Sure Foods Living – gluten-free and allergen-free living

Two months ago I reported that California Pizza Kitchen had started serving gluten-free pizza and mentioned that I hoped they were fully trained in how to safely serve the gluten-free diner. Since then, there has been a firestorm of angry comments, accusations and blog posts surrounding the safety of the pizza for those with celiac disease. (I was even accused on Twitter of “purposely misinforming” my readers about CPK!) The crust itself was never the issue, but rather the practices of the individuals making the pizzas which led to cross-contamination. The training of the staff varied from store to store, according to gluten-free people who were sampling the crust all over the country.

Well, it seems that the complaints have resonated with California Pizza Kitchen, as they have now stopped serving the crust, according to their website (pointed out to me by a reader) and a phone call I made to their marketing department.

Here is the statement CPK has on their website regarding this issue:

“We sincerely appreciate the very valuable feedback we have received from our guests regarding our Gluten-Free pizza crust, which we have temporarily stopped serving in all of our restaurants. To assure our gluten-free guests that we are able to provide an enjoyable, safe dining experience, we are working closely with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) to review our Gluten-Free pizza crust preparation processes, procedures and training materials. GIG’s experts have inspected our kitchens and are in the process of providing us their feedback. Once the review process is completed and any recommended improvements are fully implemented, we will once again offer the Gluten-Free pizza crust.”

Additionally on the phone I was told that it is still a goal of CPK to provide customers with a gluten-free crust option and they anticipate being able to do it — right this time — by the end of November. The marketing person I spoke with recommended that people follow California Pizza Kitchen on Facebook, Twitter or check back on their website for the re-launch of the gluten-free pizza crust.

I personally am pleased that they will still pursue the gluten-free crust and that they are working with GIG to make it safe for everyone.

California Pizza Kitchen has officially launched a gluten-free crust. In an email sent to me today, it was announced:

“The wait is over! Today California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has launched gluten free pizza crust, making 29 of their original pizzas available gluten free.

CPK has taken notice of the increased demand with more than 3 million Americans affected by Celiac Disease and created a specialty menu with various gluten free items. Among the 29 different gluten free pizzas available is America’s favorite, The Original BBQ Chicken pizza, the Pear & Gorgonzola pizza and the Wild Mushroom pizza. CPK also offers other gluten free appetizers, soups, salads, specialties, kids items and desserts to choose from on their current menu.”

On their website, it states “Gluten-Free crust available upon request” and that the pizzas that not gluten-free are the Thai Chicken and Roasted Artichoke + Spinach.

There are over 230 CPK locations in the U.S., so hopefully there is one near you! I have no idea if they are fully trained in how to safely serve the gluten-free diner. Let’s hope so, and that they are aware of the emotions of the gluten-free diner! If you go, be sure to report back here about your experience!

Dining out on a gluten-free diet can be challenging because gluten is present in a lot of foods, but something that doesn’t often get addressed with the topic of dining out is what is happening before the gluten-free diner even walks into a restaurant. I’m talking about EMOTIONS.

Our emotions are something that set us, the gluten-free diners, apart from other diners. While other customers are thinking about their dates, or admiring the art on the walls, or taking in the smell of fresh bread as they walk in the door, I’m hoping there’s something at the restaurant I can eat. I’m wondering whether or not this restaurant is going to understand what gluten-free means. If I’m with a group, I’m dreading having to once again explain that I can’t share dishes with everyone.

Gluten-free diners come in to the restaurant with a variety of emotions:

• Anxiety – Will there be something I can eat?,
• Nervousness and Fear – Will I get sick (again)?
• Embarrassment – Will my friends think I’m a pain? Will they say sorry to me every time they eat a bite of something I can’t have?
• Sadness or Anger or Resentment, depending on when they were diagnosed or how well they are dealing with their new diet — Why can’t I enjoy the freedom that everyone else can? Why can’t the restaurant make this easier for me? Why me?
• And let’s not forget Hunger! The hungry gluten-free diner may have to wait even longer if everyone at the table is eating bread. There have been times when I am so hungry that by the time my dinner comes, I eat everything on my plate — and people look at me at the end of the meal as though I’ve eaten so much! They’ve forgotten that they’ve eaten a half a loaf of bread before the meal even started.

