This just in, a Gluten Free Expo is coming to Charlotte on August 7th. It will be hosted at the Johnson & Wales University/Charlotte Campus from 10AM - 4PM. In order to attend you must pre-register, attendance is limited to 350 people. So hurry and sign up!
There will be over 40 different vendors, including: Farmo Pasta, The Thoughtful Baker, Attune Probiotic Wellness Bars and so many more.
Also, Chef Peter Reinhart from Johnson & Wales will be demoing throughout the day. Plus, Dr. Ivor Hill, Chief Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Wake Forest Medical University will be speaking on "Celiac Disease:What's New".
Don't miss out on this. The link to learn more about the expo and pre-register is below.
http://charlottegfexpo.blogspot.com/
I will be in attendance so let me know via email if you decide to go too. Hope to see you all there!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Shopping Gluten Free: A Guide to the Good, the Bad and How to Know the Difference
Has anyone walked through the grocery store and thought, "If only there were labels on every piece of gluten free goodness in this place?!" Well, I have.
Sundays are the day for food shopping. It is the beginning of the new week and it's one of the couple of days I definitely have off on a regular basis. Every time, in the grocery store, I would have the same issues I always do. I would find foods that I would have loved to try, but after having read the ingredient list, could not decide if it was really gluten free or not. It always gets down to the last two ingredients - grrrr!
So as the days went by, I decided it was time to take back the grocery store shopping experience, so to say, and find a way to make it easier to shop. I researched heavily and finally came up with the perfect list. The list was created by the genius' over at the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF). They have amazing, all encompassing lists on stores, brands and so much more. Below is a link that has saved my life (no joke!) -->
To help with choosing the grocery store to shop at, this page has a list of all gluten free items each one sells: http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=19
Another site I am truly fond of, which makes life just that much easier is, Celiac.com. Here I have found -->
To help know which ingredients are gluten free friendly: http://www.celiac.com/articles/181/1/Safe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Safe-Ingredients/Page1.html
To help know which ingredients are NOT gluten free friendly: http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsafe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Unsafe-Ingredients/Page1.html
I can only assume that some people have heard of all of these lists or have variations of their own. Regardless, there are a lot of people out there who don't, these links are for you. Hopefully they help you through your trials and tribulations of shopping at the grocery store, or anywhere for that matter. I know they have helped me:-)
Sundays are the day for food shopping. It is the beginning of the new week and it's one of the couple of days I definitely have off on a regular basis. Every time, in the grocery store, I would have the same issues I always do. I would find foods that I would have loved to try, but after having read the ingredient list, could not decide if it was really gluten free or not. It always gets down to the last two ingredients - grrrr!
So as the days went by, I decided it was time to take back the grocery store shopping experience, so to say, and find a way to make it easier to shop. I researched heavily and finally came up with the perfect list. The list was created by the genius' over at the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF). They have amazing, all encompassing lists on stores, brands and so much more. Below is a link that has saved my life (no joke!) -->
To help with choosing the grocery store to shop at, this page has a list of all gluten free items each one sells: http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=19
Another site I am truly fond of, which makes life just that much easier is, Celiac.com. Here I have found -->
To help know which ingredients are gluten free friendly: http://www.celiac.com/articles/181/1/Safe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Safe-Ingredients/Page1.html
To help know which ingredients are NOT gluten free friendly: http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsafe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Unsafe-Ingredients/Page1.html
I can only assume that some people have heard of all of these lists or have variations of their own. Regardless, there are a lot of people out there who don't, these links are for you. Hopefully they help you through your trials and tribulations of shopping at the grocery store, or anywhere for that matter. I know they have helped me:-)
Sunday, June 6, 2010
A New Contributor for Gluten Free Charlotte
It all began when I was 10 years old. For some reason or another I was obsessed with hot dogs; random, but yes, hot dogs. Weirdly enough I was content with eating the same foods all the time, that should have been the first clue. Regardless, I ate them with little care in the world. The last I ever had was in Yankee Stadium during the 2nd inning. Who would have thought that hours later, during the 7th inning stretch with the National Anthem being sang in the background, I would have an acute allergy attack and be rushed out of the stadium on a gurney and oxygen mask attached to my face?! By mid-morning the next day I was released. The only remnants of my horrific day before being a case of hives that looked ugly and itched constantly.
