Friday, November 20, 2009

News & Notes

I could scarcely believe my eyes this week when I read the headline of an online press release announcing that Domino's Pizza was introducing gluten-free pizza. My excitement was short-lived, though, because while the headline was technically accurate, the release itself revealed that it is the Domino's outlets in Australia that will be serving celiac-friendly pizzas! It will be interesting to see if the company intends to roll out gluten-free pizzas in North America if successful Down Under.

In news closer to home, I wrote on Monday about bed-and-breakfast inns in the tri-state area that serve gluten-free breakfasts to guests. One commenter to the post wrote that the Speedwell Forge B&B in Lititz, Pennsylvania also offers such meals. On Wednesday, I spotlighted the gluten-free meats and cheeses made by Philadelphia's own Dietz & Watson.

I learned this week that the Cock 'n Bull restaurant at Peddlers Village in Lahaska, Pennsylvania (Route 263 and Street Road, 215-794-4000) has a gluten-free pasta option. While shopping at the Village, you can also buy gluten-free cookies, brownies and specialty cakes from Town Crier Bakery (29 Peddlers Lane, 215-794-9910) and gluten-free peanut brittle, nuts, handmade nut butters and most varieties of Korn Krunches from The Nut Kettle (63 Peddlers Lane, 215-794-8494). Town Crier's gluten-free baked goods are made off-premises by celiacs.

The area's newest P.F. Chang's China Bistro is set to open on November 30 at the Providence Town Center in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Customers can now place take-out orders for all area P.F. Chang's locations at the company's online ordering page. Incidentally, the chain is running a holiday gift card offer: purchase $100 in gift cards at any P.F. Chang's restaurant (not online) and receive a $10 Be Our Guest card. The offer ends December 31, 2009.

Another gift-card offer is at Ninety-Nine Restaurants. For every $25 gift card purchased, you will receive a coupon good for $5 off your next meal of $25 or more.

Reader Tara wrote to tell me about the fantastic chicken pot pie she made last weekend using a gluten-free pie crust from Sweet Christine's Gluten-Free Bakery in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The pie crusts are available for $6 each.

Selected Sam’s Club membership warehouse stores have begun selling gluten-free frozen pizzas on a provisional basis, with a pending national roll-out if the pilot program is successful. The pepperoni variety of Isabelle's Best Gluten-Free Pizza is now available at Sam's Club locations in parts of the Eastern and Midwest United States. Stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Dover, Delaware will be participating in the program (call ahead to find out if the location nearest you has them in stock). I found the pizzas at the Sam's Club in Cinnaminson, New Jersey; a package of two 12-inch pies sells for about $14. The pizza, which is distributed by JHS Foods, is made with Domata gluten-free rice flour.

Pre-made gluten-free Dutch Country Soft Pretzels are now being sold in packages of three at natural food stores. I spotted these at Water to Go/Gluten Free Dynasty in Pennsauken, New Jersey, where I bought a package of gluten-free Oreo-style sandwich cookies made by Glutino. I thought they tasted great - they reminded me of Double-Stuf cookies, with lots of creme filling.

At least some Quaker rice cakes are now being labeled gluten-free. I saw the Apple Cinnamon and Lightly Salted flavors marked as such during a visit last week to my local ShopRite.

Shoppers at glutenfree.com, which sells products from Ian's Natural Foods, Glutino and Gluten-Free Pantry among other companies, can get a 10 percent discount off of orders totaling $75 or more; use promotional code November at checkout. Coincidentally, Gluten-Free Pantry packaging is undergoing a redesign, to be implemented before the year is over.

The Bucks/Montgomery chapter of Raising Our Celiac Kids (R.O.C.K.) is holding a holiday party on December 13 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Kids in attendance will decorate cookies, with cookies, frosting and sprinkles to be provided. If you are interested in participating in a cookie swap, bring two dozen cookies to share. Jodie and Bruce Finkel will be hosting the event at their home, located at 2052 Serendipity Way in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania (you may need to enter the town of Skippack if obtaining directions on a GPS device). RSVP to Holly and Steve Staugaitis by phone at 215-997-2706 or by email.

I will be off next week but will return after the Thanksgiving weekend. Be safe and have a wonderful gluten-free holiday!
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