California Pizza Kitchen, Restaurant Review Update

I first posted about California Pizza Kitchen's gluten free menu back in January, see earlier review here. If you have been following blogging news you are aware that CPK has launched a new gluten free menu this summer that includes an offering of gluten free pizza crust. There have been many questions raised about the possibility of cross contamination in the food preparation area prior to one actually receiving their "gluten free menu item". In fact California Pizza Kitchen protects itself by stating the following information on it's menu

“Gluten-Free” designations are based on information provided
by our ingredient suppliers. Warning: Ingredients or production
methods used by our suppliers may change, or there may be
product differences among regional suppliers. Additionally,
normal kitchen operations involve shared cooking and preparation
areas, or we may need to substitute ingredients in menu items.
We are therefore unable to guarantee that any menu item
is free from gluten or any other allergen, and we assume no
responsibility for guests with food allergies or sensitivities.

I would like to suggest that really any time a gluten free diner chooses to eat out side of one's own home, there are risks of cross contamination. So how do you reduce this risk?
1. Do your homework before going to the restaurant, gluten free menus help with menu selection
2. Visit the restaurant at non busy times. Friday night 7:30 pm at a pizza restaurant really increases the chance of cross contamination.
3. Talk to your wait staff and the manager. If you have Celiac Disease or severe gluten sensitivity explain your condition as a medical necessary diet. With gluten free diets being somewhat of a fad these days, it is difficult for restaurants to understand how a patron can order a gluten free meal but perhaps still eat a piece of bread from the bread basket!
4. Thank those establishments that follow sound procedures for reducing the chance of cross contamination: different preparation areas, changing gloves, different marked plates for gluten free items, gluten free testing of products, etc.

So my family decided to go check out this gluten free pizza offering one non-busy evening last week. We visited the California Pizza Location at South Point. We ordered two different gluten free pizzas and thought the taste and quality were excellent. As far as we know we were not "glutenized", we had no reactions after enjoying our pizza. So what is a gluten free diner to do? Do you take risks on eating out? How do you minimize these risks? I would love to hear comments on how other gluten free folks approach this dining dilemma?

UPDATE 9/17/2011:  California Pizza Kitchen has pulled the gluten-free crust option from its menu at all locations. CPK says that it is reviewing the pizza prep methods with an eye toward bringing it back in the future.

Bravo to CPK for taking responsibility to correct their prepartion practices so that a gluten free pizza order, has a chance to arrive at your table as really gluten free!

Stay tuned....

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe'-restaurant review

A highlight for me this weekend included a visit to Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe' to enjoy some delicious Indian Food with good friends. Now I have been hearing raves about this special place but this was the first opportunity I had to taste the cuisine. My experience was beyond my expectations. Vimala's is located in the courtyard area of West Franklin Street. It has a small indoor dining area and outdoor seating in the courtyard. It was difficult to decide what to order because there were so many gluten free options to choose from!!! The clearly marked gluten free items included: Pakoras, Rice and dal, Tandori chicken,Beef curry, Kofta curry and several others. I enjoyed the Tandoori chicken entree, which came with basamati rice and a salad, reasonably priced at $9.00.

The service and hospitality at this restaurant were outstanding. The staff are accomodating to food allergies and gluten free dining. Vimala personally visited with us at our table and even treated us to samplings of their delicious fish stew, gluten free brownie, and these yummy carrot cookies called Gaajar Halwa.

This restaurant has received great reviews since it's opening in June 2010. They are committed to the farm to fork process, use local foods when possible and embrace the community. To Read more details visit their website here.

Vimala also shares her talent through cooking classes and I learned that she is hosting a Gluten and Vegan Cooking Class Soon! Described on her website

On Sunday September 18th 2-5pm join Vimala for a cooking class: Gluten-free and Vegan cooking. Space is limited to 12 people per class. Please reserve space(s) in the class(es) by emailing vimala@curryblossom.com. Cost is $65 payable at the time of the class. Work trade is available for a few who can not afford to pay the entire price. Hope to see you there!

So whether you are a UNC student, Chapel Hill resident, or other Triangle area foodie who ventures to Vimala's Restaurant you will enjoy the food and the experience.