All these emotions just to go out to eat! While most people find it easier to go out to eat than cook at home, the gluten-free diner often chooses to stay at home because it is easier than dining out.

Our love of good food and dining and socializing can triumph, however, and when we do find restaurants we trust, restaurants that have a gluten-free menu, and restaurants that understand our needs, we can begin to let go of the anxiety and those other negative emotions, and truly enjoy our food and our entire dining experience. This is what we want restaurants to understand about us: If they can make us feel comfortable and can earn our trust, we will be there and we will be loyal, and we will bring our family and friends too, and we will spread the word.

What emotions do you have when dining out gluten-free?

Discussing the Challenges of Gluten-Free Dining

Our next meeting of the Gluten Intolerance Group of Marin will take place on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:00pm.

Gluten-free is a hot restaurant trend, but how much do restaurants know about safely serving a gluten-free meal? Alison St. Sure of Sure Foods Living will discuss the issues surrounding, and the challenges of, gluten-free dining. You will also hear from a panel of restaurateurs, including the owners of Amici’s Pizza, Sol Food and Lotus Indian Restaurants, about what it takes to accommodate the gluten-free diner. They will share the difficulties they have faced and the strategies they employ for serving gluten-free meals. Bring your friends and your questions about eating out gluten free.

Whether you have celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or are learning more about gluten free living for yourself, family or friends, we welcome you to the GIG of Marin. New members, friends, and loved ones are always welcome.

As always, we request that you RSVP to this event by emailing us at: glutenfreemarin@yahoo.com or on our Facebook page

The Gluten Intolerance Group of Marin will meet:

• Tuesday, June 7
  
• 7:00 to 9:00pm
  
• Community Room at Corte Madera Town Center (upstairs at PF Chang’s end) 770 Tamalpais Dr. Suite 201, Corte Madera, CA, 94925

We look forward to seeing you!

My dad turned 70… ten months ago. Celebrating a big birthday on someone’s actual birthday is so predictable (that, or perhaps I just didn’t get my act together to plan something on the real day). So when my sister flew out last weekend to help me surprise our dad with dinner and third row seats to Bill Cosby, it confirmed that procrastination has its perks!

Everything worked out perfectly. We surprised both my mom and dad with my sister’s unexpected presence in my kitchen (“We have a big Valentine for you!” my daughter told them). We spent the gloriously sunny winter day taking a walk in our neighborhood, seeking shade because it was too warm, much to the liking of my sister who came from snowy D.C. Then we headed out to dinner.

I chose Picco Restaurant in Larkspur because each time I have been there, I have eaten delicious food. I like the atmosphere too — stylish, yet unpretentious. This night, my expectations were surpassed not only by the food, but by the attention of our server to our gluten-free needs (both my parents and I are gluten-free).

The first thing our waiter did after greeting the table was acknowledge that we were gluten-free (I always call ahead and let the restaurant know). He spoke with confidence, and assured us that almost any dish we wanted could be accommodated to be gluten-free, except the obvious pastas. When he later came to take our order, he showed that he was aware of cross-contamination issues by informing us that the french fries are in a shared fryer with gluten-containing items. He even went so far as to warn us that he wasn’t sure if the cornmeal used in the polenta was free of wheat contamination. At which point I said, “I love you — you are speaking our language!” (The wine may have already kicked in by then.) Well, turns out, his wife has celiac disease. When I asked if anyone else at the restaurant had the same knowledge about gluten that he did, he assured me that everyone in the restaurant is very aware and that they always check with the chef.

For the food, the service, the awareness, and the ambiance, I highly recommend Picco Restaurant, whether you must eat gluten-free or not. “Local, seasonal, ingredient-driven is the mantra for Picco’s cuisine.”

