Showing posts with label gfree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gfree. Show all posts

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Great Article: Gluten-Free Grilling Prep!

With summer approaching and pool-side grilling ramping up, it's always good to reminder ourselves of the tips and tricks for attending such gatherings. If you are Celiac or gluten-free it is of utmost importance to ensure that food is gluten-free, there is no cross-contamination and that you prepare before arrival!

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Great Gluten-Free Grilling

MISSION, KS, Apr 26, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- (Family Features) Cookouts, picnics and barbecues mean sharing food and good fun with family and friends. For those living gluten-free, whether due to dietary restrictions or personal choice, these gatherings can cause added stress, as finding foods they can eat may prove difficult. Likewise, gluten-free eaters may worry they'll be perceived as picky or difficult.
But with today's great tasting gluten-free options, such as cookies and brownies, hotdog and hamburger buns, and even pizza crusts, gluten-free individuals can now join in the hot-off-the-grill goodness.
Gluten-free breads, including hamburger and hotdog buns, have come a long way over the past few years. In fact, makers like Udi's Gluten Free Foods are leading the way in making gluten-free products that taste just as good, if not better, than their gluten-filled counterparts. That means whether you're noshing on a hamburger or a hotdog, you'll have the freedom to choose a delicious gluten-free bun to wrap around your favorite cookout fare.
Hosting your own backyard barbeque? Here are some simple tips to make gluten-free grilling deliciously easy and safe for all your guests:
        
        --  Always check the labels. Gluten shows up in some surprising places,
            including marinades, condiments and even some processed meats.
        --  Many grilling side dishes are naturally gluten-free, so set out plenty
            of potato salad, grilled vegetables, corn on the cob, melon and other
            fruits, and baked beans.
        --  Grill any gluten-free foods first -- that way you'll avoid the
            possibility of cross-contamination with foods that do contain gluten.
            You can also grill individual meals inside foil or parchment packets
            and prevent cross-contamination that way, too.
        --  If you're going to someone else's party, bring your own crackers and
            snacks, and even your own gluten-free buns.
        
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Sunday, November 6, 2011

Why get diagnosed?

So, there are a number of people who don't think about Celiac disease as a cause of their symptoms. On top of that, many who know a family member who has it don't want to get diagnosed for fear of losing their current lifestyle. However, there are some major long-term effects of untreated Celiac disease and gluten intolerance, including infertility, thyroid problems, cancer, etc. I found a good summary article that is outline below from www.everydayhealth.com - http://www.everydayhealth.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-complications.aspx


Complications of Celiac Disease

If the symptoms of celiac disease go unrecognized and untreated, complications can develop.

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Celiac disease is a common digestive disorder. At one time, it was thought that celiac disease was a disease of childhood and that the most common symptoms were bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and failure to thrive. Now that blood tests can identify celiac disease in adults, we are realizing that it is much more common than once thought.
Celiac Disease: Why It Happens
Celiac disease, also called the "great mimic" disease, can cause many different symptoms and vary from person to person. It is therefore easy for celiac disease to be overlooked or misdiagnosed as another condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
"If you have celiac disease, it means that your immune system can't tolerate the protein in wheat, rye, or barley," says John Birk, MD, chief of gastroenterology at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. "This causes inflammation of your small intestine that decreases your ability to absorb essential nutrients in food. Over time, these nutrient deficits can lead to complications."
Celiac Disease Complications
In adults, the digestive symptoms may be less common and the signs or symptoms of celiac disease may be related to the long-term effects of poor absorption. Some of the more common complications include:
  • Malnutrition. Many people with celiac disease will have trouble maintaining a healthy weight and may complain of fatigue and weakness. Blood tests often show iron deficiency despite iron therapy. Vitamins may not be absorbed properly. This failure of the intestine to absorb nutrients is called "malabsorption."
  • Bone loss. "Failure to absorb nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D can contribute to poor bone density," notes Dr. Birk. This can lead to osteoporosis, bone pain, and bone weakness that may cause bones to break easily.
  • Lactose intolerance. "Lactose intolerance is more common if you have celiac disease but can also be a byproduct of inflammation caused by celiac disease," notes Birk. The inflammation in the lining of your intestine can keep you from producing the enzyme needed to break down lactose, which is the sugar in dairy products. Undigested lactose can cause gas and diarrhea.
  • Irritability and depression. Children with celiac disease are extremely irritable. In adults, celiac disease can cause symptoms of depression, lack of energy, and problems with memory and concentration. Research shows that these symptoms may be due to malabsorption of vitamin B6 and tryptophan. These are important nutrients you need to produce chemicals called "neurotransmitters" that stimulate nerve cells in your brain.
  • Lymphoma and bowel cancer. If celiac disease is left untreated, it can increase your risk for developing certain types of digestive system cancers. Lymphoma of the small intestine is a rare type of cancer but may be 30 times more common in people with celiac disease. Adenocarcinoma of the intestine and cancer of the esophagus are also more common. This increased risk of cancer is probably due to the irritation and inflammation in untreated celiac disease over a long period of time.
  • Low birth-weight babies. This is a common occurrence in women with uncontrolled celiac disease.
  • Dental defects. Permanent damage to the enamel of the teeth occurs due to malabsorption of calcium and other minerals.
"The good news is that in most cases the symptoms can be reversed and the complications prevented by a gluten-free diet," says Birk. In about 70 percent of cases, symptoms of celiac disease start to improve within a few weeks. It may take longer for some people, and it may take as long as two years for all the damage in the small intestine to be healed. The sooner you get a proper diagnosis and start a gluten-free diet, the better chance you have of avoiding complications.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Please Help: G-Free in the City Mobile App

