Friday, July 24, 2015

News & Notes: July 24, 2015

The team behind German-themed Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia has opened a traditional American tavern in the city's Queen Village section. Like its Teutonic sibling, Whetstone Tavern (700 S. 5th St., 267-239-0906) denotes gluten-free options like crab cakes and polenta on the menu.

A bit further southwest in town, Triangle Tavern (1338 S. 10th St., 215-800-1992) has gluten-free items such as antipasti (with bread), mussels and salads.

Gluten-free choices are listed on the lunch and dinner menus at the Washington Crossing Inn (1295 General Washington Memorial Blvd., 215-493-3634). Several desserts are gluten free as well.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Chocolate Ship Cookies

Marking an occasion over a long distance isn't difficult, even when your gift recipient eats gluten free. Many gourmet bakeries now offer gluten-free sweets for home and office delivery.

New Jersey-based David's Cookies is the newest to produce gluten-free baked goods. The company's gluten-free cookie and brownie sample box is also nut free and dairy free. Made in a dedicated GFCO-certified facility, the box ($49.95 with free two-day shipping) contains six cookies (two each of oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip and snickerdoodle) and two brownies (one chocolate chip brownie and one cranberry-orange oatmeal bar). Save 15% at checkout with promo code GOOG15.

Shopping-mall staple Mrs. Fields now has a line of soft-baked gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, made separately on different equipment. The company currently offers six different options, ranging from a four-cookie box ($19.99) to a 24-cookie basket ($74.99). Save 15% at checkout with promo code DDLS.

Tate's Bake Shop's gluten-free desserts, made in a dedicated kitchen, have expanded over the years. The original, crispy chocolate chip cookie has a double-chocolate sibling and even a new chipless version, which I tried last week and are excellent. There are brownies and blondies too. Prices start at $19.99 for a cookie three-pack. Save 10% at checkout with promo code SAVE10.

Also produced in a dedicated facility, Harry & David's gluten-free range not only includes cookies, but also two muffin duos: Lemon Poppyseed & Cinnamon Streusel and Maple & Almond. The 12-cookie selection ($29.95) includes six chocolate chip and six peanut butter chocolate chip. Each 12-muffin order ($19.95) contains a half-dozen of each pairing. Get free shipping on $59+ with promo code THANK YOU and 15% off $75+ with code SHINE.

Cookies By Design offers decorated sugar cookie bouquets to commemorate holidays and special occasions, as well as three varieties of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. The dough is made on separate equipment in a different area of the production facility. The Philadelphia region has two shops where local orders are delivered from: Exton (56 E. Uwchlan Ave., 610-594-0122) and Voorhees (700 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd., 856-753-4383). Orders can also be picked up at Cookies By Design stores. Prices start at $29.99. Use promo code NEW1013 for 10% off any $50+ order.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links.

Friday, July 10, 2015

News & Notes: July 10, 2015

Center City Philadelphia workers and residents will soon have another gluten-free meal option. Come August, Milk House will open a second location near Rittenhouse Square formerly occupied by Matyson (37 S. 19th St.). Just as at the original spot in Suburban Station, Milk House will offer gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches (prepared on a separate grill), soups, fries, tots and ice cream.

SweetWater Bar & Grill in Cinnaminson (10 Rt. 130 N., 856-829-7458) offers guests a gluten-free menu. (Thanks Tina S.)

Cheeburger Cheeburger locations in Chalfont (4275 County Line Rd., 267-477-1110) and Oaks (122 Mill Rd., 484-392-7005) serve burgers on Udi's buns.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Lean On Me

If you've walked through the frozen section of the supermarket and noticed more gluten-free options lately, you're not alone.

One of the country's largest and well-known frozen-meal lines, Lean Cuisine, recently introduced new meals as part of a brand makeover. In addition to its Mornings breakfast meals, the brand's products are divided among four other categories: Marketplace (trendy meals), Comfort (comfort-food standards), Favorites (popular dishes), and Craveables (finger foods).

Friday, July 3, 2015

News & Notes: July 3, 2015

If you like cereal, you're in luck this week. First off, General Mills announced this week that the change the company made in its cereal production facilities that allows five varieties of Cheerios to be gluten free now means Lucky Charms is joining that list. Lucky Charms will use the oat flour being made for gluten-free Cheerios.

The company announced the news about gluten-free Cheerios in February and how it developed a way to sort out the small amount of wheat, rye and barley in its supply of whole oats that are inadvertently introduced at the farms where the oats are grown, or during transportation of the whole oats to the mill. This sorting ensures that the oats used – for the five Cheerios varieties and Lucky Charms – allow the company to meet the FDA’s guideline for gluten free.

You should be able to find Lucky Charms, labeled gluten free, on store shelves in September (with national distribution by October). Check the side panel for “GLUTEN FREE” at the bottom of the nutrition information. The five varieties of Cheerios going gluten free will be in stores soon in some areas of the U.S., and by September across the country. They are Original Cheerios, Honey Nut, Multi-Grain, Apple Cinnamon and Frosted.

Incidentally, General Mills recently stated that it is aiming to eliminate the use of artificial colors and flavors in 90 percent of its cereals by the end of 2016.