News & Notes: August 9, 2019

If you follow Gluten Free Philly on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, you know that Philly's own Wawa convenience store chain is testing two new gluten-free products: a Canadian bacon, egg & cheese muffin and a turkey & cheese hoagie. The test, which runs through September 1, is being conducted at six Pennsylvania locations:

• 1195 Pottstown Pike, West Chester
• 1501 West Chester Pike, West Chester
• 1010 West Chester Pike, West Chester
• 3604 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
• 1190 Market St., Philadelphia
• 150 S. Independence Mall W., Philadelphia

The products are made by a third party in a certified gluten-free facility. It comes in to stores frozen and individually bagged. Wawa associates heat it up directly in the bag.without opening it (similar to Starbucks' protocol for warming the now-discontinued gluten-free breakfast sandwich). Associates are also instructed that if the customer asks for any additional condiments on the side, they need to communicate that there will be cross contamination and they cannot eliminate the risk that gluten will be present. There are no further plans now for expanding or continuing the test, but the company's Product Development team will regroup after the test is complete to discuss next steps.

So how do they taste? From the comments to my recent social media posts, the breakfast sandwich seems to be the better of the two options, a sentiment shared by our contributor Sara, who took the pictures above. In particular, the hoagie that's served was not as appetizing as it appears in the promotional photo. One the plus side, she thought the price point ($4-$5) was reasonable.

At South Philly Barbacoa in the Italian Market (1140 S. 9th St., 215-360-5282), all menu options except for the apple cake are gluten free.

Reader Laura S. let me know that the Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille in North Wildwood (2507 Delaware Ave., 609-600-6125) preps gluten-free chicken tenders and fries in a dedicated fryer, and also offers flatbreads, pasta, burger buns and Redbridge beer.

Baltimore Gluten Free posted about her recent Jersey Shore vacation, and mentioned two new-to-me options. Pure Juice + Kitchen in Stone Harbor (9821 3rd Ave., 609-741-7226) has smoothies, juices, bowls, avocado and nut butter toasts. Eat Clean Org is a gluten-free meal prep company that has pick-up locations at, and delivery to, many shore points. The menu changes weekly.

Brigantine Bistro (3015 Brigantine Blvd., 609-264-5050) has gluten-free options for breakfast like omelets, pancakes and French toast as well as sandwiches at lunch. The kitchen uses a separate toaster and grill.

Calfornia Pizza Kitchen, which recently closed its Cherry Hill location but opened a location at Philadelphia International Airport (Concourse E), is offering take-and-bake certified-gluten-free cauliflower pizza at all non-airport outposts.

A new Red Lobster-branded gluten-free cheddar biscuit mix is now available at Walmart stores nationwide, though the product has been spotted at other markets such as Wegmans.

Wegmans has changed over its store-branded gluten-free pizzas from a rice flour crust to a cauliflower crust. All are priced less than $7.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the always updated Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,700 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!

News & Notes: April 12, 2019

While more gluten-free beers are always welcome, beverage companies are focusing their efforts on lower-calorie alcoholic seltzers and cocktails. Fortunately, some of them are gluten free. Cape Line Sparkling Cocktails, a new line from MillerCoors, launched this month with three flavors: Blackberry Mojito, Margarita and Hard Strawberry Lemonade. The 120-calorie drinks are made with fermented cane sugar and have no artificial flavors. Cape Line’s drinks are slightly sweet and effervescent and check in at 4.5% alcohol-by-volume. You can check for retailers in your area stocking Cape Line here.

Coming this July is a new beverage line called Pacer Low Proof Seltzer, which will be offered in three flavors: Blood Orange, Meyer Lemon & Lavender and Melon & Mint. Each seltzer is under 50 calories, with less than 1 gram of sugar and 2% alcohol by volume.

One of my favorite gluten-free baking mixes, Krusteaz, has four new gluten-free varieties: Yellow Cake Mix, Chocolate Cake Mix, Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix and Confetti Buttermilk Pancake Mix. Certified gluten-free with no artificial flavors or preservatives, the new additions nearly double Krusteaz's gluten-free family of products, which includes Blueberry Muffin, Gluten-Free Flour, Buttermilk Pancake, Double Chocolate Brownie, Cinnamon Crumb Cake and Honey Cornbread Mixes. The new mixes have a suggested retail price of $3.98 and can be found in the baking aisle at Walmart and online at Walmart.com.