Hi friends! For those of you who eat gluten-free, know someone who eats gluten-free or are pondering the lifestyle, I'm reaching out for some help. I got accepted as part of an amazing program through my MBA called 3 Day Startup.

A group of lawyers, engineers, software developers and those of us who are business minding gather to pitch entrepreneurial ideas and decide what companies we want to start in 3 days. Of the 40 original ideas, a G-Free in the City mobile and web application is one of the 4 remaining. That being said the final hurdle is proving that there is a need and desire for this to be out there.

If you follow me you know that I work hard with local restaurants to tweak their menus to be gluten-free and help them dig a little deeper to get some actual items together for me to share with others. That model can be replicated and made available in a format much easier to use than my blog.

What I need from you is to help me validate this by signing up for an email update for when the BETA version goes live if you are affected or know someone who would need this tool!! Please visit my landing page here: www.gfreeinthecity.com as soon as you can. We present to venture capitalists and local entrepreneurs on Sunday night so as much support as I can get before them is much appreciated.

Thank you and let's keep growing this community!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

MBA Bound - GFree UT?

The countdown has begun. In a little over a month I'll be embarking on a new journey - the full-time MBA program at Texas. Full-time is exactly what you'd think...ALL day at McCombs either taking classes, studying or various group activities. This means that I'll most likely have at least 2 meals/day on or around UT and therefore need to start researching my options. I've reached out to UT and gotten some information as well as scouring the web...and of course the business school has microwaves so I can pack my lunches. Here is the email from the Division of Housing and Food Services from which I started my research:


Jaime,

Congrats on being accepted into McCombs! Information about gluten free dining is listed below. Also, UT is different from many universities in that there are many, many food service providers on campus. Our division, housing and food service, provides all of the dining within residence halls although anyone on campus is welcome to dine in our cafes. Aside from our dining options, there are two student unions, a conference center and many independently-operated cafes/carts sprinkled throughout campus.

- We have all of our menus online and you can look up the ingredients of the foods that we are serving for a particular meal. http://129.116.62.55/foodpro/
This link can be found by going the division of housing and food service home page: www.utexas.edu/student/housing > Dine Here > Weekly Menus. Once you are on that site, select the dining location from the drop-down menu on the left side of the screen. The current day will pop up first but other days within the week can be chosen from a list on the left side of the screen. Click on the apple next to the meal period you’re looking for and the recipe items turn into hyperlinks that can be chosen for nutritional information.

- At the Jester City Limits food court, we have a serving line called ‘The Chickpea’ which serves vegetarian/vegan/gluten free meals. The gluten free meal is always listed on a sign at the serving line.

- We are currently working to modify our labeling system in the two resident dining halls, J2 and Kinsolving, by including an icon that signifies when an item is gluten free. We hope to have this system active by next Fall.

