Gluten Free Cary

Red Robin. YUMMM!

2011-12-15T22:43:00.004-05:00

Red Robin in Cary has always been very accommodating to our family's gluten intolerance. They clearly take it seriously, always asking, when we order sandwiches without buns, and fries without seasoning, whether there is a gluten allergy. I love that they will lettuce-wrap a burger, and it always makes me really wish other restaurants would catch onto this simple workaround. And now, making Red Robin highest on my "family date night restaurants" list, they recently began stocking a gluten-free hamburger bun.

The manager came over to our table one night, after noting that our order had an allergy alert on it (most likely checking on how the staff handled it). He informed us of the new bun, and asked if we'd like to try one. I haven't asked who makes it, but the bun is delicious! It is so incredible to go out locally and be able to eat a sandwich on a bun, at long last. Thanks, Red Robin!

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
2260 Walnut St., Cary, NC 27511

Centrum at Crossroads

(919) 854-5415

Tom Yum Thai -- Restaurant Review

2011-12-12T13:26:00.019-05:00

For over a year I've been meaning to share this hidden gem with Cary celiacs and their families. Located in the Village Square Shopping Center on Cary Towne Blvd., near the mall and Cary High School, Tom Yum Thai has no gluten free menu, but the friendly and attentive owner will recommend dishes and ensure your food is prepared with gluten free soy sauce, if you speak with him directly. The pleasing atmosphere, with dark cherry and jade colored furnishings, soothing East Asian background music and nature sounds, and plenty of room between tables, makes for an enjoyable business lunch or dinner out before movies at the neighboring Galaxy Cinema.

Our family had dined at Tom Yum in pre-diagnosis years, and shortly after my daughter received her celiac diagnosis we brought our own bottle of gluten free soy sauce and cautiously asked the owner if there was anything he could prepare without wheat. As always, we explained that even the smallest amount of cross-contamination would make her sick. Tom Yum, it turned out, had another customer who was also gluten free, and the owner was familiar with the intolerance. He recommended several of the stir-fry dishes (available with a choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu, vegetables, or shrimp), which he said he could prepare with the gluten free soy sauce. For months, we brought our own gluten free soy sauce with us each time we went to Tom Yum, but now the restaurant keeps gluten free soy sauce in stock especially for their GF clientele.

Our daughter has stuck mostly to two dishes she loves: chicken with fresh ginger shreds prepared with chicken, peppers, baby corn, mushrooms, onions, scallions, carrots, and ginger; and chicken with Thai cashew nuts, made with chicken, scallions, carrots, peppers, nuts, and celery. Non-celiacs would be remiss not to try some of the delicious but non gluten-free curries and authentic Thai soups, but I think it's important to say that we've been to other restaurants that have promised to prepare gluten free food and our daughter has gotten violently ill from hidden gluten or cross-contamination. We've been to Tom Yum once or twice a month for almost two years, and she's never gotten sick afterwards. What's more, we've always enjoyed our meals there.

Tom Yum Thai

Village Square Shopping Center

685 Cary Towne Blvd.

Cary, NC 27511

919-463-5523

www.tomyumthaicary.com

Hours

Monday-Thursday	11:00AM - 2:30PM 5:00PM - 9:30PM
Friday	11:00AM - 2:30PM 5:00PM - 10:00PM
Saturday	12:00PM - 3:00PM 5:00PM - 10:00PM
Sunday	5:00PM - 9:30PM

Directions

Gluten Free Evening @ Whole Foods

2011-09-08T22:19:00.003-04:00

Monday, September 19th

Gluten Free Evening 5-7:30 FREE

Are you gluten free? Dont miss out on your opportunity to taste some of our gluten free products and take a gluten free tour of the store. Tastings start at 5 and the tour is at 6:30. We have made some changes to where our GF products are so this will be a good refresher for some of you regular gluten free shoppers. Sign up at customer service or just stop by.

Cary, NC Bloggers Needed

2011-08-11T08:26:00.000-04:00

Live in Cary, NC?

Live the Gluten Free Lifestyle?

Interested in helping others in your city?

If you have any questions or interest writing about Cary, NC please email me.

Gluten Free Tour @ Whole Foods Cary

2011-07-06T11:40:00.002-04:00

Thursday, July 14th

Gluten Free Tour

6:30pm FREE

Learn to Shop Gluten Free! Sign up at customer service or just stop by.

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cary/store-calendar/

Gluten Free Tasting and Tour at Whole Foods Cary

2011-06-16T21:38:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, June 21st
Gluten Free Tasting and Tour Tastings start @ 4 Tour @ 6:30
FREE

Need help shopping Gluten Free? Join us for an evening free of Gluten with tastings and meal ideas from Demo team member Bob, and a store tour by our Health Starts Here Specialist Anna Maria. Sign up for the tour at customer service or just stop by. While you are here enter to win a Gluten Free gift basket courtesy of Smart Treats.

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cary/store-calendar#46820

Tribeca Tavern

2011-03-27T21:44:00.002-04:00

I recently tried to be festive with a friend and visited Tribeca Tavern in Cary. They were serving green beer and corned beef for the St. Patrick's Day holiday. The place was packed and had a 45 minute wait as the weather was warm and sunny and they offered outdoor seating. I tried to be a trooper and not subject my friend to the same dining establishments, yet again, that offered a separate gluten-free menu. I thought to myself ahead of time, "I can handle this. I can successfully manage to order a gluten-free meal from the menu, enjoy it, and not get sick." Well, my experience did not match my original thoughts. Our waiter had no idea that gluten-free beers existed and told me that past diners had just ordered hamburgers without a bun. If I had just been recently diagnosed, then I might have made the same mistake. But, I have been on the gluten-free diet for over four years now, so I knew better. I asked the waiter if he would check with the chef about the specific ingredients in the menu items - I thought I would tackle the issue of cross-contamination and the grill separately. He assured me that there was no gluten in the chicken salad served on lettuce. I hesitantly opted for that option and proceeded to get sick. I sincerely hope that the restaurant will reach out to someone in the gluten-free community for advice on how to properly service our needs. We represent a rapidly expanding market that is very profitable for those who address our needs carefully.

Cary Whole Foods Market Gluten Free Festival - March 19th & 20th

2011-03-17T22:41:00.002-04:00

Cary Whole Foods Market will host a Gluten Free Festival - March 19 & 20^th

Where: Cary, NC Whole Foods Market

102 B New Waverly Place

Cary, NC 27511

When: Saturday, March 19^th – Tastings, 11:00am - 3:00pm

Grocery Isle Tours, 12pm & 1:30pm

Sunday, March 20th – Tastings, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Grocery Isle Tours, 1pm & 2:30pm

Details: There will be product sampling from several gluten free vendors including the WFM Gluten Free Bakehouse. Lee Tobin from our GF Bakehouse will lead GF grocery isle tours. We will discuss strategies for adapting to the GF diet as we walk the store isles highlighting a variety of GF options. Please register for these 1 hour tours at the customer service desk, or call 919-816-8830

Please let me know if you have any questions. Sorry for the short notice on the Cary event. We just finalized the schedule this week.

Thanks,

Lee Tobin

Team Leader

Whole Foods Market Gluten Free Bakehouse

2800 Perimeter Park Dr Suite C Morrisville, NC 27560

919-467-1602

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/gluten-free-bakehouse.php

Super Bowl, Gluten-Free Style

2011-02-06T15:41:00.003-05:00

Family get-togethers and parties of all shapes and sizes are always fun, but can be a veritable torture chamber for anyone struggling with a gluten intolerance, allergy, or Celiac's disease. With it being Super Bowl weekend, I thought I'd share some good recipes and places to get the ingredients for you football loving fans.

Dessert first, because really, if you're going to have a party you should go all out. Betty Crocker makes some really great baking mixes including the yellow cake mix and the brownie mixes. Wal-Mart, Super Target, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods all carry these, which is fantastic. The brownies can be a bit dry, so I always add some Reeses peanut butter chips, which add moisture and a great surprise to them. The yellow cake mix is okay on its own, but it has amazing potential. If you follow this recipe (ignore the cupcake bits, and don't put in the sugar) with the cake mix and bake it for 27 minutes then let it sit in the fridge for 1-12 hours you can make the world's richest most delicious gluten-free red velvet cake (and your gluten eating friends will love it to, I promise).

But, what's the Super Bowl without snacks, appetizers, and junk food, right? But just because you can't go out and buy the average frozen meatballs and wings doesn't mean you can't have delicious snacking food. Ian's make really great chicken nuggets, fries and pizza for kids and kids-at-heart. Nachos is an easy choice, seeing as most Tostidos are gluten-free. Kiddie friendly with just shredded cheese or add meat, olives, lettuce and you can have a taco salad that's quick, easy, and your gluten-eating friends will love, too! One of the best things to do when you're on a GF diet is to think outside the box. Don't discount recipes with gluten in them before figuring out how to do it yourself with your GF ingredients.

Also, when traveling to friends' house for a party you can bring your own things, surely, but don't feel bad telling them your concerns! They won't mind, especially because if they know you, they know you're GF and they'll be lost if you don't give them a few tips on what to do. Think about how confused you were when you started!

Finally, for you guys who just want to hit a sports bar or restaurant for the game, here are some great places in Cary and the surrounding areas:

Cafe Capistrano isn't really a sports place, but it is delicious and with corn tacos that are to die for and the flam that's sinful you can't go wrong, plus the owner there is very willing to change things around to make more things on the menu GF.

Chili's has a great GF menu, so friends looking to just "chill" come game time can all gather there.

Rosie's Plate is a dedicated GF and other allergy free kitchen, so you'll know you're in good hands. You can order these things and they'll be ready the following day at 3:00- this makes parties and dinner easy as GF pie!

Have a great Super Bowl everyone!

Keep eating!

