Friday, October 23, 2015

News & Notes: October 23, 2015

I can't vouch for all of the chain's locations, but the 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza in Marlton (752 W. Rt. 70, 856-334-5533) prepares quick-fired gluten-free pizzas on their own foil tins with separate ingredients from the walk-in refrigerator. The staff also uses a dedicated cutter.

The new Cibo by Illiano in Cherry Hill's Short Hills Shopping Center (484 E. Evesham Rd., 856-433-8837) can prepare gluten-free pizza and pasta. Request that separate sauce, cheese and toppings be used.

In Holland (Pennsylvania, that is), Jersey's Tomato Pies and Bistro (295 Buck Rd., 215-396-1000) also offers gluten-free pizza (tomato pies, too) and pasta. As with Cibo, request that separate sauce, cheese and toppings be used. Most entrees can be made gluten free as well.

The Brothers Moon, a New American restaurant in Hopewell, New Jersey (7 W. Broad St., 609-333-1330), can accommodate many gluten-free requests and has gluten-free bread on hand.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

First Draft: Spiked Seltzer


Call it clear beer, Call it hard water, Whatever you call it, Spiked Seltzer is a welcome new gluten-free alcoholic beverage option.

The fizzy, low-carb Spiked Seltzer is not gluten reduced or a beer made with ancient grains. It's brewed with purified water, and the alcohol is derived from citrus essence and sugar. Yet it's not cloyingly sweet. I preferred the West Indies Lime and Valencia Orange flavors (Indian River Grapefruit and Cape Cod Cranberry are the other seltzer-style flavors) and enjoyed them straight from the can, but they can also be mixed with juices and spirits to create a variety of cocktails. All of them have a kick (6% ABV, comparable to a strong cider).

Spiked Seltzer has a heavy presence in New England, but is rapidly becoming available elsewhere along the East Coast. In New Jersey, the beverages are sold at wine-and-spirits stores throughout the state. A Facebook reader mentioned that The Bottle Shop in South Philadelphia stocks them as well, though there are no Pennsylvania locations currently listed on the company's product finder page.

DISCLOSURE: While Boathouse Beverage provided product samples for me to review at no cost, such compensation did not influence my review. Neither I am nor any immediate family member is an employee, officer, director or agent of Boathouse Beverage or its respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities, advertising and promotional agencies. Click here for my complete Disclosure.

Friday, October 9, 2015

News & Notes: October 9, 2015

The newest all-gluten-free restaurant in the Delaware Valley is hoping to debut later this fall. Heart Beet Kitchen in Westmont (29 Haddon Ave., 856-240-1106) will offer a plant-based, organic menu full of healthy fare, smoothies, soups and desserts. For now, Heart Beet brings some of its wares to the Westmont Farmers' Market every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Stir-fry and salad purveyor Honeygrow has opened its first Delaware location in Wilmington (5609A Concord Pike, 302-407-3331). Another, on Main Street in Newark, is planned for later this fall.

Burning Brothers Brewing, an all-gluten-free brewery out of Minnesota, has plans to bring its Pyro American Pale Ale to Philadelphia, though given Pennsylvania's Byzantine liquor laws there's no ETA just yet.

Still on the subject of beers, Tuesday's post featured a review of the award-winning beers from Seattle's Ghostfish Brewing.

General Mills issued a product recall of certain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios boxes due to the presence of undisclosed gluten. Affected boxes were produced at the company's Lodi, California facility in July. If you have these cereals, compare the "Better If Used By" code on the packaging to those identified by General Mills.

Kettle Kups K-Cup Soups are new, all-natural, Keurig brewer compatible soups. All varieties - Homestyle Chicken, Homestyle Beef and Garden Vegetable - are gluten free.

ShopRite in Marlton (307 Rt. 70 W., 856-983-7370) is hosting a Gluten-Free Food Festival next Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be lots of samples being offered, and I'll be hanging out there from 11 a.m. to noon. Some of the more than three dozen vendors participating include Boar's Head, Crunch Master, Sweet Megan's Bakery, Sweet Note Bakery, Evol, Udi's, Glutino, Lance, Late July, Perdue and Pretzel Crisps.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,400 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!


Tuesday, October 6, 2015

First Draft: Ghostfish Brewing Company

By Chris Betz

Ghostfish Brewing Company is giving Usain Bolt a run for his money. The all-gluten-free brewery from Seattle took home gold and bronze medals at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival held last month and a gold medal at this year's U.S. Open Beer Championship. Brewing primarily with artisan millet and buckwheat malts, the company is making waves in the gluten-free brewing world.

The first of the flagship beers I tried was the Shrouded Summit Witbier. When brewed traditionally, this style gets its cloudy white appearance from the large amount of wheat used in the brewing process. Though there is no wheat in Shrouded Summit, its hazy yellow color and white head made it look authentic - a "witbier without," if you will. It smelled and tasted like a clone of its wheat counterpart.

Friday, October 2, 2015

News & Notes: October 2, 2015

University City beer garden William Street Common (3900 Chestnut St., 215-397-4693) notes gluten-free items on its menu and serves hard cider in pints, steins and table kegs.

Grilled cheese specialist Milk House has opened its second Center City Philadelphia location in Rittenhouse Square (37 S. 19th St., 267-639-4286). A separate press is used for the gluten-free sandwiches and the fries and tots are the only items in the fryer.

At the upscale Americana Diner in East Windsor (359 Rt. 130, 609-448-4477), most of the menu either is or can be made gluten free. Options also include pasta and Udi's burger buns.