Gorton's Seafood's new gluten-free frozen entree line, Hook Line and Savor, can now be found at Wegmans markets throughout the Northeast U.S. The three varieties - Black Bean Crusted Cod, Citrus Ginger Salmon and Crispy Beer Battered Haddock - are also dairy and egg free. The haddock is made with Glutenberg Blonde Ale.

Nabisco has expanded its Good Thins line with two new gluten-free rice and cheese crackers: Three Cheese and Parmesan & Garlic.

The big news in the area this week in the announcement that the owners of Haddonfield Donut Company (14 Tanner St., 856-354-0006) are taking over the space formerly occupied by Posh Pop Bakeshop and opening Bleu Bear Bakery, a dedicated gluten-free bakery in Haddonfield (109 Kings Hwy. E.). The menu will include donuts (of course) as well as cookies, pies, cake pops, stick buns and monkey bread, cupcakes, cheesecakes, bread and breakfast sandwiches, Plans are for the new shop to open next month.

The venerable Jake's & Cooper's Wine Bar in Manayunk (4635 Main St., 215-483-0444) notes gluten-free options on its menus and has a dedicated fryer for French fries.

Kalaya is a new Thai BYOB in South Philadelphia's Bella Vista neighborhood (764 S. Ninth St., 215-385-3777). Gluten-free options are listed on the menu.

Michael Schulson's Italian restaurant in Rittenhouse Square, Giuseppe & Sons (1523 Sansom St., 215-399-9199), has gluten-free pasta. (Thanks to reader Julie P.)

Monday is the last day for early-bird registration for the Step Beyond Celiac 5K run/walk at the Philadelphia Zoo on Sunday, June 9th. Join "Team Gluten Free Philly" at registration to help me raise money for Beyond Celiac.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the always updated Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,700 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!

News & Notes: September 7, 2018

Barilla has launched a line of one-ingredient legume pastas, made with chickpeas or red lentils. The pasta is available in four varieties - Red Lentil Rotini, Red Lentil Penne, Chickpea Rotini and Chickpea Casarecce - all of which are certified gluten free. They retail for $2.99 each and can be found at Amazon.com and select retailers nationwide

Trader Joe's new Almond Butter Cocoa bars are squares of gluten-free oat-and-rice-flour based chocolately dough, sweetened with fig paste and filled with almond butter.

This fall, Canyon Bakehouse introduces two English muffin options: Original and Honey Whole Grain. The Original variety comes in a pack of five and can be found in the freezer section, while the Honey Whole Grain comes in shelf-stable packaging. You can download a coupon here.

Goodie Girl Cookies' new gluten-free Birthday Cake sandwich creme cookies will be available this fall at Whole Foods markets and Amazon, while the returning, seasonal Caramel Apple cookies - with crunchy toffee and apple bits - will be at Bed Bath & Beyond. There's a downloadable coupon at the company's website.

Krusteaz has added a cinnamon swirl crumb cake and muffin mix to its gluten-free line.

Acadia brings a bit of New Orleans spice to South Philly (824 S. 8th St., 215-922-7200). Gluten-free options are noted on the menu; avoid fried items due to possible cross-contact. There are Sunday brunch options as well that include gluten-free shrimp and grits as well as waffles made in a dedicated iron.

News & Notes: February 2, 2018

Trader Joe's leads the way this week with even more gluten-free products on store shelves. For starters, there are two new organic, gluten-free pastas: black bean rotini and red lentil sedanini, both selling for $2.99 a package. The new churro bites, made with corn meal and brown sugar, are $2.49 per bag, and the oat cranberry flaxseed cookies are $2.99 for a six-cookie package.

Namaste Foods is branching out from its traditional gluten-free baking-mix roots to introduce single-serve microwaveable cake cups. They come in three flavors: Dark Chocolate Cake, Yellow Cake and Cinnamon Sugar Cake.

Locally, the big story this week is the impending closure of gluten- and allergen-free Sweet Freedom Bakery's location in Collingswood (577 Haddon Ave., 856-869-7322) on Feb. 18. The bakery's original Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr outposts are unaffected and it's business as usual there.

