Central PA Gluten Free Expo Slated for Sunday, Nov. 4

Over 1,100 people are expected to gather in State College this Sunday to enjoy a celebration of all things gluten free, with the goal of making their lifestyle easier to maintain. The 6th annual Central PA Gluten Free Expo will take place at the Penn Stater Conference Center (215 Innovation Blvd.) this Sunday. The event will include some 50 local and national vendor spaces, educational presentations and demonstrations, door prizes and gluten-free samples.

The expo will be open to the public from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. General-admission advance tickets are on sale now ($9.00) or can be purchased at the door ($12.00). Children ages 16 and under are free to attend the event with an adult. Parking is free.

Many companies represented at the event have carved out a niche by producing products that are difficult to replicate or find in a gluten-free form, such as the corn dogs and funnel cakes produced by Archer’s Gluten Free Cafe of Troy, Pa. Expo exhibitors will be sampling, selling, and discussing products and services at the event.  Gluten-free foods available for sample or purchase at the event will include breads, cookies, gravies, pastries, soft pretzels and baking mixes.

Keynote speaker Jules Shepard, known nationally as “gfJules,” will present the session “Seven Steps to Living a Healthy and Happy Gluten Free Life.” Jules has been highly visible in the gluten-free community since 2007 with the publication of her first gluten-free cookbook. Other presentations this year include a gluten-free cooking demonstration by a Wegmans chef, and a gluten-free funnel cake demonstration by Archer’s Gluten Free Cafe.

Look for details on the next Philadelphia area expo, slated to take place on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Oaks, Pennsylvania, early next year.

Expo East 2018 Recap

Last month's Expo East natural-foods show in Baltimore featured new and emerging gourmet, natural and gluten-free products from across North America whose manufacturers are seeking wider distribution in supermarkets and grocery stores. (The annual event is headed to Philadelphia in 2020.)

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):

Gorton's sampled a line of gluten-free allergy-friendly wild-caught seafood dishes called Hook Line & Savor. The frozen entrees will be test-marketed later this year with a possible nationwide roll-out in 2019. The Crispy Beer Battered Haddock is made with Glutenberg Blonde Ale; other varieties are Black Bean Crusted Cod and Citrus Ginger Salmon.

Wildscape is a new gourmet frozen-meals line from Nestle-backed Foundry Foods that includes two varieties made without gluten ingredients: Braised Brisket with Carmelized Sweet Potatoes, Sorghum, Red Rice and Pickled Onions and Gochujang Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts with Chickpeas and Quinoa, Riced Cauliflower, Cashews and Pickled Onions

Smart Flour Foods, which unveiled a refresh of its packaging, is introducing two flavors to its lineup of ancient-grain gluten-free pizza. The Three Meat is topped with sweet Italian sausage, spicy uncured pepperoni and bacon. The Kale and Sundried Tomato with a Garlic White Bean Sauce starts with a sauce of pureed white beans and garlic, and is topped with green kale and sundried tomatoes. The new pizzas will be in stores in 2019 with a suggested retail price of $7.99.

News & Notes: October 5, 2018

Before I get down to business, I wanted to let you know that NBC10 Philadelphia will be featuring Gluten Free Philly in a two-party story on dining out with Celiac Disease on Monday's 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts. Set your DVRs if you can't catch it when it broadcasts in real time. The stories should be posted to the station's website shortly after they air.

(Photo Credit: Corinna V.)

(Photo Credit: Baltimore Gluten Free)

Trader Joe's has several new gluten-free products in stores. The new Crispy Quinoa Stars is a quinoa and rice cereal sweetened with cane sugar and honey. There's also a butternut squash pizza crust and a spinach & kale crust in the frozen section. (Thanks, Corinna V.)

(Photo Credit: The Impulsive Buy)

Though not up on its website, Udi's Gluten Free has introduced two new breads: Hearty Sprouted Grains and 7 Seeds & Grains.

At long last, the new gluten-free pretzel rods from Snyder's of Hanover are making their way into supermarkets. I picked up a bag at Wegmans in Cherry Hill.

Beyond Celiac Research Symposium Set for Oct. 10

Area celiac disease and other autoimmune disease patients can learn about the latest developments in research and treatment by attending the 2nd Annual Beyond Celiac Research Symposium on Wednesday, Oct. 10 in Center City Philadelphia, with others around the world able to watch live via webcast.

Leading celiac disease experts will explore the headline-making topic of the role of the immune system – the body’s defense mechanism – in celiac disease, the groundbreaking research into the gut microbiome, and breakthroughs in clinical trials. These experts will also answer questions submitted in advance from webcast viewers and live from the audience.

The Beyond Celiac Research Symposium panel includes:

• Marie Robert, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Beyond Celiac and Professor of Pathology and Medicine at Yale School of Medicine (moderator). Dr. Robert is a nationally recognized gastrointestinal surgical pathologist, a celiac disease researcher, and has served as the director of Yale’s Program in Gastrointestinal Pathology and the Yale Fellowship in Gastrointestinal Pathology.
• Ciaran Kelly, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Gastroenterology Training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (panelist). He is an internationally recognized expert in the diagnosis and management of celiac disease and a member of the Beyond Celiac Board of Directors.
• Maureen M. Leonard, M.D., MMSc, Clinical Director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School (panelist). She is part of a groundbreaking study of how the microbiomes of infants who have relatives with celiac disease contribute to celiac disease development.
• Stephen D Miller, Ph.D., internationally recognized researcher on pathogenesis and regulation of autoimmune disease, and Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine (panelist). His research into nanoparticles engineered for immune regulation is on the leading edge of innovations for the future of celiac disease management.

The attendance and viewing via webcast is free, but registration is required. Visit www.BeyondCeliac.org/symposium to register.

News & Notes: September 7, 2018

Barilla has launched a line of one-ingredient legume pastas, made with chickpeas or red lentils. The pasta is available in four varieties - Red Lentil Rotini, Red Lentil Penne, Chickpea Rotini and Chickpea Casarecce - all of which are certified gluten free. They retail for $2.99 each and can be found at Amazon.com and select retailers nationwide

Trader Joe's new Almond Butter Cocoa bars are squares of gluten-free oat-and-rice-flour based chocolately dough, sweetened with fig paste and filled with almond butter.

This fall, Canyon Bakehouse introduces two English muffin options: Original and Honey Whole Grain. The Original variety comes in a pack of five and can be found in the freezer section, while the Honey Whole Grain comes in shelf-stable packaging. You can download a coupon here.

Goodie Girl Cookies' new gluten-free Birthday Cake sandwich creme cookies will be available this fall at Whole Foods markets and Amazon, while the returning, seasonal Caramel Apple cookies - with crunchy toffee and apple bits - will be at Bed Bath & Beyond. There's a downloadable coupon at the company's website.

Krusteaz has added a cinnamon swirl crumb cake and muffin mix to its gluten-free line.

Acadia brings a bit of New Orleans spice to South Philly (824 S. 8th St., 215-922-7200). Gluten-free options are noted on the menu; avoid fried items due to possible cross-contact. There are Sunday brunch options as well that include gluten-free shrimp and grits as well as waffles made in a dedicated iron.