News & Notes: July 27, 2018

Nestle's Lean Cuisine brand has introduced a new line of meatless dishes called Origins. Among the new varieties, the gluten-free Coconut Chickpea Curry is prepared with organic chickpeas, organic tomatoes and long-grain brown rice in a Malaysian-style coconut curry sauce.

Quest Nutrition's new Thin Crust Pizza has a gluten-free crust made with a dairy protein base, resulting in a high protein, low carb meal. The pizzas come in four-cheese, supreme and pepperoni varieties.

Caulipower has introduced the first-ever frozen paleo cauliflower pizza crust. This grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free crust uses cauliflower as the first ingredient.

The makers of thinkThin protein bars launched a new kids' line that gluten free. The bars contain 7 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of sugar per serving. Flavors include Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Creme, Cinnamon Sugar Cookie, Peanut Butter Cup and Vanilla Cupcake.

News & Notes: June 8, 2018

Hometown snack purveyor Herr's Foods has introduced sweet and crunchy funnel cake-flavored snack balls that are gluten free.

Berks County's Sweet Street has added gluten-free brownies to its Manifesto line of baked goods. The individually wrapped brownies are made with a gluten-free flour blend, cage-free eggs and dark Honduran chocolate. The company's gluten-free chewy marshmallow bars are sold at Barnes & Noble bookstores.

Annie's Homegrown has debuted gluten-free Cheddar Bunny Tails snack crackers. The new cheese crackers will be making their way to stores this summer.

A few more Ocean City businesses are accommodating gluten-free customers. TJ's Ice Cream Plus in Ocean City (100 E. Atlantic Blvd., 609-398-5055) has gluten-free cones; all of the chocolate flavors have gluten but many others do not. On the Boardwalk, all of the fries at the new Frenchy's Fries (822 Boardwalk, 609-513-3144) are gluten free, as are the fresh-cut (but not spiral) fries at
Curly's Fries (944 Boardwalk, 609-398-1972).

Center City Philadelphia is primed for poké. At The PokéSpot in Rittenhouse Square (1804 Chestnut St., 267-541-2183), all bases and proteins are gluten free, as are most toppings. The sriracha aioli and tamari soy sauces also are gluten free. Opening this summer East of Market Street (1037 Chestnut St.) is the first of several area Pokéworks locations. The online allergen guide lists all proteins and mix-ins and all but one base as gluten free, along with many sauces and toppings.

At long last, my favorite fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, CAVA, is coming to the Philadelphia area later this year with a location in Rittenhouse Square (1713 Chestnut St.). Most menu items are gluten free.

In Manayunk, Boostin' Bowls (100 Levering St., 267-331-8974) has açaí bowls with gluten-free granola as an available topping along with smoothies. Meanwhile, the rapidly growing Playa Bowls has new locations on Beach Haven on Long Beach Island (610 N. Bay Ave., 609-467-5818) and in Forked River (44M Manchester Ave., 609-994-2828). (Hat tip to Facebook follower Kevin K.)

Prohibition Taproom in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia (501 N. 13th St., 215-238-1818) offers gluten-free fried chicken every Tuesday prepared in a separate fryer.

The menu at the new Rice & Curry in Ambler (521 Limekiln Pike, 215-390-1945) has several gluten-free options like pad Thai, chicken coconut soup and curry.

The newest tenant on the main drag at the University of Delaware is Peruvian restaurant Pachamama (76 E. Main St., 302-738-3800), which opened yesterday. (Thanks Beth S.). Although the signature rotisserie chicken is not gluten free, many gluten-free items are listed on the menu. Avoid the fried items like the banana chips, though, as there is no dedicated fryer.

Reader Melissa D. let me know that the menu at Arooga's in Allentown (327 Star Rd., 888-622-9464) is heavily annotated with gluten-free choices. The kitchen maintains a separate fryer for wings and tater tots.

The Lehigh Valley also has a gluten-free bakery in Kendra's Buttercup Bakery (484-226-0517). Based in Bangor, Northampton County, Kendra's is an made-to-order bakery offering pick up and local deliveries. Orders can be placed online or over the phone.

