What's New for Passover 2021

While COVID-19 is likely to again prevent families from gathering in person to commemorate the Jewish holiday of Passover, they can still have seders virtually using Facetime and Zoom.

This year, Passover begins the evening of Saturday, March 27 and ends the evening of Sunday, April 4. 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.)

I've been chronicling new gluten-free Passover items for many years (you can read prior posts here), and this year there additions to the Seder table, though the pandemic has curtailed the roll-out of many more. Locally, many Passover products can be found at ShopRite markets, particularly the one on Route 70 in Cherry Hill (Garden State Pavilions) and Wegmans stores.

Kosher food manufacturer Kayco, which owns the Manischewitz brand, will be introducing new gluten-free products under various brand names (you can find all of Kayco's gluten-free products here.) The best-selling gluten-free matzo brand, Yehuda, returns with Original, Everything, Egg and other varieties. Yehuda also has gluten-free matzo meal, cake meal and crackers.

This year, there are several new products under the Manischewitz label, including mini macaroons in coconut, chocolate and birthday cake flavors.

This year, also look for new Gefen-branded coconut S'mores, made with coconut, dark chocolate and tiny marshmallows.

Paskesz has two new gluten-free breakfast cereals for the holiday: Choco Fillos are crunchy cereal pillows that come in hazelnut and chocolate flavors.

Also check the frozen-food section of your local market for even more varieties of gluten-free Passover pizzas and pizza bagels, blintzes, knishes and other items.

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 cane 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.

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: September 30, 2016

Revolutions, a rock-and-bowl complex just opened in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia (1009 Canal St., 267-348-0544) offers gluten-free items at its Burger & Beer Joint eatery, as noted on the menu. Options include the Pig in a Bucket appetizer, two salads, and burgers and sandwiches on gluten-free buns. A sister location in Bethlehem (3717 Route 378, 484-935-3001) has a different menu but also has gluten-free choices.

Also in Bethlehem, the dinner menu at Emeril's Chop House at the Sands (77 Sands Blvd., 877-726-3777) lists items that can be prepared gluten free.

In nearby Allentown, the fast-casual Wok Box (818 W. Hamilton St., 484-350-3160) maintains a list of gluten-free ingredients for rice and noodle bowls. Request that gluten-free orders be prepared with separate utensils and cookware. (Thanks Melissa D.)

LaScala's Pronto in Mt. Laurel (4040 Dearborn Circle, 856-234-5400) serves gluten-free pizza prepared with separate ingredients and bakeware.

Irish pub Rí Rá, located at The Quarter at the Tropicana in Atlantic City (2801 Pacific Ave., 609-348-8600) notes gluten-free options on its menu.

Snack in the Box

The popularity of fruit-of-the-month-clubs and wine-of-the-month subscriptions has inevitably spread to the gluten-free world. There are no less than six companies now competing in that space, all offering customers a curated mix of gluten-free products that they may not otherwise have a chance to try. Here's a rundown of the options:

New Products Report from Expo East

Yogurt, beverages, and snacks of all shapes and sizes. Those seemed to be the products in abundance at last week's Expo East, a showcase of natural foods that exhibits annually at the Baltimore Convention Center. Gluten-free products were featured throughout the fair, with more than half of the wares on display or being sampled in that category. Some were obvious (water - flavored, sparkling and still - dried fruits, and poultry and meats, to name a few), some were brand extensions, and some set out to improve on existing products. There were no novel items to be found, but many stood out for their creativity and taste.

The newest gluten-free product to debut at the show was a line of gluten-free pretzels called Gratify. Made by Israeli food company Osem, the pretzel varieties include sticks, twists, plain, sour cream & onion and sesame thins, and chocolate- and yogurt-coated twists. The pretzels will be available nationwide in early 2013. Glutino's coated pretzels were preferable to Gratify's, but the sticks rivaled Snyder's gluten-free version.

Local favorite Conte's Pasta sampled the consumer version of its new bake-in-bag gluten-free pizza and announced a line of refrigerated gnocchi, ravioli and pierogi, which will cut down on prep time. After a successful test in Minnesota, kids entertainment center Chuck E. Cheese's will have Conte's gluten-free pizza at all locations nationwide as of October 15.

