News & Notes: January 11, 2019

With a new year comes new products. Caulipower has launched a frozen, gluten-free cauliflower tortilla line with Original and Grain Free varieties. The Grain Free Cauliflower Tortilla features chickpea flour with 7 grams of protein and only 8 net carbs per tortilla. Both varieties will be available on Amazon and at select retailers this February.

Annie's new gluten-free cookie dough protein bars, with 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, come in two flavors: peanut butter and chocolate peanut butter.

No information is available on Udi's Gluten Free's website, but the company has released brownie and chocolate-flavored mug cake mixes.

Quinn Snacks' new gluten-free peanut butter-filled and dark chocolate peanut butter-filled pretzel nuggets are available exclusively at Whole Foods. They’ll be in all stores by January 29th.

As I mentioned last summer, the Girl Scouts are introducing a new gluten-free cookie for the 2019 season. The chewy caramel chocolate chip cookie is made with semi-sweet chocolate chips, sea salt, caramel and gluten-free oat flour. Not all troops will have them and they are in limited quantities, so ask around early.

Katz Gluten Free has debuted mini muffins - blueberry, chocolate chip and fudge brownie. By ordering any of Katz's gluten-free baked goods through this link, you'll be supporting Gluten Free Philly through a small affiliate commission - thank you!

Del Frisco's Grille (225 S. Broad St., 215-309-1154) opened on the Avenue of the Arts in Center City Philadelphia last month. Lunch, dinner and brunch menus note gluten-free items.

News & Notes: April 27, 2018

Snyder's of Hanover, now owned by Campbell Soup Company, has released new gluten-free snack flavors across several product lines. Gluten-Free Hot Buffalo Wing Pretzel Pieces are the first offering in the popular Pretzel Pieces line free from gluten, soy, dairy and eggs. Snyder's collection of certified gluten-free baked crackers, Wholey Cheese!, have two new flavors: Spicy Pepper Jack and White Cheddar & Chive.

Crunchmaster is introducing two new gluten-free product extensions. The company's Vegetable Cheese Crisps are made with seven vegetables - spinach, kale, carrot, red pepper, pumpkin, beet and onion. The cheese varieties include white Cheddar, Asiago and Parmesan Romano. The new Protein Brownie Thins come in three flavors: homestyle Milk Chocolate, Chocolate with a hint of cherry, and Dark Chocolate.

Reader Marie S. let me know that Royal Asia's Boom Boom Shrimp, sold at Whole Foods in the seafood freezer section, is gluten free. The appetizer is similar to Bonefish Grill's fried Bang Bang Shrimp.

If you haven't already noticed, the tumeric herb is the latest ingredient that's trending in the food world. Nature's Path's new gluten-free Golden Tumeric cereal is made with corn flakes and is spiced with tumeric, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper. It's currently available at Costco.
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New from Katz Gluten Free are Chocolate Creme and Lemon Creme cupcakes. Use promo code WELCOME20 for 20% off your entire order; there's also free shipping for orders over $50. (Your purchase through these affiliate links will support Gluten Free Philly).

Click HERE to purchase tickets!

North Italia, a Western U.S.-based Italian concept from the owners of Zinburger, is coming to King of Prussia (350 Mall Blvd.) this summer. The menu includes gluten-free pizza and pasta that's prepared separately to avoid cross-contact.

The menu at Lil Saigon in Linwood (2110 New Rd., 609-904-2778) indicates which items contain gluten. Most boxes and soup bowls can be prepared gluten free.

Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar in Bethlehem (526 Main St., 610-419-1736) offers gluten-free tacos and rice bowls on its dinner menu. Stella Cidre hard cider is available from the bar.

