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.

News & Notes: October 2, 2015

University City beer garden William Street Common (3900 Chestnut St., 215-397-4693) notes gluten-free items on its menu and serves hard cider in pints, steins and table kegs.

Grilled cheese specialist Milk House has opened its second Center City Philadelphia location in Rittenhouse Square (37 S. 19th St., 267-639-4286). A separate press is used for the gluten-free sandwiches and the fries and tots are the only items in the fryer.

At the upscale Americana Diner in East Windsor (359 Rt. 130, 609-448-4477), most of the menu either is or can be made gluten free. Options also include pasta and Udi's burger buns.

2015 Expo East Recap

Last's year's hot food, kale, is this year's jackfruit, At least that's what I gathered from canvassing the products at the annual Expo East natural-foods show in Baltimore earlier this month. The show features new and trendy gourmet, natural and gluten-free products from across North America whose manufacturers are seeking wider distribution in supermarkets and grocery stores.

Fortunately I burned off as many calories as I consumed in walking the show floor. In no particular order, here are some of the notable gluten-free products I spotted at this year's event (not all items are currently available in area stores):

Cheeseburger bites from GeeFree Foods: These hors d'oeuvres join the company's pastry dough and other bite-size snacks like pigs in blankets. The cheeseburger bites will reach stores this fall.

Cannoli shells from Russo's Gluten Free Gourmet: The shells are made with rice flour and corn starch and have a flaky, crunchy texture. This item is currently available for online ordering through the company's website but will be reaching wider distribution.

News & Notes: July 10, 2015

Center City Philadelphia workers and residents will soon have another gluten-free meal option. Come August, Milk House will open a second location near Rittenhouse Square formerly occupied by Matyson (37 S. 19th St.). Just as at the original spot in Suburban Station, Milk House will offer gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches (prepared on a separate grill), soups, fries, tots and ice cream.

SweetWater Bar & Grill in Cinnaminson (10 Rt. 130 N., 856-829-7458) offers guests a gluten-free menu. (Thanks Tina S.)

Cheeburger Cheeburger locations in Chalfont (4275 County Line Rd., 267-477-1110) and Oaks (122 Mill Rd., 484-392-7005) serve burgers on Udi's buns.

News & Notes: May 8, 2015

Irish pub Tir Na Nog has opened its first suburban location in Cherry Hill (482 E. Evesham Rd., 856-520-8312), replacing Dubh Linn Square. The gluten-free menu includes burgers, pasta with vodka sauce, and fried calamari. The kitchen maintains a dedicated fryer, but be sure to specify gluten-free orders to your server.

Canyon Bakehouse this week announced the launch of its newest gluten-free products: Plain Bagels, Everything Bagels and Brownie Bites. The suggested retail prices of the Bagels and Brownie Bites are $5.49 and $6.49, respectively. All three products are now available for online purchase and will be available in Target and other natural and conventional grocers nationwide beginning this month.

The J.M. Smucker Company recently debuted Hungry Jack Funfetti Pancake & Waffle Mix. (Locally, Wegman's sells it for $3.49 each.) Also new are four new gluten-free Smucker’s Fruit-Fulls Blended Fruit flavors: Apple Cobbler with Oats, Tropical Fusion with Oats, Pom-Berry with Chia and Strawberry Vanilla with Chia.

News & Notes: December 12, 2014

From the West Coast to University City in West Philadelphia comes Wahoo's Tacos & More (3180 Chestnut St., 267-737-9876), where tacos and enchiladas can be made with corn tortillas. The currently available proteins - chicken, pork, steak and fish - are gluten free, though the tortilla chips are cooked in a shared fryer.

Nearly the entire menu is or can be made gluten free at the newly minted SouthHouse in South Philly (2535 S. 13th St., 267-457-3682). Look for drunken onion soup (made with cider and gluten-free bread), salads, tacos and sandwiches.

News & Notes: October 24, 2014

The High Point Cafe locations in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia (602 Carpenter Lane, 215-849-5152; 200 W. Allens Lane, 215-248-1900) and in Brewerytown (2831 W. Girard Ave., 267-519-0984) offer gluten-free breads like quinoa loaves and soda bread and sweets such as berry oat bars, macaroons, and cranberry orange muffins. The items are baked and packaged in a separate gluten-free kitchen. High Point's gluten-free products are also sold at other locations, including Weaver's Way in Chestnut Hill, Manayunk Brewing Company, and the Trolley Car Cafe in East Falls.

We spent last weekend in downstate Delaware for a youth baseball tournament and spotted a number of new gluten-free-friendly restaurants. Gary's Dewey Beach Grill (2000 Coastal Hwy. - Suite 105, 302-227-8519) offers gluten-free crab cakes. The restaurant is open on the weekends through the fall.

