Friday, April 2, 2010

News & Notes: April 2, 2010

It was a busy week in the local gluten-free world, what with the Sixers celiac awareness night last Friday, Sunday night's dinner at Sauté dinner and Wednesday night's "Cupcakes & Cocktails" fundraiser at APO Bar+Lounge. We went to the Sixers game, where Aramark served a delicious gluten-free pasta dish in addition to the always-on-the-menu hot dogs and chicken sandwiches. I wasn't able to attend the "Cupcakes" fundraiser because I was in Cleveland on business. While there, I saw a legit NBA team in the Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena, which has a concession stand with gluten-free pretzels.

On Tuesday, I wrote about the gluten-free vegan burgers from Asherah's Gourmet in Doylestown. Healthy Bites To Go Market in Philadelphia will be offering samples of the burgers on Sunday, April 11 beginning at 11 a.m.

Lots of restaurant and product news to, um, digest this week. The Golden Inn in Avalon (7849 Dune Drive, 609-967-2111) has gluten-free options at its casual Luigi's Pasta & Vino and at its more formal Dining Room. The restaurants were profiled a couple weeks ago at MontgomeryNews.com.

For those of you who plan to vacation further up the New Jersey coastline this summer on Long Beach Island, stop for gluten-free pizza on the way there at Pietro's Pizza in Manahawkin (712 East Bay Avenue, 609-597-6708).

Quakertown now has its own Five Guys Burgers & Fries (254 N.W. West End Boulevard, 215-536-0555) to know and to love.

Among the gluten-free-friendly restaurants participating in the South Jersey Restaurant Week from April 11-16 are Andreotti's Viennese Cafe (Cherry Hill), Blackbird (Collingswood), Casona (Collingswood) and La Campagne (Cherry Hill). The special four-course menus during the event run between $25 and $35.

National sandwich chain Jason's Deli, with an area location at the Upper Dublin Shopping Center in Willow Grove, is surveying customers on their interest in gluten-free sandwiches. Let the company know of your interest and share your comments.

Gluten-free milk chocolate, vanilla and red velvet mini cupcakes are available on Fridays and Saturdays at Cupcakes Gourmet in Malvern (288 Lancaster Avenue, 484-318-8057) and Wayne (279 East Swedesford Road, 610-688-3144), where they're mindful of cross-contamination. The chocolate-flavored minis, with three different buttercreams, can be ordered online and shipped nationwide. Thanks to reader Karin for the tip.

In Elkins Park, gluten-free cookies are baking at Once Upon a Cookie (215-880-6751). Owner Tracy Brown uses organic rice flour for her moist, chewy gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. The gluten-free treats are made before any glutenous ones using clean equipment and utensils. They can be found at Weavers Way Co-op in Philadelphia and can also be ordered online or by phone and delivered locally.

South Jersey's Courier-Post newspaper mentioned Sweet Freedom Bakery, Mr. Ritt's, Tesori's Gluten Free Treats, DiBartolo Bakery and Simplicity Desserts in an article Wednesday on local bakeries offering gluten-free cakes and other sweets. I was interviewed for the feature story, which appeared in the paper's Taste section.

Speaking of gluten-free pretzels, Snyder's of Hanover confirmed yesterday on its Facebook page that the company's new pretzel sticks will be certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, whose standard is less than 10 parts per million of gluten. The company did not announce when the product will be launched other than to say it is "coming soon."

Hain Celestial last year created a dedicated, certified line of gluten-free products called Gluten Free Café. The first products were microwaveable entrees, followed by snack bars. Now four canned soups are making their way to market: Chicken Noodle, Veggie Noodle, Cream of Mushroom and Black Bean. Thanks to Tiffany at Celiac-Disease.com for the news.

Australis Foods' Something Good gluten-free bread and cake mixes are now available at Amazon.com.

A sale on a couple gluten-free products at Amazon warrants a mention. First, save up to 30% off on Think Thin breakfast products: save 15% using code THNK4009 at checkout and save an additional 15% (with free shipping) when combining with a Subscribe & Save order. Also, save up to 30% off on Pure Bar breakfast bars: save 15% using code PURBR643 at checkout and save an additional 15% (with free shipping) when combining with a Subscribe & Save order. Both deals run through April 30.

It should be a great weekend to spend outside - enjoy the warm weather!
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