Gluten-free for less

2011-01-30T20:35:00.002-05:00

It is becoming increasingly easier to find gluten-free items. The good news is that our food is now available in more locations with varying price points. One of the new alternatives is the grocery aisle at the Target in Cary on Walnut Street. I was completely amazed when I visited recently and found lots of gluten-free bakery items, pancake mixes, cereal, frozen Kinnikinnick products, and lots more! Many of the items cost considerably less than you would find at Whole Foods or even Kroger. I encourage you to check it out and add it to your list of weekly grocery shopping destinations.

Carolina Hurricanes: 2010-2011 Gluten Free Update

2010-10-25T21:57:00.000-04:00

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.

A few weeks ago, I checked in with the food & beverage department again to gather updates on the GF options available this season. One big complaint I heard often was the people had difficulty finding RedBridge. It appears that they are working on some signage this year which should help folks in that area.

I'm happy to report continued support of Gluten Free options for the upcoming 2010-2011 season which kicks off this Wednesday, October 27th, 2010. The Food & Beverage Department at the RBC Center has done a great job accommodating those on a Gluten Free Diet. I'd like to send a huge thanks to Chris Diamond and all the folks responsible for these GF options.

If you are interested in tickets, check out the following page. Also a reminder that this years NHL All Star Game will be held at the RBC Center the weekend of January 28-30th. Any visitors to the RBC Center that are looking for Gluten Free options should be pretty pleased.

2010-2011 Carolina Hurricanes Gluten Free options @ RBC Center

1) RedBridge beer will be carried at the following locations. It will be carried on all 3 levels of the arena (hopefully signage coming soon).

The bar @ Section 124
Lower Level - Bud Light Deck
Club Level (2nd Deck) - All private Suites, Arena Club Restaurant, Ledge Lounge bar and Champions Club
Upper Deck - Section 312 - Pub 300

2) The following Gluten Free food options are available.

Call in advance (at least 4pm on game days) 919-861-5479 and request a GF meal from Executive Chef Flood. This special menu option includes a plate of grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and carrots and will run in the $15 range. You can coordinate the details on picking up the GF dinner when you call.
Carvery Cart Meat Option with Salad - Sections 104 & 124
Philly Steak Cart, order without bun - Sections 123 & 324
Sausage Stop Cart, order without bun - Sections 105, 120 & 306
Many concession stands throughout the arena serve candy options like Skittles, M&Ms and Snickers as well as popcorn - all Gluten Free.
Soft serve ice cream from the Twisted Waffle Ice Cream Company is Gluten Free, Lactose Free and Cholesterol Free (no cone) - Section 116 & 322
Dippin’ Dots (I checked their Web site and they are gluten free - does not include Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Cookies n Cream) - Sections 105,110,120, 308, 316, 324
Sunset Slush (I checked their Web site and they are gluten free) - Sections 127

In addition to all these awesome options, each concession stand will also have a Food Allergy Ingredient Listing document which details the ingredients of each concession item. If something is in question, please ask the concession worker for this document and you can review all the ingredients yourself to be 100% sure. The listing should include ingredient warnings for the following; wheat & gluten, milk, eggs, soy, fish, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts as well as MSG. I've shown an example below - the red letters will indicate the allergen.

Butter - Partially hydrogenated soybean oil, salt, soybean lecithin, natural and artificial butter flavor, TBHQ, and Citric acid, vitamin A, and palmitate. Colored with beta cartone. S

Cheddar Cheese - Maltodextrin (corn), whey powder, cheddar cheese, salt, sugar, sodium, phosphate, lactic acid, yellow #5 (E102), citric acid, yellow #6 (E110), partially hydrogentrated soybean oil, silicon dioxide, FD&C Yellow #6 (E110), disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate. M S

Whole Foods Gluten Free Tour - 10/14/2010

2010-10-07T13:59:00.000-04:00

Check out the Cary Whole Foods for an upcoming Gluten Free Tour!

Thursday, October 14th
Gluten Free Tour

6:30 p.m. free pre-register

If you suffer from gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease, or you just want to know about our gluten-free products, then this tour is for you! We will show you where to find our various gluten-free options, as well as direct you to other resources. Along the way we will stop in our different departments to sample some yummy and satisfying gluten-free nibbles. Everyone who takes the tour will be sent home with a goody bag of our gluten-free products. Space is limited so we ask that you pre-register at our customer service desk.

Store Information
102B New Waverly Place
Cary, NC 27518 USA
Phone 919.816.8830
Store hours:
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week.

Hurricane Prep, Gluten-Free Style

2010-08-31T21:25:00.018-04:00

With Hurricane Earl closing in on the East Coast and evacuations underway in parts of the Outer Banks, here in Cary it's time to mad rush the grocery stores. All forecasts predict we'll be far from Earl's wrath, but we're properly trained in better-safe-than-sorry and won't be caught off guard without the essentials: water, flashlight, batteries, blanket, radio, bread??? Hmmmm. How different should our emergency kit look now that we have a daughter with Celiac disease?

My husband and I have talked about this at length since V was diagnosed this past January, although we've never come to any real conclusion. If we had to evacuate, not necessarily due to a hurricane, but for whatever reason, the chances that we would find gluten-free food "along the way" would be next to nil. So what portable GF foods should we pack and how much do we need in the emergency kit?

I always keep a spare case of Kind Bars in the house. Resembling granola bars at first glance, they come in a variety of fruit and nut combos with or without yogurt; they're high in protein, low on the glycemic index, and of course gluten-free (not to mention tasty). But are twelve energy bars enough food to get a child with Celiac through a real evacuation? Have your thoughts about emergency preparedness changed since Celiac entered your life? What's in your gluten-free emergency kit?

Stay safe and dry...

Whole Foods Cary - Gluten Free Tour

2010-07-06T21:17:00.002-04:00

Thursday, July 22nd

Gluten Free Tour
6:30 p.m. Free, pre-register

If you suffer from gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease, or you just want to know about our gluten-free products, then this tour is for you! We will show you where to find our various gluten-free options, as well as direct you to other resources. Along the way we will stop in our different departments to sample some yummy and satisfying gluten-free nibbles. Everyone who takes the tour will be sent home with a goody bag of our gluten-free products. Space is limited so we ask that you pre-register at our customer service desk.

Cary Food Lion stocks Gluten Free products

2010-05-21T17:47:00.007-04:00

The Cary Food Lion at the corner of Kildaire Farm Road and Maynard recently added an end display, four or five shelves, devoted entirely to Gluten Free Products. Among the products are Glutino pretzels, a staple in our house, Glutino Lemon and Glutino Chocolate wafer cookies, Gluten Free pastas, and Gluten Free baking ingredients. Some are priced lower than elsewhere.

The manager told me these products are slow movers, so if you are in the neighborhood, please consider picking up a few items so they continue to stock gluten free groceries.

The gluten-free religion

2010-05-11T10:45:00.042-04:00

It was lunch time and we were hungry. The mall wasn't crowded, so I spoke with a kebab vendor, we'll call him kebab vendor #1, who assured us that the skewered chicken and rice could be prepared gluten-free.

I could see that he was just throwing pita slices over the kebabs as they cooked on the grill, so I asked him to cook ours separately, which he did by setting the skewers on the unused, low heat side of the grill. They took longer to cook because the heat was not as high. Just before the kebabs were done, another employee, kebab vendor #2, innocently grabbed the skewer and stuck the chicken on high heat, right where the pita had been seconds before.

I think I probably cried, "Nooooooooooooo!" Winces all around. My freakout factor related to food preparation would have been unimaginable six months ago. Blood tests at the three month mark indicated that our celiac daughter was still getting exposure to gluten from somewhere, exposure that even in minute quantities damages her small intestines, makes her sick, and puts her at greater risk for malignancies and osteoporosis.

After I explained that my daughter can't have any contact with wheat, kebab vendors #1 and #2 jointly put a fresh kebab on the 'clean,' low-heat side of the grill. It took ages to cook. In fact, my husband finished eating before ours was ready. While we were waiting, the woman came over and asked if she could ask a personal question.

Did my daughter not eat wheat, kebab vendor #2 wanted to know, because of our religion?

I am still trying to imagine the religion that would forbid the eating of wheat.

Raleigh Cel-kids event May 15

2010-05-05T15:13:00.009-04:00

Attention families, this is going to be a great picnic event!

Join the Raleigh Cel-kids group at Baileywick Park on Saturday, May 15 for Gluten Free pizza(!) from Mellow Mushroom and dessert (!) from the Moonlight Bakery.

The event is from 4-6pm.

Be sure to RSVP by May 10 to raleigh.celkids@gmail.com, and check the Cel-kids website for more information and directions.

Road trip - South Beach Grill, Wrightsville Beach

2010-05-02T18:34:00.020-04:00

With the hot weather, thoughts turn east to the beach, but if you're like us, you may have heard about a supposed dearth of gluten-free choices in the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area.

We've only been gluten-free since January when our daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease, so even a short trip to the coast induces a mild panic about how to handle meals. Which is why I am so excited to tell you about South Beach Grill on Wrightsville Beach. It's right next door to Wings.

We ate at South Beach Grill a number of times during our pre-GF days (those halcyon days of yore) and always loved the combination of great cuisine and casual atmosphere, so on Saturday afternoon I stopped in and spoke with Chef James "Firetruck" Rivenbark to see if he would be able to accommodate us that evening. With assurances that the Grill made it a priority to safely serve people with food intolerances, we were able to enjoy the afternoon without worrying about dinner.

South Beach Grill does not have a specific gluten-free menu (yet), but many offerings can be prepared gluten-free upon request. Chef Rivenbark recommended the sage chicken for our daughter, which was delicious. It's a boneless breast prepared with boursin cheese, mushroom, sundried tomatoes, and basil stuffing. The chicken is ordinarily dipped in flour before pan searing, so it's imperative that you speak with your server and specify gluten-free.