- Additionally, I generally meet with students that have specific dietary needs at the beginning of the school year and take them around to all of our dining facilities to introduce them to the managers. We stock items like gluten free pizza crust, breads, etc that are available upon request.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Meagan Jones, RD

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Thank you Meagan! Very helpful start...I will definitely be hitting up the ChickPea in Jester City Limits to check out their daily gluten-free option. Here is the interactive nutrition menu she was referring to: Jester City Limits Menu

I doubt that many, if any, MBA students dine in the cafeteria style dining halls so we'll put that on hold for now...the next step was looking into the availabilities at the different Unions. Locations that I know have gluten-free options include:
- Chick Fil-A
- Zen
- Wendy's
- Starbucks

There are some others that I think would be accommodating such as Smokehouse BBQ and Field of Greens, so I'll go ahead and reach out to them.

Within the business and engineering schools there is a restaurant called O's Campus Cafe. After going through their website I did find a section referring to gluten-free options, but I'm not yet sure which locations and which offerings (lunch, breakfast, to-go) are available so I plan on digging into that one a little more too - the website says the following:

Inquire About:
Vegetarian Options
Gluten Free Pasta's
Chicken Tomatillo Gluten Free
Veggie Fajitas Gluten Free
Grilled Portobello Piccata Vegetarian
Spin/Mushroom Lasagna Vegetarian
Eggplant Parmesan Vegetarian
Stuffed Mushrooms Vegetarian

Finally, let's touch on dining options that are on "the Drag" (Guadalupe) or close to campus but not part of UT Food Services. The options I know of at this point are:
- Mellow Mushroom (gluten-free pizza)
- Austin's Pizza
- McDonalds
- Trudy's
- Milto's Greek
Overall, I've got options and it will be an adventure navigating campus, adjusting to life as a student again AND remembering to eat throughout. I feel lucky to be in a city and near a campus that is very aware of the words gluten-free!!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Off the Menu: Galaxy Cafe

Galaxy Cafe has a couple of Austin locations...closest to us is the original on West Lynn (see map in sidebar). They have a decent gluten-free menu and everything I've had off of it is pretty good except the rice wrap of which I was not a huge fan.

Just a side note...you will see on their website that they have a sister restaurant, Zocalo. I've contacted them a few times to see if I could get some solid answers on gluten-free options and they really don't have any. Their tortillas are warmed on the same surfaces, etc. so I would avoid until they create a menu and make some changes to the kitchen.

Breakfast:
American Breakfast - scrambled eggs, bacon and rice bread
Mediterranean Breafast - scrambled eggs, tomato, feta cheese and basil - served with rice bread and cup of fruit

Wraps (served on rice tortillas):
Grilled Fish Wrap with a Side
Veggie Wrap with a Side
Club Wrap with a Side

Sandwiches on Rice Bread:
Mozzarella Sandwich with a Side
Turkey and Brie Sandwich with a Side

Salads:
Greek Salad
Hot Shrimp Salad with Baby Spinach

Kid's Menu:
Grilled Chicken with a Side
G-Free Pasta (only during dinner)

Sides:
Fresh Fruit
Seasonal Veggies
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Soup Cup
Side Salad

Dinner (ONLY during dinner hours):
Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Roasted Tomato and Prosciutto Grilled Chicken
G-Free Pasta with Homemade Marinara
G-Free Pasta with Lemon-Cilantro Butter

Dessert:
Flourless Chocolate Torte
Creme Brulee

Enjoy!! Dinner menu is best :)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Off the Menu: Chez Zee American Bistro

Last night a friend and I went to Chez Zee. I had heard they had gluten-free options but hadn't yet given them a try. I've gone there many times for happy hour ($2 off wine, and all night on Wednesdays for ladies) but not normally to eat. It's a little on the $$$ money-side but the atmosphere is worth it. Last night I had the gluten-free pasta with chicken and it was great, here is the rest of the menu:

Brunch:
- Eggs Sardou
- Portabellino Benedict Platter
- Fresh Spinach and Mushroom Omelet
- Smoked Chicken Omelet
- Goat Cheese and Tomato Omelet
- Steak and Eggs

Lunch:
- Gluten-free Garden Salad
- Grilled Steak Salad
- Tuna Nicoise Salad
- Gluten-free Pasta (garlic white wine sauce)

Dinner:
- Pecan Crusted Salmon
- Grilled Pork Chop
- New York Strip
- Portabella Plate
- Gluten-free Pasta (see above)

Sides (had to work my way through the menu on these):
- Sauteed Spinach and Mushrooms
- Sweet Potato Pudding
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Grilled Asparagus
- Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Definitely some good options..check it out!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Is Celiac a deal-breaker?