The newest area Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar opens in Newtown on Monday, Feb. 5 (2865 S. Eagle Rd., 215-944-8469). Gluten-free options are noted on the dinner menu.

JuiceFresh in Rehoboth Beach (37385 Rehoboth Ave., 844-584-2366) is the area's newest all-gluten-free business. In addition to juices and smoothies, the cafe offers soups, salads, muffins, power bars and more.

Many of the items on the Thai side of the menu at Thai Burger Cafe in Pitman (13 S. Broadway, 856-582-0424) are gluten free. This includes pad Thai, all fried rice and curries and several soups and appetizers.

Pittsburgh's gluten-free Aurochs Brewing continues its eastern expansion. In addition to Farmers Keep (10 S. 20th St.), Aurochs' Blonde Ale and Session IPA are now available in Philadelphia at Beer Heaven (1100 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.), The Bottle Shop (1616 E. Passyunk Ave.), Moore Beverage (601 Moore St.) Campo's (214 Market St.) and Rybrew (2816 W. Girard Ave.), The Foodery in Phoenixville (325 Bridge St.) and Rocko's Beverage in Media (4 State Rd.)

Kensington's Original 13 Ciderworks (1526 N. American St., 215-765-7000) is serving items from its winter menu and has expanded its gluten-free options, including the addition of a sandwich bun and dessert. The kitchen maintains a dedicated fryer. The pub is offering a dinner package on Valentine's Day - almost everything on the menu is gluten free and the package includes a three-course dinner, cider pairings and a bottle of Sweet Nothings Chocolate Cherry Cider for $75 per couple.

Whole Foods recently opened its newest area store in Exton (175 N. Pottstown Pike, 610-423-6360); as of March 14, the Ambler location will be relocating to 1111 N. Bethlehem Pike.

The Rachel Way gluten- and dairy-free food pantry at the Plymouth Meeting Mall (500 W. Germantown Pike, 484-404-5293) is hosting a kids' cooking class tomorrow at 1 p.m. to celebrate Valentine's Day (register here). The event is free but monetary or gluten-free food donations are appreciated.

Have a great weekend and Fly Eagles Fly!!!

- Michael

With the updated Gluten Free Philly app for iOS and Android devices, find more than 1,600 area gluten-free-friendly businesses on the go, search by cuisine or neighborhood, make reservations and more!

News & Notes: December 8, 2017

California Pizza Kitchen is planning an early 2018 roll-out of a gluten-free cauliflower crust at all of its U.S. restaurants. The cauliflower crust, which debuted late last month at several southern California locations, can be substituted for the standard gluten-free crust used in all four of CPK's certified-gluten-free pizzas: Margherita, BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, and Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage. The new crust is an additional $2.50.

All but two items (tequeños (cheese-sticks appetizer) and tres leches cake) are gluten free at TartAreperia 18.64, a Venezeulan BYOB in Philly's Fishtown section (1204 N. Front St., 215-982-1150). That includes arepas, empanadas and fried plantains. The tequeños are fried in a separate fryer.

The corn flour empanadas at Lima Fusion (at the new Ferry Market) in New Hope (32 S. Main St., 267-644-8655) are also gluten free and prepared separately. Most other items on the menu are gluten free, as marked on the menu. As mentioned here in October, Ferry Market is the home of a new location for The Happy Mixer gluten-free bakery.

The arepas at Pala'a in Ardmore (18 W. Lancaster Ave., 484-413-2392) are gluten-free, though the empanadas and corn chips are fried in a shared fryer. (Thanks to reader Kristen S.)

At the Brazilian Churrascaria Saudades in Newark, Delaware (230 E. Main St., 302-355-5551), all meats except the chicken legs are gluten free, as are many sides and salad items.

Expo East 2017 Recap

What do seaweed, vinegar and beets have in common? Products featuring those ingredients were among those trending at the annual Expo East natural-foods show in Baltimore earlier this month. The show features new and emerging gourmet, natural and gluten-free products from across North America whose manufacturers are seeking wider distribution in supermarkets and grocery stores.