Weeks later I started having chest pains, just like in the stadium, which got me a diagnosis of Acid Reflux. Pills were administered and I went about my business. However, the chest pains just kept getting worse, the pills weren't doing the trick. The next diagnosis was Acute Acid Reflux. From there it felt like the years just all mesh into snippets of time, not really periods of it. I was called a Hypochondriac by two doctors, was diagnosed with random diseases that never panned out and even received the good old, suffers from IBS label. It wasn't until I met Dr. Green in New York City who finally gave me what I was searching for; a true diagnosis. While I do not suffer from Celiacs Disease, I do suffer from its sister illness, Wheat and Gluten Intolerance with a side of IBS (that part was accurate at least). The minute I gave up those precious morsels of grain it was like a whole new me. I am sure each and every one of you can relate to that.
One would think being Wheat and Gluten Intolerant is far easier than being a Celiac, but it is not. I had given up so many foods already, I didn't even know where to start. It took months to even work up the confidence to eat in restaurants or have a drink out with friends. However, like all of you, I made it through.
Now, I cannot imagine sitting home on a Friday or Saturday night. I love going out. Eating at Gluten Free, established places and also going to one's that aren't and working with chefs to make it perfect just for me. It is amazing what chefs will do for you if you just ask, something I never would have been able to do prior to my diagnosis. It does still feel funny though going out for sushi and bringing my own soy sauce - that one never gets old! Still, despite everything, I love my life and want to tell you about what you might be missing out on. Between restaurants, lounges, cafes, destination places, etc. I plan on bringing you all of the options. It is my passion and pleasure to help others the way I wished I could have been helped when I was diagnosed - hopefully you'll let me.
If you have places that you want mentioned or knowledge that would be of use to others, let me know. I am open to any and all suggestions and really want this blog to be a place for everyone to enjoy.
So, now that you know my history and my goals, let the journey begin!
Weeks later I started having chest pains, just like in the stadium, which got me a diagnosis of Acid Reflux. Pills were administered and I went about my business. However, the chest pains just kept getting worse, the pills weren't doing the trick. The next diagnosis was Acute Acid Reflux. From there it felt like the years just all mesh into snippets of time, not really periods of it. I was called a Hypochondriac by two doctors, was diagnosed with random diseases that never panned out and even received the good old, suffers from IBS label. It wasn't until I met Dr. Green in New York City who finally gave me what I was searching for; a true diagnosis. While I do not suffer from Celiacs Disease, I do suffer from its sister illness, Wheat and Gluten Intolerance with a side of IBS (that part was accurate at least). The minute I gave up those precious morsels of grain it was like a whole new me. I am sure each and every one of you can relate to that.
One would think being Wheat and Gluten Intolerant is far easier than being a Celiac, but it is not. I had given up so many foods already, I didn't even know where to start. It took months to even work up the confidence to eat in restaurants or have a drink out with friends. However, like all of you, I made it through.
Now, I cannot imagine sitting home on a Friday or Saturday night. I love going out. Eating at Gluten Free, established places and also going to one's that aren't and working with chefs to make it perfect just for me. It is amazing what chefs will do for you if you just ask, something I never would have been able to do prior to my diagnosis. It does still feel funny though going out for sushi and bringing my own soy sauce - that one never gets old! Still, despite everything, I love my life and want to tell you about what you might be missing out on. Between restaurants, lounges, cafes, destination places, etc. I plan on bringing you all of the options. It is my passion and pleasure to help others the way I wished I could have been helped when I was diagnosed - hopefully you'll let me.
If you have places that you want mentioned or knowledge that would be of use to others, let me know. I am open to any and all suggestions and really want this blog to be a place for everyone to enjoy.