With yet another round of rainy weather on tap for the area, stay dry and have a great weekend!

- Michael

With the 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!

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. 

News & Notes: November 18, 2016

Jay's Steak & Hoagie Joint has reopened at its new location in Penndel (1205 Highland Ave., 215-741-6555), still offering gluten-free cheese steaks, hoagies, wings, fries and more. A section of the new kitchen is dedicated for gluten-free preparation and contains a separate fryer, grill, sandwich station and oven.

MilkHouse recently opened its third Center City Philadelphia location, this one at 30th Street Station (2995 Market St, 215-222-1393). As with the other spots, there is a separate press used to make gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches and only potatoes go in the fryer.

Local veggie burger purveyor Luhv Foods has opened a vegan bistro in Hatboro (101 N. York Rd., 215-444-9002). The entire menu of burgers, salads and soups, save traditional burger buns (though there are gluten-free buns available), is gluten free.

Southern-influenced Rex 1516 in Philadelphia (1516 South St., 267-319-1366) has updated its gluten-free menu, which features spare ribs, burgers and fish. Bear in mind that the fries and wings are not prepared in a dedicated fryer. You can read my review of Rex 1516 here.

Brand new from Tate's Bake Shop are gluten-free brownie thins - a cross between the bakery's delicious cookies and brownies. Not yet available in stores, the product can be purchased at the company's online store. Promo code NOV10, which expires today, gets you 10% off plus free shipping; from November 19-24, code NOV21 is good for free shipping.

Have a great weekend and wonderful Thanksgiving!

- 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!

Goodies Giveaway: Tate's Bake Shop Gluten-Free Sampler Basket

I've been a big fan of Tate's Bake Shop's gluten-free chocolate chip cookies since discovering them a few years ago; they're thin and crunchy with large chocolate morsels studded throughout each and every one. I can say - without hyperbole - that they are the best packaged gluten-free chocolate chip cookies on the market.

Tate’s produces its gluten-free baked goods in a dedicated gluten free facility. The cookies are made using rice flour and the brownies and blondies are made with almond flour. Additionally, products are tested both internally and by an outside accredited laboratory. The gluten-free products test at 5 ppm (gluten) or lower. Tate's is also recognized by the Celiac Support Association.

To celebrate the arrival of fall, Tate's Bake Shop is offering readers free shipping site-wide at Tate'sBakeShop.com with promo code GFPHILLY. The offer is valid through October 31. (You can also find Tate's on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.)

What's more, Tate's is offering one lucky blog reader a Gluten-Free Sampler Basket ($50 value) that includes:

• Two 8 oz. bag gluten-free chocolate chip cookies (approx. 14 cookies per bag)
• One 8 oz. bag gluten-free double chocolate chip cookies (approx. 14 cookies per bag)
• One 8 oz. bag gluten-free ginger zinger cookies (approx. 14 cookies per bag)
• One 4 oz. gluten-free blondie
• One 4 oz. gluten-free brownie
• One Harney & Sons tea tin (30 sachets per tin)
• Natural wood tray

To enter up to four different ways, follow the instructions below. Entries are being accepted through 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, September 11. The winner will need to respond to a notification email and provide a U.S. mailing address within 24 hours of the end of the giveaway. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: Neither I am nor any immediate family member is an employee, officer, director or agent of Tate's Bake Shop or its respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities, advertising and promotional agencies. This post contains affiliate links. Click here for my complete Disclosure. 

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.

Goodies Giveaway: Canyon Bakehouse

If you're near a Target store, you're near Canyon Bakehouse's flavorful gluten-free breads. But don't look for them in the frozen section there. The Mountain White and 7-Grain breads are in the packaged breads area and can be kept on the kitchen counter for several days, yielding fresh slices for sandwiches. (Download a $1-off coupon here.)

Canyon Bakehouse's newest products are brownie bites and bagels, in plain and everything varieties. The company is offering three lucky Gluten Free Philly readers a sampling of its entire product line - full-size versions of each of its 10 products, from rosemary & thyme focaccia to deli-style rye to burger and hot dog buns.

