News & Notes: June 17, 2011

I'm jealous of SEPTA riders, though not because of the train delays. Not only can they get gluten-free baked goods at the Wynnewood Station (Main Line Baking Company), but now gluten-free bagels, muffins and sandwiches are available at the Lansdale Station. A Little Something Nice Cafe in Lansdale (101 W. Main St., 215-631-7997) is open six days a week for breakfast and lunch. The cafe's menu lists the gluten-free items.

Three more area restaurants are serving gluten-free pizza pies. Trenton's famed DeLorenzo's Pizza (1007 Hamilton Ave., 609-393-2952) is using Still Riding's crusts for pizzas and tomato pies. Meanwhile, reader Jamie Y. let me know that the Ardmore outpost of Peace A Pizza (4 Station Rd., 610-896-4488) has gluten-free pizza as well. Peace A Pizza bakes those versions in a dedicated oven. For beachgoers, Casa del Dolce in Ocean City (947-949 Asbury Ave., 609-398-9300) has gluten-free pizza and pasta, both of which are prepared separately from other items. Thanks to reader Anna A., who provided the tip about Casa del Dolce.

The British Chip Shop in Haddonfield (146 E. Kings Highway, 856-354-0204) notes gluten-free items on its menu, including sandwiches and salads. Owner/chef Edward Strojan tells me that he'd like to add gluten-free fish and chips.

In Downingtown, the Victory Brewpub & Restaurant (420 Acorn Lane, 610-873-0881) now has a small gluten-free menu. Thanks to reader Bethann S. for the tip.

Also with a gluten-free menu is Robin's Nest in Mount Holly (2 Washington St., 609-261-6149), serving French-American cuisine.

One other restaurant note: On Tuesday, I reviewed Modo Mio, a delightful Italian BYO in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia.

Reader Donna D. reports that Leo's Famous Yum Yum in Medford (7 Tomlinson Mill Rd., 856-797-8771) offers soft-serve ice cream with Goldbaum's gluten-free cones.

Local cold-cuts producer Dietz & Watson this week debuted its first-ever gluten-free deli at the Acme supermarket in Paoli (39 Leopard Rd., 610-240-0101). More than 20 of Dietz & Watson's gluten-free meats and cheeses are available in a special eight-foot segregated section of the deli. The gluten-free products will have dedicated slicers separate from the other deli slicers, and deli associates will wear special blue gloves when handling gluten-free products.

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Father's Day!

News & Notes: May 20, 2011

Highlighting the week that was, National Foundation for Celiac Awareness founder Alice Bast accepted The Philadelphia Award, presented to a citizen of the Philadelphia region who, during the preceding year, acted and served on behalf of the best interests of the community. The award includes a $25,000 prize, which Alice graciously donated to the NFCA.

Surely not as significant, but nonetheless interesting, was my Tuesday feature on Revolution Cider, a homegrown, gluten-free hard cider that is served in Philadelphia-area bars and restaurants. Since then, The Pub on Passyunk East - better known as The P.O.P.E. (1501 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-755-51245) - has picked up the drink, so now you can enjoy an alcoholic beverage with a gluten-free sandwich.

Shoo Mama's Farm Fresh Cafe in West Chester (66 E. Street Rd., 484-315-8431) offers sandwiches on gluten-free bread or a bagel, chicken fingers, brownies and other items. The kitchen uses a separate cutting board for gluten-free items and has a dedicated fryer.

The Cheeseburger in Paradise chain has long offered a gluten-free menu - including fries - but will dramatically improve that list with the addition of gluten-free burger buns. They'll be in all locations by mid-June, with the roll-out now underway. CIP has local spots in Exton and Langhorne, Pennsylvania and in Newark, Delaware.

I wouldn't make it my first choice for dining out, but in a pinch Houlihan's may do. The American chain has a list of gluten-free menu items posted at its website. (Celiacs and sensitive individuals should avoid the fries unless there's a dedicated fryer.) Houlihan's has area outposts in Bala Cynwyd, Plymouth Meeting, Cherry Hill and Lawrenceville.

Cock 'n Bull, at Peddlers Village in Lahaska, has rolled its gluten-free pasta option into new lunch and dinner menus. Among the choices are a BLT sandwich on whole-grain bread, chicken parmigiana and a brownie for dessert. Thanks to reader Robert H. for the tip.

I've posted updated gluten-free menus from several Jose Garces restaurants - Chifa, Tinto, Amada and Distrito - at the Gluten Free Philly restaurant page.

Joy Cone - the company that produces ice cream cones found at many stands and parlors - now makes gluten-free cake and sugar cones. They are manufactured in the same facility as the wheat-based cones, but the lines are cleaned in preparation for making the gluten-free versions. I found the cake cones at ShopRite in Cherry Hill.

Reader Megan E. let me know that Costco carries Rudi's gluten-free multigrain bread, while Danielle T. wrote on Facebook that Whole Foods in Marlton also has Rudi's. Tina S. found Udi's products at ShopRite in Delran.

The Chester County Gluten Intolerance Group meeting on Thursday, May 26 in West Chester will include a gluten-free potluck dinner. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.

Next Saturday, May 28, Jules Thin Crust in Jenkintown will host a gluten-free pizza party and book signing from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Kids will be able to make their own pizzas, while local author Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer will be available for questions from parents. Her book, The Kitchen Classroom, is a cookbook offering 32 visual gluten-free, casein-free recipes to aid developmental skills.

Have a great weekend!

Here's the Scoop

While any time's a good time for ice cream in our house, the summer is peak season. So it was good timing that I discovered several new varieties of Goldbaum's all-natural ice cream cones.

Among the products recently introduced by the Brooklyn, New York-based company are vanilla and sugar cones and, yes, waffle bowls and jumbo cones. All of the cones and bowls, made primarily with potato starch, are manufactured in Israel and are vegan, GMO-free and Kosher Parve. The only discernible difference I sensed between the Goldbaum products and wheat cones is that the former lack a bit less crispiness. (The company suggests in that case to warm them up in a pre-heated oven for two minutes.) Otherwise, they are excellent.

Look for Goldbaum's at local natural foods stores and markets. I bought the cocoa-flavored sugar cones at ShopRite in Cherry Hill, while Water to Go/Gluten Free Dynasty in Pennsauken has the jumbo cones and several others. The products can be ordered online at The Gluten-Free Mall.