If you are interested in learning more about South Beach Grill, check out their website or Fish N Pickles a blog written by the Grill's general manager, Chris Kronenwetter.

South Beach Grill
100 South Lumina Avenue
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-4646
Open for lunch and dinner starting at 11:00 am

North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month

2010-04-30T08:10:00.003-04:00

Media Release

North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month

• Triangle residents can participate in a gluten-free food drive at various locations or make a monetary donation to help stock the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
• Bella Monica Italian Restaurant is hosting a six-course gluten-free dinner prepared by Vanessa Maltin, food and lifestyle editor for Delight Gluten-free Magazine
• A top food allergens poster is available for restaurants to download to educate their staff about these items, including gluten

Raleigh, N.C., USA, April 30, 2010 – The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog has announced Governor Beverly Perdue has declared May 2010 “Celiac Disease Awareness Month” in North Carolina. The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog and Pat Berger, leader of the North Raleigh Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) Support Group brought the petition to the Governor’s office regarding the awareness month.

Celiac Disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that affects one in 133 people in the United States. It interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food and can cause gastrointestinal and neurological issues, infertility, skin rashes and cancer. The only treatment for Celiac Disease is lifelong, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.

“The Governor’s proclamation paves the way to further educate the community on Celiac Disease and helps to create a positive impact on the quality of life for people living with this condition,” said Zach Becker, creator of the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog. “It’s my goal to help raise awareness so those living with this disease can safely eat out at restaurants and have easier access to gluten-free food.”

In an effort to educate, raise awareness and give back to the community, there are a number of gluten-free events scheduled during the month of May.

• A gluten-free food drive will be held on Saturday, May 8 to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Special discounts at the drop off locations may be available in exchange for your donation. Bins are set up in each of these locations to accept the packaged gluten-free non-perishable food items:
o Rosie’s Plate – N. Person St., Raleigh
o Bella Monica Italian Restaurant – Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh
o ZPizza – Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh and Cornerstone Dr., Cary
o Mellow Mushroom – W. Peace St., Raleigh
o Whole Foods Market, Raleigh – Wade Ave., Raleigh
o Earth Fare – Moncreiffe Rd., Raleigh
o Harmony Farms/Café Harmony – Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh

• A virtual food drive will be held all month to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina with gluten-free food. The link to donate can be located on the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog.

• On Sunday, May 16, beginning at 5 p.m., Bella Monica Italian Restaurant will host a six-course gluten-free dinner prepared by Vanessa Maltin, food and lifestyle editor for Delight Gluten-free Magazine and Corbett Monica, head chef at Bella Monica Italian Restaurant. They will be preparing dishes from Maltin’s gluten-free cookbook entitled The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook: Spicing Up Life with Italian, Asian and Mexican Recipes. Copies of the cookbook will also be included. Tickets are required for this dining event and can be purchased by calling Bella Monica Italian Restaurant at 919-881-9778.

• The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog worked with Sofia Noble of the design firm This Is Beautiful to create a poster featuring all of the top food allergens, including gluten. This poster is now available for download in English and Spanish at the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog. Wake County restaurant owners may use it to educate their staffs about these foods.

“Research indicates there are approximately three million people living with Celiac Disease in the United States and of those, only about 120,000 have been diagnosed,” said Alice Bast, founder and president of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). “It’s great to see North Carolina working to raise awareness about this disease so perhaps others can be accurately diagnosed by their doctors. Zach Becker and the entire North Carolina Celiac Disease community should be commended for their leadership and successful advocacy efforts.”

About Gluten Free Raleigh Blog
Zach Becker was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in May 2008. He founded the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog in August 2008 and has created similar blogs across the state. He has recruited writers for these blogs so gluten-free information in those communities can be shared. The blogs contain restaurant and grocery store reviews, summaries of national news as well as highlight local companies that cater to the gluten-free community. Becker is an advocate for those living with Celiac Disease in the Triangle and donates his time to educate the newly diagnosed, local restaurants and government leaders on this condition.

FDA recall of Gluten-Free pancake and baking mixes

2010-03-22T11:53:00.006-04:00

Due to traces of Salmonella and the potential for Salmonella contamination, Gluten-Free Naturals Foods has recalled its Pancake Mix, Light and Moist Yellow Cake Mix, and Cookie Blend Flour. The FDA recall press release, which includes the Lot numbers of recalled products, can be found here.

Gluten-free wheat under development

2010-03-13T09:14:00.020-05:00

In February, the biosciences company Arcadia received an $855,500 grant to enter the second phase of developing wheat varieties with reduced celiac disease-causing proteins. The grant, from NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is in collaboration with Washington State University, and will last for two-years. According to the press release, Phase I of the research successfully identified"wheat plants with low levels of proteins that are most toxic to individuals with celiac disease." Phase II is expected to last through mid-2011.

All indications are that gluten-free wheat will be available to our kids sometime in the not so distant future.

Kids with allergies article

2010-03-04T11:21:00.004-05:00

Joyce Clark Hicks has a short, but interesting article about the challenges of raising kids with allergies in the current Independent Weekly. Looks like it may become a regular column!

CelKids group, gift baskets, and travel blog

2010-02-28T15:41:00.050-05:00

There are three items to talk about this week:

The Raleigh CelKids group meeting at Earthfare.
The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center gift basket.
Introduction to my new blog, Travel With Allergies.

1. Saturday afternoon was the quarterly meeting of the Raleigh Celkids support group. We met at Earth Fare organic food supermarket at Brier Creek and took a tour of the store which featured gluten-free products. (Look for the brown wooden shelves scattered throughout the store. Everything on them is gluten-free!) Also, a representative from Rosie's Plate in Raleigh was there to give us information and samples of gluten-free goodies. There is preliminary talk of holding a kids cooking class at Rosie's, so if this interests you, let them know.

There was a good mix of boys and girls at the meeting, with an age range from toddlers to seventh graders. The kids and adults got a chance to socialize and share drinks, snacks, and tips about thriving with celiac. This was our first time joining the group and it was a relief to meet so many local families dealing with the same issues. Everyone was friendly and I was surprised to meet some real live readers of Gluten Free Cary! All in all, the Celkids Network is a great resource for Triangle families; we are already looking forward to the next event. Check out the Celkids website here.

2. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with celiac disease in the last three months, call the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center to participate in their free, one-of-a-kind care package program. My daughter's care package arrived this week and included scores of gluten-free product samples, magazines, books, and coupons. See the pic above for some of the goodies we received. The letter accompanying the package says, "We hope this gluten-free care package reduces the overwhelming feeling that often accompanies the diagnosis," and includes a testimonial by a U.S. Armed Forces member serving in Iraq.

3. My final bit of news is that I've started a new blog called Travel with Allergies.

We love to travel and don't believe that having celiac disease, food allergies or sensitivities should stop anyone from traveling with ease and comfort. There are many, many resources on the web for people with celiac and food allergies, but they all seem to lack something. Even the sites that review gluten-free restaurants in major cities in Europe lack useful tips or resources for travel even slightly off the beaten track.

My attempt with Travel with Allergies is not to be comprehensive, but to aggregate links to as much useful information as possible. My introductory post can be found here. I am actively seeking contributions of tips, useful information, and links. If you have information to contribute, submit it via the comment box or contact me and you can become a guest blogger. The site will be a work in progress for some time.

Have a great week!

Restaurant Review: Chatham Street Cafe

2010-02-21T17:25:00.050-05:00

Somehow I never noticed Chatham Street Cafe, a storefront restaurant just steps from the Cary clock in the heart of downtown. A recent News and Observer review mentioned that Chatham Street offers gluten-free options, so it was time to investigate. We went there for brunch and felt at home in the casual and unassuming cafe, decorated with local artwork. A softly crooning singer in the front room added to the mellow aura.

Owner and Head Chef Gayla Bonke, who has a dietetics degree and catering background, told us she could make virtually anything on the menu gluten-free. Like so many business owners who cater to the gluten-free community, Bonke has friends who are gluten intolerant and loves the challenge of cooking without it. I didn't get a chance to see the kitchen but was told that the gluten-free foods are prepared separately.

Between us, we sampled the Gluten-Free French Toast, the House Omelet, and the Grilled Steak Salad. Although all three items are listed on the menu as gluten-free, the Steak Salad comes topped with crumbled gorgonzola. Gorgonzola cheese is one of those sometimes safe, sometimes unsafe foods for celiacs, and I didn't have enough information to make a judgment. We were offered the option to substitute another cheese, and went with Asiago. The peas and sauteed mushrooms added a nice flavor to the salad. The French Toast was indistinguishable from "regular" French Toast, although possibly not quite as heavy. The omelet was tasty accompanied by hashbrowns.

Even packing up half our meal to take home, we had no room for dessert. The Almond Cake, described on the menu as "A dense, buttery cake dusted with powdered sugar served in a pool of sweet raspberry coulis. And yes, it's Gluten Free," sounds scrumptious. I look forward to trying it in the very near future when we return to Chatham Street Cafe.

Information:

Chatham Street Cafe
140 E. Chatham Street
Cary, NC 27511
919-380-1193

Website: http://www.chathamstreetcafe.com
Menu: http://www.chathamstreetcafe.com/menus

Valentine's Day

2010-02-11T23:48:00.055-05:00

I watched V this afternoon. She was sitting at the kitchen table, happily making cards and packing chocolate kisses into plastic baggies to give to her classmates for the Valentine's Day exchange. Her blond hair, which barely grew for the last three years, has shot past her shoulders in the few short weeks she's been off gluten. Her skin glows.

The nutrients her body could not absorb are finally feeding her. I don't want to speak too soon, but the symptoms which stole countless hours in hospital clinic waiting room have all but disappeared!