To enter, follow the instructions below. Entries are being accepted through midnight Eastern on Monday, November 8. The winner will need to respond to a notification email and provide a U.S. mailing address. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

News & Notes: May 8, 2015

Irish pub Tir Na Nog has opened its first suburban location in Cherry Hill (482 E. Evesham Rd., 856-520-8312), replacing Dubh Linn Square. The gluten-free menu includes burgers, pasta with vodka sauce, and fried calamari. The kitchen maintains a dedicated fryer, but be sure to specify gluten-free orders to your server.

Canyon Bakehouse this week announced the launch of its newest gluten-free products: Plain Bagels, Everything Bagels and Brownie Bites. The suggested retail prices of the Bagels and Brownie Bites are $5.49 and $6.49, respectively. All three products are now available for online purchase and will be available in Target and other natural and conventional grocers nationwide beginning this month.

The J.M. Smucker Company recently debuted Hungry Jack Funfetti Pancake & Waffle Mix. (Locally, Wegman's sells it for $3.49 each.) Also new are four new gluten-free Smucker’s Fruit-Fulls Blended Fruit flavors: Apple Cobbler with Oats, Tropical Fusion with Oats, Pom-Berry with Chia and Strawberry Vanilla with Chia.

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.

Wegmans Gets Fresh

As if we need another reason to love Wegmans, the Mid-Atlantic supermarket chain now has an assortment of fresh gluten-free treats in the Bakery departments of all stores. All of the treats are baked and packaged in a dedicated gluten-free facility to prevent any cross contact with gluten-containing foods or ingredients.

Goodies Giveaway: Tate's Bake Shop Holiday Basket

It's been a while since I've offered a giveaway, but the wait was worth it. I've been a big fan of Tate's Bake Shop's gluten-free chocolate chip cookies since I discovered them a few years ago; they're thin and crunchy with large chocolate morsels studded throughout each and every one.

Tate's sent me a gluten-free holiday gift basket so that the Gluten Free Philly family could try some of their newer all-natural products like the Chocolate Chip Cookie Peppermint Bark and Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. (Tate's gluten-free products are made in a dedicated facility.) Amazingly, the "chocolate" chocolate chip cookies are even better than the original. I'm not a huge fan of ginger, but even the Ginger Zinger cookies were tasty. I love chocolate peppermint bark, and when you add in cookies? Sheer bliss, my friends.

News & Notes: October 31, 2014

The Phil's Tavern in Blue Bell (931 Butler Pike, 215-643-5664) has rolled out a new gluten-free menu with appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and more. Advise your server of your dietary request.

Reader Denise F. let me know about several other Montgomery County spots that offer gluten-free options. The Victorian Village Italian Bistro in Hatboro (420 S. York Rd., 215-394-5948) has gluten-free spaghetti and ziti plates, grilled chicken Parmigiana and other dishes on its menu. Just down the road, Hatboro Dish (102 S. York Rd., 215-347-0036) has breakfast sandwiches on gluten-free Sweet Note bagels and pizza, both of which can be prepared separately upon request. Ben & Irv's in Huntingdon Valley (1962 Country Line Rd., 215-355-2000) also has Sweet Note's bagels as well as bread, cookies and pancakes; request that the pancakes be made on a separate part of the grill.

News & Notes: October 24, 2014

The High Point Cafe locations in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia (602 Carpenter Lane, 215-849-5152; 200 W. Allens Lane, 215-248-1900) and in Brewerytown (2831 W. Girard Ave., 267-519-0984) offer gluten-free breads like quinoa loaves and soda bread and sweets such as berry oat bars, macaroons, and cranberry orange muffins. The items are baked and packaged in a separate gluten-free kitchen. High Point's gluten-free products are also sold at other locations, including Weaver's Way in Chestnut Hill, Manayunk Brewing Company, and the Trolley Car Cafe in East Falls.

