Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo Returns on Saturday, May 18

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for the Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo, which has provided me with compensation. [Disclosure policy]

With the tremendous increase of gluten-free products and restaurant options in the Delaware Valley, the Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo no doubt will be bigger and better than ever this year. The expo is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks (100 Station Ave.).

The event will once again include local and national exhibitors, educational presentations, door prizes and, of course, plenty of gluten-free samples and concessions. The expo will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Hall C. VIP tickets are sold out, but general-admission tickets are still available. General-admission tickets are $10.00 each in advance ($15 at the door), with kids 12 and under free, and can be purchased by phone at 717-248-6741, at any Wegmans service desk or online. Free parking is available at the Expo Center.

More than 70 exhibitors will be sampling, selling and promoting products there. Many companies participating have carved out a niche by producing products that are difficult to replicate or find in a gluten-free form, such as the soft pretzels made by Tonya's Gluten-Free Kitchen and bagels from The Greater Knead. Local restaurants at the event include Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar and The Melting Pot, and there'll be baked goods from The Happy Mixer and others.

Attendees over 21 can also try beverages from Aurochs Brewing Co., Faber Easy Drinking, Liquors,  Cardinal Hollow Winery and Boardroom Spirits. Gluten-free foods available for sample or purchase at the event will include breads, funnel cakes, corn dogs, pizza, pastries, vegan items, baking mixes and gluten-free beers. Last year, over 2,500 consumers attended the expo.

Speakers at the event include yours truly, who will be co-leading a session on gluten-free beers with Aurochs Brewing co-founder Doug Foster; Arunjot Singh, M.D., a gastroenterologist with CHOP’s Center for Celiac Disease; Claire Baker, Director of Communications at Beyond Celiac; and author Melinda Arcara.

The advocacy organization Beyond Celiac, with headquarters in Ambler, is an expo partner and will be promoting the need for Celiac Disease testing at their booth. I'll be at the Beyond Celiac booth in the morning prior to my talk, so be sure to stop by and say hello.

The event is social-media friendly; follow the expo on Twitter (@PhillyGFExpo), Facebook (/PhillyGlutenFreeExpo) and Instagram (@PhillyGlutenFreeExpo) and share your favorite photos and products from the event.

Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo Schedule:

10:30 a.m.: Vendor area open to general-admission ticket holders
11:30 a.m.: I’m Not a Party Pooper…You Are! A Lighthearted Look at the Hard Work of Living Gluten Free with Claire Baker, Beyond Celiac                                                                       
12:30 p.m.: Beer for Everyone: A Guide to Gluten-Free Beer with Doug Foster, Aurochs Brewing and Michael Savett, Gluten Free Philly                                             
1:45 p.m.: Three Steps to Gluten-Free Living with author Melinda Arcara 
2:45 p.m.: Celiac Disease session with Arunjot Singh, M.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Fielder's Choice: 2019 Gluten-Free Guide to Major League Baseball Ballparks

The new 32-Ingredient Salad at Rogers Centre in Toronto

Another baseball season brings even more gluten-free options. Many Major League Baseball ballparks have dedicated gluten-free concession stands and carts, while others have expanded their offerings.

Here's where you can find gluten-free concessions at each of the 30 MLB ballparks for the 2019 season (bookmark this post and check back throughout the season for updates; you can email me with any additions/changes that you find).

Incidentally, the Seattle Mariners are hosting a gluten-free night at Safeco Field on Thursday, June 20th with a menu that includes hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and brownies.

News & Notes: April 12, 2019

While more gluten-free beers are always welcome, beverage companies are focusing their efforts on lower-calorie alcoholic seltzers and cocktails. Fortunately, some of them are gluten free. Cape Line Sparkling Cocktails, a new line from MillerCoors, launched this month with three flavors: Blackberry Mojito, Margarita and Hard Strawberry Lemonade. The 120-calorie drinks are made with fermented cane sugar and have no artificial flavors. Cape Line’s drinks are slightly sweet and effervescent and check in at 4.5% alcohol-by-volume. You can check for retailers in your area stocking Cape Line here.