Urban Dictionary definition of a "deal-breaker"-
A word used to describe the eligibility of a friendship or relationship based on one trait or preference of the other person. Can also be used if you don't agree with someones views. 

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As you see, a lifelong illness such as Celiac could fall into such a category. Not only is it challenging in a physical way but there is a lot more to think about. I am not married at 27 (and in no hurry) but hope to be someday and it worries me that my special dietary needs will cause a bit of a problem, think of the following...

First Dates:
Say someone asks you on a first date, or not limit it a second or third date...first off if they want to go to dinner that means that the first thing out of your mouth must be an explanation of your need to eat gluten-free, and come on no one wants to lead off with that; I guess this can be avoided by offering to go for drinks or coffee. Let's say it is dinner though...they can't pick the restaurant but must consult my blog to choose one off of my list. On top of that they must be OK with an assertive girl who is straight up with the waitstaff, may need to discuss her meal with the manager, and will have to cause a bit of a stir if they screw something up. If you are gluten-free you know that picking the place gets old, fast. Some think it's great, you get to pick the restaurant all of the time...but when food and thinking about it consumes your life it's not that fun. Therefore, your date must be prepared for the back and forth that is choosing, calling ahead and waiting the hour after you eat to ensure things went just fine. Want to cook a meal? Be prepared for me to be watching over your shoulder...

Kissing:
All dating comes to this eventually; if it's after a happy hour or a nice meal, eventually you'll want to make-out with your new man. This was something I didn't give two thoughts about until someone asked me about it. Say he just ate a nice big sandwich or piece of pie and has some crumbs lingering on or around his mouth (gross, sorry bear with me), you couldn't kiss him! Or, if he just drank a huge beer...you have to wait until it's washed out to get at it. Either way, gluten definitely ruins the moment.
Tummy Troubles:
Men don't believe that women do anything gross (well most of them at least) but this is practically unavoidable with a Celiac. Eventually something will go wrong...cross-contamination, slipped ingredient, drunken make-out session...whatever. This means that you are uncomfortably spending some time in the restroom; you don't want to explain why you can't come back to bed, or make him feel strangely that you ask for some water because you can't get away long enough to get it yourself. It's a reality that you will have to face together, and he's going to have to be willing to suck it up from the get-go.

Family Life:
Finally...let's say we made it through a couple years of dating, now it's time to get married and add to the family. How do we feed our kids? Do I need to cook separate meals for myself and then the rest of the family eats something else? Will my husband have to take a hit for the team and eat consistently gluten-free with me when he'd rather have a large pizza on Friday night? How do we politely attend family get-togethers and make it less obvious that I'm not eating the food? I know this all sounds a little dramatic, but being only one-year into my diagnosis it's still top of mind.

I'm not saying that there are no sensitive men out there, but it is, and will be, a challenge. Some of you are probably reading this and thinking, this girl is crazy and dwelling way to much on what "could happen", and I agree. However, it is my future and I am wondering if on that first date it becomes a deal-breaker.

If so, that man is not worth my time anyway! Sure, my winning personality, smarts and genuine awesome-ness helps ;)..at least enough to get me through the door. Then, hopefully, someone becomes SO smitten with me that they would gladly email every restaurant in our honeymoon location to ask about gluten-free menu options.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Food Diary: Weekend in H-Town! (Houston)

This weekend I went to visit one of my best friends in Houston. If you've seen my side bar you'll know I did some research beforehand to ensure our consumption success. Luckily, Frannie is amazing and did some research and grocery shopping on her own :) It was a great weekend with only one small hiccup for Sunday brunch, but even that wasn't too bad...

Friday:
I arrived at Frannie's around 6:30pm and she had wine and cheeses with gluten-free crackers waiting!! We're both huge fans of NutThins but she also purchased some Mary's Gone Crackers for us to munch on...great start. We went to pick up a friend at the airport and then headed to Yard House for dinner. They have a completely separate menu for gluten-free and were VERY aware of what it meant and what I could eat, phew! It was a fantastic dinner :)

Saturday:
Wow did we have a big day...shopping, getting hair feathers (super cute), visiting friends at a crawfish boil...and some great meals on top of that. Waking up a little later than expected we had a small breakfast (she had gotten some fresh pineapple, yum) and then got going. Our lunch was at Ruggles Green who has the gluten-free options embedded in their menu, everything (and it's a lot) with a blue dot could be made gfree. I got a chicken caesar salad and french fries (score!). It's a cute place where you order at the counter and then they bring your meal to the table, we sat outside and luckily didn't melt.