Here’s what we enjoyed (plates are meant for sharing):

• hog island oysters on the half shell, chile-cilantro mignonette
• hamachi crudo, blood orange, baby fennel, calabrian chili, radish, artichoke chips, olivestri olive oil
• grilled romaine lettuce, market pear, toasted hazelnut, aged gouda, champagne vinaigrette
• sautéed broccoli di ciccio, preserved lemon, garlic chili condiment
• risotto made from scratch on the half hour (ours had leeks, calabrian chili, and asparagus — delicious)
• mesquite grilled monterey bay squid, gigante beans, mandarin orange, oro blanco, green olive, paesano olive oil
• braised short ribs (don’t have the other details on this one, but I am always happy to find short ribs that aren’t braised with soy sauce)

Oh, and in case you are wondering about Bill Cosby — he was great! His expressions (from the third row remember!) were priceless. Thanks to Picco and Bill, and my sister’s mileage ticket, it was a successful 70th birthday surprise!

Picco Restaurant is located at:
320 Magnolia ave.
Larkspur, California 94939
415.924.0300
Open for dinner only, seven nights a week

A few years ago, gluten-free pizza was nowhere to be found, but now many pizza restaurants are catering to the needs of those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. While there still isn’t much variety in the actual crust that the pizza places are using, at least there are a variety of places to go and get it!

Below are the names of restaurants that offer gluten-free pizza, the gluten-free crust they use (if I know), their location in California, and other products of interest they serve. Please let me know if there is another to add to the list, and please call the restaurant first and make sure they have gluten-free pizza available when you are going to be there.

Restaurants that offer gluten-free pizza in California:

• Ambrosia Pizza (Kinnikinnick crust) — Kentfield
• Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria (Still Riding Crust) – 12 locations in the Bay Area. Pamela’s gluten-free cheesecake and Redbridge beer on the menu. They also have Daiya dairy-free cheese available.
• Bobby G’s Pizzeria (Mariposa Baking Company) – Berkeley
• Boston’s Gourmet Pizza — Rancho Cucamonga, Long Beach, Encinitas
• BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse (Still Riding Crust) – 51 locations in California. “All BJ’s Classic Toppings listed are gluten-free with the exception of meatballs.” And they serve GF beer!
• Brick Oven Pizzeria — Poway
• D’Amores Famous Pizza (The Sensitive Baker crust) — Malibu, Westwood Village, West Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Tarzana, Canoga Park. Also GF breadsticks, focaccia, and vegan cheese available.
• Deano’s Gourmet Pizza — Los Angeles. They also have vegan cheese available.
• DeVino’s Pizza and Pasta (Mariposa Baking Co crust) – Pleasant Hill
• Doughboy’s Pizzeria (own crust) — Grover Beach
• Eagle Pizzeria (Still Riding Crust) – San Francisco
• Extreme Pizza (Still Riding Crust) – 28 locations in California, with more coming. Check individual location for GF pizza.
• Filippi’s Pizza Grotto – 13 locations in California. Check individual location for GF pizza.
• Fitness Pizza and Grill — Yorba Linda
• Fresh Brothers — Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Marina del Rey, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas. They also have Daiya dairy-free cheese available.
• Garlic Jim’s – southern California. Check individual location for GF pizza.
• Jackson’s Bar and Oven – Santa Rosa
• Left Coast Pizza – Chico
• Leucadia Pizza — Encinitas, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe. Also has GF pasta.
• Lucifer’s Pizza — Los Angeles. Vegan cheese available.
• Mariposa Baking Company (own crust) — Oakland
• Mary’s Pizza Shack (Still Riding Crust)  – 10 locations in Sonoma County, plus others northern California.
• Napoli Pizza and Pasta — San Rafael
• Original Pizza — Costa Mesa
• Pennini’s (Mariposa Baking Co crust) – Moraga
• Pizza Fusion (Still Riding Crust) – Hollywood, San Diego, Santa Monica, Temecula. Also have a gluten-free vegan brownie on the menu.
• Pizza Guru — Santa Barbara
• Pizza Pirate — Benicia
• Pizza Rustica — Oakland
• Red Brick Pizza — San Mateo
• Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza (Toovaloo crust) – 12 locations in the San Diego area. Also have an ice cream sundae and Redbridge beer on the menu.
• Sorrento Italian Restaurant (Still Riding Crust) – Walnut Creek
• Steve’s Pizza (Still Riding crust) – Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Woodland, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Davis.
• Uno Pizzeria — Antioch, Modesto, San Diego
• Willow Street Pizza (French Meadow crust) — Los Gatos, San Jose. Also have GF pasta.
• Woodlands Cafe — Kentfield
• Zachary’s Pizza (Still Riding crust) — Oakland, Berkeley, San Ramon
• ZPizza (DeIorio’s crust) — 9 locations in northern California, 39 in southern California, but not all locations have the GF crust.