I tried three other gluten-free pizzas at the show. Bold Organics, from New York, is free from gluten, dairy, egg and nuts and comes in Vegan Cheese, Veggie Lovers, Meat Lovers and Deluxe. (Bold is sold locally at natural-foods stores and will soon be at Acme Markets.) Florida's Better 4 U!, which is not yet available in the Philadelphia area, has five flavors on a multigrain crust, including a vegan roasted vegetable pizza. Longtime gluten-free baker Foods By George now has a dairy-free/gluten-free pizza. 

Our favorite cookie at Expo East was the new Chocolate Merry Mint from Dr. Lucy's, one of two new holiday flavors. It came pretty darn close to replicating the taste of a Girl Scout Thin Mint. The company also has new Snack 'n Go Packs and Brownie Cakes, its first non-cookie item.

In general, I prefer soft cookies. Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies and WOW Baking fit that bill with their excellent snickerdoodle cookies. Another great find, although not yet available in this area, was Salt Lake City's Blossom Fine Foods, whose marble brownies were delightful.

Go Max Go makes healthier versions of candy-aisle staples, from Mahalo and SNAP! bars (akin to Almond Joy and Nestle Crunch) to Cleo's Peanut Butter Cups, all gluten, dairy and egg free.

Hilary's Eat Well and Qrunch Foods had convenience in mind when developing their tasty veggie burgers; they can be prepared in a pop-up toaster. Both are millet and quinoa based and are free of the major allergens.

The yogurt marketplace is growing by the day; I'm not sure there are enough cows to keep up. Chobani Greek Yogurt is coming out with 2% banana, non-fat pear and smaller (3.5 oz.) four-packs of Fig with Orange Zest, Caramel with Pineapple, Coffee with Dark Chocolate Chips and Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chips. These will join the new "Flip" line that pairs vanilla chocolate chip low-fat yogurt with raspberry and honey low-fat yogurt with banana. Wallaby (whose non-fat yogurt I love) has also ventured into the Greek realm with four varieties.

There were a lot of nuts, seeds and other "raw" foods at the show. The best came in spreadable form: The Razzle Dazzle flavor of all-natural PB Crave (one of four varieties) and Nu Life Market's Sun Lite creamy sunflower kernel spread.

Kinnikinnick's products were the first my son ate after his diagnosis, but it's been a while since we've bought them. I'm reconsidering in light of trying the brand's "soft" bread. The new hot dog buns and sandwich bread were indeed soft and moist - not crumbly in the least. 

Udi's Gluten Free debuted tortillas made with tapioca starch, brown rice flour and corn starch, which come in 6" and 9" sizes. My son loved his sample of Udi's new "inside-out" everything bagel. O'Doughs, a gluten-free bakery out of Toronto, had its new 100-calorie bagel thins - plain, flax and apple cranberry - on display.

In the snack aisle, Lesser Evil, whose Krinkle Sticks I crave, has a line of black bean-and-chia crisps - Southern Barbeque, Crunchy Dill Pickle, Feta and Black Olive and Jalapeno White Cheddar. Another favorite, Medleys snack mixes from El's Kitchen, now come in three varieties - cheddar and sour cream & onion, in addition to original. The Real Deal's all-natural veggie chips have been spiced up with the addition of a sriracha flavor. A new product making its way east from Pittsburgh is the Hippie Chips line of baked potato chips.

News & Notes: January 14, 2011

It took a mid-week snowstorm to prompt me, but I finally created a Gluten Free Philly page on Facebook. Just "like" the page and join in the discussion. You can share your thoughts on area restaurants and favorite products, post topics in the forum, and more.

On Tuesday, I shared word of the new Asian dumplings from Feel Good Foods. The dumplings will be making their way to area markets shortly, but can be ordered as soon as next week from the Gluten-Free Mall.

In Center City, new Southwestern and tapas spot Kokopelli (1904 Chestnut Street, 215-557-7510) maintains a menu annotated with gluten-free items, ranging from soups and salads to seafood and sides. Just ask for the menu when checking in at the restaurant.

Giovanni's in Quakertown (224 North West End Boulevard, 215-538-2120) offers gluten-free pizza in a 10" size.

New reader John L. writes that Zinc Cafe, a New American BYOB in Medford (679 Stokes Road, 609-953-9462) is gluten-free-friendly.

Maize, a New American BYO in Perkasie (519 West Walnut Street, 215-257-2264) can accommodate gluten-free dietary requests. Thanks to reader Kathy W. for the tip.