Vimala's does not take reservations and can get crowded so plan ahead!

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday
Hours 11:30-2 and 5-9
Catering
431 W. Franklin St
Chapel Hill 27516
Parking off S. roberson St
919-929-3833
www.curryblossom.com

NFCA SPONSORED WEBINAR FOR PARENTS OF GLUTEN FREE KIDS:

Thursday, August 25th is back to school for most Durham Public School students. For those parents that might be sending their gluten free child off to school, it can feel a little scary . Does your school nurse or administration need more information on the gluten free diet? Consider the following resource. As a parent you may want to participate in the live webinar on Thursday and then send a note to school personnel about listening to the recorded webinar at a later time. Be a postive influence in the school and an advocate for your child.

Importance of School Nurse Education &

How-To Strategies for Parents of Gluten-Free Kids

Thursday, August 25th, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Topics included in Thursday's Webinar include:

Explain the 504 Plan and its impact on the child's rights in the school environment.
• Advise why school nurses should be educated on celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, including a review of their role in the classroom setting.
• Provide a list of school support staff and their appropriate roles in accommodating a celiac child's needs.
• Share strategies on how parents can maneuver the school year with their gluten-free child.
• Offer tips and suggestions on how parents can create a safe and healthy gluten-free school environment, including recipes and common challenges in the classroom's social setting, such as lunch and snack time, birthday parties and field trips.

Registration information is available at NFCA' site.

FDA reopens comment period on Gluten Free Labeling

I listened to a very informative conference call from FDA discussing the current status of Gluten Free Labeling and the reopening of the comment period on the Gluten Free Labeling of foods today. The comment period is set to reopen August 3, 2011 and remain open for 60 days. The federal registry notice is available to the public, those with Celiac Disease, gluten sensitvity, care givers and health care professionals to comment on the proposed definition of Gluten Free. The current proposal is to identify gluten free as foods that measure less than 20ppm (parts per million)and supported by most health care professionals as safe for those with Celiac Disease. This is the lowest level of detectable gluten that is measurable at this time. Be mindful that all gluten free labeling is voluntary and currently is not regulated at this time. If you would like to read more about this update and gluten free labeling see the FDA News Release.
Questions and Answers Regarding Gluten Free Labeling of Foods.
If you would like to make a comment on gluten free labeling click here
What to comment on?? Your thoughts on uniform labeling, scientific information, food shopping experience, concerns about cross contamination of products, etc.

Final ruling is now expected to be by the third quarter of 2012.

Zen Cat Bakery back in Durham

I was contacted by Angie, owner of Zen Cat Bakery and asked to let readers know she will be back in Durham on Sunday July 31 12-5 at the Motorco's Marketplace in Durham (MotorCo Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave, Durham).Directions to the market are on the MotorCo website. She features gluten free and vegan baked goods. See my earlier June post about this Greensboro bakery,here.

MEZ Contemporary Mexican, Restaurant Review

MEZ Contemporary Mexican Restaurant offers a gluten free lunch and dinner menu! This a favorite spot for busy lunch time traffic and a fun place to meet for dinner. Mez is located on Page Road in Durham, so very convenient from various RTP sites. A creature of habit, I have enjoyed the chicken soft tacos for lunch several times. Their food is very fresh tasting, not your typical fast food Mexican fare. They make their own guacamole on site and my server offered to bring me toasted corn tortillas to use for dipping. Their corn chips are not listed on the gluten free menu. I have been told by two different wait staff that the chips are gluten free but they are fried with gluten containing items, so if one is really sensitive to gluten they should be avoided. If you are thinking of trying MEZ out for lunch, I recommend you call ahead for reservations,919-941-IMEZ (1630) as they get really crowded during typical lunch hours. You can also go to their website and make a reservation through the Open Table link. Each visit my server has been very accommodating and quickly brought our meals and check so that we were able to head back to work in a timely fashion.