The transition from "regular kid" to a person with an immune disease who must eliminate gluten for the rest of her life, has not been easy. It is not about finding replacement foods. We are lucky to have so many gluten free options.

Even as I write this, my temptation is to downplay the difficulty. Oh there are so many options... Grocery stores carry gluten-free products...Starbucks has a new line of GF products piled so high you can barely see the counter. It's not [insert terrible disease name here] so buck up.

Well, I am, most of the time. And she is my hero, for the way she is handling it. But it is hard for her. As I watched her I thought about the challenges of celiac from a few angles. To a certain extent, they apply to sufferers of all severe food allergies:

Food. There are foods you love that you can't have. Period.
Time and Focus. Unless you stay cloistered in the house and eat the same thing day after day, you have to check the ingredients in everything you eat. If something is ambiguous (modified food starch, anyone? Natural flavor?), you must either not eat it, or verify the ingredients from the producer.
Makes it kind of hard to "Oh it's no big deal" it when you're socializing. It's not impossible to be smooth, but let's face it, no matter what age you are, needing to know the exact contents of everything you consume is not going to draw people to you like a magnet.
1,2 and 3 make you different. Which in school is still called weird.

Which brings me back to the chocolate kisses.

I'm not much of a Valentine's Day person, still less having it be an obligatory holiday observed in elementary school. In past years, V made cards for her classmates, but I never sent in candy for the kids. Because nothing says I Love You more than crap that makes your teeth fall out, right? Oh that gaping black hole is so sexy. I couldn't justify it. But this year, I don't want my baby left out. She won't be able to eat the other kids' candy if it's unlabeled, so I gladly showered her with chocolate kisses to bring to school. It is the least I can do.

Whatever you're eating or not eating, Happy Valentine's Day.

The orange walnut biscotti test

2010-02-02T17:53:00.078-05:00

My homemade Gluten-Free biscotti:

If you've ever wanted to travel back in time to Ancient Rome, try dunking a piece of biscotti in wine. (Well, it works for me). I don't know if there is sound archaeological evidence of the ancients dipping cookies in wine -- if you've got proof please tell me. The ancient origins of the word biscotti, however, are free for the taking. From the Latin -bis meaning twice and coctum meaning cooked.

Now if only some Roman baker imagined me, two thousand years later in my middle class 21st- century American kitchen (actually it's still a 20th-century kitchen, alas), twice-baking my own biscotti GLUTEN-FREE. That would be a mind-blower. The original, crunchy, golden brown cookie made without wheat? How could it be? And by the way, Tiberius, we still use aqueducts. And when you see steam rising from Vesuvius, you might want to evacuate.

So, I really enjoy biscotti with my coffee and it isn't an indulgence I want to give up now that we've gone gluten-free. As I mentioned in the carrot cake post, Rebecca Reilly's Gluten-Free Baking includes six GF biscotti recipes, with variations given for each recipe. For my first attempt, I chose the Walnut Orange biscotti. People with other sensitivities should note that this recipe is gluten-free, but contains DAIRY, NUTS, EGGS and SUGAR.

The first few steps are familiar to anyone who's baked: combine the dry ingredients; whip the butter, sugar and wet ingredients; combine the wet and dry ingredients. Voila--dough. I'll focus here on the twice-baked part which is crucial to biscotti.

After the prepared dough is chilled, roll it into logs:

Bake the logs.

This is what they looked like after the first baking:

Next, slice the baked logs:

As you can see, the result was extra crumbly.
Spread the baked slices on a cookie sheet and rebake.
Here they are just out of the oven:

Seriously, can you tell these are gluten-free? Yum!

Restaurant Review: Pei Wei Asian Diner

2010-01-28T08:34:00.059-05:00

P.F. Changs' unfussy younger brother, Pei Wei Asian Bistro, has 150 locations throughout the U.S., including one on Walnut Street in Cary, adjacent to Cary Towne Center. The big draw here is price and convenience; the chain boasts every item on the pan-Asian menu costs less than $10. This isn't relaxed dining, it's order-at-the-counter fast-casual, and it gets the job done without the frills.

Since Pei Wei is owned by P.F. Changs, a popular choice among gluten-free diners, we thought we'd check out the offerings at Pei Wei. But whereas Changs has a whopping 17 gluten-free choices, Pei Wei has a menu of just five items they call "Recommended for Gluten Intolerant diets." Three of those items are incarnations of chicken salad: Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls (order without the Thai peanut sauce), Asian Chopped Chicken Salad (substitute lime vinaigrette dressing and no wonton strips), and Pei Wei Spicy Chicken Salad (shrimp can be substituted). The other two recommended items are Pei Wei Spicy and Pei Wei Sweet and Sour, with a choice of chicken or shrimp in either dish.

Note the disclaimer at the bottom of the menu which reads, "Products containing gluten are prepared in our kitchen." In other words, BEWARE if cross-contamination is a concern. The good news is: the kitchen is open and visible from the dining area, so vigilant diners can keep a close eye on food preparation.

Ordering at the counter, it was evident that the staff had received training on Pei Wei's gluten free options. The woman we spoke with was able to answer specific gluten questions about each dish. When the computerized order went through, we could hear shouts of "Gluten-Free!" coming from the kitchen, as the information passed among the food preparers.

Even though my daughter is the one who MUST eat gluten-free, all three of us ordered off the gluten-free menu, in order to get a true idea of options. When I ordered, I asked that the non-gluten-free Thai peanut sauce be served on the side of my Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls. When our server brought the food to the table, he warned me that the side of sauce wasn't gluten-free, and asked if I wanted him to bring it back to the kitchen -- another sign of good staff training. The Chicken Salad rolls were tasty, if funny looking, and I skipped the peanut sauce altogether: chicken, fresh lettuce, mint, vermicelli thin rice noodles, and lime vinaigrette packaged in chewy rice paper. The rolls seemed a lighter option than the syrupy, sauce-laden dishes, all too prevalent at Amer-Asian restaurants.

My daughter chose the Pei Wei Sweet and Sour Chicken without the sauce (see above. Although rest easy, the GF sweet and sour sauce is gluten-free). The chicken arrived at the table breaded, despite the menu description as "non-battered chicken." When I inquired about the batter, I was quickly reassured that the GF chicken is breaded with potato starch, and is gluten-free. It was a comfort that all three of the staff members I interacted with were fully informed about the requirements of a gluten-free diet.

Here is a summary of the pros and cons of Pei Wei Asian Diner in Cary, as we experienced it:

PROS

* Quick, cheap and convenient dining option.
* Staff well trained in gluten-free dietary requirements.
* Kitchen visible from dining area.

CONS

* Risk of cross-contamination due to mixed kitchen.
* Limited gluten-free menu selection.

All in all, we plan to return to Pei Wei in the future, but with caution.

Challenge 1: Baking a Gluten-Free Cake

2010-01-26T09:33:00.049-05:00

Gluten, a composite of gliadin and glutenin, is the protein in wheat grain, the elastic that binds together ingredients in dough. To bake without gluten is like trying to get two pieces of paper to stick to each other without glue. You can use tape; you can use paperclips or staples, but the end result is going to be different. Yesterday, I set out to use paperclips but make them act like glue.

V requested we bake a carrot cake and that seemed like an easier apprenticeship into gluten-free baking than, say, chocolate croissants.

I chose a carrot cake recipe from Rebecca Reilly's GLUTEN-FREE BAKIN G. Reilly is a graduate of LeNotre and Cordon Bleu cooking schools in Paris, so she knows how to bake, but here's the real sell for me: her book contains recipes for six different kinds of gluten-free biscotti. I have a *thing* for biscotti, so I'm looking forward to sampling homemade GF biscotti with my coffee.

Here are the ingredients I used to bake the carrot cake:

As you can see, it takes many ingredients to approximate the power of wheat gluten. Reilly's carrot cake is also dairy-free, egg-free, and sugar-free so it is great for people who have multiple sensitivities.

The cream cheese icing, on the other hand, is mostly dairy and sugar. So skip the icing if you are lactose intolerant or diabetic.

This is what it my dry and wet ingredients looked like before combining:

The house smelled divine while the cake was baking--a great sign!

Just out of the oven, you can see that the cake hardly rose. This is a dense dessert.

Here, I whipped up the cream cheese icing:

I'm not the world's best cake icer, but I thought the finished product looked pretty good, except for being really short:

Okay, so how about taste?

V loves it; I had to stop her from having too much. I like it, but would prefer using egg instead of tofu, if I can figure out how to make the substitution. Embracing my inner Betty Draper just a bit, I do believe the carrot cake passed the ultimate test. My husband, who is not on a gluten-free (or any other) diet took a piece with him to work. While I was writing this entry, he sent me the following text:

The carrot cake is totally yummy. It got me through the morning. No small feat.

If only "mission accomplished" weren't relegated to the linguistic trash-bin....
I'll have to settle for "challenge met".

A New Life

2010-01-24T21:59:00.015-05:00

My daughter--I'll call her V for now--was diagnosed with celiac disease on January 15, so she’s had just over a week to adjust to a total change in lifestyle. It’s been an emotional week for the entire family. Today we ran into Target and she said, "Mom, I just want a soft pretzel."

I'm going to use this space to occasionally chronicle what's going on with us, but also to pressure local businesses to provide gluten-free options. Luckily, we're coming into this at a time when gluten-free is HOT--celiacs have more grocery and dining options than ever before. So when a Cary business does a great job being gluten-free friendly, I want to commend that here in this blog. Later in this post, I am going to recognize Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano for doing just that.

