News & Notes: November 8, 2019

Late July Snacks recently launched a Korean Barbecue flavor in its Clásico line of tortilla chips. The chips are made with organic yellow corn, and seasoned with a blend of brown sugar, onion, garlic, ginger, chili pepper and smoky flavoring.

Enjoy Life introduced soft-baked holiday cookies, in apple cider donut and peppermint bark flavors.

Mi/Mo Mochi has released a cool peppermint flavor in time for winter.

Boston Beer has reformulated all Truly hard seltzer flavors and plans to launch a line of lemonade seltzers next year.

It's not beer, but AB InBev is putting the Bud Light moniker on a new line of gluten-free hard seltzers. The seltzers will be released in early 2020 in Black Cherry, Lemon Lime, Strawberry and Mango flavors.

Locally, Haddonfield's dedicated Bleu Bear Bakery is expanding to Marlton (27 N. Maple Ave.) early next year with a combination market and bakery. The market will have prepared foods, sandwiches, a salad bar and more.

(Photo: Elikqitie/Travel Gluten Free)

Philly native Elikqitie of the Travel Gluten Free podcast let me know that the Mary Cassatt Tea Room at the Rittenhouse Hotel (210 W. Rittenhouse Sq., 215-546-9000) offers afternoon tea with gluten-free sandwiches and sweets. I'll be on her podcast in the coming weeks.

Lovebird is opening a third Pennsylvania location early next year, this one in Newtown (247 N. Sycamore St.). All of the fried chicken at Lovebird is gluten free, as is the macaroni and cheese and fries.

Liquid Eatery in West Chester (18 N. High St., 610-709-6911) is an all-gluten-free vegan restaurant serving flatbreads, tater tots, smoothies and more.

In the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ (1901 Callowhill St., 267-603-9482) offers gluten-free marinades and sauces upon request.

The newly opened Emmy Squared Pizza in Queen Village (632 S. 5th St., 267-551-3669) serves gluten-free pizza - Detroit style. The gluten-free dough is prepared separately, baked in dedicated pans and is cut with a designated cutter.

Luke's Lobster in Rittenhouse Square (130 S. 17th St., 215-564-1415) offers lobster rolls on gluten-free buns.

In Wilmington, the Washington Street Ale House offers a gluten-free menu. The Ale House is affiliated with Delaware's gluten-free-friendly Big Fish Restaurant Group.

The area's newest Yard House is scheduled to open on Dec. 2 in Willow Grove (2500 W. Moreland Rd., 215-830-9310). Gluten-free options are listed on the menu.

Luxe steakhouse chain Steak 48 is coming to Philadelphia next year to the Avenue of the Arts (260 S. Broad St., 215-552-4848). The menu notes gluten-free choices.

Trader Joe's is adding another Center City Philadelphia location. The new market will be opening in 2020 at 1324 Arch Street.

On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Gluten Intolerance Group of Chester County will be hosting a gluten-free Cupcakes & Wine event at Stone Barn Cellars in Spring City (3050 Pottstown Pike) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available through Eventbrite.

CHOP's next children's support group meeting will be a holiday cookie exchange. The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Voorhees Specialty Care Center (1012 Laurel Oak Rd.) from noon to 2 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring two dozen gluten-free cookies for sharing. RSVP via email with the number of children and caregivers attending.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

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

News & Notes: March 29, 2019

Cascadian Farm's newest cereal is gluten free. Honey Vanilla Crunch is made with corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes and chickpeas.

Against The Grain Gourmet is coming out with its first plant-based gluten-free pizza, a cheddar-style version. The company has also announced a Veggie Vegan variety of its traditional gluten-free pizza.

Sonoma Flatbreads and Udi's Gluten Free are also getting into the plant-based pizza game. Sonoma has several new varieties, including a crust made with broccoli and cheddar and topped with Chicken & Kale, while two others use a cauliflower crust: Uncured Pepperoni and Harvest Vegy & Portobello. This summer Udi's will launch two sweet potato-based pizzas: Barbeque Chicken and Four Cheese.

Coming soon from Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream are gluten-free Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bites. The combination of premium ice cream wrapped in edible cookie dough will be offered in four flavors: Chocolate Chip, Brownie Batter, Sugar Cookie and Birthday Cake.

New from Pop Chips is Yes Peas, a line of popped snacks made with yellow and green peas, sunflower oil and salt. Flavors include Himalayan Salt and Farmhouse Ranch.

Brazi Bites is introducing a line of gluten-free empanadas, Varieties include chicken & cheese, beef & bean, black bean & cheese and chickpea veggie. The company is also coming out with a cinnamon churro flavor Brazilian cheese bread.

