Last Friday night I had the pleasure of dining at one of the finest restaurants in northern California, Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg.
(I was also lucky enough to be treated to the dinner by friends visiting from Los Angeles… if you can get someone else to pay the bill, I highly recommend it!) While I had been told that the food and service were going to be wonderful, I had no idea how amazing my experience as a gluten-free diner was about to be.

My husband called ahead to let the restaurant know that 2 out of 4 in our party would be gluten free. Calling ahead is always a good idea when dining out — not only does it raise the awareness of the waitstaff, but it allows the chef to make any special arrangements if he/she so desires. At Cyrus, Chef Douglas Keane went way beyond our expectations! We were made to feel that we were special as opposed to being a burden.

Let me explain what was so special about our dinner (and hopefully some restaurant owners and chefs are reading this and taking notes!) First we were served “canapes” — tiny little bites of food, either to eat with your fingers or with teeny little spoons, meant to awaken your senses of taste before the meal. They were served on 2 towers of tiered plates. They told us that one of the towers was all gluten-free. It was evident right away that the chef understood gluten-free because one bite on the regular tower contained beer and was replaced with something else on the gluten-free tower. Several other little bites were replaced by a gluten-free ones also. Each gluten-free bite was as thoughtfully prepared, artfully presented, and delicious as the others. What an impression that made!

Usually when it is time for the bread or rolls to be brought to the table, I get ready to say “no thank you” before they set it down on my plate or on the table. This time I didn’t have to say no because when the waiter came around with a basket of rolls, he explained that he would be serving the gluten-free guests first and that the servers used on the bread had not touched any other bread yet. He proceeded to place a hot-out-of-the-oven baked roll (gluten-free!) on my plate. I have to admit I was a little shocked! And then I tasted it… heaven. Hot buttery heaven. Yes, I had another. (And another, later, with the cheese course — okay, I went a little overboard, but I was so excited!)

Next came caviar, ordered by our friends. Usually one would put caviar on some wheat-y thing like a cracker or potato cake, which often contains flour. When the caviar arrived, so did a plate of rice crackers and potato cakes (no flour) that were separated from the panko-crusted (i.e. gluten-crusted) cakes. Again, I was impressed by the level of understanding.

The appetizers and main courses were beyond delicious. I’m not going to describe each one because I could never do them justice. There were many gluten-free options to choose from, and they did make a substitution in one of the dishes that came with pasta, which was nice.

It was so gratifying that a highly acclaimed restaurant was recognizing the need to serve gluten-free diners. What really stood out was their proactive approach. Not once did I have to say, “Can you ask the chef…” or “Could you just double-check?” When one (of the many) waitpersons brought the menu, she went through the menu with us, telling us what was gluten-free and what was not before we had to ask. When they brought a plate of various chocolates and other sweet things at the end of dinner, they said “All of these are okay for you.” One time I asked if a dark salty sauce that came drizzled on one of the small plates contained soy sauce, and the waitperson (a different one) politely assured me that it was gluten-free, that it was dark because it had been reduced for 4-5 hours, and not to worry, that the Chef knows what he is doing with regards to gluten-free. Yes, he really does, and this was one of the only times that I have thoroughly relaxed and enjoyed a meal in a restaurant without wondering and second-guessing.

After the chocolates came the offer of dessert. There were no gluten-free dessert items on the menu, but we were told that we could have a selection of ice creams and sorbets. We were too full for dessert anyway! And then they gave each one of us a little white and gold gift box with a brownie to take home. Yes folks, there were gluten-free brownies in ours.

As I was leaving the restaurant, I passed the maitre d’/owner, Nick Peyton, and expressed my thanks and kudos for accommodating us. He responded something like, “Thank you for letting us know ahead of time. We want you to have the same dining experience as everyone else.” Well, let me tell you something, I definitely had a better dining experience than everyone else!

An interview with the Chef coming soon!

Filed under: Restaurants/Bakeries/Stores, Tips | 1 Comment »

Gluten-free and allergy-free people have to pay more in general for their groceries. I love Whole Foods Market and am grateful that they carry so many gluten-free items. It’s just that I end up spending so much money there because I buy a lot of my other groceries there too. Great products, but it’s killing my bank account!

One thing I started doing this year to save money is shopping on Amazon. You can find great deals on, well, everything, but also on food. If you have products that have become regulars in your household, buying a case of your favorites can save you money.