Coming this July is a new beverage line called Pacer Low Proof Seltzer, which will be offered in three flavors: Blood Orange, Meyer Lemon & Lavender and Melon & Mint. Each seltzer is under 50 calories, with less than 1 gram of sugar and 2% alcohol by volume.

One of my favorite gluten-free baking mixes, Krusteaz, has four new gluten-free varieties: Yellow Cake Mix, Chocolate Cake Mix, Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix and Confetti Buttermilk Pancake Mix. Certified gluten-free with no artificial flavors or preservatives, the new additions nearly double Krusteaz's gluten-free family of products, which includes Blueberry Muffin, Gluten-Free Flour, Buttermilk Pancake, Double Chocolate Brownie, Cinnamon Crumb Cake and Honey Cornbread Mixes. The new mixes have a suggested retail price of $3.98 and can be found in the baking aisle at Walmart and online at Walmart.com.

Gorton's Seafood's new gluten-free frozen entree line, Hook Line and Savor, can now be found at Wegmans markets throughout the Northeast U.S. The three varieties - Black Bean Crusted Cod, Citrus Ginger Salmon and Crispy Beer Battered Haddock - are also dairy and egg free. The haddock is made with Glutenberg Blonde Ale.

Nabisco has expanded its Good Thins line with two new gluten-free rice and cheese crackers: Three Cheese and Parmesan & Garlic.

The big news in the area this week in the announcement that the owners of Haddonfield Donut Company (14 Tanner St., 856-354-0006) are taking over the space formerly occupied by Posh Pop Bakeshop and opening Bleu Bear Bakery, a dedicated gluten-free bakery in Haddonfield (109 Kings Hwy. E.). The menu will include donuts (of course) as well as cookies, pies, cake pops, stick buns and monkey bread, cupcakes, cheesecakes, bread and breakfast sandwiches, Plans are for the new shop to open next month.

The venerable Jake's & Cooper's Wine Bar in Manayunk (4635 Main St., 215-483-0444) notes gluten-free options on its menus and has a dedicated fryer for French fries.

Kalaya is a new Thai BYOB in South Philadelphia's Bella Vista neighborhood (764 S. Ninth St., 215-385-3777). Gluten-free options are listed on the menu.

Michael Schulson's Italian restaurant in Rittenhouse Square, Giuseppe & Sons (1523 Sansom St., 215-399-9199), has gluten-free pasta. (Thanks to reader Julie P.)

Monday is the last day for early-bird registration for the Step Beyond Celiac 5K run/walk at the Philadelphia Zoo on Sunday, June 9th. Join "Team Gluten Free Philly" at registration to help me raise money for Beyond Celiac.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the always updated Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,700 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!

News & Notes: March 29, 2019

Cascadian Farm's newest cereal is gluten free. Honey Vanilla Crunch is made with corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes and chickpeas.

Against The Grain Gourmet is coming out with its first plant-based gluten-free pizza, a cheddar-style version. The company has also announced a Veggie Vegan variety of its traditional gluten-free pizza.

Sonoma Flatbreads and Udi's Gluten Free are also getting into the plant-based pizza game. Sonoma has several new varieties, including a crust made with broccoli and cheddar and topped with Chicken & Kale, while two others use a cauliflower crust: Uncured Pepperoni and Harvest Vegy & Portobello. This summer Udi's will launch two sweet potato-based pizzas: Barbeque Chicken and Four Cheese.

Coming soon from Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream are gluten-free Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bites. The combination of premium ice cream wrapped in edible cookie dough will be offered in four flavors: Chocolate Chip, Brownie Batter, Sugar Cookie and Birthday Cake.

New from Pop Chips is Yes Peas, a line of popped snacks made with yellow and green peas, sunflower oil and salt. Flavors include Himalayan Salt and Farmhouse Ranch.

Brazi Bites is introducing a line of gluten-free empanadas, Varieties include chicken & cheese, beef & bean, black bean & cheese and chickpea veggie. The company is also coming out with a cinnamon churro flavor Brazilian cheese bread.