Delaware Online reports that Wilmington's Cupcake Heaven is closing next month. The 10-year-old bakery has offered gluten-free cupcakes since its inception.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is hosting a support group meeting this Sunday at the Specialty Care Center in King of Prussia (550 S. Goddard Blvd.) from noon to 2 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a gluten-free snack to share. RSVP with the number of children and caregivers attending via email.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

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

What's New for Passover 2018

While the Jewish holiday of Passover has not lost its religious meaning, it has in recent years become an unofficial gluten-free holiday. This year, Passover begins the evening of Friday, March 30 and ends the evening of Saturday, April 7. It's a time when many more gluten-free products are available at supermarkets. This grew out of the observance of certain segments of the Jewish population refraining from eating any wheat products during Passover. The packaging of many gluten-free products is expressly labeled as such, while others have a "non-gebrokts" notation. (As always, read the ingredient label before buying and consuming a particular item.)

Kosher food manufacturer Kayco will be introducing many new gluten-free products this year under various brand names (you can find all of Kayco's gluten-free products here.) The best-selling gluten-free matzo-style cracker, Yehuda, will have a Cinnamon version for the first time, joining Original,  Everything, Egg, Unsalted, Onion and Fiber Enriched varieties. Returning products include Yehuda's gluten-free matzo meal, farfel, cake meal and crackers.

Kayco's Gefen label will introduce fresh gluten-free gnocchi and fusilli pasta for Passover. Gefen will also have a new lasagna and two kinds of chow mein noodles on store shelves.

New from Kayco's Haddar brand are chocolate nut clusters (cashews, pecans and almond), soup croutons and panko crumbs (Original, Onion & Garlic and Barbeque).

This year, Manischewitz has two new gluten-free gefilte fish products: a frozen loaf and a pre-sliced version.

Lieber Foods is expanding their Passover baked-goods line with several kinds of mini cookies.

About a week or two before the start of Passover, supermarkets receive their shipments of fresh gluten-free cakes and cookies from New York bakeries such as Oberlander's, Lilly's Bake Shoppe and Schick's. Look for sandwich, black-and-white and rainbow cookies, cake rolls, decorative and layer cakes.

If you want to try "Mexican Coke" (made with sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup), Passover Coca-Cola will be available in the Philadelphia area and other regions. Look for bottles with distinctive yellow caps.

Prices of some Passover foods tend to be higher than their non-holiday counterparts, so I suggest buying one of a particular item to see if you like it before stocking up. Keep an eye on Passover sections after the second night of the holiday, when markets tend to cut prices on whatever products are left.

News & Notes: July 8, 2016

(Photo Credit: Harry's)

With the summer in full swing, we'll start this week with some shore news. At the Tropicana in Atlantic City, Broadway Burger Bar (2801 Pacific Ave., 609-317-4660) has a gluten-free menu that includes buns, while sister restaurant Gallagher's Burger Bar at Resorts (1133 Boardwalk, 609-340-6554) also offers gluten-free buns. The gluten-free menu at Harry's Oyster Bar and Seafood at Bally's (1900 Pacific Ave., 609-431-0092) includes many items from the raw bar as well as salads, fresh fish and broiled crab cakes. (Hat tip to Celtic Celiac.)

In nearby Ocean City, Cousin's (104 Asbury Ave., 609-399-9462) offers a gluten-free menu that includes chicken Parmesan over penne. The gluten-free pasta is cooked separately.

Up the coastline in southern Ocean County, Barnegat's Lefty's Tavern (547 N. Main St., 609-607-0707) notes gluten-free options on its menu, including nachos, fish tacos, chili and salads. Nearby, Captain's Inn in Forked River (304 E. Lacey Rd., 609-693-3351) serves gluten-free pasta along with several entrees.

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: 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.

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.

News & Notes: July 25, 2014

Filet Mignon at Sullivan's Steakhouse
(Photo credit: Sullivan's Steakhouse)

Carnivores have a few more gluten-free options in the Philadelphia area this week. Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House in Center City (1426 Chestnut St., 215-246-0533) and sister restaurant Sullivan's Steakhouse in King of Prussia (700 W. Dekalb Pike, 610-878-9025) and Wilmington (5525 Concord Pike, 302-479-7970) mark their menus accordingly.

The menu at Irish-influenced steakhouse Cattle 'n Clover in Wildwood (3817 Pacific Ave., 609-522-3800) also notes gluten-free items, and includes buns and pasta.

