iBread

Mybread is to gluten-free bread what the iPhone is to mobile devices - a veritable Swiss Army knife. Mybread is sandwich bread, it's flatbread, it's pizza, it's pita. And unlike most gluten-free breads, it's chewy and stretchy.

The versatile bread is sold frozen, and so there are three recommended preparation methods: microwave, stove top and oven. I found that heating it in a skillet for about three minutes made for a toasty pita bread, cut into wedges to scoop up some red pepper hummus. For sandwiches, the skillet and microwave both work well but personal pizzas are best prepared in the oven.

Rice flour, tapioca starch and water are the top three ingredients; each piece clocks in at 260 calories and 4.5 grams of fat (no saturated fat).

The bread, which is made in a dedicated gluten-free facility and is also dairy, nut and soy free, sells for $7.99 per six-pack at Whole Foods markets throughout the country, including all stores in the Philadelphia region.

News & Notes: September 12, 2014

Noodles & Co. has opened a location in Moorestown (1540 Nixon Dr., 856-780-1987). Gluten-free fusilli, pad Thai and several salads are options. My family and I just ate there last weekend and were told that the rice noodles are prepared in advance in separate water.

Most of the menu at Cambodian restaurant Daly Angkor in Bryn Mawr (845A W. Lancaster Ave., 484-380-2642) is gluten free and the kitchen staff takes care to avoid any cross contact. (Thanks to Shari S. for the tip.)

Pasta Flyer Lands in Philly

Gluten-free shells, tomato, cheese
and herbs dish at Pasta Flyer

Mark Ladner, the executive chef at Manhattan's Del Posto, will be bringing his Kickstarter-funded Pasta Flyer concept (see my June 2014 post) to town on October 2 and 3.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, Chef Ladner will serve his quick-serve gluten-free pasta bowls from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Old City's High Street on Market (308 Market St., 215-625-0988), recently named by Bon Appetit magazine as one of 2014's 10 best new U.S. restaurants. The next day, Pasta Flyer will be on Drexel University's campus for an all-day pop-up. At both locations, Pasta Flyer will serve Bene Boxes, or "good” boxes - like a Japanese bento box but for Italian food. Inside these convenient, compact and compostable boxes, guests will get a portion of gluten-free pasta, salad, protein and a snack of the day for under $10, delivered in less than three minutes.

News & Notes: September 5, 2014

Grub Burger Bar is targeting the end of this month for its Philadelphia-area debut in Willow Grove (159 N. York Rd.) Look for gluten-free buns and sweet potato fries cooked in a dedicated fryer. A second Delaware Valley branch is coming to North Wales in June 2015 (230 Montgomery Mall).

The just-opened Bareburger in the Washington Square West section of Philadelphia (1109 Walnut St., 215-627-2273) serves traditional and exotic proteins on gluten-free buns (baked by Free Bread) along with four salad varieties. The fries are prepped in a separate fryer and all of the shakes are gluten free. A flourless chocolate cake and a vegan carrot cake headline the dessert options. Owner Daniel Kemelman stresses that the kitchen takes every precaution to avoid cross-contamination.

Common Core

By Chris Betz

Ahead of the current boom in the market for hard cider, Kensington's Philadelphia Brewing Company expanded its product line two years ago by creating Commonwealth Ciders. In addition to being gluten free, the company's ciders are all natural - free of any artificial colors, preservatives or colors. Commonwealth does not add any additional sweeteners, relying only on the apples' natural sugars. The traditional dry fermentation technique, incorporating some non-traditional ingredients like ginger, make for some unique and must-try ciders.