This year's show was larger than ever, with more than 1,500 exhibiting brands and more than 450 first-time vendors. In no particular order, here are some of the highlights among gluten-free products at this year's event (not all items are currently available in area stores):

Mikaela's Simply Divine Biscotti Cookies: These are more "cookie" than "biscotti," given that they're light and crunchy. The all-natural, certified-gluten-free cookies come in five flavors: Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Mint, Luscious Lemon and new Butterscotch Toffee Pecan and Chocolate Brownie, . They'll soon be available in bite-size portioned pouches in addition to the currently available boxes and single-serve versions. Mikaela's cookies can be purchased via the company's Facebook page and are also available at markets in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and in northern New Jersey and New York.

Otto's Cassava Flour: This paleo flour, made with Brazilian yucca root, can be used as a one-to-one substitute for traditional wheat flour. We were impressed with the taste of sample chocolate chip cookies made with Otto's. The flour can be found locally at Whole Foods and Wegmans, and online at Amazon and through the company's e-store.

Unreal chocolate candies: This upstart natural candy company has obtained GFCO certification for its dark chocolate peanut butter cups, crispy dark chocolate peanut butter cups (made with quinoa bits) and dark chocolate almond butter cups. All ingredients are fair trade and sustainable. Unreal's candies are sold at Whole Food, Target and other stores, and look for a special holiday-themed 20-treat-pack of the cup varieties.

The Good Crisp: With a cleaner (and shorter) ingredient list than Lay's Stax, The Good Crisp stacked potato crisps come in three varieties: Original, Sour Cream & Onion and BBQ. The crisps have no artificial colors or flavors and are made with sustainable palm oil. The Good Crisp products can be found at Wegmans and other markets throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Western U.S.

Ethel's Baking Co.: This Michigan-based gluten-free bakery produces delectable, buttery brownies, blondies and shortcake-topped "dandy" bars. All of the them were great, though our favorite was the raspberry dandy. The entire line can be ordered through the company's website or via Amazon (which has either $10.00 flat-rate shipping or free shipping depending on the amount ordered).

The Soulfull Project: The Camden-based, Campbell Soup-backed The Soulfull Project will be introducing gluten-free hot cereals in single-serving-size packets early next year. For every serving of The Soulfull Project’s hot cereal purchased, the company donates a serving to a regional food bank. The flavors will include Hearty Grains & Seeds, Cinnamon Spice Multigrain and Irish Oatmeal. Currently, the gluten-free Hearty Grains & Seeds (14 oz. pouch) and Brown Sugar Pecan Multigrain cups are sold at Wegmans and through the company's website.

Other news from the expo: The Toasted Oat Bakehouse has changed the packaging for its soft gluten-free granola, switching from canisters to pouches; it can be found at Wegmans . . . Mi-Del will have limited-edition gluten-free Maple Ginger Creme cookies available for the winter holidays . . . Lundberg Family Farms was sampling its new line of gluten-free arancini (rice balls); the gouda & mozzarella ones were a hit . . . Smart Flour Foods sampled its new pizza snack bites, and they're worth waiting for . . . Camden County's Caesars Pasta has refreshed the look of its gluten-free pasta meals like lasagna, ravioli and gnocchi and brought them under the Gluten-Free Gourmet line  . . . Goodie Girl teased its new Caramel Apple cookies made with crunchy toffee and dried apple bits . . . Barbara's Bakery is adding a new gluten-free protein-focused Puffins cereal, Berry Burst; look for the Pumpkin variety to return this fall.

Disclosure: I receive a commission from purchases made through the Amazon affiliate link in this post. 

Expo East 2016 Recap

What do functional water, cold-brewed coffee and sauerkraut have in common? Those products were among those trending at the annual Expo East natural-foods show in Baltimore last week. The show features new and emerging gourmet, natural and gluten-free products from across North America whose manufacturers are seeking wider distribution in supermarkets and grocery stores.

This year's show was larger than ever, with more than 1,450 exhibiting brands and more than 450 first-time vendors. In no particular order, here's my list of the top five gluten-free products I tried at this year's event (not all items are currently available in area stores), along with information about some other noteworthy items:

New Pop: The Original version of this skinless popcorn, one of three flavors from a New York-based upstart, reminds me of a less cloyingly sweet Sugar Smacks cereal made with corn instead of wheat. The skin on the corn kernels are peeled before being pressure popped, so there's nothing to get stuck between your teeth. A cup serving size is just 32 calories, but you'll want more - it's addicting. Each serving has 4 grams of fiber, zero grams of fat and just 3 grams of sugar. New Pop can be found at a few area markets, but mostly in the New York City area. The company also takes orders online.