The small plates/tapas menu at 14 Global in Bethany Beach (14 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 302-616-1035) notes gluten-free options like pan-seared snapper, drunken PEI mussels and crispy pork belly. New Planet Pale Ale is usually available from the bar. During the fall season, the restaurant offers dinner service on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

News & Notes: July 12, 2013

The out-of-town "better burger" invasion has spread beyond Philadelphia borders into the suburbs. The latest to land is Burger Monger at the Willow Grove Mall (2500 W. Moreland Rd., 215-659-8099), which, like Burger 21 (new to Voorhees), originated in Tampa, Florida. Burger Monger's gluten-free patties and hot dogs are made with healthier Akaushi (Kobe-style) beef. The proteins, including Coleman free-range chicken, are prepared on a separate grill away from the bun grill and separate utensils are used. Customers can get Kinnikinick gluten-free buns for the sandwiches or order them wrapped with lettuce. The fries at Burger Monger are also gluten free, with no chance of cross-contamination since nothing else goes in the fryers. The kitchen uses separate containers for gluten-free milkshakes (made with Häagen-Dazs ice cream) since malteds are also on the menu.

A mini chain out of northern New Jersey, Zinburger, has opened on the old race track grounds in Cherry Hill (923 Haddonfield Rd., 856-488-7590). The restaurant is styled as a "wine & burger bar," with a selection of vino in addition to the standard menu of burgers, shakes and fries. The burgers themselves are gluten free, the fries are prepared in dedicated fryers, and shakes sans malt can be made separately. No buns, though customers can bring their own.

Meanwhile, Taffets gluten-free buns are now an option at Rittenhouse Square burger spot 500 Degrees (1504 Sansom St., 215-568-5000). (Thanks Lynda V. )

Reader Kara M. tells me that in Philadelphia's Washington Square West neighborhood, Mediterranean spot Barbuzzo (110 S. 13th St., 215-546-9300) accommodates gluten-free diners. At a recent meal, she and her husband enjoyed items on the cured meat board, roasted beet salad, grilled octopus salad, roasted bone marrow and the peanut butter gelato.

Also in Wash West, Paesano's Philly Style's newest location at Woody's Bar (202 S. 13th St., 215-545-1893) has gluten-free rolls for cheesesteaks.

Chifa, the Latin-Asian hybrid in the same neighborbood (707 Chestnut St., 215-925-5555), is closing after dinner service tomorrow night. Chef-owner Jose Garces plans to reconceptualize the restaurant as a Cuban diner.

Fette Sau, the Stephen Starr BBQ joint in Frankford (1208 Frankford Ave., 215-391-4888) has changed the formulations of two of its three table sauces so that only the "Spicy" sauce is gluten free. Thanks to reader Elizabeth R. for the heads-up.

More at the shore: The restaurant at the Blue Rose Inn in Cape May (653 Washington St., 609-435-5468) notes gluten-free options on its dinner menu and currently has a flourless chocolate cake and crème brûlée for dessert.

In Avalon, Kudos American Grille (2619 Dune Drive, 609-368-7422) has gluten-free pancakes and waffles at breakfast, bread and rolls at lunch, and pasta and chicken fingers at dinner, among other choices.

Just opened in Margate is Ginny's (8017 Winchester Ave., 609-816-9370), which has pancakes, oatmeal, and a separate toaster for bread, while nearby Bocca Coal Fired Bistro (7805 Ventnor Ave., 609-823-3663) offers separately prepared gluten-free pizza and pasta. Thanks to reader Lauren C. for those tips.

Readers Mark M. and Joseph let me know that Beiler's Bakery at Philly's famous Reading Terminal Market (51 N. 12th St., 215-351-0735) carries baked goods like lemon bars and cookies from Ruth Ann's Gluten-Free Bakery in Lancaster County.

Thanks to reader Jaime L., who sent me a photo of the new Pillsbury-branded gluten-free muffins. She picked them up in the freezer case in the gluten-free section at the King of Prussia Wegmans store for $3.79 for a package of four. As I wrote back in March, the GFCO-certified muffins are being produced by Uncle Wally's.

When it rains, it pours. Glutino's newest product is instant pancake mix, offering the convenience of a pourable bottle. It requires only one cup of water and, once opened, keeps in the fridge for up to four days. The mix's suggested retail price is $5.29.

And finally, in case you've been away for the holiday and missed the last couple of post, last week's feature post had a trailer for the upcoming YouTube gluten-free documentary series "Tasty Freedom," which will have a Philadelphia-themed episode, and on Tuesday I posted my review of Frito-Lay's new Ruffles Crispy Fries, a potato-stick snack.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

News & Notes: May 31, 2013

Ocean City shorebirds can order breakfast and lunch off of the gluten-free menu at Arlene's on Asbury (624 Asbury Ave., 609-399-3639). Notable breakfast options include pancakes, French toast and breakfast sandwiches. The kitchen keeps a separate toaster for gluten-free breads.

At the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel in Atlantic City (Boston Ave. and The Boardwalk, 609-347-7111), Patsy's Trattoria serves gluten-free spaghetti.

Vino Volo is at PHL's B/C Connector (above) and
three other airport locations (Photo courtesy Vino Volo)

If you're biding time at Philadelphia International Airport or looking to bring food onto the plane, another dining option besides Legal Sea Foods is Vino Volo, with four locations (B/C Connector, D/E Connector, Terminal B - Gate B9 and Terminal A West - Gate A17). Among the gluten-free items on the current menu are all of the "Small Bites" without bread, roasted chicken breast salad, braised pork tacos, and chickpea & chorizo chili. While not a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, the general manager tells me that the staff does their best to minimize cross contamination. Vino Volo is also looking to source a gluten-free bread to complement the cured meats, cheese plate and salmon rolls.