So, now that you know my history and my goals, let the journey begin!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Gluten-free Pizza
I apologize it's taken me a lot longer to write a new post than I promised! But I've been working on a special post that also happens to be about one of my favorite comfort foods: pizza!
My family heritage is Italian (on my mother's side), and there was a time when every Thursday was pizza night. If Mom didn't make it herself, we ordered from our local house of pizza. Four years ago when a gluten-free lifestyle change was demanded by the medical needs of my mom, myself and my two sisters, ordering pizza out became impossible. So we spent a year learning how to make gluten-free pizza.
That was four years ago.
I'm pleased to say that more and more places are coming on-board with gluten-free options, and this includes restaurants right here in Charlotte! I've been taste-testing and evaluating a number of different gluten-free pizzas that I've all found in Charlotte.
The first place is in the freezer chest at Harris Teeter. Glutino has come out with some amazing tasting, gluten-free pizzas. At the moment, all I've tried are the Three Cheese and the Spinach and Feta. They're individual pizzas. I'll admit the box makes them look a bit bigger, and my first impression when I took it out of the box to put on my cookie sheet was annoyance. But the pizza more than made up for it in taste and texture! Glutino's pizzas have crispy, buttery tasting crusts, ample cheese, and amazing taste. And even though I thought the pizza was small, it was very filling. The only thing is that they are a bit expensive: $5.35 at my local Harris Teeter. But when it comes to wanting a pizza on the fly to take for lunch or pop in the oven after a long day at work, this pizza delivers!
For another option for gluten-free pizza, check out Donatos. Yes, Donatos, the pizza chain! They sell a gluten-free pizza that has the smell of a classic pizza, the taste of a classic pizza, and the convenience of picking it up at the pizza joint. There's only one little problem. This pizza has no crust. To avoid the gluten problem, Donatos builds the pizza in a dish on a bed of soy-based crumbs, and puts the sauce, cheese and toppings on top of that. I'm used to a crust on my pizza, so it's a little disappointing to eat this one out of a dish with a fork. But when it comes to taste, this is an excellent pizza. Due to the lack of crust, I would recommend ordering this pizza with something for a topping. Tomato sauce and cheese by itself isn't the greatest form of gluten-free pizza. Adding a topping builds extra flavor and body. This pizza is about the same price at the Glutino pizzas.
By far an away, the best gluten-free pizza in Charlotte is the gluten-free pizza offered by FUEL Pizza. The picture above is from FUEL. It has a crispy flat crust, plenty of cheese and sauce, and excellent taste. Even though Donatos is considerably cheaper in price, this is my preferred pizza. Though the crust can be a bit flat at times, the joy of being able to hold a hot piece of pizza in my hands, enjoy the flavors and juices running down my fingers, and crumple up the real cardboard pizza box when I'm done more than makes up for the things this pizza lacks. There's only one major drawback to this pizza: you've got to buy the whole 12" pie, and it's not cheap. I usually order mine with a couple of toppings, and it's about $13 or so. But, if I keep down my appetite, I can eat half at one meal and half later. But with the taste of this pizza, that's a little hard to do!
Four years ago, the only way to get gluten-free pizza was to bake it yourself. Now, there are gluten-free options outside your own kitchen!
WARNING: While the pizza from Glutino is most certainly gluten-free, pizza eaters at Donatos and FUEL should bare in mind: though the pizzas are prepared in a separate place (and in the case of FUEL, the crust is made elsewhere and frozen), they are baked in the SAME OVENS as the regular pizza. While I consider myself very sensitive, I'm able to get away with eating these pizzas. If you are very sensitive, consider the possible consequences and make the choice for yourself if this is a gluten-free pizza for you.
My family heritage is Italian (on my mother's side), and there was a time when every Thursday was pizza night. If Mom didn't make it herself, we ordered from our local house of pizza. Four years ago when a gluten-free lifestyle change was demanded by the medical needs of my mom, myself and my two sisters, ordering pizza out became impossible. So we spent a year learning how to make gluten-free pizza.
