News & Notes: August 9, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

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

Jersey Mike's Subs Introducing Gluten-Free Rolls Nationwide

I can report exclusively that after receiving positive reviews in several test markets, Jersey Mike’s Subs is introducing gluten-free sub rolls at all 1,300-plus U.S. locations beginning Dec. 4. Jersey Mike’s has partnered with Udi’s Gluten Free after testing the bakery's sub rolls in several markets, including stores in Denver, Los Angeles and West Palm Beach.

“The idea of offering gluten-free rolls came from a franchisee whose daughter had celiac disease,” explained Michael Manzo, Jersey Mike's Chief Operating Officer. “Before going national, we decided to try a pilot in several markets and we are happy to report success: customers loved the taste and they were excited to be able to eat a Jersey Mike’s sub sandwich again - or for the very first time.”

Gluten-free rolls from another company, Wild Flour Bakery, had been tested in the Philadelphia region, New Jersey and North Carolina as part of the pilot program. Manzo said that while many customers responded well to Wild Flour's version, which came proofed and were baked in house, from an operational standpoint it will be easier for stores to serve the Udi's product. (Locations that had been using Wild Flour rolls have already switched over to Udi's.)

To prepare for the national launch, Manzo said the company has produced an instructional video for employees and is training staff how to carefully incorporate the new product into sandwich preparation. The Udi’s rolls arrive at each store individually wrapped and fully baked. Because the packaging is not opened until the sub is ordered, Manzo says there is little risk of cross-contamination with other subs. Additionally, employees wear new gloves when handling the rolls and use dedicated knives and other utensils that haven’t touched other bread products. They also prepare each sandwich on parchment paper to avoid contact with gluten and will utilize separate condiment containers. Customers can request that toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes and onions be taken from stock in the stores’ walk-in refrigerators. Jersey Mike's is working with the Gluten Intolerance Group to obtain certification. The company is also considering adding a gluten-free dessert option.

The Udi’s roll can be used for most hot or cold subs on Jersey Mike’s menu (some contain gluten, such as Meatball and Cheese, Chicken Parmesan and Teriyaki Chicken). The additional charge for gluten-free sandwiches may vary from store to store, but is likely to be between $1 to $2 for regular sizes and $3 to $4 for giant sizes.

Jersey Mike's currently has stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

 

Gluten-Free Standouts at the National Restaurant Association Show

Many of the 36 award winners at the recent National Restaurant Association in Chicago are gluten free - not surprising given the marketplace's growth. The 2017 Food and Beverage FABI Awards recognize innovative food and beverage products that make a significant impact in the restaurant industry. Some of these are sold in supermarkets, while others are only available at restaurants.

Gluten-Free Biscuit Sandwich from Kiki’s Gluten-Free Foods: The first frozen gluten-free biscuit sandwich now available in foodservice is a breakfast or lunch option for gluten-free consumers on the go. Individually wrapped in plastic to prevent gluten cross-contamination and available in a variety of options, these biscuit sandwiches can be microwaved from frozen or quickly baked and kept under warming lights for over an hour without getting soggy. You can order Chicago deep-dish pizza, ravioli, pita bread and lava cakes through the company's website.

Brazi Bites from Franz Bakery: Brazi Bites Brazilian Cheese Bread are crispy outside and fluffy inside. And because it uses cheese, eggs, milk and tapioca flour, it’s naturally gluten-free.

The Beyond Burger from Beyond Meat: The world's first plant-based burger that looks and cooks like fresh ground beef, The Beyond Burger is non-GMO, soy free and gluten-free, providing a way for consumers to reduce their red meat intake. Although completely plant-based, it cooks through like a regular burger with a better nutritional profile than ground beef,  including 20 grams of protein per serving.

Gluten Free Dough; Pizza & Hoagie Rolls Ready to Bake from Wild Flour Bakery: Artisan, small-batch and 100% yeast-raised, Wild Flour Bakery has created the only gluten-free pizza dough in the industry able to take the 900+ °F temps of wood, coal, gas or infrared ovens without parbaking or burned edges. The bakery's fresh, soft hoagie rolls are used at area Jersey Mike's shops.

Just Don't Call Them Hoagies

The new gluten-free rolls at Jersey Mike's Subs are baked
on dedicated pans to avoid cross contact.

With roots in central Jersey Shore towns, Jersey Mike's can be excused if the growing sandwich-shop chain refers to its signature products as "subs" instead of the Philly-centric "hoagies." Wherever you're from, though, you can order your next meal there on a gluten-free roll. Jersey Mike's Subs is introducing gluten-free rolls in its Philadelphia, New Jersey and metro New York restaurants as part of a three-month pilot program.

The proof-and-bake Tuscan herb rolls come from Colorado's gluten-free artisan Wild Flour Bakery and arrive as dough, baked fresh in store each day. The shops have dedicated pans for baking the gluten-free rolls, and team members wear new gloves when handling the rolls and use knives and other utensils that haven't touched other bread products when slicing them.

While meats and cheeses are sliced fresh to order, I suggest that gluten-free guests request that their sandwiches be assembled on paper (not on the counter directly) and with condiments and produce such as lettuce, tomatoes and onions taken from a fresh stash to avoid cross contact.  A list of allergens is posted at the company's website; currently, all of the cold cuts are listed as gluten free; on the hot side, only the meatballs, teriyaki chicken and chicken parmesan are not gluten free.

If you want to skip the bread entirely, any cold sub can be made as a "Sub in a Tub."

In southeastern Pennsylvania, stores in Horsham, Glen Mills, Phoenixville, West Chester and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia are slated to carry the gluten-free rolls. Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, Glassboro, Hamilton, Marlton, Moorestown and Princeton are the designated South Jersey locations. All should have gluten-free bread available within the next week or two. Sandwiches made with the new bread option will cost an additional $2.