Let’s do the math

Here’s a practical example of my money-saving technique: at Whole Foods I think I pay $4.59 for a package of Pamela’s bread mix (a staple in our house). On Amazon, I can buy a case for $23.80, which comes out to $3.97 per package. But wait, there’s more! Amazon now has a subscription service that allows you to set up regular shipments of products, either every 1 month, 2 months, 3 months or 6 months. Setting up a subscription saves you an extra 15% on every shipment. I figure I make bread (or something else with the mix, like pizza) every 1-2 weeks so I signed up for 1 case of 6 to be sent every 2 months. With the extra 15%, the case now costs $20.23, which works out to $3.37 per package. If you don’t use bread mixes, then think about other favorites like Erewhon crispy rice cereal or Larabars or Pamela’s pancake mix.

What about shipping?

Many grocery items qualify for Free Super Saver Shipping with a $25 minimum order. Now, if you are a serious Amazon shopper (as I am), sign up for Amazon Prime! You pay $79 for the year and get free 2-day shipping on anything that ships from Amazon. There is no minimum order. You even get the free 2-day shipping if you send it to someone else, which is great when you need to send a gift quick. I am an Amazon Prime customer and let me tell you, it is great to get your gluten-free groceries in only 2 days (especially when you need them for a party or a trip) and not have to pay any shipping.

Is this an ad for Amazon?

Really I just want to help everyone out there struggling with their grocery bills (not to mention the time and gas spent to go find all of the special products). I do get a small commission if you buy on Amazon when you click through from my site (at no extra cost to you). So if you want to show Sure Foods Living some love, you can either shop at my Amazon gluten-free store where I have hand-picked the products I recommend, or you can just click here to shop anywhere on Amazon. These links are also always available in the right sidebar. Every little bit helps keep this site going and I appreciate those of you who have been doing it!

Filed under: Products, Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, Tips | No Comments »

Just in case I have any loyal fans out there (anyone? anyone?) who are wondering why I haven’t been writing as many posts as usual, it’s because I am extra busy at the moment.

I am doing a consulting job with a food distributor who is going to launch a gluten-free product catalog (and possibly dairy-free on my suggestion) for the restaurants who buy from them. Why are they doing this? Because restaurants are asking them for gluten-free products. Why are restaurants asking for them? Because customers are asking for them! So keep going to restaurants and asking for a gluten-free menu — even if you know that the restaurant doesn’t have one. Your voices are being heard!

And, if you are a manufacturer and think that your products would be good in the foodservice industry, please let me know via email: alison@surefoodsliving.com

Filed under: Sure Foods Living News, Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, Tips | 5 Comments »

This will be the first Halloween that my daughter goes trick-or-treating. We’ll probably only go to a few neighbors’ houses, but there is also a Halloween parade down a main street where the shop owners give out candy. As a parent of a child with food allergies, I am feeling a little anxious about monitoring every piece of candy that she receives. I imagine other parents are feeling the same way.

So, I’ve come up with 4 approaches for how we can make Halloween enjoyable for our little ones:

1. The Go-With-the-Flow Approach

How it works: Let your child collect candy and then investigate which pieces are safe and which aren’t.

Pros: You don’t have to do any planning ahead of time.

Cons: What if none of the candy your child receives is safe? Also, this can be time-consuming - will your child wait patiently (ha!) while you check the ingredients?

2. The Fair Trade Policy

How it works: Buy a variety of safe candy ahead of time. Let your child collect candy and then trade unknown or unsafe pieces for the safe ones.

Pros: Your child gets the fun of trick or treating, doesn’t stand out from the crowd, and feels like it is fair that they get the same amount of candy that they collected.

Cons: Your child has to be trusted to not eat any unknown or unsafe candy until he/she can make the trade with you.

3. The Community Outreach Program

How it works: You supply candy or a list of safe candy to the houses that you will be visiting.

Pros: This is good for little kids that may only be visiting certain neighbors and friends. You don’t have to worry about him/her eating something that is not safe.

Cons: This won’t work for older kids who are out with friends and visiting many houses, you have to go around to people’s houses ahead of time, and you have to trust your neighbors to remember.

4. The Just-Say-No-to-Candy Campaign

How it works: Sounds extreme - candy is evil! - but it just means offer non-food treats, like little toys, stickers, etc. This can be done in conjunction with The Fair Trade Policy, or with The Community Outreach Program.

Pros: No need to worry about ingredients, kids love little toys

Cons: Kids probably love candy more than toys! But perhaps given the choice, they may pick toys over candy some of the time, which can help.