Over at Gluten Free Raleigh, Zach mentions that it takes an average of 11 years for someone to be properly diagnosed with celiac. In our case it took seven years, and many visits to both UNC Children’s Gastroenterology and Duke Pediatric Gastroenterology clinics, unpleasant experiences at best. I give both hospitals an F. I could talk ad nauseum about UNC and Duke, but the bottom line is: no one at either clinic knew what was wrong with my daughter and she was never tested for celiac disease. I was not even aware of celiac until my mother was diagnosed with it.

In December, I finally found an independent pediatric gastroenterologist and requested the blood test. V tested positive for the celiac antibodies. The gastroenterologist then performed an endoscopic biopsy, a procedure in which a tiny camera is inserted through a tube which goes down the throat, through the esophagus, into the duodendum. Pictures and tissue samples were taken. Those samples were sent to a pathologist for analysis. The biopsy confirmed celiac disease.

The whole process of getting knocked out with general anesthesia before the endoscopy, the endoscopy itself, and waiting for the results frightened V, who is nine. Fortunately, our experience at WakeMed pediatric outpatient surgery was better than the UNC and Duke clinic visits. By the time we received confirmation of the celiac diagnosis on Friday morning, it was somewhat of a relief. If celiac is the sole cause of her problems, she will feel better very soon.

We wanted to do something at least a little fun Friday evening, so we ventured out for her first gluten-free meal. We went to Biaggi’s in Cary, which has a gluten free menu.

Biaggi’s was the perfect introduction to gluten-free restaurant dining. The atmosphere is relaxed but chic, with earth-toned décor, soft lighting, and plenty of space between tables.

A helpful server had the kitchen bake up a fresh batch of GF bread. They use their gluten-free pizza dough, which is salty and flavorful, and goes down easily drizzled with the olive oil at the table. I asked for the croutons to be left off my salad and that was no problem. V ordered the gluten-free pasta with pesto sauce, and she loved it. She said she couldn’t taste the difference between hers and regular wheat pasta, the ultimate compliment. When the Chef heard from our server that we were brand new to gluten free living, he sent over a paper copy of the GF menu and his business card with an offer to answer any future questions that we have. I plan to take him up on this, and we will definitely dine again at Biaggi’s.

More later. In the meantime, please leave a comment if there is a local gluten-free friendly business you'd like me to visit.

Whole Foods - Gluten Free Tour

2010-01-08T15:59:00.000-05:00

Sunday, January 24th

Gluten-Free Tour

4 p.m. free, pre-register

If you suffer from gluten sensitivity, Celiac Disease, or you just want to know about our gluten-free products, then this tour is for you! We will show you where to find our various gluten-free options, as well as direct you to other resources. Along the way we will stop in our different departments to sample some yummy and satisfying gluten-free nibbles. Everyone who takes the tour will be sent home with a goody bag of our gluten-free products. Space is limited so we ask that you pre-register at our customer service desk.

Whole Foods - Gluten Free Tour 12/13

2009-12-08T21:26:00.000-05:00

From http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cary/storecalendar.php

Sunday, December 13th
Gluten Free Tour
4 p.m. free, pre-registration required

If you suffer from gluten sensitivity, Celiac Disease, or you just want to know about our gluten-free products, then this tour is for you! We will show you where to find our various gluten-free options, as well as direct you to other resources. Along the way we will stop in our different departments to sample some yummy and satisfying gluten-free nibbles. Everyone who takes the tour will be sent home with a goody bag of our gluten-free products. Space is limited so we ask that you pre-register at our customer service desk.

Food Allergy Walk This Saturday

2009-11-04T09:17:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, November 7th, 2009, there will be a walk to raise funds and awareness for Food Allergies held in Cary. The walk is sponsored by The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and NC FACES (North Carolina Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely) support group. This will be an excellent opportunity to shine the spotlight on food allergies and how they affect millions of Americans. If you have not seen my Food Allergen Restaurant Poster Petition, click here.

Walk Details
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2009
Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.; Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary, NC 27513
Distance: 2 miles
Event Web site (visit this site to create or join a team or give
Email Contact: Christa Davidson
Restrictions: No pets, glass bottles, bikes, roller skates, or skate boards. Baby strollers and wagons are welcomed.
Target Fundraising Goal: $70,000 (currently have raised nearly $14,000)

About FAAN
FAAN is a national network offering support and education for people with food allergies. There is a ton a great information on their Web site. The group was established in 1991. FAAN’s membership now stands at close to 30,000 worldwide and includes families, dietitians, nurses, physicians, school staff, and representatives from government agencies and the food and pharmaceutical industries. FAAN serves as the communication link between the patient and others. FAAN focuses on awareness, education, advocacy, research and many other areas (a lot of the same goals for this blog). FAAN is (and has been conducting Food Allergy Walks all over the US for years now. Click here for the Walk Web site. There was also a race in Charlotte this past September which raised more than $25,000 and had over 300 participants.

About NC FACES
NC FACES was started by local parents in 2003 who had children with food allergies. The group began by getting together for play dates and has now grown to over 200 families. They focus on providing local social and emotional support for food allergic families. The group usually has quarterly meetings and other events like Easter egg hunts, Halloween fun and games at the Durham Bulls. They are also a big reason for the local FAAN Walk. Click here for the groups Web site or click here to email for more information. You can also check out the group on Facebook.

Jules Shepard Gluten Free Thanksgiving Cooking Class @ Earth Fare

2009-10-29T13:39:00.001-04:00

I've written numerous times about Celiac expert and Gluten Free cooking guru Jules Shepard before on Gluten Free Raleigh. Jules currently resides in Baltimore but has North Carolina ties and stops in for a visit every few months. Each time she stops in we are very lucky! I have had the pleasure of organizing 2 previous cooking classes with Jules (February & July) and she stopped by for another one in August. I have great news to report, Jules will again be back in Raleigh, this time for a timely Gluten Free Thanksgiving themed cooking demonstration. Thanksgiving can be like navigating a Gluten minefield, this class will be the perfect way to have a great GF feast.

See below for more information. I encourage you to sign up soon as space is limited and Jules' classes are in very high demand. As always, portion of the proceeds will go toward Celiac Disease research.

GF Thanksgiving With Jules Shepard
Earth Fare Raleigh
Sunday Nov. 15, 2-4:30pm

Jules Shepard returns to Earth Fare Raleigh to get us all ready for a delicious gluten-free Thanksgiving! Come experience firsthand how knowledgeable, entertaining and encouraging North Carolina native and gluten-free cooking expert Jules Shepard can be, at this in-person demonstration with the focus on Thanksgiving! Learn how simple it can be to prepare amazing gluten-free meals everyone in your family will enjoy this holiday season.

Dishes like gluten-free and dairy-free homemade casseroles, pie crusts, pumpkin pie, dinner rolls and stuffing! Sample a wide variety of goodies, ask questions and have Jules sign one of her two books at this limited-space class. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a special bonus, registrants in this Thanksgiving class will each get Jules' brand new 34 page Thanksgiving E-book full of recipes and tips for a great holiday (a $12.95 value)! See you there!

Class Fee is $40 (a portion of this registration fee will be donated to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research)

To register, visit JulesGlutenFree.com or call (433-1390)/visit Earth Fare.

Cary, NC Bloggers Needed

2009-10-26T08:28:00.000-04:00

Live in Cary, NC?

Live the Gluten Free Lifestyle?

Interested in helping others in your city?

If you have any questions or interest writing about Cary, NC please email me.

Restaurant Review: The Loop Pizza Grill

2009-09-10T00:20:00.003-04:00

Just in case you didn't already know. The Loop Pizza Grill in Cary has a gluten free menu. There are risks involved, in that their grill is used for a variety of items, and although they clean it, they can't guarantee against cross contamination.

When I read the disclaimer about the grill on the top of the menu I was a little disheartened, but talking with the manager eased my mind a bit. Although they cook many items on their grill, it is mainly used for meats, and he commits to cleaning the area your meat would be cooked on before preparing it. I also gained a little confidence when he mentioned he had brought an outside expert in to educate him on the problems of cross-contamination, and the gluten free diet. He paid someone to come in to his kitchen, educate him and help him with their menu and gluten free options. To me that is pretty impressive.

Information
The Loop Pizza Grill
Web site: http://www.looppizzagrill.com/

2 Cary Locations
Kildaire Plaza Shopping Center - 1207 Kildaire Farm Road - Cary, NC
Phone: 919-657-0330

West Park Place - 2734 NC Hwy 55 - Cary, NC
Phone: 919-387-8002

Restaurant Review: Lucky 32

2009-09-10T00:11:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I was gifted a meal at Lucky 32 with 19 of my friends. I know, CRAZY! That doesn't really happen does it? Well it did. And usually meals like this bring out all sorts of stress, and anxiety about my meal, and how I might feel the next couple of days. But, it was lunch with friends, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. And I am glad I didn't.

I arrived to find they were prepared for me. They already had printed out their gluten free menu and had them on the table ready to go. The rest of my crew of course opted for the regular menu, but I was pleasantly surprised by the options listed. There were several!

Since the meal was free, and well, I could get whatever I wanted, I made it a multiple course meal. I started with salad, and was a bit disappointed when my salad came with an unwrapped cracker on top. I stressed the harmful affects of that cracker resting with my salad, and they quickly whisked it away, and several minutes later came back with a new one apologizing profusely. I then had some incredible tomato soup, that was again, gluten free, and without any crackers. When my main dish arrived, I was full, but had to try a few bites and I can say, the Jambalya was out of this world! It was even better reheated the next day. I should mention that the cornbread they serve on the table, was also gluten free, and was, well, heavenly. It has been a long time since I enjoyed bread with my friends before the meal arrived. I felt almost normal!

The only downfall, which is common, was that there wasn't a dessert option. Well, that and the cracker incident, but hey, they did have a table for 20, and well, I know it isn't an excuse, but they had 3 servers working with us. The poor guy didn't stand a chance. And they fixed the problem without complaint.