Noodles & Company's pad Thai dish

The Noodles & Company chain has planted its flag in the area with a location at the Concord Mall in Wilmington (4737 Concord Pike, 302-477-1018). There are nine noodle dishes on the gluten-free menu that can be made with either gluten-free fusilli or rice noodles, along with three salads. A second Delaware spot is coming to the Christiana Mall in Newark.

New American Vernick Food & Drink on Rittenhouse Square (2031 Walnut St., 267-639-6644) can accommodate gluten-free guests. The menu changes frequently, but look for most of the fish choices to be safe. (Thanks to reader Sara T. for the tip.)

Reader Jared G. let me know that many items can be prepared gluten free at The Library 2 steakhouse in Voorhees (306 Rt. 73 N., 856-424-0198)

After recently opening in Collegeville (121 Market St.), The Lite Choice is set to dish out its gluten-free soft serve dessert at a second Philadelphia location beginning today (1428 Walnut St.). The new locations have gluten-free cones, cookie wafers for sandwiches, and dedicated blenders.

NBC10 reporter Nefertiti Jáquez was profiled in the latest "Dishing With" segment, posted on Tuesday.

Ian's has unveiled new packaging across its entire product line and introduced several new allergen-friendly options. Coming soon are fruit- and sausage-filled Pancrepes and Supreme French bread pizza.

Because all of the products at Trader Joe's are sold under its own name, you never know when something new is coming out. So it came as a surprise when reader Hope D. wrote on the GFP Facebook page this week that TJ's now has a gluten-free version of its Joe-Joe's creme-filled sandwich cookies. These are made with chocolate wafers and vanilla creme and sell for $3.99 a box. Fingers crossed for a peppermint variety come winter!

Just in time for the summer grilling season, local meats purveyor Dietz & Watson has launched a line of all-natural chicken sausages. The seven varieties are Buffalo-style, Jamaican jerk, Asiago spinach, Andouille, Santa Fe-style, Italian, and Oktoberfest Black Forest recipe brats.

If you're shopping at Wegmans, "look to the cookie." The Cookie Connection's pillowy black-and-whites are available in the bakery section by the three-pack for $6.99. They are worth every calorie.

Spots are filling up quickly for Be Well Philly's Boot Camp on Sat. June 8 in Philadelphia. At this women's-only health and fitness event, I'll be speaking at the "Gluten Free Guide" session. Tickets are available online.

CHOP's children's celiac support group will be meeting for dinner at Pasta Pomodoro on Mon. June 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 856-782-7430 for reservations.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

News & Notes: May 27, 2011

Props to the folks working the concession stand at Section 128 of Citizens Bank Park. Our wait time on getting gluten-free hot dogs at a Phillies game this week was less than 30 seconds, a far cry from the early days when we had to hang out for more than 10 minutes. I hope this is the norm, rather than the exception, as a result of increased demand.

This week, I posted on the blog a review of Rudi's new gluten-free hot dog rolls and hamburger buns.

If you're a fan of his Throwdown show on the Food Network, you know that celebrity chef Bobby Flay has featured some local gluten-free-friendly eateries, including Paesano's Philly Style, run by Peter McAndrews. McAndrews has a new Sicilian BYOB in South Philadelphia called Monsù (901 Christian St., 215-440-0495), which garnered a respectable two-bell rating from Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan last Sunday. Monsù, like the chef's other sit-down restaurant Modo Mio, serves gluten-free pasta and bread and many other selections are gluten free or can be modified. McAndrews's children have celiac disease, and so he and his staff are well aware of cross-contamination concerns.

Most of the menu at the just-opened Fare (2028 Fairmount Ave., 267-639-3063), in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood, will be gluten free, including desserts, chef Tim Bellew tells me. Fare, aiming to serve healthy, organic food, will have gluten-free bread on hand for dishes. According to Bellew, wheat will be used sparingly in the kitchen, and the staff will take care in prepping the gluten-free items. Fare features a full bar, with about 40 wines by the glass.

Thanks to reader Winnie C. for letting me know that Guiseppe's Pizza in New Hope (473 Lower York Rd., 215-862-1740) now offers gluten-free pizza, pasta and desserts.

Perhaps you're heading to Cape May for Memorial Day weekend or sometime this summer. The Union Park Dining Room (727 Beach Ave., 609-884-8112), which serves dinner Thursday through Sunday, has a gluten-free menu. The nearby Mad Batter Restaurant and Bar (19 Jackson St., 609-884-5970) notes gluten-free selections on its dinner menu.

Davio's in Center City Philadelphia (111 S. 17th St., 215-563-4810) has added Redbridge to its beer list to complement the restaurant's gluten-free menu.

Simply Fondue in Mays Landing, which accommodated gluten-free diners, has closed.

Through Saturday, the Gluten Free Deals half-off site is offering a discount for online-only orders at Wynnewood's Main Line Bakery. Buyers can spend $10 to get $20 worth of gluten- and dairy-free baked goods.

