News & Notes: January 29, 2016

Gluten-free food finds this week include Big Pretzels, a larger version of Glutino's mini gluten-free hard pretzel twists. The company has posted a recipe for pretzel sliders with Italian meatballs, with the pretzels standing in for buns.

Quaker's new line of gluten-free oatmeal, which to this point, had limited availability, is now being sold nationwide. You can read the product FAQ for more information about the company's production process.

Look for the veggie blend flavor of Nabisco's new Good Thins snack crackers, made with rice flour.

Jules Thin Crust will be bringing its gluten-free pizza to Princeton (18 Witherspoon St.) this spring, according to a report.

Michaelangelo's in Cherry Hill (1334 Brace Rd., 856-428-3231) has added gluten-free pizza to its menu. Pasta is also available.

News & Notes: January 15, 2016

Healthy prepared-foods purveyor Snap Kitchen is entering the Delaware Valley next month with the opening of four area locations: Old City (243 Market St., 215-845-0004), Rittenhouse Square (1901 Chestnut St., 215-845-0002), Fairmount (1901 Callowhill St., 215-845-0001) - all in Philadelphia proper - and in Malvern (5 S. Morehall Rd.). Future locations are coming to Midtown Village (1109 Walnut St., 215-845-0003) in Philadelphia, Villanova and Cherry Hill. The entire menu of pre-packaged meals is gluten free, save for the whole-wheat pita crisps and the Caesar salad (which contains said crisps). Snap Kitchen currently operates in Chicago, Dallas, Austin and Houston.

At the week-old Revolution Taco on Rittenhouse Square (2015 Walnut St., 267-773-8120), all of the taco varieties except for roast duck and fried tofu are gluten free, as are the burrito bowls.

Coming to Exton in April is World of Beer (128 Woodcutter St.), which lists gluten-free items on its menu and offers more than a dozen hard ciders along with several gluten-free beers.

Come Sail Away

Royal Caribbean continues to impress the Gluten Free Philly clan. We spent time over the holidays on Royal's Independence of the Seas, currently based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a five-night cruise with stops in Falmouth, Jamaica and Royal's private resort in Labadee, Haiti. This was the third time we've cruised with Royal since our 15-year-old was diagnosed with celiac disease, and each time it's gotten easier to manage his diet.

While the traditional dinner seating times for the ship's main dining room still exist, many cruise lines - like Royal - allow guests flexibility to choose their own dinner reservation times. Either way, you'll be served by the same waitstaff every night, so they become familiar with guests' dietary requirements. In our case, our servers took great care of our son, from bringing him freshly baked gluten-free bread at the start of each dinner meal to taking his order in advance the prior evening so that the following night's entree would come out at the same time as those of his family and friends. Royal's dining room menus are clearly labeled with gluten-free, vegetarian and lactose-free options.