News & Notes: July 11, 2014

DeNunzio's Brick Oven Pizza and Grille in Sea Isle City (3500 Boardwalk, 609-263-2600) has an extensive gluten-free menu that includes pizza, pasta and sandwiches. The kitchen keeps separate pizza sauce, toppings and cheese for the gluten-free pies, which are made in a dedicated oven; pasta is boiled in separate water.

Fenwick Crab House in Fenwick Island, Delaware (100 Coastal Hwy., 302-539-2500) notes gluten-free options - mostly seafood - on its dinner menu. Note that fried items may be prepared in a shared fryer.

The Garden State

If you've been anywhere near a TV or radio the last few months, you couldn't avoid Olive Garden ads for its revamped menu and the surprising mention of gluten-free rotini pasta. Yet while we haven't avoided the Italian chain, we hadn't exactly sought it out - until last week.

A Sushi Rollover

Margarita Roll

About a year ago, Wegmans began including gluten-free Kikkoman soy sauce packets with all of its sushi. However, several varieties of sushi were still made with gluten-containing ingredients. That's no longer the case today. The chain says that all of its sushi and sashimi are now made with ingredients that do not contain gluten.

Wegmans is careful to note that these prepared foods are considered "made with no gluten-containing ingredients" rather than "gluten free." In a comment posted at the Wegmans blog, Valerie Fox, a Wegmans Consumer Affairs media specialist, says that "prepared foods are made in our stores and do not come in sealed packages, so there is the risk of cross-contact. We’ve analyzed the recipes and ingredient lists for our prepared foods carefully, but we’re being honest about a risk of cross-contact in a supermarket setting. We know that some customers are comfortable with that risk in prepared foods and others are not."  For example, the shrimp tempura rolls are now made with a deep-fried gluten-free batter but may be prepared in a fryer that also prepares non-gluten-free items. Check with your local Wegmans to inquire about the store's sushi preparation, as it may vary by location.

Wegmans' new Kale-elujah! Roll

Wegmans has added a number of new sushi varieties that include a Margarita Roll, made with Kampachi and bay scallops marinated with chili and fresh lime in a pineapple-habañero wrap, and a Kale-elujah! Roll, which combines sesame-marinated kale, green beans, carrot and brown rice with red quinoa, ground flaxseed and chia seed.

News & Notes: June 27, 2014

This week, Delaware and New Jersey beach towns are the places to be to eat gluten free. Options at The Penguin Diner in Bethany Beach (105 Garfield Parkway, 302-541-8017) include omelets, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, Cuban sandwiches and fries. Gluten-free items are marked on the menu. Just down the block, The Frog House (116 Garfield Parkway, 302-539-4500) kitchen staff prepares gluten-free pancakes on a separate part of the grill and serves crab cakes.

Bethany mainstay Sedona (26 Pennsylvania Ave., 302-539-1200) can accommodate gluten-free diners, grilled eggplant and scallops are among the gluten-free options at nearby Patsy's (121 Campbell Place, 302-537-2433). Other items can be modified.

In Ventnor, The Ladle of Luv (7307 Ventnor Ave., 609-822-5683) serves many prepared gluten-free foods to-go and also has a small seating area for freshly made meals. The gluten-free menu includes wraps, burgers, crab cakes, quesadillas and mac-and-cheese. (I reviewed next-door neighbor Salt Ayre Bistro in Tuesday's post.)

In the Ayre Tonight

Seasonal restaurants dot the landscape of Jersey Shore towns like Margate, Ventnor and Longport, many opening just before Memorial Day and serving meals through October. Salt Ayre Bistro, a three-year-old BYOB along the southern edge of Ventnor (7309 Ventnor Ave., 609-428-6952), is one such place. Serving dinner Wednesdays through Sundays, the cozy French-influenced seafooder stands out among the dozens of Italian and American restaurants on Absecon Island.