Julian's Recipe, founded by the creator of Alexia Foods and Terra Chips, has rolled out a line of gluten-free microwaveable frozen pancakes - so new that the company's website hasn't yet been updated to include them. The pancakes, which are certified gluten free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization, come in Buttermilk, Belgian Chocolate and Wild Blueberry varieties. I spotted these bad boys at Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting, where they sell for $3.99 per eight-pancake box. (Convenience has a price, you know.)

Udi's Gluten Free Foods is developing a frozen pizza to add to its growing line of gluten-free baked goods, according to a blog post by the company's CEO.

A California pasta company is bringing innovation to the refrigerated pasta section with gluten-free ravioli. Certified gluten free by the GFCO, Pasta Prima's new line, made with a blend of corn and rice flour, will launch this summer with two flavors: Gluten Free Butternut Squash, blended with parmesan cheese and sage, and Gluten Free Five Cheese, made with fresh ricotta and mozzarella mixed with imported parmesan and Romano, and aged Asiago.

Murry's new frozen boneless chicken Wing-Its, in buffalo and honey barbeque varieties, are gluten free.

Want to learn how ice cream and iced tea are made? (Better that than sausage.) Check out the Turkey Hill Experience in Lancaster County, set to open on June 4. Turkey Hill Dairy, of course, produces many gluten-free ice cream flavors.

There are a few gluten-free-themed events in the weeks ahead. On Thursday, June 2, Sur La Table is hosting a Gluten-Free Dinner Party class at its King of Prussia location. That same night, La Cucina at Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market will be the site of nutritionist Genevieve Sherrow's gluten-free cooking class. She will also be leading a second class there on Saturday, June 25.

Have fun and be safe this holiday weekend!

Goodies Giveaway: Live Gluten Freely Product Box

Live Gluten Freely is an online community created by General Mills that offers gluten-free product news, articles and real-life stories from participants. The site also provides recipes, ranging from breakfast treats like Blueberry-Corn Muffins to dishes like Favorite Chicken Nuggets to desserts like Brownie Ganache Torte with Raspberries and Carrot Cake.

General Mills offers more than 300 gluten-free products, available in grocery stores nationwide. Keep up with new additions to the gluten-free list by subscribing to the Live Gluten Freely Newsletter. Every month, you'll receive recipes, tips, coupons for gluten-free items, new product information and more delivered directly to your inbox. Click here to sign up. Also, be sure to visit Live Gluten Freely on Facebook. "Like" the page and check out recipe ideas, product news and tips about living without gluten.

MyBlogSpark is offering one Gluten Free Philly reader a Live Gluten Freely product box, which includes an assortment of gluten-free products from popular brands like Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Chex and Larabar. The product box, a $24.99 value, contains the following items:

• Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie Mix
• Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix
• Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting
• Honey Nut Chex Cereal
• Bisquick Gluten Free Original Pancake and Baking Mix
• Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks Variety Pack - Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit Gushers, Fruit by the Foot
• Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar Snack Bar
• Betty Crocker Potato Buds Mashed Potatoes
• Betty Crocker Red Serving Spoon
• Coupons and More

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment to this post about your favorite gluten-free friendly restaurant in the Delaware Valley (southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware).

Some brief guidelines: (1) please do not enter unless you or a family member is on a gluten-free diet; (2) one comment per person; (3) U.S. residents only. Most important is to make sure your comment provides a way for me to contact you. If your comment does not link back to an email address, blog or website through which I can get in touch with you (some past entrants have blocked their Blogger profiles), post your email address in the comment in the following format: "name[at]domain[dot]suffix."

The giveaway runs now through Sunday, October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. I’ll randomly select one winner the next day and will contact him or her by email. If I don’t hear back from the person with his or her mailing address by the following Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern, I’ll select another name.

Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: MyBlogSpark has provided me with product samples, product information and is offering the prize pack. Neither I am nor any immediate family member is an employee, officer, director or agent of MyBlogSpark or its respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities, advertising and promotional agencies. My full Disclosure Policy can be found at the blog's Disclosure page.

Goodies Giveaway: Bisquick Gluten Free Baking Mix

UPDATE (10/4/10): Congrats to reader Jake M., whose name was randomly selected as the winner of the prize pack!
___________________________

Have you spotted the new Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix at your local market? I've found it at Wegmans and ShopRite over on the Jersey side of the Delaware. (The mixes are now available at Amazon.com through this link.) With Bisquick Gluten Free, you can make favorites like pancakes, waffles, biscuits and more.

At the product homepage, you'll find many gluten-free recipes for meals and desserts such as Chicken Dumplings, Cheeseburger Pie, Coffee Cake and French Apple Pie that incorporate Bisquick Gluten Free. You can visit MyBlogSpark to download a printable coupon for $1 off the new mix.

MyBlogSpark has generously offered a Bisquick Gluten Free prize pack, which includes a box of the mix, a pancake pan, pancake pen and a pancake flipper, to a lucky Gluten Free Philly reader. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment to this post about what you'd like to make with the mix.

Some brief guidelines: (1) please do not enter unless you or a family member is on a gluten-free diet; (2) one comment per person; (3) U.S. residents only. Most important is to make sure your comment provides a way for me to contact you. If your comment does not link back to an email address, blog or website through which I can get in touch with you (some past entrants have blocked their Blogger profiles), post your email address in the comment in the following format: "name[at]domain[dot]suffix."

