Friday, August 7, 2009

News & Notes

Since my last News & Notes post two weeks ago, I wrote about some new products and one of my family's favorite restaurants. For those of you in the Delaware Valley that haven't already paid a visit to Pasta Pomodoro in Voorhees, New Jersey, you will be suitably impressed with the breadth of the restaurant's gluten-free menu.

Last Friday, I wrote about Bella Monica gluten-free flatbread pizzas, which are now widely available at natural foods stores in the Philadelphia area. Since I posted my review, the company wrote on its Twitter page that the pizzas should be in Wegmans markets this fall and that it's also working on a personal-size pizza.

Froose, a healthy alternative to kids' ordinary sugary juices, was the subject of my post on Wednesday. The drink comes in three fruit flavors and uses organic brown rice syrup, rather than high-fructose corn syrup or evaporated cane juice, as its sweetener.

Last month, I wrote about the gluten-free restaurant options available near the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. I updated the post this week to note that Boston's The Gourmet Pizza, with a location in Allentown, recently added gluten-free pizza to its menu.

The GREAT food-service training program, sponsored by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, has announced that Steve & Cookie's By the Bay, an upscale American restaurant in Margate, New Jersey, has completed the course and that the kitchen and staff are knowledgeable about preparing and serving gluten-free menu options. I've added the establishment to my restaurant list.

New to the bakery list this week are two shops. Christine's Italian Pastry Shoppe in Northfield, New Jersey (which has an owner with celiac disease) sells gluten-free hot dog and hamburger buns, rolls, cakes and cupcakes. Reader Leslie wrote me to advise that the Swiss Haus Bakery in Center City Philadelphia now offers gluten-free peanut butter bars, banana loaves and brownies. During a visit this week, an employee there told me that the gluten-free baked goods are made in a separate area of the kitchen using equipment and utensils that are thoroughly cleaned before use.

I also stopped by the new Center City Philadelphia outpost of Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man to inquire about whether any of the company's chocolates are gluten free. Sadly, an employee told me that some of the chocolates contain gluten ingredients and, because the sweets are not made in the store, she couldn't say whether any steps to prevent cross-contamination are taken.

Several readers have asked me whether the upcoming Appetite for Awareness event on September 30 is child-friendly. There were some children in attendance last year, and I would say that kids ages 5 and up would be fine there. I wouldn't recommend bringing stroller-age children, though, since a large crowd is expected and there's not a lot of room to push around a stroller.

Lastly, I wanted to mention that you can support the Gluten Free Philly blog by shopping at Amazon.com - getting there through the links on this site - even if you aren't buying gluten-free foods, cookbooks and the like (it doesn't cost you anything extra and I get a small referral fee). This month, Amazon is offering lots of discounts on gluten-free groceries - all offers are valid through August 30, 2009. Orders over $25 are always shipped free via standard shipping, but for a limited time, there's $.99 standard shipping on all grocery products fulfilled by Amazon.com for orders less than $25. This service normally costs $4.59 plus $.59 per item.

First, you can save 20 percent on Conte's gluten-free pasta and pizza when you spend $59 or more on those products. Use promotional code CONTE809 at checkout. Also, the company is offering free expedited shipping (be sure to upgrade at checkout).

You can also save up to 35 percent on EnviroKids gluten-free cereals, vanilla animal crackers and crispy rice bars: save 20 percent when you enter code NATPAT67 at checkout. Plus, save an additional 15 percent when you combine the instant rebate with your Subscribe & Save order.

Save 25 percent when you buy any eligible Arico gluten-free cookies and chips. Use the following promotional code when you check out: ARICOFDS.

Also, you can save 50 percent on Lucy's gluten-free cookies with promotional code DOCTOR55.

That's all for this week - have a great weekend!
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2 comments:

  1. Great site. love how you include 'the beach' areas.

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  2. I have one small issue that could result in a much larger problem. Any bakery needs to avoid using gluten-containing flours in kitchen facility where gluten-free baked goods are prepared. Wheat flour can stay airborne for many hours and contaminate surfaces.

    ReplyDelete