For dinner we stuck with my go-to, P.F. Changs. I have to admit their stuff is awesome and their gluten-free menu is fantastic. Even the girls ordered all of their food off of the gfree menu so we could share (they are so sweet). We had an appetizer of gfree chicken lettuce wraps, then for dinner shared the shrimp, Mongolian beef and chicken fried rice. Afterward, we went to a really fun piano bar called 88 Keys!

Sunday:
This one was a little tricky. Frannie went to the website of a cute place called Tiny Boxwood's. They state on their website that they have gluten-free options so we were good to go! Unfortunately, when we got there we were told that those options were only available during the week for lunch and not during brunch, shoot. The manager on duty (I assume that was her role) was a complete B. We asked her a couple different options, "maybe you could make some scrambled eggs", NO, "maybe you could do the mediterranean plate without the bread", NO, ugh...so I ended up with the fruit parfait without granola (basically fruit and yogurt) which was actually fantastic but still. If you are going to put gluten-free options on your menu and not offer them at brunch you NEED to do an * to let people know, it's deceiving! However, I will give them the credit of having the best lemonade ever, flavored with mint AND they are connected to a beautiful nursery where I bought an aloe plant.

Overall, the eating was fabulous and we had a lot of good luck! I had so much fun during our girls weekend, it was relaxing and enjoyable...plus Frannie is moving to South Africa so this was one of the last times I'll see her before she moves. She wants me to come visit...now that would be an interesting food diary :)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Gluten-Free Challenge: Saturday May 21st and Sunday May 22nd...

See what it's like to live like me! JK, but seriously good article from someone giving it a try...
http://www.gogfchallenge.com/

Challenge means it's 'cheerio' to gluten  
By Lisa Abraham
Beacon Journal food writer
Oh Cheerios, my Cheerios, how much I must be missing you right about now.
As I write this column, a few days before its publication date, I am in the middle of what I have been calling ''my last week of bread.'' In reality, it is my last week of gluten, before I embark on a week of gluten-free eating.

I do not suffer from celiac disease, a condition that causes damage to the small intestine lining, nor do I have a gluten intolerance. If anything, my love for bread and all things flour-based would suggest I have a gluten addiction.

But I have noticed an increasing number of my readers asking me for gluten-free recipes, along with an increasing number of acquaintances, particularly young children, who are being diagnosed with celiac disease.
So when I received an email promoting the nonprofit Gluten Intolerance Group's annual Gluten Free Challenge, I decided to take the plunge.

The national challenge is actually set for Saturday and Sunday (you can read more about it at http://www.GoGFchallenge.com) but I decided to see if I could go gluten free for an entire week. I blocked off May 15 to 21 on my calendar and decided to make a work project out of it in order to better understand the issues facing readers restricted to a gluten-free diet.
My eyes began to open to the challenges this week could hold when I recently opened up a giant bag of Honey Nut Cheerios — the second half of a behemoth box I had purchased at a warehouse club store. My husband and I are creatures of habit when it comes to our breakfast cereal. He likes his corn flakes and I like my Honey Nut Cheerios.

When I saw the giant box, I realized it would take me a very long time to polish off both bags inside, but since the price was good and the shelf life long, I decided to go ahead. It took weeks, but the first sack inside the box was finally finished. The other morning, I reached for the second.
''That's some big box of Cheerios,'' my husband commented across the breakfast table. ''I'll eat it all, eventually,'' I replied.

That was before I realized that Cheerios, despite being made of oats, are not gluten-free. Which means the box will be sitting idle all this week while I look for breakfast alternatives. Toast, English muffins, pita bread, and dozens of other cereals are out of the question. I was beginning to wonder exactly what I would have for breakfast. What good are eggs without toast to go with them? I don't like yogurt.

Peanut butter is good, but what would I spread it on, celery sticks?
I found solace in the fact that Rice Chex are gluten free and my breakfast would be spared. Whew.
A friend and I scheduled a lunch for last week, before my challenge began, and together ate lots of garlic bread as part of my farewell to gluten. ''I hope you don't go vegan for another week,'' she commented. Not likely.

My sister offered encouraging words. ''Maybe you'll feel really good and realize you are gluten intolerant,'' she theorized. ''Maybe you'll lose a lot of weight.''

