News & Notes: December 23, 2016

Photo Credit: Shake Shack/Facebook

As of this week, gourmet-burger chain Shake Shack has gluten-free buns available (for a $1 upcharge) at all locations except for those at stadiums and ballparks. The bread is also dairy free. Keep in mind that Shake Shack's fries are not gluten free because they are prepared in the same fryers as breaded mushrooms.

Local Shake Shacks are in University City (3200 Chestnut St., 267-338-3464), Rittenhouse Square (2000 Sansom St., 215-809-1742), King of Prussia (160 N. Gulph Rd., 267-428-7560; 350 Mall Blvd., 484-679-8335) and Newark, Delaware (2120 Fashion Center Blvd., 302-597-7417). A shop along Route 70 in Marlton, New Jersey is planned for 2017.

Photo Credit: The Olde Bar/Facebook

The Olde Bar, a traditional American restaurant located in the former Bookbinder's space in Old City Philadelphia (125 Walnut St., 215-253-3777) has a gluten-free menu designed by Chef Jose Garces. Four other Garces-owned restaurants - Amada in Old City (217-219 Chestnut St., 215-625-2450) [menu], University City's Distrito (3945 Chestnut St., 215-222-1657) [menu], Tinto in Rittenhouse Square (114 S. 20th St., 215-665-9150) [menu] and Garces Trading Company in Washington Square West (1111 Locust St., 215-574-1099) [menu] - have updated their gluten-free menus.

Zama, also on Rittenhouse Square (128 S. 19th St., 215-568-1027) now has a gluten-free menu that includes items from the sushi bar. Sister restaurant CoZara in University City (3200 Chestnut St., 267-233-7488) has a similar menu.

In nearby Midtown Village, Smokin' Betty's (116 S. 11th St., 215-922-6500) notes gluten-free options on its lunch/dinner menu, including many salads, most sides and all 'cue prepared plain or with a spicy dry rub. New Planet's gluten-free Pale Ale beer and Crispin cider are currently available from the bar.

According to Philly.com, extensions of three gluten-free-friendly eateries are opening soon. Snap Custom Pizza will take over the Peace A Pizza location in Bryn Mawr (1125 Lancaster Ave., 610-581-7010) as of Tuesday, Dec. 27, while Bryn + Dane's is expected to open within the next month down the road in the Bryn Mawr Village shopping center (909 Lancaster Ave.). The story notes that Bryn + Dane's is planning to open in early spring in Atwater Village in Malvern and at the Frankin in Center City Philadelphia (800 Chestnut St.). Also, stir-fry specialist Honeygrow will open next summer in the Market East section of the city at 15 S. 11th St., across from the still-under-construction MOM's Organic Market.

It's your last chance to order from the gluten-free menu at Market East Philadelphia's Aqua (705 Chestnut St., 215-928-2838), as the Malaysian-Thai spot is closing Dec. 31.

The Bobby's Burger Palace location at the Cherry Hill Mall recently closed. Locations in Princeton and University City are doing business as usual.

The locally made, all-gluten-free sweets from Sweet Ladybug Baked Goods are sold every Saturday at the Artisan Exchange in West Chester (208 Carter Dr., 267-471-7338). Next month, the bakery's products will also be available on Thursdays at the indoor flea market at the Sportsplex in Feasterville (1331 O'Reilly Dr.,).

Thanks for joining me for another exciting year at Gluten Free Philly! I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a wonderful 2017!

- Michael

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