Trader Joe's has several new gluten-free products in stores, including quick-cook brown rice & quinoa mini elbows and a fudgy chocolate quinoa loaf & cake mix.

Primo Hoagies recently created their own brand of gluten-free potato chips. The flavor profile uses Italian hoagie spices with notes of sesame, and Primo’s signature meats and cheeses including prosciutto, provolone cheese, hot capicola and natural casing genoa salami. The chips are now available throughout the East Coast at numerous supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores and independent liquor stores.  Locations include Acme, Shoprite, CVS, Redner’s and Rite Aid.

Aye Caramba Taco in Pottstown (300 E. High St., 484-524-8611) is the area's newest all-gluten-free restaurant. The menu includes tacos, avocado fries and churros.

The new kid-friendly Craft Hall in Northern Liberties (901 N. Delaware Ave., 267-297-2072) is an experiential dining, drinking and entertainment concept at the old home of Yards Brewing Company. Gluten-free options are noted on the menu and the kitchen has a dedicated fryer for fries and wings. (Thanks to reader Scott H. for the tip.)

District Taco's second area location is now open in Center City Philadelphia (1140 Market St., 267-861-7880). The flour tortillas are the only items on the menu that are not gluten free.

Another all-gluten-free restaurant, Gangster Vegan, is opening its third suburban Philadelphia location any day now in Media (14 W. State St.). Other outposts are in Norristown and Phoenixville. (Thanks to reader Chris B. for the tip.)

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse, which has Pennsylvania locations in Center City Philadelphia and King of Prussia, has added new gluten-free items for the spring season, including pork picanha and linguica sausage, carrot & ginger soup, roasted cauliflower salad, Brazilian kale & orange salad and a creme de coconut dessert. Nearly the entire menu is gluten free, including the pão de queijo cheese rolls and fried polenta.

Around the area, The Rachel Way gluten- and dairy-free food pantry in Plymouth Meeting (500 W. Germantown Pike) is hosting a free Easter-themed kids' cooking class on Saturday, April 6th at 1 p.m. Registration is still open.

Beyond Celiac has two local events in the works. The 3rd Annual Research Symposium will take place on Thursday, May 30th at 6 p.m. on the Penn campus in University City. Admission is free but registration is required. The event will also be live-streamed.

The organization's second function is the inaugural Step Beyond Celiac 5K run/walk at the Philadelphia Zoo on Sunday, June 9th. Early-bird registration is still available. Join "Team Gluten Free Philly" at registration to help me raise money for Beyond Celiac.

Registration is also open for NJY Camps' annual Gluten-Free Family Camp, scheduled this year to take place from Friday, May 31st to Sunday, June 2nd in Milford, Pennsylvania.

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!

News & Notes: March 1, 2019

Annie's Homegrown has added to its line of organic gluten-free crispy rice bars with a peanut butter variety.

Crepini has introduced a gluten-free ingredient version of its Egg White Thins, a low-carb, high-protein wrap that’s made with about 90% egg whites, flax meal, non-GMO canola oil, salt and pepper. The wraps are sold in Costco stores and about 2,200 Walmart stores nationwide.

Pamela's Products has announced several new gluten-free products that will hit stores this year. The company's line of gluten-free ramen comes in three flavors - Spicy Beef + Veggie, Savory Chicken + Veggie, and Vegan Very Veggie - and will be available in August with a suggested retail price of $3.39 per pack.

New to the pasta meals line are two new Mac N’ Cheese products: Vegan Mac and White Cheddar. These new varieties will be available starting in May with a suggested retail price of $3.79 for a 5 oz. box. The Vegan Mac N’ Cheese will also be available in a family-size 10 oz. box, with a suggested retail price of $5.99.

Pamela’s Grahams will be available in July in a new chocolate chip flavor, with a suggested retail price of $4.99. All of the new products will be available on Amazon.com and at participating retailers.

Saffron Road unveiled their latest gluten-free additions to its globally-inspired frozen entrée product line: Thai-Style Green Curry with Chicken, Coconut Curry Chicken, Vegetable Biryani and Madras Curry with Chicken Meatballs. The new dishes will be available beginning in June for the suggested retail price of $4.99 per package.

Gluten-free snack purveyor From the Ground Up is expanding its product line later this year with cauliflower-based stars, stalks and tortilla chips as well as new butternut squash pretzel sticks and twists.

From Lakefront Brewery, which crafted the very first gluten-free beer granted label approval in the United States, comes another certified gluten-free brew. New Grist Gose-style with lime is 5.1 ABV and is crafted using rice, sorghum, lime and sea salt. It features Zeus and Willamette hops with an IBU rating of 15. Its release date is set for April 15.