That thought had crossed my mind too. Gluten free, it seems to me, will mean giving up a lot of carbohydrates, but potatoes and rice are permitted so I'm sure the starch will find me.

We both questioned whether they put gluten in ice cream and I'll be checking labels all week to find out. Cones are out for sure.

My early research, which included a gluten-free diet food list from the Mayo Clinic website, included the expected forbidden foods — cake, bread, cookies, cereals — but also a few surprises — candies, oats, salad dressings, and even soy sauce.

Worse yet, lipstick, toothpaste, and many medications and vitamins use gluten as a binding agent and have to be avoided.

So this really may be tricky.

I am armed with 11 — yes, that's right, 11 — cookbooks on eating gluten free. I'll be tracking what I eat all week, along with my frustrations, discoveries and hopefully, successes. And you'll be able to read all about it in an upcoming food section along with some recipes I will have tried out.
So until next week, have fun in the kitchen, where this week, it's gluten free for me.


Lisa A. Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or labraham@thebeaconjournal.com.



Off the Menu: Kerbey Lane Cafe

So, Kerbey Lane was one of those places that you went to in the middle of the night...after being downtown. However, it's usefulness has changed to me and I don't go there at 2am anymore, but for a great gluten-free brunch or meal. Their food is great and they have multiple Austin locations:
http://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/menu/gluten-free-menu

Breakfast:
Migas
Migas Taco
Breakfast Tacos
Vegan Breakfast Tacos

Eggs and Omelets:
American Classic
Kerbey Scramble
Denver Omelet
Chicken Verde Omelet
California Omelet
Baked Potato Omelet
Harvest Omelet
Portobello Omelet
Cheese Omelet

Sauces and Sides:
Sauces: Ranchero, verde, chipotle, queso
Sides:
Guacamole
Grilled seasonal vegetables
Bacon
Garlic mashed potatoes
Sausage
Potato chips
Ham steak
Homefries
Black beans
Mexican rice
Fruit cup
Hummus

Appetizers:
Kerbey Queso
Cowboy Queso
Queso, Chips and salsa
Potato Flautas

Soft Tacos, Enchiladas, Fajitas:
Shredded Chicken Soft Taco
Avocado and Black Bean Soft Taco
David's Enchiladas
Chicken Enchiladas Verde
California Enchiladas
Green Green Enchiladas
Cheese Enchiladas
Beef, Chicken or Portobello Fajitas

Salads and Entrees:
Dressings: Garlic Ranch, Blue Cheese, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Tomato Basil, Honey Mustard and Eggless Caesar
Caesar Salad
Cobb Salad
Nabil's Mid-East Feast
Fajita Salad
Kerbey Chicken

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Article: The Demand for Gluten-Free - RestaurantBriefing.com

Check it out...awareness, whoo!
http://restaurantbriefing.com/2011/04/the-demand-for-gluten-free/


An increasing number of restaurateurs are responding to 18+ million Americans with a gluten intolerance and another three million who actually have been diagnosed with celiac disease (the only autoimmune disorder with a known trigger: gluten).

This number is likely to grow – according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), only 3-5% of those with the disease have been diagnosed to date. The Wall Street Journal estimated the market for gluten-free foods at $2.6 billion in 2010 alone. From featuring gluten-free options to separate menus and customized preparations, more chefs are paying attention to this market. In fact, 1,500 chefs participating in the NRA’s Hottest Menu Trends survey named gluten-free/food-allergy-conscious meals in the top ten for 2011.

When the owner of Zpizza, headquartered in Irvine, CA, discovered he had a gluten intolerance, a gluten-free pizza was added to the menu. Now, in addition to gluten-free dough, all dough is rolled out in rice flour to eliminate cross contamination. “We don’t advertise gluten-free pizza, but we’ve discovered many of our Facebook fans and Twitter followers do that for us,” says Brandi Babb, VP training/franchise relations. She says they’ve discovered that many allergies are linked, and quite often those who are intolerant of gluten also have dairy and soy allergies, so Zpizza hired a company to verify that the gluten-free crust and some toppings are gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free. Employees go through extensive training, available in English and Spanish, and managers go through an NFCA-certification process. Mitchell’s Fish Market, headquartered in Orlando, FL, decided to create a separate menu with 20+ gluten-free items four years ago after receiving numerous requests. “All items on this menu have been confirmed gluten-free by an outside company,” reports Will Wadsworth, executive development chef. “Plus, our ordering system allows waitstaff to mark gluten-free orders clearly.” At Maggiano’s Little Italy, based in Dallas, TX, when guests say that they have an allergy or are gluten-intolerant, the server asks the chef to speak with the guest. “The chef discusses items on the menu that are gluten-free and also offers to create gluten-free dishes for them,” says Jeff Mann, senior culinary manager. “We want these guests to feel special and comfortable and to know they can trust us.” Jeff adds that to increase the number of gluten-free dishes on the menu, they’ve removed flour as a thickening agent from most sauces, using cornstarch or reducing sauces. They also use a gluten-free fusilli. Chefs report 5% of visits each day are by guests with gluten issues.