Atlantic City institution Angelo's Fairmount Tavern (2300 Fairmount Ave., 609-344-2439) serves pasta and lists other dishes that can be made gluten free on its on-premises menu.

In Ocean City, Clancy's By The Sea (1244 Boardwalk, 609-398-3344) has gluten-free options like steamed clams, mussels, broiled flounder, ribs and salads listed on its dinner menu. The kitchen can accommodate breakfast requests as well.

An All-Inclusive Vacation

Philadelphia tradition, meet Canadian know-how. Among the products in the All But Gluten line, from Toronto's Weston Bakeries, are Chocolate and Vanilla Snack Cakes. One look at these indulgent treats reminded me of Tastykake's legendary Kandy Kakes. The All But Gluten versions, which are made in a dedicated facility, are a bit larger than Kandy Kakes (a touch smaller than Hostess Ding Dongs) but are moist, creamy and chocolaty. The cakes are kosher and certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (endorsed by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness). I liked both of them, but have a fondness for vanilla. They were even better out of the fridge.

News & Notes: April 11, 2014

Taking over the former Peace A Pizza location in Ardmore is Snap Custom Pizza (4 Station Rd., 610-896-4488), a Chipotle-style quick-service restaurant where the pizzas are made in about two minutes. Chef Tim Van Winkle says that after a gluten-free pizza order is placed, a single employee will handle the preparation. using a pre-made crust, the employee will pull ingredients and toppings from the walk-in fridge and prepare the pie with separate bakeware and utensils. All pizzas with a gluten-free crust are $8.49, regardless of whether guests order a featured or custom pie with a choice of toppings. (Most toppings are gluten free, but avoid the meatballs and blue cheese salad dressing.) The shop's grand opening is tomorrow, when doors open at 11 a.m. and the first 50 guests get a free pizza. It's then $5 per pizza until 5 p.m.

News & Notes: March 21, 2014

Old City Philadelphia Tex-Mex restaurant Lucha Cartel (207 Chestnut St., 267-761-9209) notes gluten-free options like vegetable tamales, chicken enchiladas and spicy shrimp on its dinner menu. The chips are prepared in a dedicated fryer (at any restaurant, always confirm separate preparation of fried foods if you have Celiac Disease or are sensitive) and there are a variety of margaritas and a hard cider on the drinks menu.

The acclaimed Tre Famiglia in Haddonfield (403 N. Haddon Ave., 856-429-1447) has introduced a gluten-free menu featuring chicken parmigiana over penne, shrimp Alfredo, gnocchi and spinach manicotti.

Café Roma, the casual Italian restaurant at Caesars in Atlantic City (2100 Pacific Ave., 609-348-4411), offers a modest gluten-free menu.

What's New for Passover 2014

There's much to celebrate at Passover if you're gluten free, Jewish or not. Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating the biblical exodus from Egypt, begins this year on April 14. It's a time when many more gluten-free products are available at supermarkets. This grew out of the observance of certain segments of the Jewish population to refrain from eating any wheat products during Passover. The packaging of many gluten-free products is expressly labeled as such, while others have a "non-gebrokts" notation. (As always, read the ingredient label before buying and consuming a particular item.)

News & Notes: November 8, 2013

Posh Pop Bakeshop's cupcake assortment
(Photo courtesy Posh Pop
Bakeshop/Facebook)

Another all-gluten-free bakery is set to open its doors in Camden County this month. On the heels of Sweet Freedom Bakery's imminent debut in nearby Collingswood, Posh Pop Bakeshop is taking over a Haddonfield storefront last occupied by a Chinese restaurant at 109 East Kings Highway. Owners Matthew Pytel and Krizha Bautista are relocating their bakery to the Philadelphia area from Red Bank, Monmouth County. Their all-natural, organic sweets include signature cake pops, cupcakes, brownies, cookies and pies. (Thanks to reader Regina L. for the tip.)