Cafe Monterosso has relocated from Yardley to Fairless Hills (530 Lincoln Highway, 215-295-1311, near the Langhorne Ski Shop. The restaurant still offers gluten-free pizza, pasta and dessert.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries has opened new locations in Conshohocken (200 West Ridge Pike, 610-825-5557) and in Center City Philadelphia (1109 Walnut Street, 215-238-9955).

P.F. Chang's China Bistro has continued its Warrior Card program into the new year, offering holders 10 percent off their guest checks. To sign up for the card, go to the Warrior Card page of the restaurant's web site.

Reader Manisha A. let me know about two Hockessin, Delaware coffee shops that have gluten-free sweets: Bishops Coffee Shop (6949 Lancaster Pike, 302-239-7579) and Over Coffee Cafe (144 Lantana Drive, 302-239-5353).

To celebrate its first birthday, Sweet Freedom Bakery will be giving away mini cupcakes to the first 100 customers tomorrow, beginning at noon. Also find free samples from the bakery at Rescue Rittenhouse Spa on Saturdays throughout January.

The Handcrafted Cookie Company in Phoenixville, which bakes gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, will be closing February 28. On the bakery's Facebook page, the owners cite family priorities as the reason.

Reader Jackie P. wrote in to tell me that Post's Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles cereals have new packaging that trumpets their gluten free status. In addition, Post has introduced 90-calorie Pebbles-branded marshmallow treats that are gluten free.

You're probably not thinking about eating Italian ices at this time of year, but there are Rita's locations open year-round at area malls. The company's newly available Cheesecake Cream Ice is gluten free.

Kikkoman's new gluten-free soy sauce is a Tamari-style soy sauce brewed with rice instead of wheat. Take note, though, that the sodium content (960 mg per one-tablespoon serving) is high compared with reduced-sodium, gluten-free soy sauces produced by San-J, La Choy and Kari-Out. 

Ever imagine eating M&Ms without the candy shell? Hershey's has introduced new chocolate candies called Drops that, through the means of modern science, can help you attain that previously unachievable goal. Both the Milk Chocolate and - more significantly - the Cookies 'n' Creme flavors are gluten free.

HomeFree has just re-launched its soft-baked oatmeal cookies and mini oatmeal chip cookies as gluten free, using gluten-free oats. The company says it uses care in its facility to prevent cross-contamination, tests random batches, and utilizes a certified gluten-free facility. You can use the store-finder feature on Home Free's website or order directly from the company.

Adding to its seasonal varieties, gluten-free bakery Kinnikinnick Foods now has cinnamon-apple donuts. The treat is made with apple puree and cinnamon, topped with a cinnamon glaze and hot-pink cinnamon icing. The donuts are available until February 28 and can be ordered online or by phone at 1-877-503-4466.

The Viking Cooking School's "Gluten-Free Gourmet" class in Bryn Mawr next Tuesday is sold out, but there's a similar course at the Atlantic City location on Thursday, March 17.

The Cape May County Library will host a gluten-free cooking demonstration by chef James Harris on Saturday, January 29. Chef Harris, of Harrah's Resorts in Atlantic City, will prepare a menu consisting of gluten-free pizzas, wraps and pasta dishes. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the main branch of the library, 30 Mechanic Street in Cape May Court House. Registration and a valid library card are required to attend. Register online or by calling 609-463-6350.

Also on January 29, local vendors and natural-foods companies will be sampling gluten-free products at Weavers Way Co-op in Chestnut Hill. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness will be there to answer questions and give out information. This event is open to the public and will run from noon to 4 p.m.

Finally this week, I wanted to give thanks to Amy Ratner, the associate editor of Gluten-Free Living magazine. Her recent blog post about the maturation of her daughter, who has celiac disease, really struck a chord with me and my wife. Even if you don't have kids on a gluten-free diet, it's a good read.

Have a great weekend!

In the Round

For more than a decade, Debbie Garlotta has been baking authentic Italian pizzelle. A few years ago, one of her customers asked if she could make a gluten-free version of her handmade cookies. So she experimented with different ingredients until she was satisfied with the result. Now, her Southampton, New Jersey-based company, Dee Tees' Gourmet Italian Pizzelles, offers gluten-free and gluten-free/sugar-free pizzelle in three varieties year-round: vanilla, chocolate chip and anise. A fourth gluten-free flavor - pumpkin - is sold during fall months.