That was four years ago.
I'm pleased to say that more and more places are coming on-board with gluten-free options, and this includes restaurants right here in Charlotte! I've been taste-testing and evaluating a number of different gluten-free pizzas that I've all found in Charlotte.
The first place is in the freezer chest at Harris Teeter. Glutino has come out with some amazing tasting, gluten-free pizzas. At the moment, all I've tried are the Three Cheese and the Spinach and Feta. They're individual pizzas. I'll admit the box makes them look a bit bigger, and my first impression when I took it out of the box to put on my cookie sheet was annoyance. But the pizza more than made up for it in taste and texture! Glutino's pizzas have crispy, buttery tasting crusts, ample cheese, and amazing taste. And even though I thought the pizza was small, it was very filling. The only thing is that they are a bit expensive: $5.35 at my local Harris Teeter. But when it comes to wanting a pizza on the fly to take for lunch or pop in the oven after a long day at work, this pizza delivers!
For another option for gluten-free pizza, check out Donatos. Yes, Donatos, the pizza chain! They sell a gluten-free pizza that has the smell of a classic pizza, the taste of a classic pizza, and the convenience of picking it up at the pizza joint. There's only one little problem. This pizza has no crust. To avoid the gluten problem, Donatos builds the pizza in a dish on a bed of soy-based crumbs, and puts the sauce, cheese and toppings on top of that. I'm used to a crust on my pizza, so it's a little disappointing to eat this one out of a dish with a fork. But when it comes to taste, this is an excellent pizza. Due to the lack of crust, I would recommend ordering this pizza with something for a topping. Tomato sauce and cheese by itself isn't the greatest form of gluten-free pizza. Adding a topping builds extra flavor and body. This pizza is about the same price at the Glutino pizzas.
By far an away, the best gluten-free pizza in Charlotte is the gluten-free pizza offered by FUEL Pizza. The picture above is from FUEL. It has a crispy flat crust, plenty of cheese and sauce, and excellent taste. Even though Donatos is considerably cheaper in price, this is my preferred pizza. Though the crust can be a bit flat at times, the joy of being able to hold a hot piece of pizza in my hands, enjoy the flavors and juices running down my fingers, and crumple up the real cardboard pizza box when I'm done more than makes up for the things this pizza lacks. There's only one major drawback to this pizza: you've got to buy the whole 12" pie, and it's not cheap. I usually order mine with a couple of toppings, and it's about $13 or so. But, if I keep down my appetite, I can eat half at one meal and half later. But with the taste of this pizza, that's a little hard to do!
Four years ago, the only way to get gluten-free pizza was to bake it yourself. Now, there are gluten-free options outside your own kitchen!
WARNING: While the pizza from Glutino is most certainly gluten-free, pizza eaters at Donatos and FUEL should bare in mind: though the pizzas are prepared in a separate place (and in the case of FUEL, the crust is made elsewhere and frozen), they are baked in the SAME OVENS as the regular pizza. While I consider myself very sensitive, I'm able to get away with eating these pizzas. If you are very sensitive, consider the possible consequences and make the choice for yourself if this is a gluten-free pizza for you.
Friday, April 30, 2010
North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month
North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month
• Triangle residents can participate in a gluten-free food drive at various locations or make a monetary donation to help stock the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
• Bella Monica Italian Restaurant is hosting a six-course gluten-free dinner prepared by Vanessa Maltin, food and lifestyle editor for Delight Gluten-free Magazine
• A top food allergens poster is available for restaurants to download to educate their staff about these items, including gluten
Raleigh, N.C., USA, April 30, 2010 – The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog has announced Governor Beverly Perdue has declared May 2010 “Celiac Disease Awareness Month” in North Carolina. The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog and Pat Berger, leader of the North Raleigh Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) Support Group brought the petition to the Governor’s office regarding the awareness month.
