Where's the Beef?

Compared to grains like brown rice and corn, quinoa (pronounced "keen-wa") doesn't appear much in gluten-free products. Quinoa originated in the Andean region of South America and was known as the "mother of all grains" by the ancient Incans. Perhaps the unlikeliest of foods in which to find quinoa is a veggie burger. One only has to look as far as the frozen sections of local stores to discover organic vegan burgers from Asherah's Gourmet.

The Doylestown company blends protein-packed quinoa with such vegetables as potatoes, carrots, peppers and onions to make its burgers. The quarter-pound patties are free of gluten, soy, dairy and nuts. One burger has just 180 calories and 5 grams of fiber.

You can order an Asherah's burger on a gluten-free bun at Basically Burgers in Doylestown. Four-burger packages are sold at all local Whole Foods Markets and many local natural-foods stores in the Delaware Valley. The burgers also can be ordered from the company online or by calling 215-489-9815.

News & Notes: March 26, 2010

I've just returned from Clearwater, Florida, where I saw some Phillies Spring Training action for the first time in person. While the weather was hit-and-miss, people certainly are stoked for the start of baseball season. Though Mets fans continue to envy the Phillies' recent success, they can boast of one advantage: access to a new, completely gluten-free concession stand at Citi Field in New York.

While I was away, I posted an item about a celiac-awareness benefit dinner in Philadelphia at Sauté scheduled for this Sunday night.

I've added two other Philadelphia restaurants to the restaurant list this week. Just-opened 500 Degrees (1504 Sansom Street, 215-568-5000), from the owners of Rouge, offers gluten-free burgers (sans bun), fries and shakes made with Bassett's ice cream.

Thanks to the tipster who mentioned that Percy Street Barbeque (900 South Street, 215-625-8510) has lots of menu items for celiacs and those with gluten intolerance. Chef Erin O'Shea says that all of the meats and sandwich fillings, including the brisket and sausage, are gluten free - just order without the bread or roll. In addition, the deviled eggs, avocado salad, "Percy" chopped salad and root beer chili appetizers are made without gluten. Safe sides are pinto beans, coleslaw, German potato salad, collard greens and black-eyed pea salad, and a root beer float is available for dessert. The chef added that the kitchen keeps separate spoon drops for each item that is being prepared to avoid cross-contamination. The restaurant recently garnered a solid two-bell review from Craig LaBan, food critic at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A "to-order" gluten-free bakery new to the South Jersey area is Medford's Tesori's Gluten Free Treats (732-337-9690). There's free local delivery for orders over $35. I'll have more on the bakery in a future post.

The website for another gluten-free bakery, My Gluten Free Baker in West Chester, has been dark of late. I haven't been able to reach the owner by e-mail or phone. If anyone has information on the company, please drop me a line.

More new products from Glutino are on the way. The company debuted chocolate-covered and yogurt-covered pretzels and vanilla and chocolate donuts at the recent Natural Products West food show. The products should hit stores in May.

R.W. Garcia has extended its gluten-free MixtBag tortilla chip line to include a Red & Yellow mix. Made from all natural, non-GMO stone-ground corn, the Red & Yellow MixtBag offers stone-ground yellow corn tortilla chips mixed with red beet tortilla chips. MixtBag tortilla chips are available locally at ShopRite.

For those of you going to tonight's Sixers game, enjoy the gluten-free festivities. Have a great weekend!

Sauté Hosts Celiac Awareness Dinner

Join the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness on Sunday, March 28 as Philadelphia's Sauté restaurant (775 South Front Street, 215-271-9300) hosts a Celiac Awareness Dinner.

Executive Chef Nicholas J. Cassidy has created an adult menu ($45) and a children's menu ($15) for this event based on Saute's contemporary American cuisine. The three-course dinner menus have been prepared with special emphasis on seasonal ingredients and local produce. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the NFCA to support raising awareness of celiac disease. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the restaurant or booking online at OpenTable.

News & Notes: March 19, 2010

With Spring arriving tomorrow, it's nice that something else is in the air other than rain or snow. This week, I wrote about the new marshmallow-flavored Peeps Italian ice available at all Rita's locations beginning tomorrow through April 4. All customers tomorrow get a free regular-size ice of their choice.

Maoz Vegetarian's falafel will soon be entirely gluten free. The company is adjusting the recipe to exclude flour and will prepare the falafel in a dedicated fryer. Maoz has two Philadelphia locations (248 South Street, 215-625-3500 and 1115 Walnut Street, 215-922-3409), with others in New York City, central New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Shout out goes to Beth.

Like many University of Delaware alums, I have fond memories of eating at Klondike Kate's Restaurant & Saloon in Newark (158 East Main Street, 302-737-6100). The casual American eatery now has gluten-free options that include ribs, stuffed shrimp and grilled boneless wings. Thanks to Eva of the Gluten Free Delaware support group for this info.

Bellevue Tavern in Cape May Court House, which has been on the gluten-free-friendly restaurant list, has posted its gluten-free menu at its website.

Seasons 52 Fresh Grill at the Cherry Hill Mall (and soon to be at the King of Prussia Mall) introduced its Spring 2010 gluten-free menu this week.

Regional pizza chain Seasons Pizza plans to expand the number of stores carrying its gluten-free pizza, although the locations have not yet been determined. Thanks to Karin for the tip.

Rudi’s Organic Bakery announced this week that it would launch Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery. The new line will include an original sandwich bread, multigrain bread and cinnamon raisin bread, and will be available nationally starting on July 1.

Food for Life's new gluten-free English muffins, in brown rice and multiseed varieties, are available now. I spotted them at Whole Foods in Marlton.

Glutino introduced new "New York style" multigrain bagels, made with corn starch, brown rice flour, rolled oats and flaxseed meal. Those too are available at the Marlton Whole Foods.

The end of March brings a couple of celiac awareness events to Philadelphia. The 76ers' Celiac Awareness night is Friday, March 26, with discounted tickets available at the team website using code CELIAC. In addition to having gluten-free fare at the concession stand behind section 122, the Sixers will provide gluten-free food at a special location at the Wachovia Center - in the "Gluten-Free Zone" near Section 113. The food includes pasta bowls, grilled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, assorted candy, soft drinks, beer and hard cider.

APO Bar+Lounge (102 South 13th Street, 215-735-7500) is hosting a "Cupcakes & Cocktails" celiac awareness fundraiser on Wednesday, March 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Complimentary gluten-free cupcakes and cookies will be provided by Pamela's Products and local bakeries Sweet Freedom Bakery, Virago Baking Company and A Cupcake Wonderland. All proceeds from a $5 cocktail special will be donated directly to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. A suggested donation of $5 can be made at the door. To register or for more information, e-mail Lauren Shapiro.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Peeps Show

Peeps Marshmallow Candies is partnering with Rita’s to introduce Peeps Ice. The new flavor, which is gluten free, will be available from March 20 until April 4 at all Rita’s locations. For the 18th year running, Rita’s will celebrate the first day of Spring by giving away a free, regular size Italian ice (or, as we say around here, water ice) on March 20 to each guest in the available flavor of his or her choice. All of Rita's Italian Ices, and many Cream Ices, are gluten free.

On March 27, the first 500 guests to visit a Rita’s location will receive a free Peeps Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Chick. The gluten-free Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Chicks, in milk and dark chocolate varieties, made their debut last month and are available through Easter.