Debbie told me that she has separate baking schedules for the pizzelle made with wheat and her gluten-free versions, which use rice flour. She says that her equipment and facility are cleaned after every run of the cookies with gluten and she waits several days from the end of each run before starting a two-week gluten-free production.

The gluten-free and award-winning gluten-free/sugar-free pizzelle are sold in packs of 13-14 cookies each and are available at stores throughout the area. There's a store-locator feature on the company's website, but not all stores carry the gluten-free varieties. Debbie mentioned that in Pennsylvania, Martindale's Natural Market in Springfield and Altomonte's Italian Market in Doylestown and Warminster stock the gluten-free cookies, as do Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Mr. Ritt's Bakery in Millville, New Jersey and the Zallie's ShopRite markets in southern New Jersey. You can call Dee Tees' directly at (609) 859-9159 to find out which stores near you sell them. Depending on the store, a package of pizzelle sells for around $5.99-$6.99.

Goodies Giveaway 4: Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Dessert Mixes

UPDATED (8/17/09): Congratulations to reader Tammy, who was randomly selected as the winner of the prize pack. Thanks to everyone who entered.

UPDATE (8/10/09): Due to overwhelming demand, General Mills has run out of the free coupons (mentioned below), but you can still call to get more information on the company's gluten-free products.

It’s been a couple of months since the debut of Betty Crocker’s four gluten-free dessert mixes: yellow cake, devil’s food cake, chocolate chip cookie and brownie. Wegmans was the first local supermarket to stock them, and other stores have since started carrying the products. (They’re also available at Amazon.com.) All of the mixes are made in a gluten-free processing facility.

If you haven’t yet had a chance to try them, now’s your opportunity to do so; if you have, you can stock up on more! As part of Gluten Free Philly’s latest giveaway, one lucky reader will win a Betty Crocker “Sweet Treats” prize pack. The prize pack includes all four dessert mixes, two “free product” coupons for any of the varieties, and a “Betty Crocker Gluten Free” grocery tote bag, magnetic grocery list and pen, all courtesy of MyBlogSpark.

In addition to entering the giveaway, you can call General Mills at 1-800-446-1898 to request a coupon for one free mix of your choice and to receive information about the company’s growing number of gluten-free products.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment to this post letting me know which one of the mixes you like the best (if you’ve tried them) or which one you’d like to try the most (if you haven’t had tasted them yet).

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 your comment does not link back to an email address, blog or website through which I can get in touch with you, post your email address in the comment in the following format: "name[at]domain[dot]suffix."

The giveaway runs now through Sunday, August 16 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. I’ll randomly select one winner the next day and will contact them by email. 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!

Gluten Free Philly News and Notes

The big news this week was Starbucks' announcement that all U.S. outlets will start carrying a gluten-free cake on May 5. The orange-flavored cake will be individually wrapped to avoid cross-contamination with other foods.

On the restaurant front, I profiled the Naked Chocolate Café, which recently opened a new location near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. Nearly all of their gourmet chocolates are gluten free.

Also this week, I posted the news that the Philadelphia Phillies have planned a celiac awareness night at their game against the Chicago Cubs on July 20. A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that Citizens Bank Park will be offering gluten-free food at all Phillies games this year. I have learned that the items are available at the South Philadelphia Market concession stand on the main concourse behind Section 128. I still haven't confirmed the breadth of offerings but I plan to attend a game next week and hope to find out by then.

Congratulations to readers Sonnie and Jodi, winners of Gluten Free Philly's first product giveaway! Thanks to all who signed up for email subscriptions to my posts.

The April 23 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer had an article about gluten-free dining in the area.

The Center City Philadelphia Whole Foods Market (at 20th & Pennsylvania avenues) will host a free gluten-free tasting and tour on April 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy gluten-free samples throughout the store while you're there, meet vendors, and speak with a registered dietician who will be available to answer questions. The tour starts at 6 p.m. Cheesecakes from Moondance Heavenly Desserts will be among the foods offered at the tasting. The Cincinnati bakery makes several varieties of brownies, along with cheesecakes baked on a homemade pecan shortbread crust, at a dedicated gluten-free facility.

All Whole Foods stores will soon be carrying Blue Horizon Organic's Seafood Bites. The appetizers, which are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, include Salmon Cake Bites made with wild Alaska salmon, Crab Cake Bites, Fish & Chip Bites featuring Pollock and Northwest potatoes, and Albacore Tuna Bites made with Sashimi-grade tuna.