News & Notes: February 24, 2017

Evol Foods has expanded its line of certified-gluten-free options with three new enchilada varieties: Chipotle Chicken & Uncured Bacon, Carnitas & Salsa Verde and Cilantro Lime Chicken.

 

Three of the four new Sweet Balanced Breaks from Sargento are gluten free. They include Natural Cheddar Cheese, Sea-Salted Roasted Almonds, Raisins and Greek Yogurt-Flavored Drops, Monterey Jack Natural Cheese, Dried Cranberries and Dark Chocolate-Coated Peanuts, and Monterey Jack Natural Cheese, Dried Cranberries, Dark Chocolate Chunks and Banana Chips. The snack packs, which combine natural cheese with dried fruits and dark chocolate,.feature 5-7 grams of protein and fewer than 200 calories.

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News & Notes: August 5, 2016

Sabra has announced the launch of Sabra Spreads, a line of refrigerated sandwich spreads made with hummus. The condiment, which comes in a squeezable bottle comes in three flavors: Garlic Herb, Honey Mustard and Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper. Sabra Spreads will launch nationwide beginning September 1st (with limited retail availability late summer) and will be available in the refrigerated deli section of grocery stores and supermarkets. All three products are kosher, gluten free, and non-GMO. The suggested retail price is $3.99 per bottle.

Nut-butter maker Justin's has introduced the first extension of its Snack Pack product line. Justin's Peanut Butter and Banana Chip Snack Pack comes in two flavors: Classic Peanut Butter + Banana Chips and Honey Peanut Butter + Banana Chips. One side of each pack features Justin's Peanut Butter and the other organic banana chips. Available exclusively at Target for $1.99, the gluten-free snack contains 5-6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and over 200 milligrams of potassium, all for just 200-210 calories per serving.

Nabisco has added to its line of Good Thins crackers with the addition of a sea salt variety made with corn masa flour.

My son spotted several frozen entrees from Beetnik Foods in the gluten-free frozen aisle of the ShopRite in Cherry Hill, including Grass-Fed Beef Bolognese and Chicken Cacciatore. All of the meals are gluten free and organic.

News & Notes: May 13, 2016

While we were in southern Delaware last weekend for a youth baseball tournament, I discovered several new gluten-free finds in the area. Nalu Surf Bar in Dewey (1308 Coastal Hwy., 302-227-1449) has a gluten-free menu comprised of wraps, tacos and protein entrees, while across the street at Rusty Rudder (113 Dickinson St., 302-227-3888), many seafood items on the buffet are gluten free, as are several a la carte options listed on the menu.

In Lewes, Striper Bites (107 Savannah Rd., 302-645-4657) notes gluten-free items on its menus, but be aware that the buffalo wings are prepared in a shared fryer.

At Crabby Dick's in Rehoboth Beach (18831 Coastal Hwy., 302-645-9132) and Delaware City (30 Clinton St., 302-832-5100), the restaurants keep a gluten-free guide on hand. Acceptable options include steampots, seafood and salads.

Elsewhere in Rehoboth, The Fresh Market is opening on June 8 in the Rehoboth Gateway Shopping Center on Coastal Highway.

Grotto Pizza recently opened another Delaware location, this one in Middletown (315 Auto Park Dr., 302-314-9500). All outlets offer gluten-free pizza.

2016 Expo West New Gluten-Free Products Roundup

Natural Products Expo West, the industry’s largest trade show, took place last weekend in Anaheim, California with more than 3,000 exhibiting companies and 70,000 attendees. As usual, there were plenty of new gluten-free products announced at the event.

South Jersey-based Caesar's Pasta debuted a new line of frozen entrees under the Caesar's Kitchen brand that will hit store shelves this summer. The new "Gluten-Free Gourmet" meals include Buffalo Style Chicken Mac & Cheese and 3 Cheese Herb Rigatoni & Meat Sauce.

popchips announced an entirely new product line called Ridges, after spending several years experimenting with its process of combining heat and pressure to create a ridged chip. The new Ridges line rolls out to retailers nationwide in June in four flavors: salted, tangy barbeque, cheddar & sour cream and chili cheese. Ridges will be available in both a single-serve bag and a share bag. In addition to the four new Ridges flavors, original popchips come in nine varieties: sea salt, barbeque, crazy hot, sour cream & onion, sea salt & vinegar, sweet potato, cinnamon twist sweet potato and organic kettle corn.

