News & Notes: November 2, 2018

Green Giant Fresh has expanded its fresh vegetable offerings with its new gluten-free Vegetable Meal Bowls, available in the refrigerated produce section at grocers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $3.99 per bowl. Each bowl includes a 100% fresh vegetable base with sauces and seasoning packets, The line includes six varieties:

• Buddha Bowl: featuring crumbled sweet potato, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, roasted chickpeas and tahini sauce
• Burrito Bowl: containing crumbled cauliflower and ancho-chipotle pepper black bean sauce
• "Fried Rice" Bowl: featuring crumbled cauliflower, carrots, onions, broccoli and teriyaki sauce
• Pad Thai Bowl: featuring carrot noodles with peanut-flavored sunflower butter sauce
• Ramen Bowl: containing butternut noodles, crumbled cauliflower, carrots, onions, broccoli, roasted edamame and ramen seasoning
• Rancheros Bowl: featuring crumbled sweet potato, cauliflower, kale and green chili sauce

California Pizza Kitchen has added two new gluten-free cauliflower thin-crust pizzas to its line of frozen pizzas. One is Artisanal Style Cheese, the other an Uncured Pepperoni, Mushroom and Sausage pizza. Speaking of CPK, the restaurants are phasing out the rice-flour pizza crusts but are still offering five certified gluten-free cauliflower pizzas. (Thanks to Baltimore Gluten Free for the tip.)

I'm still searching for the new Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake ice cream from L.A.-based Coolhaus. The seasonal flavor made with pumpkin and cream cheese ice cream and a gluten-free graham cracker crust swirl. The company's website has a downloadable coupon.

Cheesecake Factory at Home is a new line of gluten-free refrigerated puddings that will hit stores early next year. These layered puddings come in four flavor combinations:

• Vanilla Fudge Duet: creamy vanilla bean pudding over dark chocolate fudge sauce
• Chocolate Black-Out: rich Belgian chocolate pudding over dark chocolate fudge sauce
• Salted Caramel Delight: creamy salted caramel pudding over rich caramel sauce
• Cake Batter Strawberry Royale: creamy cake batter-inspired pudding over a sweet strawberry puree

Mi-Del has two new gluten-free seasonal cookies: Snowflake Snickerdoodles and Snowman sugar cookies.

Trader Joe's is always adding new gluten-free products. Among the latest are blueberry and everything bagels, as well as a pie crust.

The Philadelphia area has seen lots of gluten-free-friendly restaurant openings of late. Today is the debut of Eddie V's Prime Seafood in King of Prussia (670 W. DeKalb Pike, 610-337-7823). The kitchen has a gluten-free menu that includes many traditional seafood and steakhouse options.

In Fairmount, the new Thirsty Dice (1642 Fairmount Ave., 215-765-2679) is a board-game cafe featuring more than 800 games to choose from. The menu is designed by the good folks at Fox & Son and includes gluten-free corn dog lollipops, French bread pizza and mac-and-cheese.

The Maine Pie Co. Makes Holidays Taste Better

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Maine Pie Co., which has provided me with compensation. All opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the sponsorship of this post. [Disclosure policy]

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays - a time to reconnect with family, take a break from the daily work routine, and eat heartily. In the years since our son was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease, we've found gluten-free replacements for everything from stuffing to gravy.

During the holidays, our go-to gluten-free desserts come from The Maine Pie Co., which we discovered two years ago at the Expo East gourmet food show and have been on our Thanksgiving dessert table ever since. Situated in rural Maine, the bakery crafts its artisanal pies and tarts in a designated gluten-free facility. All desserts test to less than 5 ppm using the ELISA method.

Founder Jill Miller has more than a decade of baking experience. She owned The Runcible Spoon in Nyack, New York and Port Bakery in Kennebunkport, Maine, where she perfected her baking skills and developed her award-winning gluten-free pie recipe.

The Maine Pie Co.'s Apple Crumb Pie is topped with
gluten-free oats, brown sugar and cinnamon

We recently savored The Maine Pie Co.'s delicious apple crumb pie, blending locally grown apples with a buttery crumb topping made with gluten-free rolled oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Preparation was a snap, following directions on the package: I baked the pie at 425°F for 20 minutes, then for another 40 minutes at 350°F. (The other pie varieties have similar baking instructions.) The crumb topping turned a golden brown and the aroma of warm apples and cinnamon wafted through our kitchen. I particularly liked that the pie was chock full of sliced apples, with none of the cloyingly sweet pie "goop" that's found in many traditional versions.