Trader Joe's has several new gluten-free products in stores, including quick-cook brown rice & quinoa mini elbows and a fudgy chocolate quinoa loaf & cake mix.

Primo Hoagies recently created their own brand of gluten-free potato chips. The flavor profile uses Italian hoagie spices with notes of sesame, and Primo’s signature meats and cheeses including prosciutto, provolone cheese, hot capicola and natural casing genoa salami. The chips are now available throughout the East Coast at numerous supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores and independent liquor stores.  Locations include Acme, Shoprite, CVS, Redner’s and Rite Aid.

Aye Caramba Taco in Pottstown (300 E. High St., 484-524-8611) is the area's newest all-gluten-free restaurant. The menu includes tacos, avocado fries and churros.

The new kid-friendly Craft Hall in Northern Liberties (901 N. Delaware Ave., 267-297-2072) is an experiential dining, drinking and entertainment concept at the old home of Yards Brewing Company. Gluten-free options are noted on the menu and the kitchen has a dedicated fryer for fries and wings. (Thanks to reader Scott H. for the tip.)

District Taco's second area location is now open in Center City Philadelphia (1140 Market St., 267-861-7880). The flour tortillas are the only items on the menu that are not gluten free.

Another all-gluten-free restaurant, Gangster Vegan, is opening its third suburban Philadelphia location any day now in Media (14 W. State St.). Other outposts are in Norristown and Phoenixville. (Thanks to reader Chris B. for the tip.)

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse, which has Pennsylvania locations in Center City Philadelphia and King of Prussia, has added new gluten-free items for the spring season, including pork picanha and linguica sausage, carrot & ginger soup, roasted cauliflower salad, Brazilian kale & orange salad and a creme de coconut dessert. Nearly the entire menu is gluten free, including the pão de queijo cheese rolls and fried polenta.

Around the area, The Rachel Way gluten- and dairy-free food pantry in Plymouth Meeting (500 W. Germantown Pike) is hosting a free Easter-themed kids' cooking class on Saturday, April 6th at 1 p.m. Registration is still open.

Beyond Celiac has two local events in the works. The 3rd Annual Research Symposium will take place on Thursday, May 30th at 6 p.m. on the Penn campus in University City. Admission is free but registration is required. The event will also be live-streamed.

The organization's second function is the inaugural Step Beyond Celiac 5K run/walk at the Philadelphia Zoo on Sunday, June 9th. Early-bird registration is still available. Join "Team Gluten Free Philly" at registration to help me raise money for Beyond Celiac.

Registration is also open for NJY Camps' annual Gluten-Free Family Camp, scheduled this year to take place from Friday, May 31st to Sunday, June 2nd in Milford, Pennsylvania.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the updated Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,700 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!

Philly Fizz

"Big Beer" behemoths have stakes in the rapidly growing hard-seltzer space with brands like Anheuser-Busch's Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer. (Caution: Some, such as MillerCoors' Henry's Hard Soda line, are made with barley malt and aren't gluten free.) As with beer, though, there's certainly room for local, craft-made alcohol-infused seltzer.

Philadelphia's own entry in the low calorie, hard fizzy-water category comes to us from Two Robbers. Founded by two brothers whose Rittenhouse Square apartment was twice broken into by robbers who left their hard-seltzer recipe behind, Two Robbers' three varieties are naturally gluten free.  All flavors - Orange and Mango, Pineapple with Ginger, and Watermelon and Cucumber - are made with cold-fermented cane sugar and all-natural flavors from real fruit, and each clocks in at 110 calories, 2 carbs and 5.2% Alcohol By Volume per serving.

Two Robbers' official launch party is on Saturday, April 27th, but you can find the beverages around town now throughout Philadelphia - places like Rybrew and Bella Vista Beverage - and the western suburbs. (A full list of locations can be found here.) Two Robbers is also coming to New York City later this year. Follow Two Robbers on Instagram for real-time updates.