Tucson Tamale: This Arizona mini-chain of restaurants has begun to expand distribution of its delicious gluten-free tamales east of the Mississippi River, though they can also be ordered online. They are super easy to make and taste great. There are several vegetarian and vegan varieties, and well as dessert and breakfast versions.

Smashmallow: The creator of Krave jerky is behind this new line of premium snackable marshmallows. The treats are made with organic sugar and all natural ingredients, and range from 70-90 calories per serving. Smashmallow bites come in seven flavors, including Cinnamon Churro, Strawberries & Cream, Espresso Bean, Mint Chocolate Chip, Toasted Coconut Pineapple, Meyer Lemon Chia Seed and Root Beer Float.

The Curious Creamery: Coming this week via Amazon is The Curious Creamery's new make-your-own ice cream - no machine is needed. The gluten-free, neutral base can be used to customize your flavor. All that's needed is a hand mixer or stand mixer, freezer, and liquid (tea, juice or milk) or fruit puree or yogurt of your choice. The prep takes less than five minutes, followed by freezing time. I sampled a yummy pumpkin flavor that's perfect for fall.

Pasta Oggi: This Montreal-based start-up got a mention in this space last year for its gluten-free ravioli, but this year its certified gluten-free pizza took center stage. The hand-tossed, stone-baked frozen pizzas have a crisp, tasty crust. Alas, these are only available in Quebec at the moment but the company is seeking U.S. distribution.

News & Notes: June 24, 2016

Bravo! Cucina Italiana has expanded its gluten-free menu to include five salads and five pasta dishes (up from three each) as well as several entrees. New items include shrimp scampi pasta, tomato basil pasta and grilled chicken with sun-dried tomato goat cheese. The chain has locations in 23 states, including Pennsylvania. Area outposts are in Willow Grove (2500 Moreland Rd., 215-657-1131) and Whitehall (950 Lehigh Valley Mall, 610-266-4050).

Snap Kitchen's new Beef Sweet Potato Scramble

Healthy to-go chain Snap Kitchen, which recently landed in the area with locations in Philadelphia (Old City, Midtown Village, Rittenhouse Square and Fairmount), Villanova and Malvern, has updated its menu for the summer. Newly added choices - all gluten free - include slow-roasted brisket tacos, brisket hash, Thai coconut curry beef, turkey picadillo stuffed peppers and beef sweet potato scramble.

America Runs on Duncan Hines

Duncan Hines is set to roll out new gluten-free baking mixes,
seen here at a Publix market in Nashville (Photo Credit: Ann H.)

I know. You're thinking, "Do we really need more gluten-free baking mixes?" In this instance, the answer is yes, since the brand is Duncan Hines and the mixes are different from all of the others. Next Monday, Pinnacle Foods, the maker of Duncan Hines products, will formally begin distributing the mixes to stores nationally, though packages are already showing up in some places. There are two different Decadent-labeled products: Vanilla Creme Cake and Chocolate Lovers' Brownie. The cake is similar to a Boston Cream Pie, with vanilla creme filling and chocolate glaze mixes included with the flour mix. A chocolate glaze mix is also included with the brownies as a suggested topping. (Incidentally, all of Duncan Hines-branded cake frostings are gluten free.)

The introduction of Duncan Hines gluten-free mixes furthers a change in Pinnacle's business strategy. As recently as 2014, Pinnacle had no plans to introduce any gluten-free baking mixes. However, last year's purchase of Boulder Brands, which owned gluten-free-friendly Udi's, Glutino and evol, marked a shift in the company's approach to the gluten-free market.

News & Notes: June 10, 2016

The Delaware Valley's newest comedy club, Punch Line Philly in Fishtown (1004 Canal St., 215-309-0150), has announced its inaugural summer lineup beginning with shows on July 8. The showroom's menu includes celiac-friendly gluten-free pizza and a veggies-and-hummus plate.

The Goat's Beard has gone beyond Philadelphia for its second location. The New American bistro has just opened in Wayne (103 N. Wayne Ave., 484-584-4979). Gluten-free options are noted on the menus, which are the same as those offered in Manayunk.