Because so many places are using Still Riding pizza crust, here are the ingredients in case you have other sensitivities: Bean flour, rice flour, tapioca flour and starch, xanthan gum, salt, yeast, egg, cider vinegar, sugar, canola oil, calcium propionate.

Stay tuned for another post on store-bought pizza and making your own pizza!

I am happy to announce that Sans Gluten-Free Grocery located in San Rafael, California, is opening its doors on October 31st!

A message from its owners:
“Sans Gluten-Free Grocery is the Bay Area’s one-stop gluten-free grocery store offering the largest selection of gluten-free goods in a dedicated facility by a caring and knowledgeable staff.  Sister and brother owners, Marisa and Chad North, started Sans out of their lifelong commitment to a gluten-free lifestyle and desire to help others with gluten sensitivities.  To read more, please visit our website at www.sansglutenfreegrocery.com or find us on Facebook.
We hope to see you there!”

Sans will hold their Grand Opening on 10/31/10 from 12-5pm at 821 B Street in San Rafael, CA.

It’s happening, people. We are getting our own bakeries — gluten-freedom at last!

I am excited to share the news with you that you have a few new options for finding gluten-free baked goods:

Miglet’s Gluten-Free Bakery
This adorable bakery features everything from cutesy cupcakes to personal-sized quiche!

• What: a dedicated gluten-free bakery, and can accommodate dairy, casein, corn, soy, egg, and nut-free orders too
• Where: located at 480 San Ramon Valley Boulevard #A2 in Danville
• Who: Katie Alin, owner and founder (mom is Elaine Taylor who has celiac disease and founded Camp Celiac)
• Website: www.migletsgf.com

Good Chemistry Baking
With a daily menu posted on their website, you can find an array of goods, including biscuits, scones, cookies and bread.

• What: a dedicated gluten-free bakery, with some dairy-free and nut-free options
• Where: located at 3249 Grand Avenue in Oakland, near the Grand Lake Theater
• Who: Jane O’Hara, owner and baker (has celiac disease)
• Website: www.goodchemistrybaking.com

Mariposa Baking Company
Mariposa isn’t new (it was started in 2004), but what is new is that it is at the Marin Sunday Farmer’s Market! Yippee! There are also many new products being offered, like cinnamon rolls and breads.

• What: a dedicated gluten-free bakery
• Where:
  • located at 5427 Telegraph Ave, Unit D3 in Oakland, in the Temescal neighborhood
  • also in a kiosk in the Ferry Building in San Francisco
  • also in the Sunday Farmer’s Market at the Civic Center in San Rafael in Marin County
• Who: Patti Furey Crane, owner and founder (was diagnosed with MS and then learned she had a gluten allergy)
• Website: www.mariposabaking.com

More and more pizza places are offering gluten-free pizza, which is great news for the millions of people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria is one Bay Area chain that has stepped up and offers gluten-free and dairy-free pizza at most of their locations. They are known for their thin-crust pizzas baked directly on a hot brick oven floor, and their gluten-free pizza crust (purchased from Still Riding Pizza in Connecticut), is also thin, and is made on a special elevated surface so that it is not touching the same oven floor as the other pizzas.

Most of their toppings are gluten-free also, so there is a large selection to choose from. They even have a pizza with dairy-free, soy-free cheese (made by Daiya), called the Asante.