A month-old addition to the Montgomery County dining scene is Huntingdon Valley's Simpatico! BYOB (2519 Huntingdon Pike, 215-938-9600), which has gluten-free pasta (made in a separate pot) and other Italian dishes like chicken marsala. One of Simpatico's owners is gluten free. (Hat tip to reader Christine O.)

In the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, Rembrandt's (741 N. 23rd St., 215-763-2228) has introduced a gluten-free menu featuring wings and calamari appetizers, steak with house-made tater tots and sauteed mussels entrees, and flourless chocolate cake and cheesecake for dessert. The kitchen maintains a separate fryer for gluten-free items and the bar stocks a variety of hard ciders.

Gluten & Allergen Free Expo Recap

Not only were there new products galore at last weekend's Gluten & Allergen Free Expo in Secaucus, New Jersey, there was a sizable Philadelphia-area contingent on hand.

The company behind our favorite gluten-free pasta, Le Veneziane, has expanded into the heat-and-serve market with three microwaveable Express dishes: penne with pomodoro sauce & basil, macaroni & cheese and macaroni & mushrooms. Also new from the company is shelf-stable potato gnocchi. All of the products are made in Italy and are GMO free.

California's Second Helping was sampling mini versions of its Corn Puppies, uncured turkey franks dipped in an organic corn meal batter.

News & Notes: May 17, 2013

Photo credit: Chickie's and Pete's

Although its famous Crabfries have long been gluten free, Philly-area sports bar titan Chickie's and Pete's has just put together a full gluten-free menu for its full-service locations that also includes all styles of wings, nachos and many seafood choices. The wings and fries are prepared in their own fryers. The chain has outposts throughout the Delaware Valley, with its newest spot slated to open this summer at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.

Another area casual-dining chain, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, will be adding Udi's burger buns to its gluten-free menu. The expanded menu is being tested for now in West Chester and will extend to Maple Shade in early June before launching company-wide in August. Iron Hill, which has locations stretching from Lancaster to Newark, Delaware, is set to open its 10th restaurant in Voorhees this summer. News of the addition was first reported by the Burlington County Times.

Collingswood's IndeBlue, a modern Indian restaurant that serves gluten-free items (even naan), is close to opening a second spot, this one in the Midtown Village section of Philadelphia (205 S. 13th St.). The target date is June 1.

If you've been wondering whether there are gluten-free options on any of the food trucks roaming around town these days, Gluten Free Philly contributor Dori has the answer in Tuesday's post, "Streets of Philadelphia."

Citronelle cake from Aux Petits Delices

Reader Daria D. sent along the latest e-mail newsletter from Aux Petits Delices in Wayne (162 E. Lancaster Ave., 610-971-0300), which has a photo I couldn't resist running here. The pastry shop, which has a number of gluten-free selections, recently designed a gluten-free wedding shower cake made of gold-dusted layers of lemon mousse and decorated with chocolate, mocha and almond macarons.

General Mills has issued a press release about the new Pillsbury gluten-free refrigerated pizza, cookie and pie/pastry doughs. The release relays the research done by the company in developing the doughs and also contains the news nugget that there may be as many as three more gluten-free Pillsbury products in the next year or so. (Can I get a show of hands for crescent rolls?) The Gluten-Free Living magazine blog has some info on the products' "stringent" manufacturing protocols, while General Mills has also posted ingredient and nutrition information on its website.

Stella Artois Cidre, a Belgian hard cider, is now available in 26 states, with nationwide U.S. distribution planned for next year. According to the pitch on the brewer's website: "The taste of red apple and peachy, apricot accents complement the subtle flavor of orange, giving it a refreshing taste with a pleasing wood finish." Cidre (pronounced "CEE-dra") is naturally gluten free, contains 170 calories and is 4.5% alcohol by volume. It's being sold in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles and in single 24-ounce bottles.

New York's Steadfast Beer Co. will soon have its two gluten-free beers distributed throughout New Jersey.  The company's new Golden Blonde Ale is brewed with sorghum, honey, traditional White Ale spices and a Belgian yeast strain, while aggressively dry and hoppy flavors define the company’s flagship Sorghum Pale Ale.

