Jason's Deli, Restaurant Review

I am happy to report that Jason's Deli is now making sandwiches available on Udi's gluten free bread! Both the Durham location and the Brier Creek location have this available in their stores. After some further questioning about this new option I learned that when someone orders a gluten free sandwich the employee must change their gloves and also place the "take out paper liner" on the counter to make the sandwich. I felt like both locations were very informed of the problems with potential cross contamination. If the sandwich is to be warmed in the oven it is put on a separate pan that is for gluten free products. If you order a Panini style sandwich it will go through the panini maker which is NOT GLUTEN FREE. The Jason's Deli website provides a link that reviews nutrition and allergen information. The Brier Creek, Jason's Deli offered me a gluten free menu when I place my order and also informed me that the manager would make my gluten free sandwich. It was delicious: turkey,sprouts, onion, homemade guacamole on Udi's bread. The menu also highlighted the items on the salad bar that were gluten free and the stuffed potatoes that could be ordered gluten free. Oh and good news the ice cream is gluten free(minus the cone of course)! What a treat to be able to go out to eat and order a sandwich. THANK YOU JASON's DELI!
Please note when eating out there is always the risk of cross contamination.

Locations;
Durham
5408 New Hope Commons Dr.
Durham, NC 27707
Phone: 919-493-3350

Raleigh/Brier Creek Area
8421 Brier Creek Pkwy.
Raleigh, NC 27617
Phone: 919-572-9996

Carolina Hurricanes: 2010-2011 Gluten Free Update

I have previously written about Gluten Free options at the RBC Center during Carolina Hurricanes games over the last couple seasons.  See below for the 2010-2011 season update.

Halloween Resources

With Halloween nearly a week away I wanted to point you towards a few resources that may help you find some nice treats:

1. Rosie's Plate in Raleigh will be hosting a Benefit Tasting for Celiac Research on Friday, October 29 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The website states that 25% of donations plus 10% of all store sales will go to the University of Illinois Celiac Research Center. For further information see Rosie's website.

2. As you think about candy for Halloween there are a few sites that have published updated lists of gluten free candy: The Celiac Family has a nice list published on their site, as does The National Foundation For Celiac Awareness(NFCA).
The NFCA credits Sure Foods Living with the Candy List.

Note the candy lists should only be used as a guide. Product ingredients should be double checked to verify the gluten free status before eating.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

I want to mention three Upcoming learning opportunities to help you increase your knowledge regarding the gluten free diet, Celiac Disease, and gluten sensitivity.

1. NFCA Webinar:It's Not Just in Your Head the Psychological Impacts of Celiac Disease, Sunday October 17, 8 pm Eastern time. The NFCA website describes this webinar by saying:

Join NFCA as Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, PhD, Training Director at Bay Area Family Therapy & Training Associates, goes beyond the physical and explains how celiac disease can affect us mentally.

If you read this post after the class, the website generally archives these Free webinars. To register or read more information, click here.

2. Gluten Free 101,Saturday Oct 23, 2010, 1:00-3:30 This class is presented by Zach Beker,(Gluten Free Raleigh) and will be held at Rosie's Plate in Raleigh. A description from the Rosie's Plate website reads:

If you've just been diagnosed with Celiac or wheat allergies this class is for you. Learn firsthand from someone who's been there. Taught by Zach Becker from the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog, you'll learn how to segue your kitchen to a gluten free lifestyle with tons of information from transitioning your kitchen to Celiac-friendly restaurants in the Triangle area. Note there is a $45.00 fee for this course(a portion donated to Camp Kanata)

To register contact Rosie's Plate.

3. Navigating the Gluten Free Diet with Confidence, UNC Wellness Center, Monday, November 8th 6:30-8:00. I (Debbie) will be returning to the UNC Wellness Center in Meadowmont to speak from my experience as a registered dietitian and someone who lives a gluten free life due to my own Celiac Disease. The UNC Wellness description of the class states:

The gluten-free world can be challenging when food shopping and eating out. This presentation will help you to learn about the reasons for choosing a gluten-free diet, learn about how foods are labeled as gluten-free, and how to choose the appropriate foods within the gluten-free diet.

Free for members and non-members
Please pre-register at the front desk or call 966-5500.

Increasing your knowledge, gathering tips from others, and keeping up on the latest scientific recommendations helps make following the gluten free diet much easier.

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, Restaurant Review

If you are looking for a fun spot in Durham you may want to visit the Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, located right at the Durham Bulls Pall Park. I will admit, I was a bit over stimulated when I walked into 40 big screen TVs the other night, but had a wonderful experience sitting outside on the patio which overlooked the Bulls ball diamond. There were lots of people rooting on their favorite college football team that night. You will also find abundant seating options: outside, inside, bar seating, private dining areas and recliners! I learned that there are two locations: the Durham location at: 280 Mangum St and one in Raleigh at 222 Glenwood Avenue. These locations are owned by brothers: Brian, Alex and Rommie Amra. Prior to meeting our friends for dinner, I investigated the menu on line and found the Tobacco Road Blog which detailed their gluten free offerings as follows:

The following items are gluten free or can be made gluten free by making the modification that are noted.


Entrees & Appetizers


BBQ Chicken – No tobacco onions
Fish/Lamb Gorditas – No tortilla
Steak Frites – Substitute a gluten free side for fries
Shrimp & Grits – No gravy
Mixed Green Salad – No croutons
Apple Walnut Salad
Cobb Salad
Arugula Salad
Ancho Chicken Salad – No tortilla strips
Hummus & Pimento Cheese with Veggies
Tarheel Wrap – No pita
Ribs
Burgers – No bun

Sides

Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Coleslaw
Collard Greens
Cheddar Grits

Our server was very knowledgeable and even offered to bring me extra vegetables for my hummus since I would not be using the pita bread. I was impressed when I asked about ingredients in the soup of the day and was told that the chef that made the soup was gone for the day and so they were erring on the side of caution and could not guarantee it was gluten free. If you are a sports fan or just looking for a fun place to eat that offers some gluten free options I would recommend you visit the Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Durham!

Gluten Free Ponderings from Vacation

I have just returned from travels to the west coast: can you see the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog? One of the reasons we chose California for vacation was the readily available options for gluten free dining; and we were not disappointed. Prior to my trip I did some research via the web to see what was available. I also called the airline to see if any meals would be served on my flight. No meals in flight so I packed a few gluten free options. Note: It is difficult to find gluten free foods in the airport. I did buy a fruit, vegetable and cheese tray on our layover and also noted one gift shop that offered a gluten free snack bar.

I discovered a free app for my android phone that served me quite well: Find me Gluten Free It helped locate restaurants and retail locations based on my geographic location. A description of the product from the website states:

Find Me Gluten Free is a way to easily find restaurants that accommodate to a gluten free diet. We only show restaurants that either have a gluten free menu or are known to accommodate guests who request gluten free meals

When I checked my Durham zip code 30+ entries popped up within a 20 mile radius.

Because there were easy to find Whole Food Markets and Trader Joes, I did not need to pack a suitcase full of gluten free foods. I enjoyed eating at lots of great places and would recommend: Pica-Pica, Scoma in San Fransisco, PF Changs, In-n-Out Burger(order your burger "protein style"),and Kara's cupcakes! Some local Italian restaurants substituted risotto for regular pasta and served it with their naturally GF pasta sauce. In general I found my servers at most restaurants very knowledgeable and accommodating to my gluten free requests.

Now back from vacation, so my posts will return to living gluten free here in Durham, stay tuned... If you have any great tips about navigating the gluten free diet in Durham send them my way. I will be happy to highlight those for the GF Durham reader.