We spent last weekend in downstate Delaware for a youth baseball tournament and spotted a number of new gluten-free-friendly restaurants. Gary's Dewey Beach Grill (2000 Coastal Hwy. - Suite 105, 302-227-8519) offers gluten-free crab cakes. The restaurant is open on the weekends through the fall.

The small plates/tapas menu at 14 Global in Bethany Beach (14 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 302-616-1035) notes gluten-free options like pan-seared snapper, drunken PEI mussels and crispy pork belly. New Planet Pale Ale is usually available from the bar. During the fall season, the restaurant offers dinner service on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

2014 Expo East Recap (Part One)

Natural Products Expo East, held in Baltimore each September, is an opportunity for both emerging and developed companies to showcase their products for retailers and distributors. Here are some of the highlights in the gluten-free space that are either on their way to stores or seeking wider distribution.

GeeFree Foods [store locator] was one of the most popular gluten-free vendors at the event. The company’s hor d’oeuvres line includes savory Franks in Blankets, Spanakopita and new Cheeseburger Bites, Taco Bites, Buffalo Chicken Bites, Pepperoni Bites and Apple Pie Bites. GeeFree also makes Chicken Pot Pie and Puff Pastry Sheets.

Feel Good Foods [store locator], which was first to market with gluten-free egg rolls and dumplings, is coming out with several Asian entrées by year's end. The line includes Vegetable Brown Fried Rice, Stir-Fry Chicken & Vegetables (Mu Shu Chicken), Mongolian Beef with Asparagus & Scallions, General Tso’s Chicken, and Broad Noodles with Chicken & Chinese Broccoli (Pad See Ew).

News & Notes: January 17, 2014

Lansdale's longstanding Chinese restaurant Yantze Gourmet (2333 Welsh Rd., 215-361-7600) now has a gluten-free menu that includes noodle and fried rice dishes and other options can be modified. (Thanks, Abby S.) All orders are prepared from scratch.

All dressings and most salad ingredients at Sweetgreen in University City (3925 Walnut St., 215-386-1365) and in Ardmore (68 Coulter Ave., 610-642-9400) are gluten free.

Wayne's Oasis Juice Bar (224 Sugartown Rd., 610-254-9797) has a 100% gluten-free menu that includes shakes, smoothies, juices and desserts.

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

"Silver Linings Playbook" star Bradley Cooper isn't the only Philly-area presence at Hollywood's award ceremonies this year. Sweet Megan, a gluten-, dairy- and soy-free bakery in suburban Philadelphia, debuted its MegansSpoonfuls treats in the swag bags for the Golden Globe Awards attendees last week. The bite-size sweets will also be among the gifts for stars at the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards, Grammy Awards and the Oscars.

Sweet Megan's Vanilla Cupcake

Sweet Megan is run by Pattie Lerner and her daughters Cara and Dana, and was started last year to honor the memory of Pattie's niece Megan Griffith, who lost her fight with brain cancer in 2008. Recently, Cara developed allergies to gluten and, out of concern for her daughter's health, Pattie began to develop gluten-free desserts made with all-natural, healthy ingredients. Her gluten-free baking led to the creation of a family business.

MegansSpoonfuls brownie

Pattie makes birthday and any occasion cakes and cupcakes in three flavors plus a flavor of the month. Her newest creations are the MegansSpoonfuls, which are bite-size truffles, cakes and brownies each attached to a spoon.

The Lerners plan to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales to charities such as the Dream Foundation, which helped Megan fulfill her wish to meet comedian Ellen DeGeneres.

Sweet Megan products are sold at Bunn’s Natural Foods in Southampton, Grapevine Natural Grocery in Newtown, and Just Loaf'n at the Newtown Farmers Market; they'll soon be available at Sara's Homemade Sweets in Langhorne and the Richboro Shop n Bag. All of the sweets are available for online ordering.

News & Notes: January 4. 2013

Happy 2013 to everyone! With the start of the new year comes new food. There are so many items to write about today that I'm bumping mention of restaurant news to next Friday's post.

