News & Notes: September 28, 2012

More than 1,500 people came out in perfect weather last Sunday for Appetite for Awareness in Center City. As you can read in the recaps from the NFCA staff blog, Gluten-Free Fun, Embrace G-Free, Gluten Free/Dairy Free NJ and Ellen Ensminger, everyone seemed to have their favorite restaurants and products. This being a Philadelphia crowd, soft pretzels from Tonya's Gluten Free Kitchen were a popular treat, as were samples of Sweet Note Bakery's fresh bagels. Pasta Pomodoro in Voorhees again won the People's Choice Award. (Pasquale, you should get a Hall of Fame award next time and give someone else a fighting chance.) The NFCA has posted event photos at its Facebook page.

Between Appetite on Sunday and Expo East in Baltimore on Saturday, I had a busy weekend. As I wrote on Tuesday, the Charm City's annual natural foods show featured many new gluten-free products, including a line of gluten-free pretzels set to arrive in stores early next year. Conte's Pasta's gluten-free bake-in-bag pizza, which was displayed at the expo, will be available at all Chuck E. Cheese's kids entertainment centers beginning next month.

Beginning October 6, Appetite participant Sazon (941 Spring Garden St., 215-763-2500) will offer a 100% gluten-free brunch buffet every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New York-based The Lite Choice soft-serve chain is extending its reach into Pennsylvania. Within the next month, Philadelphia locations - both Kosher certified - are due to open at 135 South St. and at 1528 Walnut St., next to Starbucks on the 16th Street side. (Outlets in Collegeville and West Chester are on the way, too.) TLC's low-fat soft serve, smoothies and shakes are gluten free, as are all of the 80 organic flavors. Notably, the new locations will have gluten-free cones and gluten-free toppings will be labeled.

Desserts Capital (215-837-0992) is working on a Philadelphia storefront, but in the meantime baker Xina has gluten-free brownies, cookies and signature Baby Cakes (a cake/donut combo) available for delivery within the city and most of Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties. She maintains a separate set of baking utensils and bakeware for the sole purpose of making gluten-free products, and keeps ingredients in separate containers. The commercially licensed kitchen Xina now uses is thoroughly cleaned prior to gluten-free baking.

Philadelphians can order produce, meat, seafood and deli products, and other groceries, including gluten-free items, from FreshDirect, an online retailer. FreshDirect is initially launching in eight center-city Philadelphia zip codes, with plans to expand throughout the Greater Philadelphia region in 2013. The eight zip codes include the following neighborhoods: Rittenhouse, Logan Square, Washington Square, Old City, Society Hill, Bella Vista, Queen’s Village, Graduate Hospital, Grey’s Ferry, Fairmount, Art Museum, Spring Garden, and Northern Liberties. FreshDirect’s online store front is now open, allowing customers to register online, shop and schedule deliveries beginning October 1. You can test-drive the company's DeliveryPass service for one cent (which includes unlimited deliveries for two months) and also save $50 off an order of $125 or more with code FDINPHILLY.

The Di Bruno Bros. location in Center City (1730 Chestnut St., 215-665-9220) is stocking gluten-free cookies from Goodie Girl Tribeca. Flavors include Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Crunchy Chaos (marshmallow, chocolate and candied roasted cornflakes!), Quinoa Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin, which sell for $3.49 per package. Owner Shira Berk has her gluten-free products ELISA-tested (they're below 5 parts per million) and made on a dedicated line. She also sells gluten-free goodie baskets and cookies through her website. (Enter YUMMY2012 at checkout for a 10% discount.)

Registration is still open for tomorrow's first annual Manayunk Tomato Trot, a four-mile run to benefit LUNGevity. Post-race festivities include awards, live music and free gluten-free pizza from the Couch Tomato Cafe.

Health coach Jennifer Fugo is hosting a healthy gluten-free cooking series focusing on winter and holiday meals. The three-week series runs Tuesday evenings from November 13 through November 27 at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. The cost is $50 plus a $10 material fee. More information is available at her website.

