News & Notes: July 9, 2010

Thanks to everyone who turned out at the Phillies game Wednesday to support Celiac Awareness Night. The gluten-free food stand offered Seasons Pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, Good Eatz sweets and more. With the large turnout and variety of food and beverages purchased, hopefully the stadium concessionaire will take notice and add to the current gluten-free options.

Earlier in the week, I wrote about my family's recent trip to Ocean City that included stops at two gluten-free-friendly eateries on the Boardwalk.

Terra, a New American in Philly's WashWest nabe (243 South Camac Street, 215-545-1102), can accommodate gluten-free diners. Thanks to Whitney and Kristin at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness for the good word.

Doylestown's Baked on Main (22 South Main Street, 215-340-7629) has gluten-free dough available for its rustic flatbreads. I'm told that the prep area is cleaned for a gluten-free order and the flatbreads are baked in the oven on a pan.

Also in the 'burbs, Limoncello Ristorante in West Chester (9 North Walnut Street, 610-436-6230) offers gluten-free pasta.

While the flatbreads there aren't gluten-free, Earth Bread + Brewery in Mt. Airy (7136 Germantown Avenue, 215-242-6666) does have Glutenus Minimus on tap, brewed with rice, buckwheat and sorghum. Reader Chuck B., who e-mailed me about the beer and took the photo nearby, described it as "very light, smooth, refreshing and lemony."

I've posted the updated gluten-free menus from several Jose Garces concepts to the restaurant list: Amada and Chima recently refreshed their choices.

Reader Jayne O. let me know that Lucky Bones Backwater Grille in Cape May is working on a formal gluten-free menu, which should be available before the summer is out.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Roy's, the Hawaiian fusion restaurant in Center City, closed last weekend.

Now arriving on Track 1 is Main Line Baking Co., a new gluten-free bakery set to officially open on Monday at the Wynnewood Train Station (75 East Wynnewood Road, 215-292-4200). Samples and free Colombe coffee will be available today from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The baked goods - items like chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, lemon pound cake and vanilla cupcakes - will be available Monday through Friday. The sweets are baked in a dedicated gluten-free/dairy-free kitchen on the premises. A tip of the conductor's cap to Jessica at the Celiac Advocate blog, who learned about the bakery in her travels this week.

New in Haddonfield is Desserted Pastries (605 North Haddon Avenue, 856-275-7357). Owner Carrie Longacre tells me that she has gluten-free chocolate chip cookies available. She uses specially designated utensils, bowls and the like and sanitizes the kitchen's stainless steel table for that rendition. She can also make other gluten-free sweets with advance notice.

Virago Baking Company has reopened at its new home at 322 1/2 West Main Street in Lansdale.

With thanks to reader Mark M., the last day of retail sales at Mr. Ritts Gluten Free Bakery in Millville is July 31. The store is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the month, but call to check on availability.

Plum Catering (215-880-3881) is a new gluten-free caterer that specializes in on-site parties and private chef services throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The company will be catering a celiac awareness picnic at Scranton's Nay Aug Park on Sunday, August 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is being hosted by Laure Stasik, owner of Alternative Eating in Scranton, with proceeds donated to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research. Plum Catering will be serving up burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob, turkey chili, veggie chili, fudge, peanut butter-chocolate poppers and more. There will be live music, kids' games and a Chinese auction. Ticket information is available from Alternative Eating at 570-344-6569.

Next time you're at Ikea in South Philadelphia or Conshohocken to pick up a Billy bookcase or Ekby shelf, don't forget to grab a gluten-free, straight-outta-Stockholm almond torte or raspberry cheesecake.

Have a great weekend!