Van's Natural Foods has entered several new product categories, all GFCO-certified, whole-grain items. (The new items contain gluten-free oats.) The company adds to its existing gluten-free breakfast line - waffles, French toast sticks and pancakes - with the introduction of its first cold cereals, Honey Nut Crunch and Cinnamon Heaven.

In addition to the cereals, Van's has also rolled out several snacks. New all-natural, high-fiber snack bar varieties are Peanut Butter Chocolate, Cranberry Almond and Chocolate Chip. There are also three kinds of baked crackers, made with oats, brown rice, millet, quinoa and amaranth: Say Cheese, Lots of Everything and Multigrain.

Chung's Gourmet Foods has reformulated its line of microwaveable Asian dishes with a switch to gluten-free soy sauce. The Chung's For 2 entrees come in eight varieties: General Tso Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice, Pork & Chicken Fried Rice, Shrimp Fried Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork and Teriyaki Chicken. I bought a few of these at Wal-Mart in Somerdale, New Jersey for $3.48 each. They are high in sodium, so stick to the recommended "for two" serving size unless you want to siphon water all day.

Hain Celestial's Gluten Free Cafe brand has added to its portfolio with a new line of baking mixes. The products, which bear the Gluten-Free Certification Organization seal, include mixes for chocolate cake, brownie, pancake and all-purpose baking. These sell for around $4 each at the Somerdale Wal-Mart.

I thought after my last News & Notes post that I was done posting for 2012. However, that changed when I learned that Dunkin' Donuts is testing out a gluten-free cinnamon sugar donut and blueberry muffin in Miami and the Boston area. If all goes well, look for these sweets to be available nationwide by summertime.

Katz Gluten Free's new glazed donuts

On that note, Katz Gluten Free has introduced glazed and powdered donuts and corn muffins. Orders over $50 include free shipping; otherwise, the flat rate is $7.99. Customers can use promo code FACEBOOK for 25% off their orders. (You can support Gluten Free Philly by purchasing through this link.)

Upcoming events include the monthly meeting of the South Jersey celiac support group in Voorhees on Sunday. A representative of Bob & Ruth's Gluten-Free Dining & Travel Club will be sharing information about upcoming trips.

On Wednesday, January 9, the Woodlawn Library in Wilmington will host a free "Gluten-Free Cooking at Home" class at 7 p.m. Registration is required. Area gluten-free events through April are listed at the blog.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

Goodies Giveaway: Tate's Bake Shop Gluten-Free Cookies and Brownies

The Hamptons have long been known as a summer getaway spot for New York's elite. I predict they will soon be famous for being the home of the best gluten-free chocolate chip cookies around. Based in Southampton - on New York's Long Island - Tate's Bake Shop is the vision of Kathleen King, who began baking cookies at age 11. Consumer Reports just rated Tate's chocolate chip cookies the best in a recent taste testing, noting the "big butter and chocolate flavors and smooth chocolate chips. . . . like a really good homemade cookie."

After being beseeched with customer requests, Tate's introduced gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and brownies earlier this year. The gluten eaters in our house conducted a "Pepsi Challenge" of sorts (for those of you old enough to remember that ad campaign), and actually preferred Tate's gluten-free cookies to the bakery's conventional ones. The ingredient profiles are practically identical, with semi-sweet chocolate chips leading the way in the thin, snappy cookies. (The gluten-free version contains rice flour.) The gluten-free sweets are made in a facility that processes gluten-containing foods, but are made separately from the bakery's other products.

In Philadelphia, Tate's gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are sold at Klein's Supermarket (2401 Pennsylvania Ave., 215-232-1120) and at Di Bruno Bros. (1730 Chestnut St., 215-665-9220). Young's Produce in Havertown (170 W. Eagle Rd., 610-449-2122) also carries the cookies. Both the cookies and brownies are available for online ordering directly from Tate's. Readers can save 15% on online orders through December 15 (at midnight Eastern) with discount code BLOGGER.

