Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata

No TV, Video Games or worries about what to eat......Camp Kanata is gearing up for GLUTEN FREE WEEK! Camp Kanata is a residential camp for campers ages 6-15 located near Wake Forest, NC. During the week of June 27-July 3, 2010 the camp along with the Gluten Intolerance Group offers a gluten free menu option for campers. What does that mean? Well, a parent can send their child to camp without sending extra food or worrying about explaining special dietary restrictions. It also means that your child can take non-GF friends along because this camp is not limited to just kids with "special food needs". It means that gluten free foods are kid friendly and taste great. Volunteers duplicate the camp's cycle menu and prepare the GF option in a separate cooking area. The campers all eat together, the gluten free kids just go through a different serving line. An example menu from a day at camp includes:

Breakfast: French Toast Sticks, Bacon, Baked Apples,Fresh Fruit,Juice and Milk
Lunch: Beef Patty w/Cheese on Bun, Crinkle Fries and Watermelon
Dinner: BBQ Chicken,Hush Puppies,Green Beans, Parsley Potatoes, Applesauce and Banana Pudding

Afternoon snacks are handed out at the Snack Shack where kids have enjoyed gluten free ice cream cones! Camp Kanata Ia a popular YMCA camp and registration generally fills quickly. We are unable to save designated gluten free spots so if you are considering going to camp we advise registering by the end of February. Note need based scholarships are available through the Gluten Intolerance Group. In addition Camp Kanata is also offering a special with registration before March 1:

We want to make sure your child has an opportunity to enjoy Camp Kanata this summer. We’re accepting applications now, and we’re holding a drawing for a $200 Visa gift card on March 1. Everyone who has registered for Summer 2010 overnight camp at Kanata will be eligible for the drawing.

If you have not already registered, this is a great time to mail, fax or drop off your application. Please write “Registration Giveaway” at the top of the first page. We’re looking forward to camp, and we hope to see you here!

This will be my fourth year with the camp as the volunteer Registered Dietitian. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the camp experience. Think all this sounds like fun? If you like to cook and see smiling faces consider volunteering with us. You can contact me at debbie.jongkind@gmail.com. You may also contact our amazing camp coordinator Alanna Conder at Conderaac@yahoo.com. See my previous posts on Camp Kanata here.

UPDATE: Gluten Free Pizza at Mellow Mushroom

I have posted a few blogs concerning gluten free pizza coming to the Mellow Mushroom in Durham. I received an update from marketing this week which stated:

As of right now, we have decided to have a certified GF bakery produce the GF dough for us.

According to this communication it seems the company was originally considering producing the gluten free pizza crust on their own, but have now decided it would be best to contract with a gluten free bakery to produce the crusts. Negotiations are underway and I am told gluten free pizza will be available in Durham in the near future.......I will keep you posted!

FYI: Resource for Gluten Free Toddlers

A Durham resident and follower of the GFD blog asked me to share the information pertaining to her blog. Jessie is a mom with a GF toddler, who was diagnosed with Celiac Disease around the age of one. She is sharing helpful tips for toddlers on her blog entitled Gluten Free Toddler. The following descibes the posts from her blog:

Ramblings from a full time working mom struggling to find easy to make and ready made food that is gluten free and healthy for her toddler with Celiac Disease

Jessie, thanks for taking your time to share tips with others!

Guglhupf, Restaurant Review

I recently met friends at Guglhupf for lunch. Guglupf in Durham is known for it's wonderful baked goods (NOT GLUTEN FREE), so I was wondering what type of dining experience I would encounter....The Cafe' offers a casual dining atmosphere with tables outside and two floors of seating inside. There must be great internet access, as I observed several folks working on computers. According to their website they:

feature ethnically inspired foods emphasizing the use of local
and seasonal ingredients and estate grown wines from small vineyards in our welcoming café space

Orders are taken at a main counter and then delivered to your table when ready. I was able to ask questions to the chef as well as the person taking my order, both were very helpful. I learned the soups are made completely from scratch and change daily. I settled on a lentil soup that was made with GF ingredients. I also had a nice green salad with balsamic vinaigrette. The lunch menu offers 6 salads, frittatas and a smoked salmon that all appear to be free of gluten. I visited the bakery section on our way out and discovered a "cookie" make of almond meal and no flour, it looked tempting but had a very high risk of cross contamination, so I passed. Guglhupf serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.

Cafe Hours:
Monday: closed
Tues-Thurs: 8:00am-9:30pm
Fri-Sat: 8:00am-10:00pm
Sun: 9:00am-3:00pm

Phone: 919-401-2600
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC 27707

Sandwich Petals, Interesting New Product

I have recently tried a new product that I thought was pretty good so I wanted to pass this review onto the Gluten Free Durham reader. Since going gluten free I rarely eat sandwiches. The bread is often so dense and high in calories and carbohydrates that I opt to skip the bread. Well, the Sandwich Petal may be my answer to a palatable wrap like sandwich. I ordered this product after reading about it on the web. It is described as a "gluten free athletic flatbread". Available in three varieties: spinach garlic pesto, chimayo red chile and agave grain and only 90 calories,and 21 g carbs per wrap. The wraps are made of 10 different grains including: corn,flax, sesame, buckwheat, brown rice, sorghum, millet, quinoa,teff and amaranth and offer 3 grams of dietary fiber per serving. The wraps are also free of dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut shell fish, and soy.Products are lab tested by the American Institute of Baking to be Gluten Free testing at less than 20 PPM. The wraps are a nice size and after warming for 30 seconds in the microwave roll nicely without breaking! The product can be stored at room temperature for 30 days, so no fuss with needing to defrost something before preparing your meal. The company has been offering a discount on Mondays: BUY ONE GET ONE FREE for further information click here.

Rosie's Plate Expands Offerings on Duke East Campus

I just received an email from Rosie's Plate that they are now offering gluten free food options at Trinity Cafe' which is located in the West Union Building across from the Bryan Center. As a reminder Rosie's Plate is already available on East Campus with selections at the Great Hall. Rosie's also makes it convenient for folks to order from there store in Raleigh with a weekly delivery to Duke Gardens on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00-6:00 pm. Remember to place your orders by Monday evening. See Rosie's website for menus, pricing and order information.