Trader Joe's has begun selling gluten-free English muffins at local stores. A pack of four muffins sells for $3.49.

A new gluten-free microwaveable pizza is now available at area Wegmans markets. Angel's Touch Margarita Pizza, which retails for $3.99 each, is imported from Israel. Wegmans also carries several varieties of the company's gluten-free quiches.

Next month, Applegate Farms will debut gluten-free chicken nuggets in retailers nationwide. The breading uses a mixture of corn and rice flours. The nuggets are frozen fully cooked so that they can be heated in the microwave. The retail price of an 8 oz. box is $5.99.

Although the allergen information on the website of Rita's Ice is not updated as of this writing, a consumer service representative at the company confirmed to me that the new S'mores cream ice flavor is safe for celiacs. The product does not contain any graham crackers.

The Schwan Food Company owns the largest direct-to-home food delivery provider in the United States. On last week's Celebrity Apprentice on NBC, contestants were tasked with creating a new dish for Schwan's frozen-food LiveSmart line. The winning team created a gluten-free meal, the Triple Play Turkey Meatballs and Pasta Dinner, which is now available for home delivery.

That's all for this week - have a great weekend!

Gluten Free Philly News and Notes

Three hard-to-find gluten-free foods are part of Gluten Free Philly’s first product giveaway, which I announced on Tuesday. All you have to do is visit the site and sign up for an email subscription. If you already subscribe, just drop me a line telling me that you are interested in the giveaway. The deadline is Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

I also wrote this week about new gluten-free frozen entrees that provide alternatives to the many meals from Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice that contain prohibited ingredients.

Earlier this month, I wrote about Van’s new gluten-free pancakes and cinnamon French toast sticks. It turns out that the products contained barley malt extract as an ingredient. I wrote to and called the company asking about this, and initially Van’s responded that the amount of gluten in the products was less than the FDA-proposed limit. After considering consumers’ concerns, the company has decided to remove the malt extract as of the next production run. If you find these products at your local market or health food store, check the labels to see if the foods have been reformulated.

I now have more than 70 area eateries, representing a variety of cuisines, listed on my post of gluten-free friendly restaurants. Many of the establishments have dedicated gluten-free menus, links to which are posted alongside the corresponding restaurant’s name. Let me know if you’re aware of any other restaurants that have separate menus.

As a reminder, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness April Meet-Up will take place at one of those restaurants, Little Fish in South Philadelphia, on Monday, April 20, 2009 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are being accepted through the NFCA website.

Speaking of Little Fish, chef Mike Stollenwerk will be participating tonight (April 16, 2009) in a gluten-free cooking event sponsored by Drexel University’s Academic Bistro. The event will take place at the Academic Bistro, located on the 6th floor of the Academic Building at 33rd and Arch streets in Philadelphia, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $35.

Stay tuned for an announcement about a celiac awareness dining event, sponsored by several area restaurants, that will take place in early June. I also will be posting soon about my recent visit to the new Naked Chocolate Café near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Goodies Giveaway

UPDATE (4/22/09): Congratulations to readers Sonnie and Jodi, winners of the giveaway prizes.

Last month I mentioned that I found gluten-free chow mein noodles that were available for the Passover holiday. Although many area supermarkets carried the basic Passover staples, the noodles were not widely available. So I figured I would include them in Gluten Free Philly's first gluten-free product giveaway. Two lucky readers will each win one package of Paskesz medium-size chow mein noodles, one package of six Paskesz chocolate cupcakes, and one box of Lieber's Confetti Cookies.

All you have to do is sign up for (and confirm by) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 an email subscription to Gluten Free Philly through the "Subscribe via email" form in the lower right-hand section of any page on the site. (Here are all the rules: (1) one email address per household, please; and (2) United States residents only. Email addresses are used only for subscriptions and are not sold or distributed to third parties.) If you currently subscribe by email, just drop me a line at gfphilly[at]gmail[dot]com by that date telling me that you want to be in the running for the goodies. I will randomly select two email addresses on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, and the winners will be contacted via email and announced in a future post. Good luck!