Their gluten-free menu is impressive not only because of the number of selections, but because of their awareness. There are notes of caution about ingredients used in the restaurant that are not gluten-free, such as certain toppings and salad dressings. This is a restaurant that is getting it!

Amici’s is also very involved in their community and very generous. They donate to many charities and I personally have seen their generosity when they have donated gluten-free pizzas to the Living Gluten-Free classes I teach and to GIG of Marin meetings.

Amici’s gluten-free menu is now available at the following locations: Cupertino, Dublin, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Redwood Shores, San Francisco (Lombard), San Rafael, San Jose, and Vacaville.

P.F. Chang’s truly goes out of their way to accommodate the gluten-free diner and anyone with food allergies. I recently took my daughter there and they made her an entirely different entree due to her multiple allergies. They are always warm and assuring and my daughter asks to go back to “the noodle place.” They have also been very generous with our local Gluten Intolerance Group. This is one restaurant that really gets it!

And now, the great news — they have now expanded their gluten-free menu to include BEEF! See the press release below, and their menu…

P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO LAUNCHES EXPANDED GLUTEN FREE MENU
Enhanced Offering Includes 5 New Beef Entrees and a Total of 28 Dishes

Scottsdale, AZ. (March 8, 2010) – P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (NASDAQ: PFCB) announced today a newly expanded Gluten Free Menu, featuring beef entrees for the first time.  Gluten intolerant diners can now enjoy a wider range of dining options, from P.F. Chang’s signature Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Mongolian Beef to a Flourless Chocolate Dome for dessert.

“More and more of our guests are asking for gluten free options and we’re proud to offer them a greater variety of P.F. Chang’s classics,” said Gregg Piazzi, Director of Culinary Training for P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.  “P.F. Chang’s is sensitive to all of the food allergies and dining requirements of our guests and we strive to serve customized cuisine that meets each diner’s individual needs.”

P.F. Chang’s upholds a rigorous gluten free cooking process to ensure the dietary safety of guests with celiac disease. The restaurant’s staff takes all the necessary measures of precaution during the preparation and serving of gluten free dishes.

The newly expanded Gluten Free Menu features the following items:
Entrées:

• GF Shrimp with Lobster Sauce – $12.95
• GF Moo Goo Gai Pan -$13.25
• GF Ginger Chicken With Broccoli – $12.75
• GF Philip’s Better Lemon Chicken – $12.95
• GF Chang’s Spicy Chicken – $12.95
• GF Chang’s Lemon Scallops – $14.95
• GF Salmon Steamed With Ginger – $17.95
• GF Cantonese Shrimp or Scallops – $14.95
• GF Mongolian Beef – $14.95
• GF Beef with Broccoli – $11.95
• GF Beef a La Sichuan – $13.95
• GF Pepper Steak – $13.25
• GF Hong Kong Beef with Snow Peas – $10.25
• GF Dali Chicken – $12.95

Starter:

• GF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps – $7.95

Soup:

• GF Egg Drop Soup Cup – $2.95/Bowl – $5.95

Noodles:

• GF Singapore Street Noodles – $9.95

Rice:

• GF P.F. Chang’s Fried Rice – $7.95/Combo – $9.95

Vegetarian:

• GF Buddha’s Feast – $7.50

Sides (Small: $2.95/Large: $4.95):

• GF Spinach Stir-Fried with Garlic
• GF Garlic Snap Peas
• GF Shanghai Cucumbers

Dessert:

• GF Flourless Chocolate Dome – $5.95

Lunch Bowls:

• GF Buddha’s Feast – $7.25
• GF Shrimp with Lobster Sauce – $8.95
• GF Moo Goo Gai Pan – $8.95
• GF Beef with Broccoli – $8.95
• GF Pepper Steak – $8.95

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc. owns and operates two restaurant concepts in the Asian niche. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro features a blend of high-quality, Chinese-inspired cuisine and American hospitality in a sophisticated, contemporary bistro setting. Pei Wei Asian Diner offers a modest menu of freshly prepared Asian cuisine in a relaxed, warm environment offering attentive counter service and take-out flexibility.