News & Notes: December 23, 2016

Photo Credit: Shake Shack/Facebook

As of this week, gourmet-burger chain Shake Shack has gluten-free buns available (for a $1 upcharge) at all locations except for those at stadiums and ballparks. The bread is also dairy free. Keep in mind that Shake Shack's fries are not gluten free because they are prepared in the same fryers as breaded mushrooms.

Local Shake Shacks are in University City (3200 Chestnut St., 267-338-3464), Rittenhouse Square (2000 Sansom St., 215-809-1742), King of Prussia (160 N. Gulph Rd., 267-428-7560; 350 Mall Blvd., 484-679-8335) and Newark, Delaware (2120 Fashion Center Blvd., 302-597-7417). A shop along Route 70 in Marlton, New Jersey is planned for 2017.

Photo Credit: The Olde Bar/Facebook

The Olde Bar, a traditional American restaurant located in the former Bookbinder's space in Old City Philadelphia (125 Walnut St., 215-253-3777) has a gluten-free menu designed by Chef Jose Garces. Four other Garces-owned restaurants - Amada in Old City (217-219 Chestnut St., 215-625-2450) [menu], University City's Distrito (3945 Chestnut St., 215-222-1657) [menu], Tinto in Rittenhouse Square (114 S. 20th St., 215-665-9150) [menu] and Garces Trading Company in Washington Square West (1111 Locust St., 215-574-1099) [menu] - have updated their gluten-free menus.

Zama, also on Rittenhouse Square (128 S. 19th St., 215-568-1027) now has a gluten-free menu that includes items from the sushi bar. Sister restaurant CoZara in University City (3200 Chestnut St., 267-233-7488) has a similar menu.

News & Notes: December 16, 2016

After months of renovations, Catelli Duo has opened at the Moorestown Mall in the former Osteria space (400 Rt. 38 W., 856-437-5757). The kitchen can prepare gluten-free pasta upon request; ask that it be cooked in a clean pot with fresh water.

The newest addition to the King of Prussia Town Center is City Works Eatery & Pour House (220 Main St., 484-690-4150). Gluten-free options are listed on the menu on the premises.

Indian restaurant Monsoon in Mt. Laurel (4180 Dearborn Circle, 856-234-0080) can prepare many menu items gluten free. The owners are planning to open a second location, in Cherry Hill's Barclay Farms Shopping Center in the spot last occupied by La Terrazza (1401 Rt. 70 E.).

HipCityVeg's Arugula Taco Salad

HipCityVeg has opened a third location in Philadelphia, this one on the Avenue of the Arts (121 S. Broad St., 267-273-0603). The fast-casual vegan restaurant can prepare salads and other menu items gluten free.

Philly.com reports that the short-lived Travinia Italian Kitchen in Fishtown has closed.

The Food Network-featured Cake That in Manahawkin (657 E. Bay Ave., 609-713-9125) offers gluten-free sweets. Though not prepared a dedicated kitchen, the gluten-free products are baked first in the morning on equipment that is cleaned prior to use.

Sur La Table is hosting a "Deliciously Gluten Free" cooking class at its Marlton, Lawrenceville and King of Prussia locations on January 11 and 22. The menu includes Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage and Lemon, Quinoa-Crusted Chicken with Spicy Cherry Tomato Chutney and Free-From Apple-Almond Pie. The cost is $69 per person and online registration is available.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,500 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!

Breakfast at Starbucks

Besides baseball, there's something else to look forward to once we make it through the winter: Starbucks' new certified-gluten-free breakfast sandwich. The ever-expanding coffee chain announced last week that stores nationwide will begin carrying the sandwich in the spring.

The sandwiches were tested earlier this fall at San Diego and Miami-area locations, and based on the success of the test, Starbucks has opted to roll out the product across the United States. The sandwich combines smoked Canadian bacon and egg with reduced-fat cheddar cheese on a multigrain roll. In the pilot program, the sandwich was priced at less than $5; Starbucks, which has been tight lipped about the addition beyond last week's announcement, has not said as yet whether that price point will change.

Nonetheless, we do know that the sandwiches will come individually wrapped and then heated in their own packaging to avoid cross contact with other products. Starbucks' initial effort at selling a separately wrapped gluten-free product dates back to 2009, when the company sold an orange-flavored cake for several months before discontinuing it. Some stores continue to sell a gluten-free marshmallow crispy rice treat.

News & Notes: December 9, 2016

The casual Caribbean-themed chain Bahama Breeze now offers a gluten-sensitive menu at all locations. Area outlets are located in Newark (500 Center Blvd., 302-266-7923), Princeton (3535 Rt. 1 S., 609-799-3808), Cherry Hill (2000 Rt. 38, 856-317-8317) and King of Prussia (320 Goddard Blvd., 610-491-9822). Hat tip to reader Alexis, who blogs at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures and posted a review of her recent meal at a Bahama Breeze restaurant in the Pittsburgh area.

The owner of Ambler's Mi Lah Vegetarian (40 W. Skippack Pike, 215-646-1808) has opened an outpost in Queen Village (615 S. 3rd St., 215-309-5135) serving vegan tapas and dim sum. As with the main location, the dinner and brunch menus at the new spot note which items can be made gluten free.

Reader Corinna let me know that Peking Wok in Mt. Laurel (127 Ark Rd., 856-866-2350) can prepare many items gluten free, including rice noodle dishes and General Tso's Chicken (coated in corn starch). Request that your order be prepared gluten free with clean cookware.

The Taco Truck in Princeton (301 N. Harrison St., 609-580-1384) lists gluten-free items on its menu, though take note that a shared fryer is used for the chips and fried plantains. The mini-chain's first Pennsylvania location is opening at the King of Prussia Mall (350 Mall Blvd.) within the next month or so.

Philly.com reports that the gluten-free-friendly French-Mexican BYOB Paloma, located in South Philly's Bella Vista neighborhood (763 S. 8th St., 215-928-9500), is closing after a 17-year run on December 22.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is hosting a gluten-free cookie exchange and kids'  support group meeting at its Voorhees facility (1012 Laurel Oak Rd.) on Sun., December 18 from noon to 2 p.m. RSVP via email with the number of attendees (parents and children) and children's ages.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,500 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!