Glenside's Keswick Tavern (294 N. Keswick Ave., 215-886-4277) offers gluten-free rolls for its chicken sandwiches and burgers.

News & Notes: February 19, 2016

Pillsbury has extended its line of gluten-free baking products with the addition of five new mixes: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Sugar Cookie,  Devil's Food Cake and Classic Yellow Cake.

For the first time, famed cookie baker Archway will have gluten-free cookies. Beginning next month consumers nationwide will be able to purchase Sugar Cookie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Chips. Read more about these new cookies at my Gluten-Free Living blog post.

Kashi has new gluten-free products of its own. GOLEAN Clusters Vanilla Pepita Cereal features a blend of popped sorghum, rolled red beans, pea crisps, pepitas and vanilla, Its GOLEAN Plant Powered Bars come in four flavors: Salted Dark Chocolate & Nuts, Honey Pecan Baklava, Dark Chocolate Cashew Chia and Peanut Hemp Crunch. Each bar is made with a blend of grains, nuts, seeds and pea crisps topped with a nut butter or sunflower seed butter layer.

News & Notes: November 6, 2015

Tenderloin Medallions at Travinia
(Photo credit: via Facebook)

Philadelphia's newest concert hall, The Fillmore, now has a gluten-free-friendly pre-show dining option nearby. Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, in the city's Fishtown section (1000 Frankford Ave., 267-687-2020), opens Sunday for dinner, with lunch service starting on Wednesday. Both the lunch and dinner menus list gluten-free options, including pasta,

With his roles in shot-in-Philly Invincible and Shooter, actor Mark Wahlberg has made this area a second home of sorts. Now, his family burger business, Wahlburgers, will be setting up shop at The Piazza in Northern Liberties this winter. For now, a Wahlburgers food truck will serve that same area on weekends, The menu includes gluten-free burger buns and croutons for salads.

Giorgio Pizza on Pine (1334 Pine St., 215-545-2482), the new casual offshoot of Center City fave Giorgio on Pine, is now offering gluten-free pizza and sandwiches - that includes cheesesteaks. The breads and pizza shells are sourced from Taffets in the Italian Market.

News & Notes: September 11, 2015

Though General Mills has discontinued its Chex gluten-free oatmeal line, another food company stands ready to fill the void. Quaker Oats will have its own Select Start gluten-free oatmeal products on shelves beginning this fall. Though details have not been formally announced, customers can look for quick one-minute oats sold in canisters and at least one flavored instant oatmeal variety (Maple & Brown Sugar).

Bob's Red Mill is launching a line of gluten-free oatmeal cups. The meals feature a blend of three different oats as well as flax and chia seeds. There will b e four varieties: Apple Cinnamon, Brown Sugar & Maple, Blueberry Hazelnut and Classic.

Speaking of cups, each of Evol's new gluten-free microwaveable meal cups -12 in all - are made with antibiotic-free meats and are under 210 calories. There are Scramble, Veggie and Fajita Cups, all of which can be found at Target stores.

Look in the refrigerator case for new Hillshire Snacking grilled chicken bites. These come packaged with a variety of dipping sauces: Teriyaki, Spicy Chipotle Barbeque, Honey Mustard and Mango Habanero.

News & Notes: May 1, 2015

Gluten-free Patricia's Cheese Ravioli at Maggiano's

Casual Italian chain Maggiano's Little Italy debuted new gluten-free items yesterday in time for its annual "Eat-A-Dish for Make A-Wish" campaign. The "Eat-A-Dish" menu is available for dine-in or carryout and features the following gluten-free-friendly dishes:

• Shrimp and Avocado Lemonette - mixed greens, smoked bacon with a lemon vinaigrette
• Patricia's Cheese Ravioli (choose this and take a Classic Pasta home for the next day compliments of the chef) - gluten-free ravioli, parmesan broth, spring vegetables and a truffle mascarpone
• Grilled Jumbo Shrimp - sweet corn relish and honey calabrian glaze or Tuscan potatoes, arugula and lemon (available April 30 to June 3) / sauteed spinach, Fontina cheese with a lobster cream sauce (available June 4 to July 8)
• Creme Brulee Trio - chocolate honey, caramelized honey and citrus (available April 30 to June 3) 
• Flourless Chocolate Cake - chocolate cake, mixed berries, hot fudge with vanilla bean ice cream (available June 4 to July 8) 