All restaurants that offer gluten-free items must use separate pans, utensils, and designated prep areas to avoid cross-contamination. “Before developing gluten-free options, look at where wheat, rye, and barley are in your kitchen,” advises Peter Pollay, owner, Posana Cafe, Asheville, NC. “Nothing that touches these things – grill grates, fryer oil, etc. – can come in contact with food that needs to be gluten-free. This is not a fad; people with celiac disease have zero tolerance.” Because his wife has celiac disease when he opened the cafe, he made a point of offering a number of gluten-free dishes. “I really wanted a safe place for my family to eat,” says Peter, who adds that 20-25% of his business is from customers who have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten. Through a customer Peter found out about the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America and the cafe has recently completed the Gluten- Free Accreditation program and audit by the Gluten Intolerance Group. “We’ve started working with the Asheville and Charlotte GIG chapters and have a table at their events, plus I’m on a panel at their annual convention this year, which is great word of mouth for us.” Brandi adds, “Don’t promise big and deliver small, especially when it comes to the gluten-free community. This is a serious issue for many guests, including children, and your business must commit to keeping them safe. They are the most gracious, grateful, and loyal group of guests.”

To advise those who are gluten intolerant and restaurants that want to appeal to this group, there are many organizations around the country, some of which offer specific guidance and accreditation for restaurants. 

The NFCA’s GREAT foodservice program, approved by the American Dietetic Association and American Culinary Federation, equips chefs, restaurants, and cafeterias with the knowledge and tools to safely provide customers with gluten-free meal options. A systematic curriculum provides specific protocols for preparing gluten-free foods. The online program includes a toolkit containing training for managers and a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) training DVD for staff. Cost: $200/kitchen with sliding scale for chains and those with multiple kitchens.

The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has two programs for food services restaurants created by registered dietitians: Gluten-Free Food Service Accreditation program helping restaurants set up policies and procedures, identify core best practices and changes that are reasonable to do at little or no cost. Staff training is customized to the location and auditors are sent in periodically to conduct GF safety audits. The Gluten Free Restaurant Awareness program provides restaurants with menu review, training manuals and ongoing support and includes 1600 restaurants.

On the Menu LLC provides gluten and allergin identification, including a detailed review of ingredients used in recipes along with a kitchen inspection to determine areas where cross-contact is a concern. Staff training materials and training sessions are also provided.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Off the Menu: Hyde Park Grill

There are two locations! I'll provide the simple menu between the two, but make sure to ask about any other options.

If you are reading this and were with me a couple weeks ago you'd be surprised I'm writing it up because I did get sick, however I've been there other times and been just fine!

Appetizers:
Corn and Cheese Tamales
Crispy Parmesean Polenta

Side Dishes:
Collard greens with bacon
Green beans
Green chile and cheese mashers
Basmati rice
Broccoli
New Potatoes
Tamales
Spice roasted sweet potatoes
Steamed carrots
Edamame and corn saute

Entrees:
Kobe chopped steak
Tilapia-grilled or blackened
Salmon
Blackened catfish

Sandwiches (without bun):
Kobe beef burger
Chuck burger
Sirloin burger
Turkey burger
Fried egg sandwich
Muffuletta
Pimento cheese and cucumber
Chicken salad
Tuna (blackened or grilled)
Reuben
Unmarinated grilled chicken

Sauces/Dressings:
Pesto
Olive tapenade
Guacamole
Remoulade
Poblano sour cream
Salsa
Ranch/chipotle ranch
Honey mustard
Hot bacon
Cilantro lime
Russian
Caesar

Salads: (ask for unmarinated chicken as substitute on asian salad, obviously no croutons)
Asian chicken salad
Mixed greens salad
Grilled chicken caesar salad
Sonora salad
Robust spinach salad
Chicken salad