Meanwhile, Colorado gluten-free brewer New Planet Beer is expanding its national beer portfolio by two. The year-round Amber Ale has lightly toasted caramel notes and subtle citrus hints on the finish. The Belgian Ale, available April through August, has subtle spice and honey notes. Look for the new packaging for the entire line and new names for the existing beers: “Tread Lightly Ale” is now Blonde Ale; “Off Grid Pale Ale” is now Pale Ale; and “3R Raspberry Ale” is called Raspberry Ale.

I'll be among the panelists (and one of the few with the XY chromosomes) at Philadelphia magazine's second annual Be Well Boot Camp, a ladies-only health-and-fitness event on Sat. June 8 at the Drexel University Recreation Center in University City (3301 Market St.). Attendees can try a new fitness class, get access to the region's best doctors and trainers, have their strides assessed at a running clinic, pick up health tips at cooking demos, and talk to the experts at the Marketplace. At 11 a.m., there'll be a "Gluten-Free Guide" session, featuring Nancy Ginter of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, health coach Jennifer Fugo, and yours truly. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a happy hour to follow. Early registration is $25, with a buy-3-get-1 free offer for a girls' day out.

I've written two stories for the next issue of Gluten-Free Living magazine. Through Sunday, Gluten-Free Saver has a half-off deal for new subscribers: one year/six issues for $17, which starts off with the next issue (July/August). If you purchase through this link, You'll support Gluten Free Philly via a small commission.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

News & Notes: May 10, 2013

Yes, you can get grilled chicken nuggets and waffle fries on the go at Chick-Fil-A, but what about at a former KFC? Check out Farmer's Road Drive Thru in Chadds Ford (210 Wilmington Pike, 610-558-2220), in the space once occupied by the fast-food chain. In addition to the drive-through, there's  indoor and outdoor seating at this "fresh" casual restaurant. All of the breakfast and lunch/dinner sandwiches can be served on a gluten-free wrap or bread, there's gluten-free chicken fingers for the kids, and gluten-free baked goods are available. The menu also includes salads and smoothies.

Burger 21 in Voorhees (12109 Town Center Blvd., 856-528-2990) is now open, serving burgers on French Meadow gluten-free buns, fries prepared in a dedicated fryer, salads and shakes, which are made using a separate blender. For adult refreshment, there's Redbridge beer and Angry Orchard hard cider.

Quinoa coconut pancakes and French toast made with Udi's bread are among the new gluten-free items on the Spring/Summer menu at Silver Diner in Cherry Hill (2121 Rt. 38, 856-910-1240).

At Le Pain Quotidien's Center City locations (1425 Walnut St., 215-751-0570; 801 Walnut St., 215-253-3114), you'll find a gluten-free, organic Caravan Mix, a blend of nuts, dried fruit, pumpkin seeds and cacao nibs. Thanks to reader Heather H. for the tip.

I'm disheartened to report that Pure Tacos, the all-gluten-free taqueria in Center City, closed this week after less than a year in operation. The summer location on the Ocean City Boardwalk won't reopen this year either.

Trader Joe's is constantly adding new gluten-free products, and this one is of the fresh kind. Reader Gabrielle G. sent me a photo of TJ's gluten-free chocolate cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting. The price is right too - just $3.99.

Over the weekend on Facebook and Twitter, I broke the news that Pillsbury will be coming out with gluten-free refrigerated pizza dough, cookie dough and pie/pastry dough. The products will be available on a limited basis beginning late May, with a larger, um, roll-out in the summertime.

Tyson Foods has matched Perdue with its own version of gluten-free breaded chicken nuggets and tenders. The breading is made with rice flour, yellow corn flour and corn starch.

Post Foods has discontinued the Cocoa Pebbles version of its gluten-free marshmallow treats but has introduced a limited-edition Fruity Pebbles Extreme cereal.

You can also get your gluten-free chocolate-flavored cereal fix from new Mom's Best's Crispy Cocoa Rice.