Information on the kitchen's preparation of gluten-free dishes is posted on the company's website. To participate in this year's "Eat-A-Dish" campaign, guests just need to dine at Maggiano's from April 30 through July 8 and enjoy a gluten-free-friendly feature from the "Eat-A-Dish" menu. In return, Maggiano's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish for every dish and $.50 for every glass of Wish Lemonade ordered from the special menu. In addition to these giving opportunities, Maggiano's will sell star-shaped cards, which feature inspirational stories of wish children, to guests for a donation of their choice. Guests who donate more than $10 will receive a commemorative star with a $10 coupon to be used during a future visit.

Diners can also get $10 off by joining the restaurant's E-Club. Area Maggiano's locations include King of Prussia (205 Mall Blvd., 610-922-3333), Philadelphia (1201 Filbert St., 215-567-2020) and Cherry Hill (2000 Rt. 38, 856-792-4470).

Morgan's Pier on Penn's Landing (221 N. Columbus Blvd., 215-279-7134) opened for the season yesterday with a new chef ("Top Chef" winner Nicholas Elmi) and a new menu. Both the weekday dinner and weekend brunch menus note gluten-free items. Hard ciders are available on draft and in bottles.

News & Notes: March 13, 2015

This weekend marks the sixth anniversary of my first post here at Gluten Free Philly - that's a long time in blog years. Thank you for your support throughout that stretch! It's your notes, recommendations, product sightings and the like that helps make the blog a joy to publish. If you're attending the CHOP educational event in Philadelphia on Sunday, please stop by the NFCA table between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to say hello.

To celebrate the anniversary, the Gluten Free Philly restaurant app is on sale all weekend for $1.99 (normally $2.99) at the Apple App Store. (It's also available at the Google Play Store.) With the app, you'll find more than 1,400 curated gluten-free-friendly restaurant, bakery, market and attractions listings covering southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and all of Delaware, with new listings frequently added. Search by name, location or cuisine, view gluten-free-friendly menus and options, get directions, make reservations, and call listed businesses from your phone.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor's Plain Rice Roll
(Photo: Nom Wah)

New York City's oldest dim sum house, Nom Wah Tea Parlor, has opened a Philadelphia location in Chinatown (218 N. 13th St., 267-519-2889). Gluten-free items are marked on the menu, like shrimp, beef and vegetarian rice rolls and tofu skin rolls; request that gluten-free soy sauce be used for these orders. Other items are fried in a shared fryer.

Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar will open at the Moorestown Mall (400 Rt. 38 W., 856-581-0044) on Monday, according to Philly.com. Most items are 500 calories or less and many items can be made gluten free. The Philadelphia location, for example, offers gluten-free pasta and pizza options.

News & Notes: February 13, 2015

You'll need to breathe deep to absorb all the gluten-free product news from this week. The biggest is word from General Mills that five varieties of Cheerios will be labeled "gluten free" come July: Original, Honey Nut, Multi-Grain, Apple Cinnamon and Frosted.

The company says it has developed a way – years in the making – to sort out the small amount of wheat, rye and barley in its supply of whole oats that are inadvertently introduced at the farms where the oats were grown, or during transportation of the whole oats to the mill. This ensures that the oats used for Cheerios allow us to meet the FDA’s guidelines for gluten-free products, according to General Mills. As for the Multi-Grain variety, current wheat and barley ingredients will be replaced with sorghum and millet. The front of the cereal boxes will note the products' gluten-free status. Gluten-Free Living's blog has more information on the oats General Mills will be using for these cereals.

Meanwhile, General Mills' Pillsbury brand has introduced new gluten-free products of its own. Joining its all-purpose flour are Funfetti cake and cookie mixes and banana quick bread and muffin mix.

American Flatbread Pizza is introducing two new gluten-free pizzas: Cheese Trio & Tomato Sauce and Pesto & Cheese. The Cheese Trio & Tomato Sauce is a handmade flatbread topped with mozzarella, parmesan and Vermont Cookeville grana cheese, with homemade tomato sauce and fresh herbs. Pesto & Cheese is topped with pesto, made with fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, fresh minced garlic and parmesan. The pizzas retail for $8.99.