I have eaten at Lucky 32 since then, a few times, without incident during the meal or in the days following. I highly recommend it if you want something that isn't a chain and is a little different.

Check out a previous post with their GF menu.

Information
Lucky 32
Web site: http://www.lucky32.com/
7307 Tryon Road, Cary, NC
Between US 1/64 and Kildaire Farm
Hours:
Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Monday 11:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Phone: 919-233-1632

Restaurant Review: Maggiano's Little Italy

2009-09-10T00:03:00.005-04:00

I know I know, Maggiano's is NOT in Cary, but it is so close, and well, I figured the Cary readers needed to know about this one.

A few weeks ago I was craving pasta, but not just any pasta. I was craving the pasta that comes from someone else's kitchen, that leaves you feeling so full you can't even find room for ice-cream kind of pasta. So, I tried out Maggiano's to see just how gluten free friendly they were.

And I was so incredibly impressed! I sat down, asked my waiter about the gluten free pasta. I started to quiz him and he stopped me mid-sentence. He then informed me, that in order to make sure all of my needs were met, they actually have the chef come out to talk to me. That way my waiter wouldn't mess it up.

About 5 minutes later, the waiter comes out with a special note-pad. It's yellow, says Gluten-Free meal on top in bold letters, and has space to write down what I want to eat. I was floored. The chef introduced himself, informed me that he personally would prepared my meal, and then asked what I wanted. And this is where I got the biggest surprise of my visit. Long ago I stopped looking at the menu when it was handed to me. I would go into a restaurant and glance at it, find something that sounded good and then hope I could modify it only to be sorely disappointed. I explained this to the chef, and he said, well then, lets create you a meal, what were you thinking of when you came in? Seriously folks, he made up my pasta dish. And it was DELISH, and gluten free!

And here is another kicker. They didn't charge me an exorbitant amount. I later found a dish that was similar to the one I had created, and the price was comparable.

So, it's not in Cary, but really, for some of us in Cary, Southpointe mall isn't too far away. It's worth a shot.

I have been in contact with Daniel's Italian restaurant. I hope to have some news on them soon.

Information
Maggiano's Little Italy
Web site: http://www.maggianos.com/
Durham location (only location in the Triangle)
8030 Renaissance Parkway,, Suite 890, Durham, NC, 27713
Hours:
Sun 12pm - 10pm
Mon - Thur 11am - 10pm
Fri - Sat 11am - 11pm
Phone: 919-572-0070

Whole Foods Gluten Free Tour - Aug 26

2009-08-24T20:58:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, August 26th

Gluten Free Tour @ Whole Foods Cary
7 p.m. free, pre-register

If you suffer from gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease, or you just want to know about our gluten-free products, then this tour is for you! We will show you where to find our various gluten-free options, as well as direct you to other resources. Along the way we will stop in our different departments to sample some yummy and satisfying gluten-free nibbles. Everyone who takes the tour will be sent home with a goody bag of our gluten-free products. Space is limited so we ask that you pre-register at our customer service desk.

Thank you Betty!

2009-08-01T22:04:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I recieved a text message, "brownies or cookies?" I am a chocolate chip cookie lover so aptly replied, "if chocolate chip, cookies, if not, brownies...why?" There wasn't a response, until the next day when she showed up at my door with a plate of cookies in hand. I was floored. She said she had found the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cookie mix and had to make me some. After I quizzed her on her preparation techniques to ensure against cross-contamination, I took a bite and was taken back. They were GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

This past week brought another similar experience. A

girlfriend had stumbled upon a box of Betty Crocker's Gluten Free Brownie mix, and couldn't resist buying it. This evening I pulled out the box, hopeful that they would be at least decent. And was I in for a surprise.

They were AMAZING. Seriously folks. OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD! In fact, the friend who enjoyed them with me commented that they were some of the best brownies she had ever tasted...and she gets to eat gluten!

I have to say that I have tried several other baking products on the market, and I have found some good "substitutes," but they all have that gluten free flavor and taste to them. None have really taken be back to the good ol' days...but Betty Crocker...she has out done herself!

And as if having brownies, cookies, devils food cake or yellow cake weren't enough, Betty Crocker has a load of recipes that can be made using of these products. I am thinking that the ooey-gooey Rocky Road Bars and the Lemon Lover's cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting might be the first on my list to try. Thank you Betty Crocker team, for re-instilling my faith in baking quality products that are gluten free.

***For those looking, both friends mentioned they found them at Harris Teeter in Cary. I have searched a few other major chains but not seen them on the store shelves yet.

Grocery Store Review: Walmart

2009-07-16T07:16:00.007-04:00

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for ways to keep my grocery bill to a minimum. I used to be one of those coupon clippers, and could get a lot of food for near to free, but most of those items are laden with gluten and I have since cancelled my News and Observer Subscription. I was one of "those" who only got the paper for the coupons, occasionally I glanced at the headlines, but if I were honest, I really glanced at the front page and the comics.

I live in West Cary, as in, just about as far as you can get from Trader Joes and Whole Foods and still have a Cary address. Which isn't really so bad, but I have to admit, the trek to that side of town still seems like a trek, and often times, hardly worth it.

So I have to admit I have paid more. I became acutely aware of what Harris Teeeter carried that was gluten free, and Food Lion as well. Most of the time I would do just fine, and found myself only going to the other side of Cary on occasion.

A few weeks ago, those of us in West Cary celebrated the opening of the new Walmart naer I-540 and Hwy 54. And as I always do when I walk into a new grocery store, I immediately started checking aisles for gluten free options. There were several that I was aware of, not because of any markers or tags on the shelves, but because I know what brands have gluten and which ones label correctly at this point, but imagine my surprise when I also stumbled upon a section completely dedicated to GLUTEN FREE PRODUCTS!

Walmart we welcome you to west Cary, and we thank you for catering to our gluten free lifestlye!

An introduction: Pam McKerring

2009-07-16T07:00:00.003-04:00

Several months ago, Zach put it out there that he was looking for additional bloggers in the Cary area. I responded with something like, "I blog, and can blog occasionally about being gluten free in Cary, but will admit, that I don't blog very often these days." I received an email, inviting me to join the blog, and asking me to introduce myself...I think that was about 2 months ago. I hope this is not the trend for me.

My name is Pam, and next week will mark the 1 year mark for my official diagnosis of being gluten free. It was a long journey for me, I was living in Africa and got really sick one weekend. For about a year and a half I was sporadically ill. Seeing as I was living in a 3rd world country we assumed I had some sort of parasite, amoeba, or strange illness and treated myself for all of them, with no luck. After a year and a half I found myself in a doctors office in the states and was introduced to Celiac's Disease. And life changed forever.

It's been a year since I officially ate gluten free full time. I was one of those who in the process of trying to figure out what was wrong with me cut out wheat for a time, which I know is exactly what the Doctors tell you not to do, but I didn't know at the time. It has been an eventful year, but I can say, 100% worth it to have a diagnosis and treatment plan. It is a wonderful thing to feel healthy, to have energy, to not be in a mental fog and to not have eczema patches on my skin. Yes, it is frustrating to have to be so careful about what I eat, but the outcomes are so worth it.

This post is supposed to be an introduction of myself. And one thing that I have fought this year, is the idea that my diagnosis does not define who I am. In the first year of diagnosis changing this mental perspective is difficult because it seems like everything revolves around the "g word" and so it is so easy to let it define you. Yes, it places boundaries on my life, BUT, I am so much more than a person living without gluten.

I am Pam, I live in Cary, I love hiking, kayaking and anything that gets me outdoors, I serve on staff as a missions Pastor at a local church, I relieve stress through creativity in my kitchen, have a deep love for the continent of Africa, and yes, I live gluten free. I look forward to getting to know you better, and letting you into my crazy world of living Gluten free in Cary, and wherever life takes me.

Gluten Free Raleigh Special Event: GF Cooking Demo w/ Jules Shepard

2009-06-19T13:24:00.001-04:00

Click here for more information about an upcoming Gluten Free cooking demonstration with famous Celiac author Jules Shepard. The event will be held at the Earth Fare in Raleigh on July 12, 2009 @ 10am. Please sign up soon as only 40 spaces are available.

Useful Resources: Town of Cary GF Classes

2009-06-16T16:51:00.003-04:00

Check out the following 2 classes centered around the Gluten Free Diet being offered this summer by the Town of Cary.

1) Allergy-Free Cooking click here to register
Description:
Here’s help for those of you who are allergic to common foods such as peanuts, soybeans and corn. Or it could be foods containing gluten, which you or a family member must completely avoid to treat celiac disease. Maybe you suspect it’s just a wheat intolerance, so your energy level is higher when you don’t have bread or cereal for breakfast. Or you just feel better if you don’t eat any wheat or dairy products. Perhaps you are trying to help your family kick the sugar habit to ward off obesity and diabetes type II. Mealtimes are especially challenging for individuals facing allergies to any, and sometimes all, of these foods. Learn how to prepare allergy-free alternatives in this hands-on cooking class, and make meal times happy times again!

Meets:
Th 08-06-2009 7:00PM - 9:00PM Kitchen-Herbert C. Young Community Center
Th 08-13-2009 7:00PM - 9:00PM Kitchen-Herbert C. Young Community Center

Fees: resident $56.00 | non-resident $73.00

2) Let's Do Lunch--Beyond the Sandwich - click here to register
Description:
Here's fresh ideas for packing lunch for those of you who would rather not eat bread. Whether you're celiac, wheat/gluten intolerant, watching your weight, or just plain tired of the same old sandwich routine, you'll discover healthful and budget-friendly lunch-to-go options for you and your family.