Tate's has offered one lucky Gluten Free Philly reader a prize pack consisting of three packages of gluten-free cookies and three gluten-free brownies. To enter, leave a comment to this post or on the Gluten Free Philly Facebook page about what other kind of gluten-free cookie you'd like to see from Tate's. Follow Tate's Bake Shop on Twitter or like the bakery's Facebook page (and mention that you've done so in your comment) and you'll get an extra entry.

Some brief guidelines: (1) please do not enter unless you or a family member is on a gluten-free diet; (2) one comment per person; (3) U.S. residents only. Most important is to make sure your comment provides a way for me to contact you, if not entering via Facebook. If your comment does not link back to an email address, blog or website through which I can get in touch with you (some past entrants have blocked their Blogger profiles), post your email address in the comment in the following format: "name[at]domain[dot]suffix."

The giveaway runs now through Sunday, December 4 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. I’ll select one winner the next day via random.org and will contact him or her by email or through Facebook, depending on method of entry. If I don’t hear back from the person with his or her mailing address by the following Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern, I’ll select another name.

Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: Tate's Bake Shop is offering the prize pack. Neither I am nor any immediate family member is an employee, officer, director or agent of Tate's Bake Shop or its respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities, advertising and promotional agencies. My full Disclosure Policy can be found at the blog's Disclosure page.

News & Notes: August 5, 2011

The coveted(?) Gluten Free Philly Readers Choice Awards were announced this week, with P.F. Chang's and Outback Steakhouse, The Pop Shop and Main Line Baking Company leading the way with multiple nods. Thanks again to everyone who voted, and be sure to nominate your favorites next year.

Tex Mex Connection in North Wales (201 E. Walnut St., 215-699-9552) notes many gluten-free items on its menus. (Hat tip to to Abby S.)

In Cape May Court House, Molino's (219 S. Main St., 609-465-0200) has gluten-free pizza, pasta and bread, prepared separately.

Reader Kristen T. let me know that many of the entrees at the Marshalton Inn and Four Dogs Tavern in West Chester (1300 W. Strasburg Rd., 610-692-4367) can be made gluten free. At the tavern, she enjoyed crab nachos on corn tortillas, cajun tuna, and a side of polenta, along with a Woodchuck cider.

Joe's Crab Shack, with a number of gluten-free options, is coming to the former Houlihan's on City Avenue in Bala Cynywd.

Wayne's PBandU, featuring gluten-free bread for sandwiches, will open a second location at the Moorestown Mall in October. Owner Mercury Amodio tells me she plans to utilize a separate toaster, utensils and toppings upon request for patrons there as well.

PPL Park in Chester, home of Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union, has raised the bar for gluten-free fare at local stadiums and arenas. Currently available are hot dogs at Hot Dog Nation (Sections 104 and 125), hamburgers at Black Angus Grill (Sections 101 and 122), pizza at Seasons Pizza (Sections 109 and 127), and Redbridge beer will soon be served at Snake & Shield (Sections 103 and 114).

Williams-Sonoma has taken the wraps off its new gluten-free baking mixes and flour, developed by Chef Thomas Keller. The Bouchon Gluten-Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix ($19.95), Ad Hoc Gluten-Free Brownie Mix ($18.95) and Cup4Cup Gluten-Free Flour ($19.95) are available in stores and online. Those prices - per item - are not typos.

Planning to make a purchase at Amazon.com? Support Gluten Free Philly by using this link or those below. It costs you nothing but earns us a small commission. Amazon Grocery has the following gluten-free items on sale this month (combine with a Subscribe & Save order for an additional 15% off):

• Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water: 15% off with code RIHANNA3
• Annie's Fruit Snacks: 10% off with code Y7RBIXY3
• Peeled Snacks: 10% off with code ZDILFYRD
• Sahale Snacks: save 10% with code SUEZHB2
• Lucy's Cookies: save 15% with code DRLUCYO8
• KIND bars: save 10% with code KINDBTSI
• Erewhon cereals (selected varieties are gluten-free): save 10% with code ATTUNBTS
• Oskri bars: save 15% with code OSKRIBTS
• Pure bars: save 10% with code PUREAUGI

Have a great weekend!