October events include a seminar on gluten-free food production at Paoli Hospital, a cooking demo with the Food For All crew in King of Prussia, a baking class in Philadelphia, a vegan cooking class down in Rehoboth, the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Camden featuring Team Celiac, and even a wine pairing in Philadelphia.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

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: September 21, 2012

Sleepy Voorhees, New Jersey is turning into a gluten-free haven. Pasta Pomodoro is, of course, the anchor and Iron Hill Brewery and Burger 21 are on the way. Add to the mix Catelli Duo at the Voorhees Town Center (12101 Town Center Blvd., 856-751-6069). Not only is about half the menu naturally gluten free or gluten-free-ready, house-made fettuccine is on hand and pizza is in the works. Chef Lou Imbesi says that the kitchen takes care to make the gluten-free pasta separately.

Reader Missy C. let me know that Arirang in Langhorne (2329 E. Lincoln Hwy., 215-946-2240) has gluten-free soy sauce for hibachi cooking. Call ahead to make sure the sauce is on hand and request that gluten-free orders be prepared first. Also, the soup served with hibachi meals is not gluten free.

CHOW284 in Feasterville (284 E. Street Rd., 215-357-9988) highlights gluten-free items on its menu. The kitchen maintains a dedicated fryer for fish-and-chips and wings. Other safe choices include crispy calamari, crabcakes and General's-style chicken. (Thanks to reader Alisha for the tip.)

Center City's Good Dog Bar (224 S. 15th St., 215-985-9600) has a gluten-free menu posted at its website that includes a bunless version of its famous Good Dog Burger. The patty is a 1/2 pound of ground sirloin stuffed with Roquefort cheese and topped with carmelized onions. Crispin and Strongbow ciders are safe bar options. (Hat tip to Jenny J.)

Harry the K's Broadcast Bar & Grille at Citizens Bank Park will have gluten-free items for the last homestand of the Phillies regular season, beginning tonight. On the menu are burgers, organic hot dogs and house-made sausages on gluten-free bund and rolls and chopped salads with chicken and gluten-free croutons.

Chef Marc Vetri will import his Osteria concept across the river to Moorestown. The restaurant, which doesn't have an opening date, will be at the Moorestown Mall and will have a liquor license. Osteria has a GREAT-trained kitchen.

The Pop Shop will be opening an outpost on Main Street in Medford; the opening date has not been announced. The comfort food spot's original Collingswood location has gluten-free sandwiches, chicken fingers and more.

Atlantic City's Mussel Bar was the subject of my review in Tuesday's post. The Belgian gastropub at the Revel prepared several excellent gluten-free dishes at a recent meal.

The local purveyor of fresh gluten-free bagels now has a name. Sweet Note Bakery's bagels and scones are sold at a growing number of stores and coffee shops in the area. Appetite for Awareness attendees will be able to sample the bagels on Sunday.

The Grain Exchange (215-531-1261) will be sampling its new Pumpkin Biscotti at Appetite and will be selling Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies at the event.

Did someone mention Appetite for Awareness? I hope to see many of you there on Sunday. To whet your, um, appetite, here's a sneak peek at the cooking demo schedule and other activities, which will take place alongside the dozens of restaurant and vendor tables.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael

Mussel Beach

Revel's Mussel Bar gastropub (Photo courtesy Revel Resort)

Let me be clear: My wife and I don't care for shellfish. So how did we end up at a restaurant named Mussel Bar? Well, friends of ours raved about the salmon at chef Robert Wiedmaier's Atlantic City gastropub (500 Boardwalk, 1-855-348-0500), which joins restaurants developed by Philly's own Jose Garces and other established East Coast chefs at the impressive-looking - if financially ailing - Revel.

The Belgian-born, Washington., D.C.-based Wiedmaier brings a European flair to Mussel Bar's menu. The beverage list, for example, features a hard cider from France. (Bards beer is also available.)

Our server was familiar with the gluten-free menu options, but at our request, he confirmed our selections with the chef.