The giveaway runs now through Sunday, October 3 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. I’ll randomly select one winner the next day and will contact him or her by email. If I don’t hear back from the person with his or her mailing address by the following Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern, I’ll select another name.

Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: MyBlogSpark has provided me with product samples, product information and is offering the prize pack. Neither I am nor any immediate family member is an employee, officer, director or agent of MyBlogSpark or its respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities, advertising and promotional agencies. My full Disclosure Policy can be found at the blog's Disclosure page.

News & Notes: July 16, 2010

On the heels of the recent Celiac Awareness Night at the Phillies game comes a similar event from the team's minor-league affiliate in Reading, Pennsylvania. As I mentioned this week, the R-Phils will host a Celiac Awareness Day on Sunday, August 29 with a gluten-free buffet in the third-base picnic section. Check out the post on the event for more details and ticket information.

Denizens of University City can get gluten-free Chinese any which way - dine-in, take-out or delivery - from Beijing Restaurant (3714 Spruce Street, 215-222-5242).

I've added more restaurants from the Stephen Starr emporium to the restaurant list, as a rep told me that the kitchens can accommodate gluten-free diners. In Philadelphia, steakhouses Barclay Prime (237 South 18th Street, 215-732-7560) and Butcher and Singer (1500 Walnut Street, 215-732-4444), Alma De Cuba (1623 Walnut Street, 215-988-1799) (which offers a cassava flatbread appetizer), Mexicans El Vez (121 South 13th Street, 215-928-9800) and El Rey (2013 Chestnut Street, 215-563-3330) (serving gorditas made with corn masa buns), comfort foodery Jones (700 Chestnut Street, 215-223-5663), Continental Mid-Town (1801 Chestnut Street, 215-567-1800) and Continental (138 Market Street, 215-923-1800) are now listed, as is Continental at Atlantic City's Pier Shops at Caesars (1 Atlantic Ocean, 609-674-8300). Morimoto, Buddakan and Parc already were included.

Panzone's Pizza and Pasta in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island (1106 North Bay Avenue, 609-492-5103) has gluten-free pizza - ask for it to be baked on a clean pan.

Udi's gluten-free bread is now served at Jason's Deli locations nationwide, including in Willow Grove (3610 Welsh Road, 215-366-5103).

Pure Tacos, the recent Ocean City Boardwalk addition, was profiled in the Atlantic City Press this week.

Swiss Haus Bakery in Center City no longer carries gluten-free sweets.

Among the first gluten-free cookies we bought after my older son's diagnosis were ones from MI-DEL. New treats from the company are on the way. Gluten-Free S'mores are chocolate graham-style cookies with marshmallows. Each "lunchbox" contains five packs of bite-size cookies, only 90 calories each.

Pamela's Products has introduced single-serve boxes of its Chocolate Brownie Mix and Baking & Pancake Mix. Shoppers will be able to find these on store shelves this Fall for about $1.99 each. The single-serve packs make a stack of four pancakes or one microwave brownie in about a minute. To quickly make pancakes, add water, oil, and an egg, and cook on an oiled griddle or pan. For an individual brownie, put the contents of a single-serve pack into a microwave-safe cup or bowl, add water and oil and microwave.

Ali Shapiro, a nutritional counselor in Center City and a frequent health contributor to the local NBC 10! show, is leading a series of hands-on cooking classes teaching techniques for preparing natural and low-glycemic desserts. Her “Wholesome Desserts” Sunday Summer Salon Series - hybrid cooking classes and educational workshops - continues on Sunday, August 8 (Crème de la Crème) and Sunday, September 12 (Pâtisserie) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Rittenhouse Square area. All desserts are gluten and dairy free, and organic wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. For more information and to register, visit Ali's website.

Have a great weekend!

News & Notes: June 25, 2010

I'll start off the festivities on this Friday with a reminder of two upcoming local events. This Sunday, I'll be speaking at the Delaware Celiac Support Group meeting in Newark and will have product samples. The event is at Christiana Hospital (Room 1000) beginning at 3 p.m. You can RSVP at this link. Tickets are still available for Celiac Awareness Night at the Phillies game on Wednesday, July 7. I will be volunteering at the information table on the 200 Level for part of the evening, so if you're attending please stop by and say hello.

A new gluten-free beer was the subject of a post this week. Estrella Damm Daura from Spain is now being imported into the United States, with Pennsylvania among the first states to have access to it. The novelty of the beer is that it's made with barley malt that is removed during the production process, bringing the level of detectable gluten to less than 6 parts per million.

Lots of news - and notes, of course - to get to this week. La Locanda in Edgmont (4989 West Chester Pike, 610-353-7033) has gluten-free pasta, while its neighboring take-out place (5003 West Chester Pike, 610-325-5200) has pizza from Still Riding.

In Media, American restaurant Generations (9 State Road, 610-565-8212) now notes gluten-free items on its dinner menu.

Reader Jamie let me know about two places she and her family have eaten at with success: New American Tango in Bryn Mawr (39 Morris Avenue, 610-526-9500), which is working on producing a dedicated menu, and Haverford's Du Jour (379 Lancaster Avenue, 610-896-5944).