Meets: Th 8-27-2009 7:00PM - 9:00PM Kitchen-Herbert C. Young Community Center

Fees: resident $28.00 | non-resident $36.00

Grocery Store Review: Super Target in Apex

2009-04-30T14:10:00.004-04:00

It is easy for me spend lots of time and lots of money at Target. Over the last few months, I have been able to find more and more Gluten-Free items at Super Target in Apex (which means I will just be spending more time and more money there!).

I know that many people don't think about Target as a place to look for Gluten-Free items. Also, we are used to paying a 'pretty penny' for Gluten-Free items. Surprisingly, the Apex Super Target offers many Gluten-Free items at reasonable prices. Below is a list of some great items that are labeled as Gluten-Free and their prices (as of April 30, 2009).

Deli Area

Applegate Farms Organic Turkey Breast (7 oz) $6.49

Columbus Brand Salame (12oz) $7.99

Columbus Brand Sopressata (4 oz) $3.99

Columbus Brand Pancetta (3 oz) $5.99

Canned Soups

Amy's Lentil Vegetable $1.99

Amy's Tomato Bisque $ 2.19

Amy's Chunky Vegetable $1.99

Amy's Southwestern Vegetable $1.99

Amy's Black bean $1.99

Pacific Naturals Foods Butternut Squash Soup $3.09

Pacific Naturals Foods Creamy Tomato Soup $3.09

Pacific Naturals Foods French Onion Soup $3.09

Pacific Naturals Foods Cashew Carrot Ginger Soup $3.09

Pacific Naturals Foods Roasted Red Pepper Soup $3.09

Pacific Naturals Foods Sweet Corn Soup $3.09

Pacific Naturals Foods Chicken Broth $3.34

Sausages

Niman Ranch Spicy Italian Uncured Sausage $4.29

Niman Ranch Chipotle Cheddar Uncured Sausage $4.29

Niman Ranch Apple Gouda Uncured Sausage $4.29

Niman Ranch AndouilleSausage $6.99

Baking Aisle

Cherrybrook Kitchen Chocolate Cake Mix $4.99

Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix $5.19

Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Baking Flour $4.99

Cereal Aisle

Envirokids Panda Puffs $3.99

Rice Chex $2.99

Corn Chex $2.99

Honey Nut Chex $2.99

I was thrilled to see two new Chex cereals available as Gluten-Free! YUM!

Snack Aisle

Assorted Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $2.04

Frozen Foods

Amy's Frozen Bistro Burger $3.99

Amy's Frozen Asian Noodle Stir Fry $3.14 and $5.79

Amy's Frozen Cheese Enchilada and Black Bean Enchilada $3.99

Amy's Frozen Indian Vegetable Korma $3.99

Amy's Frozen Tamale Verde $3.99

Ian's Chicken Nuggets $4.99

Ian's Chicken Finger Dinner $3.79

Ian's Alphabet Tots $2.99

Happy Gluten-Free Shopping!

Gluten Free Vendor Fair - Whole Foods Cary

2009-04-21T07:52:00.000-04:00

There will be a Gluten Free Vendor Fair held at the Cary Whole Foods location on Saturday, April 25th, 2009 from 11am to 2pm. See below for more details.

Saturday, April 25th
Gluten-Free Fair
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Admission is Free

Join us for a gluten-free day on Saturday, April 25th. We will have tasting
stations with gluten-free products, information about gluten-free diets and several giveaways. Trevor from Bella Monica Flatbread Company will be on hand with samples of their Gluten Free Pizzas.

April 25th, 11a.m. to 2 p.m.
Whole Foods Market
102B New Waverly Place
Cary, NC 27518
919.816.8830
Map

Update on Z Pizza in Cary

2009-03-26T20:27:00.002-04:00

Good News! The Gluten Free crust drought is over!
Their supplier received a new shipment from the producer and diverted a truck to Cary with more than a week's supply. As of Thursday at dinner, they are back in Gluten Free business.

Call Ahead for Z Pizza in Cary

2009-03-23T20:51:00.003-04:00

I got an email from the manager of ZPizza in Cary today. He asks that people call ahead to check for availability of the Gluten Free crusts this week. He says that they are low on GF crusts but are expecting shipments later this week.

919 465-9009

Here is the full email:

My name is Ken Alexander. I'm the manager of Zpizza of Cary at the Stone Creek Shopping Center.
We've been delighted at the response from the community now that we offer a 10" gluten free crust for our pizzas. It's so rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of people who haven't enjoyed a pizza "out on the town" for years. We'll do out best to continue to provide a quality dining experience to our patrons.

The response has been particularly strong this past week. We find ourselves very low on the gluten-free crusts. We'll get a case in by air on Wednesday the 25th, and five cases more on Thursday the 26th. In the meantime, could you please ask your readers to call ahead to check the availability of our gluten-free crusts? I would hate for anyone to make a special trip only to be disappointed.

We'll do our best to maintain a comfortable supply of gluten-free crusts on hand, so that your members will have a place to enjoy a tasty, and healthy, pizza.

Thank you for your help.

Ken Alexander
Manager
Zpizza of Cary
Stone Creek Shopping Center
Cary, NC 27519

Restaurant Review: XIOS Authentic Greek Cuisine

2009-03-21T21:52:00.005-04:00

XIOS, located in the Peakway Market Square at 800 W. Williams Street (HWY 55) in Apex, offers fantastic Greek food. Although they do not have a separate menu with Gluten Free items, I met with Chef Niko last week and he wrote out all the items that do not have gluten in them.

Appetizers:
Dolmathes: Stuffed Grape Leaves
Tzatziki: Cucumber Sauce
Melitzanosalata: Eggplant Salad
Fasolakia: Green Beans with Olive Oil, Tomatoes, Onions, and Herbs
Hummus: Chickpea dip (without the pita)
All salads

Entres:
Mythia: Mussels
Garides Souvlaki: Shrimp Skewers
Souvlaki: Lamb, Chicken, Pork Skewers
Loukaniko Psito: Grilled Sausage
Kotopoula: Grilled Chicken
Arnisia Paidakia: Lamb Chops
Melitzana Iman: Grilled Eggplant

We have had varying success with explaining to the wait staff about Gluten Free dining. However, my daughter has never had any problems after eating at Xios because we have learned what is "safe." Be sure to talk with your server and the chef about your needs.

As the weather gets warmer and the days longer, enjoy a lovely dinner outside on their patio.
Other than the great food, XIOS also has belly dancing on the 1st and 3rd Fridays! Check out their website for events and specials.

http://www.xioscafe.com/

Petition to the Raleigh City Council - Food Allergen Poster

2009-03-20T06:37:00.000-04:00

Over the last few weeks, I have been thinking about new ways to improve the lives of those with Celiac Disease and/or another food allergies. Dining out in restaurants is a big issue for the estimated 12 million Americans with a food allergy. For those of us on a Gluten Free Diet, we are well aware of the dangers of eating out.

About this same time, I saw an interesting article about something the City Council of New York City did. The NYC City Council actually passed a law which requires restaurants to display a food allergy education poster and will fine locations $100 for non-compliance. I thought this was a great idea and would be a good starting point in the education of food service workers in the food allergy arena. Of course this does not guarantee that food allergy sufferers can have a safe meal, but it is a start down that path. Food service workers need to know what the allergies are and how to prevent cross-contamination.

So, I decided to email the Raleigh City Council about the issue and my proposal. I offered up my services on the creation of the poster and anything else they would need. I have not heard back as of yet. In the meantime, I created an online petition to gain a little more ammunition. Please take just a few minutes to read the petition and to sign it. The more signatures, the more the City Council will take this issue seriously. Thanks for your time and support!

Click here to sign the Food Allergy Education Poster Petition to the City Council of Raleigh, North Carolina.

15,900

2009-03-19T14:52:00.001-04:00

15,900 - That's my estimate on the number of Celiac's in Triangle area.

15,423 - If you go by the NFCA's estimate that 97% of Celiacs are undiagnosed, this is my estimate of undiagnosed Celiac cases in the Triangle.

So here we are, 477 of us - with more coming each day thanks to increasing awareness and better diagnosis. From the statistics kept on visitors to this blog and the number of RSS subscribers, I would estimate that about 120-140 of the 477 are reading this blog each day.

I didn't just make these numbers up of course, new information was released today (see this article from the N&O) about Triangle population estimates. The Raleigh-Cary area now tops the nation in growth.

The Raleigh-Cary metropolitan area, which includes Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties, grew by 4.3 percent from July 2007 to July 2008, and is now home to close to 1.1 million people. It well outpaced its closest rival, the Austin, Texas, area, which grew by 3.8 percent, to become the national leader.

The national growth average was just under 1 percent.

The Triangle has been near the top of the nation's growth chart for more than a decade, as newcomers poured into the area to take jobs in technology, tourism and academia. The resulting building boom, and the jobs that came with it, drew hundreds of thousands of new residents.

The Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan area, which includes Durham, Orange, Chatham and Person counties, didn't make the Top 10, but its population continued to swell at a steady 2.5 percent, up slightly from the year before. Just fewer than 490,000 people live in that area.

So there are 1.59 million Triangle residents. Some estimates say that 1% of the population in the US has Celiac. So what does this mean to all of us? The Triangle has a formidable number of Celiacs and this information should help drive the market for Gluten Free products. I hope to see more and more restaurants, grocery stores, etc... catering to us in the future. With almost 16,000 of the most loyal customers ever created, how could they not?

Rita's Ice-Custard-Happiness Review and Giveaway!

2009-03-08T13:41:00.004-04:00

This beautiful warm weather brings on cravings for sweet cool treats. Rita's Ice-Custard-Happiness http://www.ritasice.com/with five locations around the Triangle offers a variety of Gluten Free options to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Rita's has ice cream, custards, Italian ices, shakes, and coffee drinks. You can check out their allergen information at http://www.ritasice.com/uploads/documents/Allergen_Chart_12.30.08.pdf

Obviously, we avoid the flavors with mixed in dough, all the cones, and most of the toppings.