MEZ
5410 Page Road
Durham, NC 27703

Lunch M-F: 11-4
Dinner M-F: 4-9:30/10:00; Sat/Sun: 5-10:00/9:30

Gluten Free Rice Krispies Arrive

SNAP! CRACKLE! POP! I had read about Kellog's releasing their GF Rice Krispies a few months ago. Yesterday I found them at the Kroger on Hillsborough Road in Durham. Beware, regular Rice Krispies are still on the market and still contain malt, so be sure to look for the Gluten Free option. The ingredients include: whole grain brown rice, sugar, salt, and BHT for freshness. Fortified with the following vitamins and minerals: iron, Vitamins C, E, A, D, B6, B2, B1, B12, and folic acid. A low sugar cereal choice, there is less than 1 gram of sugar per 1 cup serving. According to their website: kellog's Rice Krispies are produced in a gluten free facility and each batch is tested to ensure it's gluten free status.

Of course I had to grab some marshmallows too so we could make Rice Krispie treats for the Fourth of July. See picture of my red and blue treats. This made my family happy.

The box of cereal cost around $4.39, not cheap. The good thing is Kellogs offers lots of coupons for cereal, so this can bring the cost per box down to a more affordable price. I checked the price for bulk ordering on Amazon grocery which listed the cereal at 4 boxes for $15.90, so not that much of a savings there.

So whether you like your Rice Krispies in a bowl with milk or made into a bar, it is nice to have a gluten free option readily available.

Harris Teeter Provides Gluten Free list

Harris Teeter continues to increase gluten free items in their store. The Harris Teeter website provides an 11 page handout of gluten free items shoppers can find in the store. Note the following disclaimer:

Product ingredients are subject to change, so always read the label and/or check with the manufacturer. We will update this list quarterly as our products continue to grow and change.

Recently I have noticed an expanded offering of the Crunch Master brand gluten free cracker. The Sea Salt flavor is My daughter's new favorite cracker. You will find these located in the deli area of the store. Get your $1.00 off coupon here.

Zen Cat Bakery visits Durham

I was contacted by Angie Kenny,owner of Zen Cat Bakery, who asked me to share some news with Durham readers. Zen Cat Bakery is a gluten-free and vegan bakery in Greensboro, NC that opened in early 2010 as a wholesale bakery. They send GF and vegan goodies to local markets, cafes and coffee shops. The bakery also completes special orders, and just opened an Etsy online/mail order storefront. Shelby, over at Gluten Free Greensboro wrote about this bakery in a post dated August 8, 2010.

Zen Cat Bakery will make its debut in Durham Sunday, June 12, at Motorco's Marketplace in Durham (MotorCo Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave, Durham). They will have a booth from 12 - 5pm. This "handmade market" just started a few weeks ago.

I asked Angie about the ingredients and preparation of her products and this is her response:

Zen Cat Bakery produces only gluten-free and vegan products, and its noted on my website that I currently bake in a facility (catering kitchen) that is not gluten-free. However, I do not work at the same time with this other business, and Zen Cat bakery has its own mixing/ baking equipment. This year I am planning to move into a dedicated kitchen that is completely gluten-free.

To read more about the bakery you can visit the Zen Cat website.

The Cake Mix Doctor bakes Gluten Free

I wanted to share with my readers a recent find I have added to my book shelf:
The Cake mix Doctor Bakes gluten-Free by Anne Byrn This author has published various baking books in the past to help busy individuals speed up their cooking and baking time with yummy results. This is her first cookbook dedicated to gluten free baking. All recipes are based on the 15 oz size gluten free cake mixes, now readily available in most grocery stores. She "doctors up" these basic cake mixes in various ways to provide a variety of results. Chapter topics include:
How to Bake a Cake and Eat it, Too
Gluten Free Layers
Make Your Own Wedding Cake
Gluten-Free Bundts
Straight From the Pan
Gluten-Free Cupcakes and Muffins
Brownies, Bars and Cookies
Gluten-Free Frostings
The pictures on this post are examples of the "Darn Good Chocolate Cake" recipe. The cake tasted very good and had an excellent rise and texture. I have also made the "toasted coconut cake" with equally good results. I look forward to trying many other recipes. I purchased my book from Barnes and Nobel, I have also seen it available at Sam's Club locally.