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that Modo Mio, in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, has gluten-free pasta. Co-owner Peter McAndrews also runs sandwich shop Paesano's across the street (152 West Girard Avenue, 267-886-9556) and at the Italian Market (901 Christian Street, 215-922-9220), both of which will have gluten-free bread available for sandwiches beginning next week, according to the Inquirer's Michael Klein.

In Center City, 10 Arts at the Ritz-Carlton (10 Avenue of the Arts, 215-523-8273) can accommodate gluten-free diners. Pastry chef Monica Glass, who has celiac disease, tells me that several of her desserts are or can be modified to be gluten free.

In Wilmington's Little Italy, Ristorante Attilio (1900 Lancaster Avenue, 302-428-0909) now offers gluten-free pasta.

Also in Wilmington, Thai restaurant Soybean Asian Grill (4702 Limestone Road, 302-636-0800) uses gluten-free soy sauce and all noodle dishes are made with rice noodles. Thanks to reader Tammy for this news.

Steakhouse Seasons 52, in King of Prussia and Cherry Hill, posted its Summer 2010 gluten-free menu.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, locally in Radnor and Marlton, has new items on its Summer menu. Safe for those on gluten-free diets are the Lump Crab Louis Cups appetizer, Porcini Rubbed Filet Mignon (no cream sauce), Peppercorn Steak and the Salmon Nicoise Salad.

In more brew news, the Side Bar in West Chester and Chickie's & Pete's South Philly location (thanks Mark) carry Redbridge, while the Sidecar Bar & Grille - also in South Philadelphia - has Lakefront New Grist beer and Doc's Apple Cider.

Back in April, I shared the news that General Mills will be producing a gluten-free version of Bisquick starting this summer. Well, summer is now here and the mix will soon follow. In anticipation, the company has posted many recipes calling for the mix, including strawberry shortcake and biscuits. (Thanks to Kim of Gluten Free is Life for the link.) Nutritionally, a 1/3 cup serving of the new mix, which is made in Canada, has less fat (0.5 grams) and sodium than even the low-fat version of wheat-laden Bisquick. The ingredients are rice flour, sugar, leavening (mainly baking soda), modified potato starch, salt and xanthan gum.

General Mills, which has been progressive in introducing gluten-free products, has a website listing all of its safe products, including Nature Valley Almond Crunch and Peanut Crunch bars. A tip of the hat to reader Leslie, who shared that website with me.

Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse's two newest products are 12 oz. round cakes in vanilla and chocolate flavors.

New animal cracker-style cookies are out from Ian's Natural Foods. I'm not a fan of the Ian's products generally, although there are a couple of exceptions. Perhaps this one will pleasantly surprise me.

So there you have it. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

News & Notes: April 30, 2010

This space is frequently filled with exciting news about area businesses, but it's my duty to also share the not-so-good developments. Such is the case this week with word that Mr. Ritt's Gluten Free Bakery in Millville is shutting its doors by the end of July. The bakery's website is sketchy on the reason for the closing, but notes that baking will continue at least through the end of May. I remember taking my older son to the bakery shortly after he was diagnosed with celiac disease - when the store was located in Philadelphia - at a time when there was a dearth of tasty gluten-free baked goods available. I watched with joy as he sampled a fresh blueberry muffin right out of the package before we left the store, and I know many others have had similar experiences there. Thanks to Richard and Paul for their contributions to the gluten-free community over many years.

In recent years other gluten-free bakeries have joined Mr. Ritt's in serving celiacs, including The Grain Exchange in Doylestown. On Tuesday, I posted my review of several of the bakery's baked goods.

Congratulations to reader Nina, whose name was randomly selected as the winner of the recent Purely Elizabeth baking mix giveaway. Thanks to all who entered.

Philadelphia is home to restaurants from three "Iron Chefs." I've written recently about Bobby Flay's burgers at his new Burger Palace. Many of Jose Garces' restaurants now have gluten-free menus, including Tinto, Amada, Distrito and Chifa. (They're linked at the Gluten Free Philly restaurant list.) Now comes Masaharu Morimoto. Sushi and other items at his eponymous Japanese restaurant (723 Chestnut Street, 215-413-9070) can be made without gluten. The kitchen also has gluten-free soy sauce.

In Blue Bell, Gianni Brothers (700 DeKalb Pike, 610-272-2009) serves up prepared gluten-free "deli-cacies" (my bad pun, not theirs!) like chicken salad, tuna salad, baked fish and crab cakes. Their foods are available for dine-in and take-out. Thanks to reader Jessica for the good word on this eatery.

Joe Palombo's Mirabella Cafe in Cherry Hill has gluten-free and gluten-free-by-request options on its Mother's Day dinner menu, including Crispy Suzuki - pan-seared Japanese black bass with Taylor Bay scallops in an herb broth.

Virago Baking Company & Cafe will be moving in July onto Lansdale's Main Street, with a new location at 322 West Main Street. News of the move was reported last week in the North Penn Reporter.

Have I gushed enough about General Mills? From gluten-free Chex cereals to Betty Crocker baking mixes, the company has shown its commitment to our specialized marketplace. The company has just announced that gluten-free Bisquick will begin shipping in July, preceded by reformulated Hamburger Helper mixes (chicken fried rice, beef fried rice and cheesy hashbrowns) in late May.