My wife opted for the Caesar salad, one of several gluten-free starters. I, on the other hand, headed straight for the namesake bivalves. When in Rome, right? The half portion of mussels were steeped in a garlic-tinged leek broth. Whereas my wife couldn't manage to finish the single mussel she tried, I rather liked them - although the cave-aged gruyere, pancetta and fingerling potatoes in the dish provided ample flavor to make them more appetizing.

Like any good gastropub, Mussel Bar has a strong selection of cheeses - some Belgian and others domestic - and charcuterie, heavy on Spanish and Italian meats.

The plump pan-seared Pacific salmon, lacquered with a mustard vinaigrette, was as advertised. Other gluten-free entrees included scallops, chicken, pork chop, crab & shrimp salad, swordfish and steaks.

Safe desserts were decidedly less varied, with ice cream and sorbet the only selections among some serious non-gluten-free indulgences.

Given that Mussel Bar is located within a gaming hall, expect to pay premium prices to subsidize the comped meals for high rollers. Yet the restaurant, like others at Revel - Village Whiskey and Lugo Cucina e Vino, to name two - provides a genuine dining experience compared to eating a typical casino steakhouse or Italian bistro.

News & Notes: September 14, 2012

Appetite for Awareness is just one week from Sunday. The first 20 readers to place ticket orders today will get 20 percent off with code 20OFF, and all orders today are eligible to win one of five special Appetite for Awareness T-shirts. The randomly selected winners will be notified by email prior to the event and the shirts can be picked up at the event. All proceeds from the event benefit the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness's education and advocacy efforts. Whether you're there or not, follow all of the action on Twitter that day with hashtag #A4A12. I'll also have an open thread on my Facebook page for readers to post their own finds while at the event.

NFCA founder Alice Bast is a semi-finalist in this week's round of Philadelphia magazine's Be Well Philly Health Hero Challenge. You can vote for her once a day through Monday by liking the Be Well Philly Facebook page and then clicking on the Health Hero Challenge logo. The four weekly semi-final winners will move on to the finals in October. For every vote, United Healthcare will donate $1 to the American Heart Association (up to $5,000).

Muse, an New American bistro in Oxford (306 Market St., 610-998-1308), is gluten-free-friendly. (Thanks Bethann S.)

Bridget Foy's on South Street (200 South St., 215-922-1813) has added a gluten-free menu.

David Boyle, the executive chef at Center City Italian steakhouse Davio's (117 S. 17th St., 215-563-4810), has created a seasonal gluten-free pumpkin gnocchi made with rice flour and a spicy pumpkin puree.

Rittenhouse Square's Caffeination (2100 Chestnut St., 215-568-8006) carries baked goods from The Little Bakery. The all-gluten-free bake shop in Blue Bell is the reigning Philadelphia magazine "Best of Philly" winner for gluten-free sweets.

The write-up of the first part of my family's California vacation last month was posted Tuesday, covering La Jolla. I'll share our Anaheim and Santa Monica/Los Angeles adventures in future posts.

Butterfly Bakery, which will be exhibiting at Appetite for Awareness, has a new gluten-free line called Baby Butterfly. The mini cupcakes and muffins should be at Wegmans markets next month. The bakery is offering a $2 mail-in rebate on the purchase of any two products.

Udi's new products include a unique Everything Inside Bagel and quinoa Mighty Bagel, French baguettes and dinner rolls, and two new muffin varieties. The baguettes and rolls will hit stores in October, while the other products will debut in January.

The next CHOP Children's Support Group meeting is set for September 30 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Voorhees Specialty Care Center (1012 Laurel Oak Rd.). The topic is "Surviving School and Siblings," and pizza and ice cream will be provided. Kids can bring their favorite snacks to share. RSVP by September 27 via email or call 215-590-2985.

There's also a children's support group meeting Wednesday at St. Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia (3601 A St.) starting at 5 p.m. RSVP today by calling 215-427-6538.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael