutely loves them!

All Brioche Pasquier products are free from artificial preservatives and colours, and are made using traditional, authentic recipes and techniques.  They bring a taste of France to breakfast, lunch and snacktime.

Ilumi Vegetarian Range - GF, dairy free and nut free.


Ilumi is a range of allergen free ready meals, sauces, soups and rices which are lovingly created using natural ingredients to enhance wellbeing.  They contain no nuts, no milk and no gluten making them great for people with allergies or for those trying to cut down on dairy or follow a GF diet.  Coming in convenient pouches, they can be enjoyed at home or eaten anywhere where they can be reheated.

The ingredients lists are clearly displayed on the front of the packaging and read like a homemade recipe. No nasty additives or chemicals, just real food, herbs and spices.  Ilumi have recently expanded their vegetarian range and I was sent a few samples to try out.

I was delighted to see that the dishes were all vegan as well as being GF friendly so they fitted in perfectly with my latest healthy eating.  They are convenient for those days when I have been too busy to make something completely from scratch.

Vegetable and Chickpea Jalfrezi - medium hot curry sauce covers butternut squash, chickpeas and peppers in this dish.  Perfect served with rice.
Geng Gari Curry with Butternut Squash - with coconut milk, sweet potato and butternut squash blended together in the sauce this is a sweet dish offset by the use of lemon grass and lime juice. This tasted authentically Thai with its sweet and sharp flavours.
Spicy Harira Soup - lentils, chickpea and tomato combine to make a spiced soup. Great if you like your food a bit spicy! A big hit with my husband.
Vegetable Biryani - a mildly aromatic rice dish, packed with vegetable pieces.  It's nice and moist and tasty with nice chunks of vegetable throughout.

You can shop online at www.ilumiworld.com where the soup costs £1.75 a pouch and vegetarian main meals cost £2.75. There are lots of choices for vegans and vegetarians.  Ilumi is quality convenience food at a reasonable price.

Allergen Free Eating For Wellbeing

The food that we consume has a big impact on our health and wellbeing.  This is especially so if you suffer from food allergies or intolerances, but even for those of us who don't, some foods can cause bloating or affect our complexions or energy levels. Eating organic food that is additive and preservative free, which does not contain the common allergens nut, dairy and gluten, can help revamp our diets and improve our wellbeing.

Ilumi is a company that has been cooking up organic, nut, gluten and dairy free meals for over a decade.  Their products are 100% safe for those with allergies.  But this doesn't mean they are bland.  They supply a great range of sauces, soups, gravies and meal ideas, conveniently served in microwaveable pouches or trays.  They don't need to be refrigerated as they are pressure cooked in their packs, naturally preserving them.  This makes them ideal for popping into your bag to eat away from home, ensuring that what you eat it is completely safe.  Just microwave and they are ready to enjoy.

We are lucky not to suffer from food allergies in our family, but as vegetarians we are very aware of what we eat.  Ilumi do a range of veggie friendly meals which are very convenient and offer something a bit different and much healthier to the usual ready meal options available in supermarkets. They also make sauces to make cooking from scratch easier.  Vegetable and Chickpea Jalfrezi, Tomato and Red Pepper Soup, Spanish Style Rice and Vegetables and Morrocan Style Vegetable Tagine are a selection of their vegetarian offerings and I was sent some to try.

Each packet has the ingredients clearly labelled so you know exactly what has gone into the product.  The allergy information is also clearly labelled along with the nutritional values of the dish.  It is a very clear and foolproof labelling system and a model I would love to see adopted by big brands.

The dishes can be heated in a microwave or put into a pan on a hob.  I have been enjoying them at lunchtime.  The Spanish Style Rice and Vegetables comes in at under 300 calories for a quick, easy and healthy lunch.  My serving up technique is a bit lacking and I have to admit it looked a bit unappetising in its plastic tub, but it did taste good! It had a lovely rich smoky flavour from the paprika.  And it is nutritious, made with all good stuff!  It is also very filling and satisfying, so great if you are watching your weight.

The Sweet Chilli Stiry Fry Sauce worked brilliantly with Quorn giving a sticky, sweet and sour stir fry.  The Tomato and Red Pepper soup was lovely, with a hint of smokiness. And the Vegetable and Chickpea Jalfrezi was nicely spicy and had nice pieces of butternut squash in it. Perfect served with rice.

I am impressed to find a company offering something a bit different to make life easier for those with allergies or for those of us who just want to eat better.

For a quick healthy meal at home or at the office, Ilumi is a great option. Much better than the high salt, high fat ready meals that fill the aisles of supermarkets. And the range is far more imaginative and well made.  For allergy sufferers, Ilumi offers a 100% safe, allergen free alternative that is easy to carry in your bag when not eating at home.

Prices are between £1.00 and £2.75 which is excellent value for what you are getting.  At the moment they have a great offer online where if you spend £20 or more they give you a massive £10 off! Plus it's free delivery.

Find out more and shop online at www.ilumiworld.com