Gluten Freeze

Most varieties of popular frozen entrees such as Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine contain wheat, making it more difficult for celiacs to prepare a quick, convenient meal. However, there are companies offering some gluten-free alternatives. The newest brand available is the line of Organic Bistro Whole Life meals, sold at area Whole Foods markets and through online ordering. The company makes eight organic, fiber-rich "to-go" meals, including Pasta Puttanesca, Jamaican Shrimp Cakes and Chicken Citron. At Whole Foods, the entrees are priced at $6.49 each. Organic Bistro's home-delivery service, which ships the products in a reusable, insulated cooler packed with dry ice, currently has an introductory price of $30 for six entrees ($5 each). The standard home delivery charge to the Philadelphia area is about $10; second-day express delivery is about $21.

Hain Celestial, which makes DeBoles gluten-free pasta and Arrowhead Mills gluten-free baking mixes, sells all-natural frozen entrees under its Gluten Free Café label. There are four varieties: Fettuccini Alfredo, Asian Noodles, Lemon Basil Chicken and Pasta Primavera. The entire line is gluten-free certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group. Whole Foods also carries these meals, priced at $4.99 each.

Glutino's microwaveable entrees, including Chicken Ranchero and Pad Thai, can be found at local Wegmans stores as well as at Whole Foods.

Breakfast, Anyone?

UPDATE (4/15/09): Given the many concerns expressed by customers, Van's will be removing the barley malt extract as an ingredient in the pancakes and french toast sticks with its next production.

UPDATE (4/7/09): I received the following e-mail from Van's today:

Dear Valued Van’s Consumers:

We recently launched two new Wheat Free products — Van’s Wheat Free Cinnamon French Toast Sticks and Van’s Wheat Free Homestyle Pancakes. Like our Wheat Free Waffles, these new products are gluten, dairy and egg free. We have received some inquires regarding the use of malt extract in our new Wheat Free Homestyle Pancakes and Wheat Free Cinnamon French Toast Sticks.

All of Van’s wheat free products comply with the definition of “gluten free” proposed by the FDA which states that to be considered gluten free a product or its ingredients must not contain more than 20 ppm of gluten.

While the malt extract used in these two products is derived from barley, it is tested and meets the gluten free standard as the gluten protein found in the barley is removed during the malt extraction process. The barley is processed though many steps including steeping, germination, drying, grinding, mashing and evaporation. All these stages remove gluten from the barley. In addition, malt extract is used at very low levels in both products. Van’s Wheat Free Cinnamon French Toast Sticks contain less than 1% of malt extract and Van’s Wheat Free Homestyle Pancakes contain less than 2% of malt extract.

As part of our manufacturing process, we test incoming raw materials and our finished wheat free products for gluten to ensure that the raw materials and finished products meet or exceed the proposed gluten free standard.

We understand the concern regarding the use of malt extract in gluten free products want to assure you that these new products meet the same standards as all other Van’s Wheat Free products.

Sincerely, The Team at Van's

UPDATE (4/6/09): I spoke today with a Van's customer service representative, who advised that the malt extract in the pancakes and french toast sticks is derived from barley but that the gluten is removed during processing. She told me that the ingredients are tested at various intervals during production and that any gluten present in the end product would be less than 20 parts per million (ppm), which would be within the proposed FDA requirement. Given this information, consumption of the Van's products is a matter of one's own comfort level.

UPDATE (4/5/09): Reader Amy pointed out that although both of the Van's products are labeled "gluten free," the ingredient label lists malt extract. (Both products also are listed as "gluten free" on the Van's website.) I will further update this post after I hear back from the company.

Two new "Wafflewich" breakfast sandwiches are among the new gluten-free products recently introduced by Ian's Natural Foods. The company, which was first to market gluten-free french toast sticks and kids' meals, will be rolling out microwaveable sandwiches that stack egg patties with either maple-infused cheddar cheese or maple-flavored sausage on gluten-free waffles. In addition to the breakfast items, Ian's also has created two new gluten-free snack bars that come in apple pie and cinnamon bun flavors, made with brown rice cereal and topped with yogurt.

Meanwhile, Van's Natural Foods has two new breakfast items of its own that are labeled gluten-free. The pancakes and cinnamon french toast sticks are made from whole-grain brown rice flour.

Ian's and Van's products can be found locally at Whole Foods, Wegmans, and many health-food stores. I found both sandwiches as well as the pancakes at Whole Foods in Marlton, New Jersey. If your local store is not yet carrying the new items, ask the manager or owner to order them.