Celiac Disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that affects one in 133 people in the United States. It interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food and can cause gastrointestinal and neurological issues, infertility, skin rashes and cancer. The only treatment for Celiac Disease is lifelong, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.
“The Governor’s proclamation paves the way to further educate the community on Celiac Disease and helps to create a positive impact on the quality of life for people living with this condition,” said Zach Becker, creator of the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog. “It’s my goal to help raise awareness so those living with this disease can safely eat out at restaurants and have easier access to gluten-free food.”
In an effort to educate, raise awareness and give back to the community, there are a number of gluten-free events scheduled during the month of May.
• A gluten-free food drive will be held on Saturday, May 8 to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Special discounts at the drop off locations may be available in exchange for your donation. Bins are set up in each of these locations to accept the packaged gluten-free non-perishable food items:
o Rosie’s Plate – N. Person St., Raleigh
o Bella Monica Italian Restaurant – Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh
o ZPizza – Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh and Cornerstone Dr., Cary
o Mellow Mushroom – W. Peace St., Raleigh
o Whole Foods Market, Raleigh – Wade Ave., Raleigh
o Earth Fare – Moncreiffe Rd., Raleigh
o Harmony Farms/Café Harmony – Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh
• A virtual food drive will be held all month to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina with gluten-free food. The link to donate can be located on the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog.
• On Sunday, May 16, beginning at 5 p.m., Bella Monica Italian Restaurant will host a six-course gluten-free dinner prepared by Vanessa Maltin, food and lifestyle editor for Delight Gluten-free Magazine and Corbett Monica, head chef at Bella Monica Italian Restaurant. They will be preparing dishes from Maltin’s gluten-free cookbook entitled The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook: Spicing Up Life with Italian, Asian and Mexican Recipes. Copies of the cookbook will also be included. Tickets are required for this dining event and can be purchased by calling Bella Monica Italian Restaurant at 919-881-9778.
• The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog worked with Sofia Noble of the design firm This Is Beautiful to create a poster featuring all of the top food allergens, including gluten. This poster is now available for download in English and Spanish at the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog. Wake County restaurant owners may use it to educate their staffs about these foods.
“Research indicates there are approximately three million people living with Celiac Disease in the United States and of those, only about 120,000 have been diagnosed,” said Alice Bast, founder and president of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). “It’s great to see North Carolina working to raise awareness about this disease so perhaps others can be accurately diagnosed by their doctors. Zach Becker and the entire North Carolina Celiac Disease community should be commended for their leadership and successful advocacy efforts.”
About Gluten Free Raleigh Blog
Zach Becker was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in May 2008. He founded the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog in August 2008 and has created similar blogs across the state. He has recruited writers for these blogs so gluten-free information in those communities can be shared. The blogs contain restaurant and grocery store reviews, summaries of national news as well as highlight local companies that cater to the gluten-free community. Becker is an advocate for those living with Celiac Disease in the Triangle and donates his time to educate the newly diagnosed, local restaurants and government leaders on this condition.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
New Contributor for Gluten Free Charlotte
I must admit that I’m not much of a foodie. By that I mean, I’m not the sort of person who has to have the best in culinary creations to be happy. But that said, I am gluten-intolerant. As anyone with a food allergy will tell you, when an allergen knocks many a food item off the “Eatables” list, you can’t help but start to become a bit of a connoisseur.
My name is Rachel Bastarache, and though I’ve probably always been gluten-intolerant, it wasn’t diagnosed until just a few years ago. Until then, my only food allergy was aspartame. This only knocked most chewing gum off the food list, so it wasn’t a problem. But with gluten…entire restaurants became off limits! Learning to cook gluten-free became a nightmare as my family quickly realized that substituting ingredients didn’t work in gluten-free recipes. Food, which never was much of a hassle, suddenly became something I paid attention to.