Resources to help you have a safe Halloween:

• Gluten-free, dairy-free candy list from GFCFDiet.com. If your child has other allergies too, at least this is a good place to start. Then you can either call the company or check their website for more allergen information.

• Gluten-free product list from Delphi Forums Celiac Disease On-Line Support Group. List includes candy - this is a great resource!

• Gluten-free candy list from CeliacNet.

• Gluten-free candy list from Celiac Central.

There are many companies producing nut-free candy:

• Amanda’s Own Confections
• Divvies
• Kellie’s Candies Nut-Free Confections
• Candy Creations Company
• Nothin’ Nutty
• Peanut Free Planet
• Vermont Nut Free Chocolates

Looking for dairy-free chocolate?

• Chocolate Decadence
• Amanda’s Own Confections
• Chocolate Emporium
• Tropical Source

And don’t forget the allergen-free lollipops!

Here is a list of non-food treats from a page from the National and Community Service website about making Halloween more inclusive for kids with diabetes and other health concerns:

• Temporary tattoos
• Stickers
• Pencils
• Fancy erasers
• Pencil toppers
• Crayons
• Coins (pennies, nickels, dimes)
• Small novelty toys
• False teeth
• Superballs
• “Slime”
• Miniature magnifying glasses
• Plastic jewelry/decoder rings
• Necklaces
• Glow-sticks
• Tiny decks of cards
• Plastic medals
• Fake money
• Origami paper & instructions
• Bubbles

Well, I feel better now and I am looking forward to taking my little pink fairy door-to-door for some Halloween treats!

How will you make sure your Halloween is safe?

Filed under: Babies & Kids, Products, Tips, Holidays/Special Events | 10 Comments »

… when you have food allergies

A topic that sometimes pops up in conversation with my girlfriends is the Mother-In-Law (hereafter referred to as MIL). This relationship can be a tough one, and if you or your kids have celiac disease or food allergies, it can be even more difficult.

It is not anyone’s fault. It just requires some — well, a lot of extra effort on everyone’s part. Even my wonderful, caring, fabulous, super-duper (she’s reading this) MIL and I have had our challenges when it comes to what to feed my family. Our last visit went quite smoothly, and perhaps yours can too if you follow the tips below.
(I am focusing on Mother-In-Law rather than Father-In-Law because I am generalizing that the MIL is usually in charge of the shopping and cooking in her house, but go ahead and apply this to anyone you want!)

If you plan to visit the in-laws for a few days, or if you or your kids spend time at their house regularly, follow these tips:
1. Be patient.

Don’t expect your MIL to understand your special diet right away, especially if you rarely see her. There is a learning curve when it comes to eliminating gluten, or dairy, or anything from the diet. You may feel frustrated, but she may be just as frustrated as you. I didn’t realize that my MIL was frustrated by the whole thing until a sausage brand mixup inspired her to utter a curse word under her breath at me! At least we can laugh about it now.

2. Plan meals ahead of time.

My MIL likes to plan ahead (like buying plane tickets in August for Christmas), so if we discuss meal ideas on the phone the week before we arrive, she can get her grocery shopping out of the way and not have anxiety about the food situation. Telling her brand names that she can find easily also helps.

3. Do your own grocery shopping.

Right when I arrive at my in-laws’ house, I drop off the kids and head to a natural foods grocery store. I buy cereal, bread, snacks and whatever else I will need for the few days we are visiting. This is the deal my MIL and I have worked out - I go, she gives me the money to pay for it. (OK, I’ll admit it, I always throw in a few extra goodies for myself!)

4. Get in the kitchen.

Offer to help make the food. My MIL asks me to make my gluten-free bread and any special treats that may be needed, like cupcakes if there will be a party, or dessert for a holiday dinner. The last time I visited, she asked me to show her how to make bread so she could make it sometime - now that’s progress! Another reason to get in the kitchen is to check ingredients of things, like flavoring packets or canned soups - stuff that goes into those “old favorite” recipes. (Oh - also check the Father-In-Law’s secret seasoning he uses on the bbq!)

5. Bite your tongue.

Obviously you need to let your MIL know if there is something that you or your family cannot eat, but hold back on the criticism. One negative comment can dash all your MIL’s efforts, even if in your mind they didn’t amount to much. Remember tip #1!

Well, hope that helps someone out there. I feel very lucky to have the mother-in-law that I do! Good luck with yours!

