Are all Gluten Free Menus created equal?

Increasingly restaurants are catering to the increased demand for gluten free items on their menus. To find restaurants with gluten free offerings in most areas you can simply enter the "zip code gluten free" example for Durham: 27705 gluten free. This yields a list of 381,000 listings related to gluten free in this zip code and several of them are restaurants with gluten free options. But are all gluten free menus created equal? Who provides the over site of gluten free food procurement, preparation and training of all restaurant staff?

Within the Celiac/Gluten Free Community there are two well-respected Gluten-Free Restaurant Training Programs that partner with Restaurants to provide training. They include:

Gluten-Free Awareness Restaurant Program http://www.glutenfreerestaurants.org/

GREAT Gluten Fee Kitchens Program http://www.celiaccentral.org/kitchens/

By accessing either of the above sites you can find listings of independent restaurants and chains that have taken the steps to provide proper training to the kitchen staff and adhere to some quality standards for gluten free menu items. In addition if you own a restaurant or work in the food service industry you may want to explore the resources available to you as you plan your gluten free menu offerings.

Gluten Free in NC

I was in Asheville recently where I attended an education event for dietitians with featured speaker Shelley Case ,RD,  who is one of the leaders in the area of Gluten Disorders.  I figured if Shelley could come to us all the way from her home in Canada I could drive a few hours from Durham.   Check out Shelley's website it is an invaluable resource!  The seminar was followed the next day with a Gluten Free Expo in downtown Asheville.  Lots of goodies to taste, vendors to meet and an expert panel of health professionals and support group leaders.  While at the expo I met Jeff SanGeorge who is heading up the website Gluten Free in NC.  Jeff and his family have a passion for food and creating awareness about the gluten free diet.  He lives in Greensboro, NC.  Check out his site as it covers topics and tips throughout the state of NC .

Speaking of Gluten Free Expos, I have heard that Raleigh will be hosting their very own in August 2012.  Details to follow....

Brunch down the Road in Chapel Hill, Weathervane-Restaurant Review

This weekend some friends  and  I traveled the short distance down 15-501 to Chapel Hill for brunch at Weathervane Restaurant which is located in A Southern Season Store.  It had been several years since I had eaten at Weathervane and was happy to see that their brunch menu denoted items that were gluten free with the GF symbol. They also note dairy free DF, Vegetarian V and Vegan V+ options. .

My gluten free options  for the Saturday brunch menu were limited to the salads and soups available on the menu.  I selected the combo salad platter for 12.99 and chose the almond chicken salad, the black bean-corn salad and the Asian glass noodle salad.  BUT please note after further conversation with my server I learned that the Asian Glass noodle salad actually has regular soy sauce as one of it's ingredients and thus is REALLY NOT GLUTEN FREE.  Instead I chose a gluten free tomato soup option.  This was just another reminder that those of us who need to follow a strict gluten free diet, must still ask those necessary questions even when something is labeled gluten free. My meal was great and I would recommend eating at Weathervane; I think perhaps they just had their menus printed too quickly and then realized that "aha most soy sauces actually contain wheat" and they have not updated their brunch menu to reflect this.  A look at the lunch and dinner menus also offer a variety of other gluten free options available for patrons. 

 A Southern Season is a well known specialty store that carries gourmet food items, wine, housewares, as well as some gluten free goodies.  A quick walk through the store and you spot: gluten free pasta, gluten free cookies and various baking mixes .  A  Southern Season also offers various cooking schools, and may offer some opportunities for gluten free cooking or baking classes. 

Store Information:

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
8am - 9pm / Monday - Thursday
8am - 10pm / Friday

Brunch & Dinner
8am - 10pm / Saturday
10am - 9pm / Sunday

University Mall
201 S. Estes Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919.929.9466

Support for Following a Gluten Free Diet

It has been awhile since I have completed a blog post.  I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease six years ago and have been blogging about living GF in Durham for the last three years.  Since my diagnosis there has been an information explosion in print, internet and other media related to gluten free living. The frequency of my blog posts have slowed as I have hit many highlights about gluten free options in Durham.  GF living for me has become second nature.  I stopped to ask myself am I running out of things to say?  Are these posts helpful to others?  Well I recently received an email from a reader, who reminded me how important support and accurate information is when trying to navigate a gluten free diet.

 Following is part of this email:

 I just wanted to quickly say how amazing this blog is. I just started dating a girl couple months ago who is both gluten and dairy intolerant, and other than cooking for her, I had no clue what kind of restaurants would be able to cater to her enjoyably. I just took a shot in the dark and typed in gluten free restaurants in durham and your blog came up. It has been more than helpful and informative, and I plan on taking her to curryblossom tonight. Thank you again! You are a life-saver.(used with permission)

What a reminder this was to me about my original search for information six years ago.  I looked everywhere and read everything and even talked to strangers on the phone that would share tips with me about how they lived with their Celiac Disease.    I work as a certified health and wellness coach and one thing I always ask my clients who are getting ready to make a change is "who or what is going to support you in the process?"  Support is key to a successful lifestyle change and is much needed in managing a chronic condition like Celiac Disease or navigating a strict gluten free diet due to gluten intolerance. It gives me great satisfaction that my blog posts have offered support to others and I thank a reader for taking the time to send me this email.  It has given me the inspiration to continue to post knowing that this could be a form of support for others.  I would also like to direct readers to other forms of support that are available in our area:

Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group-Meets Rex Hospital Dining Room

Website: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WakeCeliacSupport/

Email :  Lpberger@bellsouth.net   Pat Berger contact

Raleigh Cel-Kids Support Group-Helping Children cope with Celiac Disease

Website: http://www.raleighcelkids.com/

Email: Raleigh.celkids@gmail.com

NC Faces Support Group (Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely)

Website: http://www.ncfaces.org/

Email: info@ncfaces.org

Other Resources:

Find Me Gluten Free-free application for smart phones; locates gf restaurants

Website: http://www.findmeglutenfree.com/

Gluten-Free in the Triangle Meet Up Group

Website: http://www.meetup.com/Gluten-free-in-the-Triangle/

Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata

Overnight YMCA camp in Wake Forest, North Carolina scheduled for August 2012

Contact:  http://gluten.net/     http://www.campkanata.org/

Triangle Raw Foodists

I was recently contacted by Jane Howard Crutchfield and Matthew Daniels who are the owners of Triangle Raw Foodists.  Finally an option in the food truck world that works for someone on a gluten free diet!  They wanted to inform readers of gluten free Durham of this raw food option where all ingredients are gluten free. The following is their description:

Triangle Raw Foodists make raw food meals, that are also totally gluten-free, dairy-free, and meat-free.  We have a delivery service, where we deliver 3-4 days worth of prepared foods to people's homes each Monday.  We also have a food truck that can be found every Wednesday from 12-3pm at Ad Spice on Broad St in Durham.  We also have it at other random locations for events (you can see the current schedule on our website. 

For further details, menu items and contact information, you can access the website here.
Any gluten free, raw foods readers out there who have sampled some of the menu items?  Please leave a review of your experience.

Writing Contest for FREE GLUTEN FREE PRUDUCTS

I was recently contacted by the folks at French Meadow Bakery concerning an essay contest they are sponsoring via their facebook page.  To celebrate the bountiful fall harvest, and the delicious dishes created from it, French Meadow Bakery is offering one lucky winner the chance to receive a one-year supply of organic, Gluten-Free goodies including breads, tortillas, cookie dough and brownies.

French Meadow Bakery is internationally recognized as a leading provider of naturally delicious and nutritious bakery products that suit a variety of dietary needs. Whether a person has specific dietary restrictions or is trying to develop healthy eating habits, individuals can take comfort in the assortment of Gluten-Free products. The Gluten-Free product line-up fits into a wide variety of recipes and dishes, and, in a culture where food is a cornerstone, French Meadow Bakery provides hearty and delicious favorites.




To enter the contest, simply visit French Meadow Bakery’s Facebook page and share your Gluten-Free story. In 250 words or less, we would love to hear your experience with living Gluten-Free and how French Meadow Bakery makes life more delicious.



The contest will run until midnight on Monday, November 14. The top 10 story submissions will be selected by a panel of French Meadow Bakery experts and then the public will be invited to select the winner between November 18 through November 24.

More Gluten Free Options at the Rice Diet Store

I first wrote about the gluten free products available at the Rice Diet Store in March of 2010.  I was recently contacted by one of their dietitians, Anna, who asked me to update readers to new products and information regarding the Rice Diet Store.  The store has a new manager:  Jeanette Gulledge. Updated store hours are M-W-F  9:00-2:00. 

Anna listed some of the gluten free-favorites:

Brown rice crackers


Quinoa and rice pastas (Notta Pasta)

7 Mr. Spice Organic, No Salt Added Sauces—from Thai Peanut to Honey BBQ

Curry powder mix and mango chutney from Kerala Curry, a local company in Pittsboro, NC

Several varieties of Eden Organic no salt added canned beans

Desert Pepper White Bean Dip

A number of salsas—from traditional to Mango Gingersnap, Pineapple Mojito and Southwest Sunset

The Ginger People’s Sweet Ginger Chili Sauce—a favorite and bestseller among Ricers. It’s great on spring rolls, drizzled over a stir-fry or as a glaze on fish or meat. We have the spring roll wrappers too!

The 2010 dietary guidelines encourage individuals to watch their sodium levels.  Recommended ranges are from 1500mg-2300mg daily.  The Rice Diet Program focuses on a low sodium diet, so the above products will be gluten free and low in sodium!

The Rice Diet Store
1644 Cole Mill Road
Durham,NC 27705
http://www.ricedietstore.com/
919-383-7276 ext 2

Options for a Gluten Free Diet-Community Lecture

Duke's community education center, Teer House, will be offering a free lecture entitled "Options for a Gluten Free Diet".  The speaker is Lesley Stanford, MS,RD,CSP who is a dietitan that has worked with families and the gluten free diet for years through her position with Duke's pediatric gastroenterology clinic.  I have heard Lesley speak several times, and she offers sound, practical advice to help navigate the gluten free diet.

The program objective is listed as: Learn what's new with the gluten free diet and how to tailor your needs.

The class is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2011 6:30-8:00 and registration is required.  You can access more information and register  here.   http://www.durhamregional.org/events/20110225112221289?event_location=20050825140000044

Teer House
4019 North Roxboro Rd
Durham, NC 27704
919-477-2644

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