Area children with celiac disease can participate in a family camping weekend on June 19 and 20 [Updated: due to a schedule conflict, it's now scheduled for June 26 and 27]. A local family has volunteered to run the event at Camp Kettle Run, a Girl Scout camp in Medford. Tents will be provided, so campers only need to bring sleeping bags or bedrolls, pillows and blankets. The cost is $25 for each family tent. Each child will need to have a parent with them for the weekend, and siblings are welcome. Activities will depend on the ages of the children in the group, but will range from craft projects to a nature hike around Kettle Run to a trip to Woodford Wildlife Refuge.

The event will run from 10 a.m. Saturday to noon Sunday, rain or shine. Gluten-free meals will be provided for lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, along with s'mores at a Saturday night campfire. Each family is asked to contribute toward the cost of the food. For more information and to register, call Kathy Borton at 856-802-0822.

The Gluten Free Delaware support group is holding a potluck dinner this Sunday, May 2 at 5 p.m. in Newark. E-mail Debra Burke to register and to get location information.

Have a great weekend!

Goodies Giveaway 9: Purely Elizabeth Mixes

UPDATE: 4/28/10 @11:14 p.m.: Congratulations to reader Nina, whose name was selected at random as the winner of the giveaway. Thanks to all who entered.

Since childhood, native Philadelphian Elizabeth Stein strived to be a healthy eater, but has long had a soft spot for homemade baked goods. While pursuing a career as a holistic nutrition counselor at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she learned about the connection between what you eat and how you feel; how sugar, wheat and dairy (the key ingredients of her favorite treats) can negatively impact health. With her enthusiasm for sweet treats diminished, she sought to create a better option. Her mission was to recreate homemade baked goods using ingredients that were not just "healthy" but actually beneficial for the body, filled with vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

In September 2009, she launched purely elizabeth, a line of gluten-free and vegan baking mixes made with whole grains and “superfoods” (hemp, flax and chia seeds) and also free of sugar and dairy. The company’s products include Ultimate Cacao Muffin Mix, Blueberry Maple Muffin Mix, Apple Spice Muffin Mix and Perfect Pancake Mix. The products are packaged on equipment used exclusively for gluten-free products. All of the raw ingredients come certified by her suppliers to be free of gluten.

The mixes are available locally in Philadelphia at Essene Market, Healthy Bites and Milk & Honey Market, in Jenkintown at Curds & Whey, and in Dresher at Shop n' Bag. They can also be ordered at purely elizabeth’s website, with flat-rate $4.95 shipping.

Elizabeth has generously offered a Gluten-Free Gift Sampler, containing one package of each mix, to give away to a lucky Gluten Free Philly reader. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment to this post about the one purely elizabeth mix that you’d most like to try.

Some brief guidelines: (1) please do not enter unless you or a family member is on a gluten-free diet; (2) one comment per person; (3) U.S. residents only. Most important is to make sure your comment provides a way for me to contact you. If your comment does not link back to an email address, blog or website through which I can get in touch with you (some past entrants have blocked their Blogger profiles), post your email address in the comment in the following format: "name[at]domain[dot]suffix."

The giveaway runs now through Sunday, April 25 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. I’ll randomly select one winner the next day and will contact him or her by email. If I don’t hear back from the person with his or her mailing address by the following Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern, I’ll select another name.

Good luck!

Simply Irresistible

Adding to its growing line of gluten-free baking mixes, Simply Organic has introduced Cocoa Brownie and Pancake & Waffle mixes. Both of the new mixes are vegan and have USDA organic certification.

“Both of our new mixes require only two additional ingredients and can take less than five minutes to prepare, so they are convenient and relatively inexpensive,” says Kory Kazimour, Simply Organic Senior Brand Manager, in a statement.

The all-natural Cocoa Brownie mix contains Fair Trade Certified sugar and cocoa. The mixes, which have an 18-month shelf life, are free of hydrolyzed vegetable protein, modified food starch, hydrogenated oils and genetically engineered ingredients.

Recipe suggestions are provided on each package as well as on the Simply Organic website recipe page. The new varieties complement the company's other gluten-free, Fair Trade Certified baking mixes, such as its Carrot Cake, Chai Spice Scone, Banana Bread, Cocoa Cayenne Cupcake and Honeypot Ginger Cookie mixes.

Most natural and organic retailers will have the new products, priced at $4.99 per box, in their stores in the coming months. However, consumers can purchase them now direct from Simply Organic online or by calling the company toll-free at 1-800-669-3275. One percent of sales on all Simply Organic spices, seasonings, flavors and mixes goes to support organic agriculture through research, education and grower development.

News & Notes: February 26, 2010

The past seven days brought lots of exciting gluten-free news. Last Friday, I posted P.F. Chang China Bistro's expanded gluten-free menu, which debuts nationwide on March 8. Included are five new beef entrees, including the tasty Mongolian Beef, and the addition of Dali Chicken.

While the uproar over Whole Foods' decision to end distribution of its 365 Brand gluten-free mixes continues, King Arthur Flour this week announced that it is producing its own line of gluten-free bread, pizza, pancake and dessert mixes.

