News & Notes

I mentioned in my recent Appetite for Awareness recap post that the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia would soon be offering gluten-free concessions at Flyers and 76ers games. I was able to confirm the locations last week when I went to a preseason basketball game there, and on Monday, I wrote that chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, beer and cider are now available. If anyone attends a concert or other event at the arena and finds out that the items are sold then as well, drop me a line at gfphilly[at]gmail[dot]com or post a comment.

On Wednesday, I finally got around to a long-promised post about the many ciders produced domestically and overseas that are gluten free.

This week, I added "Barbeque" as a new category to my restaurant list. The restaurants in that group are Holy Smoke in Philadelphia's Roxborough section (473 Leverington Avenue, 215-482-7500) and Rubb, soon to open in Manayunk (4445 Main Street, 215-482-1900). Both places participated in the Gluten-Free Cooking Spree at the Appetite for Awareness.

The Tortilla Press, a Mexican BYOB in Collingswood, New Jersey, is offering a special gluten-free-friendly menu during Harvest Fall Week next week. The menu spotlights the produce available at the Collingswood Farmers Market. The promotion, running October 18-23, offers four courses for $30 and on Monday through Thursday will feature a special "chef's table" where a different local farmer will dine and discuss farm issues with guests at the table. As seating is limited, reservations are suggested.

A reader emailed me about the gluten-free products available at The Fresh Market, with two Pennsylvania locations in Glen Mills (925 Baltimore Pike, 610-358-4091) and Horsham (100 Welsh Road, 215-659-9432). I've added the stores to the list of markets and bakeries.

I noticed a couple weeks ago that the local Target store near me (in Voorhees, New Jersey) was redesigning its store layout - now I know why. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 31 Target stores in the Delaware Valley have undergone renovations so that they have space to offer fresh meat, produce and other groceries. When I stopped by the Voorhees location this week, I noticed the store now carries gluten-free items, including Glutino frozen pasta entrees, bagels, pizza, crackers and cookies, Kinnikinnick donuts and bagels, Amy's frozen meals and pizza, Nature's Path waffles, Envirokidz cereal and crispy rice bars and Ian's cookies. Overall, the prices seemed comparable to Whole Foods and Wegmans, although the Glutino and Kinnikinnick bagels were a bargain at $2.98 a package.

Dock Street Brewery in Philadelphia is once again serving its gluten-free Sudan Grass Sorghum Ale. The beer is made with sorghum and Pennsylvania-sourced wildflower honey and is spiced with hibiscus, rooibos, rose petals, rose hips, and grains of paradise, all native to Africa. According to the brewery, it's "slightly tart and fruity" and "more reminiscent of a cider or mead than a standard ale."

The 12-ounce microwaveable gluten-free pasta meals from Conte's Pasta that I wrote about in my Appetite for Awareness recap will be available on or around November 1.

I recently ordered from Udi's Gluten Free Foods two packages of gluten-free pizza crusts to go with the sandwich bread that I wrote about last month. I made a traditional mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce pizza last night using the crust and it was excellent.

Rami Aharon, the owner of GFL Foods in Merrick, New York, sent me some samples of his gluten-free pita bread a few weeks ago. Rami, whose son who has celiac disease, imports gluten-free flour from his native Israel for his pita bread recipe. His all-natural product, which is made in a dedicated kitchen, closely resembles the wheat version, with a similar texture and even a "pocket" for meats and vegetables. The bread tasted best after being warmed in the microwave oven for 30 seconds. A bag of six pitas are $9 each, and shipping via Priority Mail is $12 for up to four bags. The pitas can be ordered directly from the company through its website.

The gluten-free cooking class scheduled for the Whole Foods Market in Princeton, New Jersey on October 22 has been postponed.

The Mercer County Celiac Support Group will hold its next meeting on October 28 beginning at 7 p.m. at DeLiteful Foods in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. New attendees are welcome.

Have a great weekend and stay dry!