Filed under: Food Allergies, Tips, Emotions | No Comments »

When I began my gluten-free diet, I worked at a startup tech company. Many days I ate lunch at my desk (I wasn’t really a computer geek, but pretending to be one). I could easily run out and grab a sandwich from the nearby cafe or a bowl of udon soup from a market down the street. But when I found out that the bread and the noodles were the culprits in my stomach pain, I was left scrambling for something to eat at lunchtime. I eventually found stuff to eat (obviously). Here’s what I came up with — standard work kitchen appliances (a frig and a microwave) required:

1. Thai Kitchen instant meals

Thai Kitchen clearly marks their gluten-free products (not all are gf). Their microwavable Instant Rice Noodle Bowls, Instant Rice Noodle Soup (bring your own bowl), Noodle Carts, or Take Out Meals can be made in minutes in the microwave or with boiling water. If you want a little more substance (and nutrition), add chopped vegetables or meat to the noodle bowl before microwaving. Trader Joe’s sells bags of chopped veggies if you don’t feel like chopping your own.

2. Rice cake turkey melts

Take 2 rice cakes, top with cheese and slices of turkey. Put in the microwave or toaster oven until cheese is melted. Eat as is or top with sliced tomatoes, avocado or salsa.

3. Wraps

Read my posts about gluten-free wraps and how to steam them.

4. Tamales

If you can buy fresh tamales, these are an easy and yummy meal. Tamales come in different varieties, are almost always gluten-free and can be microwaved. Eat them plain or add your own salsa, sour cream or guacamole. I love Primavera tamales from Sonoma, CA, found in Bay Area markets and Whole Foods.

5. Homemade Tex-Mex bowl

Rice and beans can be a satisfying meal - take some cooked rice and throw it in a bowl with any kind of canned beans (I like black or pinto), add salsa, meat, olives, peppers, cheese - whatever you like. Take the bowl to work and microwave it all together. Bring tortilla chips to scoop it up.

6. Frozen meals

Amy’s Kitchen has a great selection of gluten-free meals, including enchiladas, lasagna, bowls (in case you don’t want to make your own), and even Indian.

Rice Expressions makes microwavable bowls of rice for people who really don’t like to cook!

See, you don’t have to starve!

And here are 4 more gluten-free lunch ideas.

Filed under: Food Ideas, Products, Gluten Intolerance, Tips | 3 Comments »

Growing up in the Bay Area, I was accustomed to eating San Francisco-style burritos - soft flour tortillas, filled with meat, beans, rice, salsa, cheese, sour cream and guacamole, made to order at the counter and then wrapped in tin foil. I watched them put the tortilla in a big steamer and then watched it emerge warm and pliable. Aside from the bloated feeling that I had after eating those burritos (due to undiagnosed celiac disease), I have missed the satisfaction of peeling back that foil and taking a big juicy bite of burrito goodness.

Well, guess what?? I have finally done it! After years of trying, I have finally created a gluten-free burrito like the ones I used to know.

A while ago I wrote a review of La Tortilla Factory’s Gluten-Free Wraps and mentioned that perhaps I needed to work on some new ways to prepare the wrap. Remembering the way that the burrito shop workers put the tortilla into the steamer, I decided to try steaming it. The result? A soft, pliable tortilla that does not fall apart, allowing you to form a burrito. The best part is that when you steam it, it stays soft.

So how to steam a tortilla? There are steamers on the market for hundreds of dollars, but all you really need is some way to elevate the tortilla above boiling water for about 30 seconds. I’ll show you what I did just to give you ideas.

I took some - I don’t even know what they are called - pastry tin things and put them into a big saute pan. I boiled the water, placed the tortilla on top of the pastry tins (so that it didn’t touch the water) and covered the pan. 30 seconds or so later, I used tongs to remove the tortilla to a plate. You could probably just use a steamer pan, but I don’t have one big enough.

Now the fun part: fill the burrito and then wrap in foil. But wait - follow these instructions on how to wrap a burrito first! You want to have a tightly wrapped burrito and then to roll it tightly in foil so that it doesn’t fall apart as you eat it. And some more tips: don’t overfill the tortilla, and it might be a good idea to fill the tortilla while it is already on the foil, rather than trying to transfer the full burrito.

Here is a picture of my burrito! Not quite as big as those other burritos (does anyone really need them that big?), but mmmm (sorry, my mouth is full).

Filed under: Food Ideas, Products, Recipes and Cooking Tips, Tips | No Comments »