News & Notes: April 29, 2016

(Photo credit: Beefsteak/Facebook)

Celebrity chef José Andrés, whose culinary empire is based on Washington, D.C., is heading to Philadelphia to open a branch of his quick-service concept called Beefsteak. The menu at the vegetable-focused restaurant, set to open in June in University City (3417 Spruce St.), is almost entirely gluten free. In fact, it's the gluten-containing items that are noted on the menu, not the other way around. Gluten-free diners will be able to order bowls composed of ingredients of their choosing or opt for chef-recommended combinations.

Street Side's tofu rice paper rolls
(Photo credit: Street Side/Facebook)

Street Side brings Vietnamese street food to Northern Liberties (165 W. Girard Ave., 267-737-9165). All of the rice paper rolls can be made with gluten-free tamari instead of hoisin peanut sauce. The pho is gluten free, as are most small plates and desserts. All gluten-free items are listed on the menu.

Saturday in the Park

As the area's amusement parks gear up for another season, more of them than ever are offering guests gluten-free options.

At Hersheypark, The Outpost is an entirely gluten-free and nut-free stand location in the Pioneer Frontier section. The menu includes cheese and buffalo chicken pizzas, buffalo and Southwest chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, grilled veggie wraps, salads, soft pretzel bites and turkey burgers. Dairy-free and vegetarian options are also available.

Hersheypark continues its outstanding handling of gluten-free requests, with the most options available at Overlook Food Court: hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza, fries and snacks. Craftbarn Kitchen also has burgers and snacks; pizza is also available at Founder's Way and the Hollow and Boardwalk area Famous Famiglia locations; hot dogs can be found at Timber Treats and Country Grill; and chicken tenders are also at Hollow Famous Famiglia. The staff is trained to handle allergen-friendly food options: when an order is placed for a specialty item, staff members will wash their hands, put on new gloves, and use all new utensils designated specifically for specialty items.

The ThunderHawk wooden roller-coaster got a refurbishment in time for the 2016 season at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown. These parks accommodate special diets with gluten-free pizza (at Typhoon Treats), chicken tenders and fries from dedicated fryers (at Coaster's and Center Stage Snacks), Chickie's & Pete's Crabfries, salads (at Coaster’s, Chickie's & Pete's Sports Bar and Subway), Dippin' Dots (all flavors except Cookies n’ Cream and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough), ICEE and cotton candy. The kitchens are also able to accommodate preparation requests such as hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken without rolls.

News & Notes: April 22, 2016

On Temple University's campus, Crisp Kitchen (1100 W. Montgomery Ave., 215-978-0482) can prepare gluten-free stir-frys with rice noodles and a choice of coconut curry, sweet & spicy mango or honey lemon ginger sauce. all salads dressing are gluten free as well.

Hatboro newcomer 58 York (58 S. York Rd., 215-672-8118) notes gluten-free options on its menu, including baked wings.

The new Trattoria Procaccini in Princeton (354 Nassau St., 609-683-9700) offers entrees made with gluten-free pasta, which is prepared separately in fresh water.

Fielder's Choice: 2016 Gluten-Free Guide to Major League Baseball Ballparks

Gluten-free stand at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia

Another baseball season brings even more gluten-free options. Many Major League Baseball stadiums have dedicated gluten-free concession stands and carts, while others have expanded their offerings.

Here's where you can find gluten-free concessions at each of the 30 MLB ballparks for the 2016 season (bookmark this post and check back throughout the season for updates; you can email me with any additions/changes that you find).

New & Notes: April 8, 2016

National BBQ restaurant chain Dickey's Barbeque Pit, which has area locations in Philadelphia (650 South St., 267-273-0364), East Norriton (65 E. Germantown Pike, 610-292-8800), Limerick (301 N. Lewis Rd., 484-791-3452), Allentown (1042 Mill Creek Rd., 610-366-7484), Wyomissing (1153 Berkshire Blvd., 484-709-2577), Bethlehem (3221 Schoenersville Rd., 610-625-2200) and Easton (1800 Sullivan Trail, 610-810-3149) has added gluten-free pulled pork street tacos to its menu for a limited time. Guests can either order two tacos for $3 or four tacos with one side and a Big Yellow Cup for $9.95. In addition to the pulled pork, the ribs, brisket, sausages, turkey and chicken breast are gluten free, as are all sauces and many non-fried sides.

Meanwhile, Dickey's new line of gluten-free smoked sausages is now available in 3,000 Walmart stores nationwide. The Original Smoked Polish Sausage, Smoked Spicy Cheddar Sausage and Hot Links contain no MSG or nitrites and are ready to heat and serve. After the initial launch in select Walmart stores, the sausages will also be available in other grocery stores nationwide, with outlets to be announced at a future date.

The Great American Pub locations in Phoenixville (148 Bridge St., 610-917-3333) and Wayne (4 West Ave., 610-964-9535) offer gluten-free menus that include baked wings, burgers and sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes and Angry Orchard hard cider. The Phoenixville outpost also has gluten-free pizza.

Yours Truly

Boston Beer Company, the maker of gluten-free Angry Orchard hard ciders (and, of course, the non-gluten-free Samuel Adams beers), is entering the trendy flavored alcoholic sparkling water space with the launch of Truly Spiked & Sparkling. The new gluten-free "hard" seltzers are being shipped to distributors in 16 states in the Mid-Atlantic region (Pennsylvania and New Jersey included), the Midwest and New England.

Each of the three low-carb flavors - Colima lime, grapefruit & pomelo and pomegranate - comes in 12 oz. bottles, are 100 calories per serving, and have a light (5% ABV) alcohol content.

The debut of Truly follows the growing popularity of similar hard seltzers such as Boathouse Beverage's gluten-free Spiked Seltzer line.