Closer to home, I wrote on Monday about gluten-free pizza available at Seasons Pizza's locations in Cherry Hill and Stratford.

Many readers already have made reservations for the gluten-free dining event at Casona in Collingswood on March 11, less than two weeks away. Don't miss what is sure to be a great dinner!

All Ninety Nine restaurants, including those in Audubon, Philadelphia, Trevose, Warrington and Deptford, now offer gluten-free hamburger rolls from Gillian's Foods at no extra charge.

Carlino's Specialty Foods in Ardmore (2616 East County Line Road, 610-649-4046) and West Chester (128 West Market Street, 610-696-3788) sells varieties of Conte's gluten-free pasta. (Thanks to reader Carol for the info.) Conte's gluten-free efforts were the subject of a profile this week in the Vineland Daily Journal.

Annie's Homegrown's new gluten-free Bunny Cookies and Deluxe Rice Pasta and Cheddar - with cheese sauce you can squeeze in - are now available in stores. The products also can be ordered through Annie's online market.

Adding to its line of over 30 gluten-free items, Pamela's Products has introduced single-serve packs of Chocolate Brownie Mix and Pancake Mix. The brownie recipe calls for the addition of water and oil to the mix, which is then microwaved for about one minute. For the pancakes, add water, oil and an egg to the mix and cook on an oiled griddle or pan.

Just a reminder that Amazon.com's special offers on two popular gluten-free product lines expire on Sunday. First, you can save up to 30 percent off on Betty Crocker gluten-free baking mixes: save 15 percent using code BETTYCGF at checkout and an additional 15 percent (with free shipping) when combining with a Subscribe & Save order. Save up to 40 percent off most Mrs. Leeper's gluten-free pasta products: save 25 percent using code LEEPER25 at checkout and an additional 15 percent (with free shipping) when combining with a Subscribe & Save order.

Among the vendors for the March 21 Celiac Education Day at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are CASA Foods, the makers of Popikins gluten-free and casein-free popcorn chicken nuggets, Food-Tek, Everybody Eats and Mr. Ritt's. Advance-order forms are available here. Call 267-426-6822 to register for the event.

The Princeton HealthCare System's Community Education & Outreach program is sponsoring a gluten-free cooking class and tasting session on March 22. The event will be held at the Hamilton Area YMCA from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15. Details and registration information are available here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

When It Reigns It Pours

Come March 1, America's oldest flour company will have launched its newest products. King Arthur Flour’s new line of gluten-free mixes and ingredients includes Gluten Free Multi-Purpose Flour for scratch baking, along with seven convenience mixes: Gluten Free Bread, Pizza Crust, Cookie, Brownie, Chocolate Cake, Muffin and Pancake mixes.

“We wanted to create gluten-free mixes that would not only meet the same high standards we apply to all of our products in terms of flavor and texture, but also reflect the highest standards of gluten- and allergen-free certification,” said King Arthur Flour Marketing Director Tom Payne in a statement. “We’ve brought to bear our more than two centuries of experience in baking and recipe development, toiling in our test kitchen for over two years to combine the best gluten-free ingredients in novel ways that result in gluten-free baking mixes of superior quality, consistency and taste.”

The baking mixes from King Arthur Flour, which was founded in 1790, are third-party certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization. In addition, they are produced in a dedicated allergen-free facility, guaranteed to be free of the top eight most common food allergens. They are also certified Kosher.

Suggested retail prices range from $4.99 to $6.99. The products will be available for purchase online at the company's website on March 1 and soon thereafter at food retailers nationwide.

Whole Foods 365 Brand Gluten-Free Mixes 86'd

UPDATE (3/1/10 @ 4:44 PM): Whole Foods has posted a statement (see comments section below) that it is "transitioning back to the Gluten Free Pantry mixes that were moved out to make room for the 365 versions." The statement does not address the question of whether the Gluten Free Pantry mix formulations are the same as those used for the 365 products.
_________________________

Whole Foods Market has decided to discontinue its branded gluten-free baking mixes due to "lack of interest." Back in 2007, the market introduced their own line of mixes - not to be confused with the Gluten Free Bakehouse ready-made baked goods. The mixes for pizzas, breads, cakes, brownies and the like were part of the store's 365 Everyday Value line. The products initially were priced slightly less than the comparable Gluten-Free Pantry mixes the house brand largely replaced. The ingredient labels for the Whole Foods products mimicked those of Gluten-Free Pantry's, although the actual manufacturer of the store-labeled versions was never confirmed by either company.

According to a statement from Whole Foods:

The 365 Gluten Free Baking Mixes have been discontinued and are no longer available through any other outlets. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. There are many reasons that go into the decision to discontinue a product. Hundreds of new products are presented to us every day; therefore, the mix of products in each category is continually evolving. We evaluate attributes like value, quality, taste and convenience when we make the decision to accept or discontinue a product. Most often a product is discontinued to make room for a new product that offers a better combination of these attributes, or because there is a lack of interest in the product.

A Whole Foods customer service representative confirmed in an e-mail that customers' lack of interest in the products led to the decision to end distribution. Interestingly, stores are being encouraged to stock Gluten-Free Pantry mixes as a replacement when the existing inventory of store-brand products runs out.