When I was diagnosed, I was living with my parents in Upstate New York. Though it’s a small town area with little by way of shopping and restaurants, we quickly found places that supplied all of our gluten-free needs. Last year, I moved to Charlotte, NC, and that’s when I found out I’d been spoiled at home! Where gluten-free pastas, crackers, and cooking ingredients had been relatively easy to purchase around my small hometown of Oxford, NY, in Charlotte I had to relearn how to shop, where to shop and even where to eat!
I found the Gluten-Free Charlotte blog when I moved to Charlotte. I volunteered to write for the blog because Charlotte is my new home city. If I’ve been learning where to find gluten-free food to eat, and where the good stuff is, then perhaps others would like to know as well? Gluten-intolerance isn’t the easiest of diets to maintain, especially when food choices are slim. But as I’ve discovered, both in New York, and here in North Carolina, finding and enjoying GOOD gluten-free food is possible!
I hope to be contributing to the Gluten-Free Charlotte blog at least once a month, with the latest foods I’ve been trying, and the latest places I’ve gone shopping. My geographic location is South Charlotte, so sometimes I venture into South Carolina in search of good tasting, gluten-free food. I’ll try to be honest about the way things taste, the texture, the price, even the location. To tell you the truth, after being spoiled by great gluten-free living in a small town in rural Upstate New York, I’m hoping to prove that Charlotte has more than meets the eye…or the taste buds!
My name is Rachel Bastarache, and though I’ve probably always been gluten-intolerant, it wasn’t diagnosed until just a few years ago. Until then, my only food allergy was aspartame. This only knocked most chewing gum off the food list, so it wasn’t a problem. But with gluten…entire restaurants became off limits! Learning to cook gluten-free became a nightmare as my family quickly realized that substituting ingredients didn’t work in gluten-free recipes. Food, which never was much of a hassle, suddenly became something I paid attention to.
When I was diagnosed, I was living with my parents in Upstate New York. Though it’s a small town area with little by way of shopping and restaurants, we quickly found places that supplied all of our gluten-free needs. Last year, I moved to Charlotte, NC, and that’s when I found out I’d been spoiled at home! Where gluten-free pastas, crackers, and cooking ingredients had been relatively easy to purchase around my small hometown of Oxford, NY, in Charlotte I had to relearn how to shop, where to shop and even where to eat!
I found the Gluten-Free Charlotte blog when I moved to Charlotte. I volunteered to write for the blog because Charlotte is my new home city. If I’ve been learning where to find gluten-free food to eat, and where the good stuff is, then perhaps others would like to know as well? Gluten-intolerance isn’t the easiest of diets to maintain, especially when food choices are slim. But as I’ve discovered, both in New York, and here in North Carolina, finding and enjoying GOOD gluten-free food is possible!
I hope to be contributing to the Gluten-Free Charlotte blog at least once a month, with the latest foods I’ve been trying, and the latest places I’ve gone shopping. My geographic location is South Charlotte, so sometimes I venture into South Carolina in search of good tasting, gluten-free food. I’ll try to be honest about the way things taste, the texture, the price, even the location. To tell you the truth, after being spoiled by great gluten-free living in a small town in rural Upstate New York, I’m hoping to prove that Charlotte has more than meets the eye…or the taste buds!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Earth Fare - Gluten Free Cooking Class
Charlotte Ballantyne Earth Fare
Gluten Free Cooking Class
Date: January 25, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Admission: Free
Contact: clt120Community@earthfare.com
Bring a bit of Tuscany to your winter table! Join Barbara D'Ambrosio, of The Thoughtful Baker, at Earth Fare on Monday, January 25th at 6:30 pm for this free cooking class and learn how to make a delicious and easy family dinner. Please reserve a seat, please call 704-926-1201.
Gluten Free Cooking Class
Date: January 25, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Admission: Free
Contact: clt120Community@earthfare.com
Bring a bit of Tuscany to your winter table! Join Barbara D'Ambrosio, of The Thoughtful Baker, at Earth Fare on Monday, January 25th at 6:30 pm for this free cooking class and learn how to make a delicious and easy family dinner. Please reserve a seat, please call 704-926-1201.
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