Coming Soon: Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Mixes

UPDATE (5/4/09): General Mills has launched a website for its soon-to-be-released gluten-free mixes, complete with product information and recipes.

UPDATE (3/27/09): These mixes, along with a yellow cake mix, will be rolled out nationally on June 1, 2009.

Great news from the ladies over at kill.the.gluten: General Mills' Betty Crocker brand will soon be introducing a line of gluten-free chocolate chip cookie, brownie and chocolate cake mixes nationwide in June 2009. Many of the company's frostings are already safe for celiacs. It's great to see General Mills promoting gluten-free products beyond Chex cereals and into other lines.

Pretzels With a Twist

UPDATE (3/20/09): Noah's just announced that it will be the official pretzel vendor for both the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles baseball teams, and will have gluten-free pretzels available for all home games for those teams.

Given that soft pretzels are an iconic part of Philadelphia's food culture, it is ironic that there are no bakeries in the area that make gluten-free pretzels. So we were happy to learn two years ago that a small company in Maryland had opened a store featuring gluten-free soft pretzels at a mall in Gaithersburg, where my brother lives. On the way back from a long Memorial Day weekend in 2008, we stopped at Noah's Pretzels in the Lakeforest Mall and enjoyed hot soft pretzels for the first time. We brought a few back with us and kept them in the freezer for reheating later. Since then, Noah's has begun to offer its gluten-free (and casein-free) pretzels through online ordering.

I'm aware of two other companies, a bit closer to the Delaware Valley, that also ship gluten-free soft pretzels. One is Dutch Country Soft Pretzels in New Holland, Pennsylvania, which sells mixes as well as pre-baked twists. The other is the Gluten Free Bagel Company in Meshoppen, Pennsylvania. As we haven't tried either of those companies' pretzels, I'm interested to know from readers if these are worth ordering.

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (Give or Take a Few)

UPDATE (4/25/09): The Foodery, a beer distributor with two locations in downtown Philadelphia, carries New Grist, Mbege and Shakparo.

UPDATE (4/16/09): Devil's Den in Philadelphia serves Sprecher's Shakparo Ale.

With the introduction of Anheuser-Busch's Redbridge beer in 2007, many adult celiacs were able to drink beer again for the first time since their diagnoses. Redbridge is a sorghum-based beer, making it safe for gluten-free diets. While Redbridge is the most widely available gluten-free beer in the Philadelphia area, others are worth seeking out.

My favorite is Bard's, made by the Bard's Tale Beer Company in Norwalk, Connecticut. According to the company's web site, Bard's is served locally at Eulogy Belgian Tavern and the Beneluxx Tasting Room, both in Philadelphia, as well as at Outback Steakhouse in Deptford and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Six-packs and cases also are available at distributors throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. (The company's web site does not list any distributors in Delaware.)

A beer that is both gluten free and certified Kosher for Passover is Ramapo Valley Brewery's Honey Beer, which is made from fermented honey rather than sorghum. I tried this brew a couple years ago at a benefit for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and thought it was . . . unusual. I didn't particularly care for it but it can fill a void for those looking for an escape from the old Manischewitz table wine at the seder. I'm not aware if it's locally available. Several other varieties are produced by two Milwaukee breweries: New Grist (sorghum and rice) from Lakefront Brewery, and Shakparo Ale (sorghum and millet) and Mbege Ale (bananas), African styles from Sprecher Brewery. Bella Vista in Philadelphia is the local distributor for both companies.

There also are gluten-free beers imported from Europe, most notably three varieties brewed by Green's in England.

Don't forget that many "hard" ciders are naturally gluten free. I'll cover a few of these brands in a future post.

Conte's Pasta . . . and Pizza Too

Conte's Pasta has had their gluten free pasta products available for about a year. More recently, the company introduced two pizzas to its product line - Margherita and Mushroom Florentine. We've tried the garlic-accented Margherita version and it is tasty. Conte's products are available at the company store, located on East Wheat Road (!) in Vineland, New Jersey. The pastas and pizzas are available locally at select health food stores and supermarkets and online at retailers such as Glutenfreemall.com and Amazon.com. Through March 31, 2009, Amazon is offering an extra 20 percent off instantly when you spend $59 or more on eligible Conte's products offered by Amazon.com. Enter code CONTEI24 at checkout.