Among The Maine Pie Co.'s most popular pies are apple, blueberry and pumpkin. The apple pie combines cinnamon, nutmeg and clove with the flavor of fresh, locally sourced apples that are peeled, cut and made into pies the same day. For the blueberry pie, the company uses Maine wild blueberries, while the pumpkin is packed with fresh pumpkin puree and seasonal spices.

Other varieties include Pecan, Threeberry (made with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries), Strawberry Rhubarb (summer seasonal) and new Sour Cherry pies and Lemon Curd (think TastyKake Lemon Pie!) and Chocolate Tarts. Maine Pie Co. also has pie shells for do-it-yourself bakers.

The Maine Pie Co.'s pies can be shipped nationwide when ordered online through Gluten Free Mall (order by Nov. 13 for guaranteed holiday delivery) and are also available at stores throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest U.S. [store locator].

2016 Expo West New Gluten-Free Products Roundup

Natural Products Expo West, the industry’s largest trade show, took place last weekend in Anaheim, California with more than 3,000 exhibiting companies and 70,000 attendees. As usual, there were plenty of new gluten-free products announced at the event.

South Jersey-based Caesar's Pasta debuted a new line of frozen entrees under the Caesar's Kitchen brand that will hit store shelves this summer. The new "Gluten-Free Gourmet" meals include Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese and 3 Cheese Herb Rigatoni & Meat Sauce.

popchips announced an entirely new product line called Ridges, after spending several years experimenting with its process of combining heat and pressure to create a ridged chip. The new Ridges line rolls out to retailers nationwide in June in four flavors: salted, tangy barbeque, cheddar & sour cream and chili cheese. Ridges will be available in both a single-serve bag and a share bag. In addition to the four new Ridges flavors, original popchips come in nine varieties: sea salt, barbeque, crazy hot, sour cream & onion, sea salt & vinegar, sweet potato, cinnamon twist sweet potato and organic kettle corn.

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: November 14, 2014

Center City Philadelphia residents and office workers have new breakfast and lunchtime options at The Milk House, a grilled cheese and ice cream concept located at the Suburban Station concourse (1617 J.F.K. Blvd., 267-606-6757). All breakfast and grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu can be made on gluten-free bread using a separate grill, with staff changing gloves to avoid cross-contact. The tomato soup, fresh-cut fries and tater tots (from a dedicated fryer) and several ice cream flavors from Doylestown's Sweet Pea are also gluten free. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.

Across the river in Cherry Hill, Rockhill (1800 Rt. 70 E., 856-424-4455) opened last week serving a wide array of gluten-free options. The menu includes sandwiches, cheesesteaks and burgers on gluten-free rolls, salads and appetizers like onion rings, wings, cheese bites, fries and tots, all prepared in a dedicated fryer.

The Turning Point, the New Jersey mini-chain that serves breakfast, lunch and brunch, is opening its newest location in Cherry Hill (606 Haddonfield Rd., 856-988-1528) on Monday; it will be joined by a spot at the Mercer Mall in Lawrenceville (3371 Rt. 1) in early 2015. All locations have gluten-sensitive breakfast and lunch menus.

News & Notes: November 8, 2013

Posh Pop Bakeshop's cupcake assortment
(Photo courtesy Posh Pop
Bakeshop/Facebook)

Another all-gluten-free bakery is set to open its doors in Camden County this month. On the heels of Sweet Freedom Bakery's imminent debut in nearby Collingswood, Posh Pop Bakeshop is taking over a Haddonfield storefront last occupied by a Chinese restaurant at 109 East Kings Highway. Owners Matthew Pytel and Krizha Bautista are relocating their bakery to the Philadelphia area from Red Bank, Monmouth County. Their all-natural, organic sweets include signature cake pops, cupcakes, brownies, cookies and pies. (Thanks to reader Regina L. for the tip.)

A month-old addition to the Montgomery County dining scene is Huntingdon Valley's Simpatico! BYOB (2519 Huntingdon Pike, 215-938-9600), which has gluten-free pasta (made in a separate pot) and other Italian dishes like chicken marsala. One of Simpatico's owners is gluten free. (Hat tip to reader Christine O.)

In the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, Rembrandt's (741 N. 23rd St., 215-763-2228) has introduced a gluten-free menu featuring wings and calamari appetizers, steak with house-made tater tots and sauteed mussels entrees, and flourless chocolate cake and cheesecake for dessert. The kitchen maintains a separate fryer for gluten-free items and the bar stocks a variety of hard ciders.