News & Notes: March 11, 2016

Philadelphia sports fans can soon grab a gluten-free seafood sandwich before and after games in South Philly. Neon Lobster, which opens Sunday in Pennsport (2101 S. 3rd St., 215-800-1067), offers lobster, crab, and shrimp salad rolls on gluten-free buns. Lobster bisque, chowders, salads and sides round out the gluten-free menu. The kitchen staff is knowledgeable about cross-contamination and takes precautions to make many of the menu choices gluten free - there is a dedicated gluten-free oven and fryer. Show a game ticket and get $1 off a lobster roll order.

The majority of options at Los Camaradas, a contemporary Mexican near Graduate Hospital (918 S. 22nd St., 215-309-3727), are gluten free. Avoid items made with mole, which contains gluten, and flour tortillas. The corn tortilla chips are gluten free, as they are not prepared in a shared fryer. Philadelphia magazine awarded Los Camaradas a 2015 "Best of Philly" award for its nachos.

News & Notes: December 18, 2015

The Philadelphia-area based National Foundation for Celiac Awareness this week announced that the foundation has changed its name to Beyond Celiac. The new name and brand reflect the evolution of the organization from its early focus on awareness to its expanded role today in increasing the rate of diagnosis, improving care for the community and expanding research of new treatments, ultimately to find a cure for celiac disease by 2025.

The name Beyond Celiac was chosen to embody the spirit of the community and inspire hope and passion for living well despite having a serious genetic autoimmune disease. Beyond Celiac intends to move beyond the acceptance of lifestyle and diet as treatment and move forward toward advancing research for innovative, groundbreaking medicines.

News & Notes: May 1, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

News & Notes: March 13, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

News & Notes: March 6, 2015

Gluten-free pizza at Parlor in Ardmore
(Photo credit: Parlor/Twitter)

The owners of Center City's Rouge and 500 Degrees have just opened Parlor in Ardmore's Suburban Square (30 St. James Place, 610-649-6200), where guests can order gluten-free pizza, pasta, wings and other plates. The kitchen takes precautions in preparing gluten-free orders.

The Atlantic City outpost of Phillips Seafood, located at The Pier Shops at Caesars (1 Atlantic Ocean, 609-348-2273), now has a gluten-free menu.

In Media, Delaware County, what was contemporary American restaurant Generations is now Maggie Hook's Fish & Grille (9 State Rd., 610-565-8212). The restaurant notes gluten-free items on its menus.

News & Notes: May 23, 2014

The just-opened Flat Iron sports bar/dance club in South Philadelphia (26 E. Oregon Ave., 215-465-1901) has a gluten-free menu featuring salads, pizzas and burgers. Angry Orchard hard cider and wine are the the gluten-free drink options. The fries are prepped in a dedicated fryer, while pizza is cooked in an oven where the bottom rack is specifically used for gluten free pizza. For protocol, the cooks change their gloves, use a dedicated cutting board and utensils.

In Cheltenham, Pita Pocket (582 Cottman Ave., 215-663-2828) offers gluten-free falafel. The menu is kosher and halal.

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.

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.

Expo East Recap (Part Two)

In last Tuesday's blog post, I focused on new gluten-free pizzas and sweets that were sampled at last month's Expo East products event. This week, the spotlight turns to baked goods, ice creams and salty snacks.

Baked Goods

Olivia's Croutons owners Francie and Dave Caccavo established a dedicated facility in Middlebury, Vermont to produce its new scratch gluten-free Garlic croutons and Rosemary & Sage stuffing. The bread base for both products is made with millet, sorghum and brown rice and white rice flours. Olivia's products are available for purchase online and in stores throughout the country.

News & Notes: July 26, 2013

Ribs from BigBites BBQ

A new restaurant is putting the 'cue in Quakertown. BigBites BBQ (641 S. West End Blvd., 267-227-3102) is nearly 100 percent gluten free, with the only items to be avoided are wheat bread and rolls and kids' macaroni and cheese, all of which are kept in separate areas. So what's safe to eat? How about the baby back ribs, pulled pork, chicken breast, chicken quarters, meatloaf and slow-smoked brisket. How about all of the sides, from potato and cucumber salads to corn bread (made with rice flour). Three members of the owners' family have celiac disease, so keeping the food preparation safe for those eating gluten free is a priority. There's no airborne flour, and when someone requests a sandwich on an Udi's gluten-free roll, the item is prepared by one employee from start to finish using fresh gloves and utensils. For now, BigBites is open on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Reader Kristin R. let me know via the Gluten Free Philly Facebook page that longtime Avalon Mexican spot Tortilla Flats (2540 Dune Drive, 609-967-5658) has a gluten-free menu that includes tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, chili, nachos and salads.

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.