News & Notes: August 21, 2015

Four Udi's Gluten Free breakfast sandwich varieties will soon be found in supermarket freezers: Egg White & Cheddar, Chicken Maple Sausage, Ham & Cheddar, and Sausage are each served on a gluten-free biscuit. Each package contains two sandwiches. The products will be sold at Target and other retailers.

Also new are gluten-free pretzels from popular salty snack purveyor Utz. The pretzels, which come in three styles - Rings, Sticks and Minis - are also free of dairy, milk, lactose, casein and egg. Utz is offering free shipping on the new pretzels through Aug. 31 with promo code GLUTENFREE. Utz is in the process of obtaining gluten-free certification.

Hard root beer is having a moment. As I wrote in Tuesday's post, several popular brands, like Not Your Father's Root Beer, are not gluten free, though one Midwest brewer - Root Sellers - will be expanding distribution of its gluten-free Row Hard Root Beer in the coming months.

Estia Greek Taverna, with locations in Radnor (222 N. Radnor Chester Rd., 484-581-7124) and Marlton (140 W. Rt. 70, 856-596-5500), now has a gluten-free menu. Sister restaurant Estia in Center City Philadelphia (1405-07 Locust St., 215-735-7700) has also added its own version. (Thanks to Kristen of the Garden State of Mind blog for the tip via Twitter.)

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Grub Burger Bar opened last week in North Wales (254 Montgomery Mall, 215-583-1242). Burgers can be served on Udi's buns and the sweet potato fries are cooked separately.

Longtime reader Shari S. reported on an excellent gluten-free meal at French bistro A La Maison in Ardmore (53 W. Lancaster Ave., 484-412-8009). Most items on the menu do not contain gluten and others can be modified.

Louie's in Allentown (2071 31st St. SW, 610-791-1226), which often hosts CSA Lehigh Valley Chapter meetings, offers gluten-free pasta dishes.

Contemporary American Tango Restaurant in Bryn Mawr (39 Morris Ave., 610-526-9500) and Brûlée Bakery will collaborate on a special gluten-free dinner at the restaurant on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The all-gluten-free three-course menu will be prepared by Tango executive chef/owner Sam Sheridan, with desserts prepared and plated by Brûlée's Lila Collelo. The dinner will include a choice of six first courses, five second courses, and three desserts, including a gluten-free amuse-bouche selected by the executive chef to start the dinner. Reservations are recommended for the prix fixe dinner ($38 per person; drinks tax and gratuity are not included) and guests must mention the gluten-free pop-up dinner or “Brûlée Bakery Pop Up” when reserving. Seating is between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations and questions about the menu can be made by calling the restaurant.

Recent area restaurant closings include the Olive Garden location in Center City and Blue2O seafood restaurant in Cherry Hill.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,400 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!