In celebration of Celiac Awareness Month, Amazon.com has a wide-ranging gluten-free grocery sale, ranging from up to 15% off Glutino and Pamela's products to up to 25% off Betty Crocker mixes (with a $6 instant coupon) and GoPicnic. You can save even more with the Subscribe & Save option. (I get a small commission when you purchase items through the above links.)

A celiac support group meets the third Tuesday of every month at Atlantic Gastroenterology Associates in Egg Harbor Township (3205 Fire Rd, 609-822-0190) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A different speaker is featured each month. There is no cost and it’s open to everyone. Call or email for more information.

The next GIG of Chester County meeting will be on Wed. May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Malvern Wegmans. Dietitian Nancy Patin Falini will speak about bone health and the group will tour the store's expansive gluten-free section.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

What's New for Passover 2013

There's much to celebrate at Passover if you're gluten free, Jewish or not. Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating the biblical exodus from Egypt, begins this year on March 25. It's a time when many more gluten-free products are available at supermarkets. This grew out of the observance of certain segments of the Jewish population to refrain from eating wheat products at all during Passover. The packaging of many gluten-free products is expressly labeled as such, while others have a "non-gebrokts" notation. (As always, read the ingredient label before buying and consuming a particular item.)

Dozens of new gluten-free items are available this year, including another gluten-free matzo from a company that is synonymous with Passover. As the holiday draws closer, many of these products will be more widely available, but your best bet is looking for them at a market with a large kosher section, such as the ShopRite markets on Roosevelt Boulevard in northeast Philly and in Cherry Hill on the old racetrack grounds along Route 70. Wegmans stores also have an expanded selection.

Manischewitz has ventured into the world of gluten-free matzo with two products: Gluten-Free Matzo-Style Squares and Gluten-Free Crackers, similar to the company's famous Tam Tams. The company has brought back the gluten-free Yellow and Chocolate Cake Mixes that debuted last year, and has added to its already wide selection of macaroons - all of which are gluten free - with a red velvet flavor. Another new product from Manischewitz is frozen macaroon dough.

Yehuda isn't standing pat on the gluten-free front. The company's plain and toasted-onion matzo-style squares and cake meal are joined this year by fiber-enriched squares along with matzo meal, farfel and crackers (available in Original and Cracked Pepper).

Another old-line matzo maker, Streit’s, debuts gluten-free Matzo Ball Mix, Matzo Ball & Soup Mix and Israeli Couscous.

Jeff Nathan Creations has brought back the Plain version of its gluten-free panko flakes and introduces a Seasoned variety.

On the sweet side, Manischewitz has another gluten-free cereal called Magic Max's Chocolate Chip Cookie Cereal, a reasonable-looking facsimile of Cookie Crisp. Also from that company are Guiltless Gourmet Flaxseed Crunch Bars in two vegan and gluten-free flavors, Almond Cranberry Flaxseed and Cashew Cranberry Flaxseed.

Gefen has given its Passover cereal line a makeover, changing the packaging and the name from King Krunch! to Krispy Krunch.

Lieber's has three gluten-free granola varieties: Original, Chocolate Chip and Cranberry. The brand has also extended its line of Passover cookies to include vanilla and chocolate sandwich cremes.

About a week or so before the start of Passover, markets receive their shipments of fresh gluten-free cakes and cookies from New York bakeries such as Oberlander's, Shabtai Gourmet, and Schick's. Look for sandwich and rainbow cookies, cake rolls and layer cakes.

If you want to try "Mexican Coke" (made with sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup), Passover Coca-Cola will be available in the Philadelphia area. Look for bottles with a distinctive yellow cap.

Returning this year are gluten-free chow mein noodles from Streit's and Paskesz, a variety of gluten-free pastas from Manischewitz and Gefen, and gluten-free pizza bagels and flatbreads.

Prices of some Passover foods tend to be higher than their non-holiday counterparts, so I suggest buying one of a particular item to see if you like it before stocking up. Keep an eye on Passover sections after the second night of the holiday, when markets tend to cut prices on whatever products are left.