My daughter likes to pick the brightest colored Italian ices... but Rita's has plenty of choices for those who don't base their food decisions on a particular shade of pink!

If you live in Apex and received the free Apex Monthly mailer for March, look on page 13 for two coupons for the Rita's located at Beaver Creek Commons.

Also, each year for the last sixteen years, Rita's has given away a regular size Italian Ice to every customer on the first day of spring.

Celebrate Spring at Rita's in :
First Day of Spring, March 20
FREE Regular Italian Ice to every customer
from noon until 10pm!
http://www.ritasice.com/events-and-promotions/first-day-of-spring.aspx

Locations:
APEX
Beaver Creek Commons Shopping Center 1011 Beaver Creek Commons Unit 304 by Office Max

CARY
8204 Tryon Woods Drive suite 112

MORRISVILLE
McCrimmon Corners Shopping Center 4141 Davis Drive

RALEIGH
The Shoppes at Oberlin Court 1028 Oberlin Road Suite 228

DURHAM
1125 W. NC Highway 54 & Highway 401

PEEPS

2009-03-06T14:48:00.002-05:00

More and more manufacturers are indicating Gluten Free on their labels. I find it so reassuring to see those ten little letters!

Yesterday at the super Target in Apex, we walked by a HUGE display of technicolor PEEPS ( http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/) on sale . My daughter flipped one of the packages over and announced:

"It says Gluten Free, so we have to buy it for me!"

Enjoy the very sweet marshmellow spring-time treat. I am always happy for my daughter to be able to enjoy a "normal" treat that other kids eat.

Restaurant Review: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

2009-03-03T21:10:00.003-05:00

If you have never been to Five Guys Burgers and Fries, get there as soon as possible. The first Five Guys restaurant opened in the Washington, DC area where I grew up. When Five Guys started showing up here in NC, I teased my parents by telling them that I didn’t “need” to come home anymore because I could get Five Guys here! They didn’t think that was very funny!

Five Guys burgers are perfectly juicy and the fries are outstanding. They only use 100% beef and their fries are 100% potatoes fried in peanut oil. Just order NO BUN and your choice of free toppings. You will receive your burger wrapped in foil and a brown paper bag of hot fries. Delicious!

When ordering, keep in mind that a Little Hamburger or Little Cheeseburger is one beef patty and a Hamburger or Cheeseburger is two beef patties.

The front page of their website, http://www.fiveguys.com/index.aspx , proclaims:

Zero Gluten, except for our buns.

I always appreciate any restaurant that makes it clear what does and what does not contain gluten. Plus, it helps get the word out about gluten!

Currently, there are 300 Five Guys locations in 25 states. We are lucky enough to have 5 of them in our area:

Cary at Stone Creek Village 1856 Boulderstone Way
Cary at the Barnes &Noble Plaza across from Towne Centre Mall 712 SE Maynard Rd
Durham at The Streets At Southpoint Mall 6910 Fayetteville Rd.
Raleigh at North Hills 4120 Main At North Hills St
Raleigh at Brennan Station 8107 Creedmoor Road

Five Guys is always a hit with our family. The laid back atmosphere and the bulk peanuts to snack on while you wait for your burger makes for a fun dining out experience.

The staff at the two Cary locations and the Durham location were very accommodating and did not think it was "odd" to order a bunless burger! (I have not been to the Raleigh locations).

*Five Guys realizes that some people are extremely allergic to peanuts and has signage to warn patrons about the peanuts available in the shells in bulk in all their stores as well as their use of peanut oil.

Restaurant Review: On The Border Mexican Grill

2009-03-03T10:23:00.004-05:00

We can always rely on a safe place to eat at On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina. They have a location in Cary at 1102 Walnut Street and a location at Plantation Point in Raleigh at 3351 Cypress Plantation Train. (In addition, they have locations in 37 states and even Egypt, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.)

Talk with your server and they will bring you the Gluten Free menu which is also available at http://www.brinker.com/gr/allergens/otb%20allergen.pdf

Concerns about cross-contamination are addressed in the list of suggested beverage and menu options:

We have prepared this suggested list of beverage and menu options based on the most current ingredient information from our food suppliers and their stated absence of wheat/gluten within these items. Please be aware that during normal kitchen operations involving shared cooking and preparation areas, including common fryer oil, the possibility exists for food items to come in contact with other food products. Due to these circumstances, we are unable to guarantee that any menu entrée can be completely free of allergens, including tortilla chips and enchiladas.*

Over the past few years, we have noticed that the servers are more and more familiar with Gluten Free. It used to be a struggle to explain what we needed for our daughter and ordering usually took a significant amount of time. However, it is much easier now.

Special thanks to Jason Helms from the kitchen at the Cary location for always taking the time to talk with us about our daughter's needs when eating out. He never made my daughter feel uncomfortable about being different; he has always made our daughter feel special and important! He is one of the reasons that we keep going back to On the Border.

Typically, we create a meal from side items and the kids menu for our daughter. However, the salads and fajitas are flavorable and filing for adults and older children.

As a related note, you can also get allergen information about egg, fish, dairy, peanut, shellfish, soy, and tree nut from the website.

Accidental GLUTEN

2009-03-03T10:17:00.003-05:00

Well it happened... my daughter accidentally ate something at a birthday party that contained gluten. The result was upset tummy, fatigue, and a few pretty bad days. Afterwards, she got every cold that she came in contact with... So, it has been a rough few weeks. Sorry for the lack of posting lately...but, now we are back to healthy.

Do you have similar symtpoms when you accidentally eat something with gluten?

GF Blueberry Muffins at Harris Teeter

2009-02-20T16:30:00.006-05:00

What a lovely surprise to find Gluten Free Blueberry Mini Muffins at Harris Teeter this week. They are made with Eragrostis Teff flour--something that I was not familiar with. A little online research taught me that Teff is a tiny grain sometimes called "lovegrass" that is very important in Ethiopia. It is high in fiber and protein.

The muffins were moist and delicious. My daughter has had them with breakfast every morning this week.

At the Apex Harris Teeter on Hwy 55, the Gluten Free Blueberry Mini Muffins by eragrain are available in the bakery section. Look for the small green Gluten Free tag on the shelf.

Grocery Review: Cary Trader Joe's - Part 1

2009-02-13T12:54:00.005-05:00

I love the funky feel of Trader Joe’s in Cary at 1393 Kildaire Farm Road. I also love the prices—some pretty great deals throughout the store! They have an extensive list of “No Gluten Ingredients Used” (it is seven pages long). The list is available online at http://www.traderjoes.com/Attachments/NoGluten.pdf or you can ask for one at the store.

You will find this information at the top of the list:

"Our dedication to you as a valued Trader Joe’s customer is to provide you with helpful information to make informed buying decisions because we know that you have specific dietary concerns. We have made every effort to be accurate and cannot be held responsible for individual reactions to any product (Private Label or Branded). Please use this guide at your own risk. Unless a brand name is specified, it is Trader Joe’s Private Label.

Please Note - this guide is a sampling of many of the products we carry in which No Gluten Ingredients are used, but it is not a comprehensive list. We do our best to keep the information as up to date and as accurate as possible, but we do introduce and discontinue products all the time, and some products may be available based on season or region, so keep your eyes open and always read product labels. To contact us with product inquiries visit the Trader Joe’s website at www.traderjoes.com.

A set of universal dietary guidelines for Celiac Disease does not exist. The Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) uses criteria based on the latest scientific research and advice from its’ Medical Board of Advisors. For information about Celiac Disease please contact the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) at (818) 990-2354, via email at cdf@celiac.org or on the web at www.celiac.org.

Our suppliers follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) to segregate ingredients on shared equipment and/or in the facility.
Always read the label - ingredients and suppliers may change.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye and their derivatives such as malt or spelt.
As a general rule of thumb, dairy, juice, meat and produce do not contain gluten or any gluten derivatives.
Under Trader Joe’s Brands, ingredients listed as “natural flavors” or “spices” do not contain gluten or gluten derivatives.
Use common sense and remember the motto: When in doubt, leave it out.

I like the last bullet point: “When in doubt, leave it out.”
I think that will replace my regular response to my daughter: “I’m just not 100% sure about this…”

Today, I just ran in to get some supplies for our Valentine’s Day Dinner and dessert. I do want to point out that the Flourless Chocolate Cake which appears on the No Gluten Ingredients Used list has the following note on the package:

"Made on equipment shared with wheat and tree nuts."

I didn’t notice this until I got home and am wondering about the rest of the items on the list. I will go back on a fact-finding mission to report on the rest of the items.

Happy Gluten Free Valentine’s Day to everyone!

Gluten Free Pizza Update - ZPizza

2009-02-10T09:42:00.002-05:00

I have previously written about a pizza place called Z Pizza which was rolling out Gluten Free Pizza choices. I have spent the past few weeks working with the franchisee of the ZPizza locations in Raleigh and Cary to further discuss their GF Pizza offerings. I met with the owner recently and was walked through the entire process of making a GF Pizza and would like to share the details with all of you. After reading this, I hope you'll feel safe about eating at ZPizza. They have taken some extra steps to get it right that some other local places have not yet taken. Let's hope ZPizza can be an inspiration to them and a safe place for us.

ZPizza is a California based franchise with over 100 locations in the US. They have been in the Raleigh market for about 3 years.

Ordering
From the time you order at the counter until the time you are delivered your GF Pizza, meticulous attention is paid by the staff at ZPizza. Their Point of Sale computer system has a special marking for Gluten Free which causes your order ticket to be printed with a Gluten Free label. The cashier then goes to the kitchen staff area and highlights the Gluten Free label on the ticket to make it stand out further. They then notify the manager (or owner if he is present) about the Gluten Free order. The manager/owner will either make your pizza or directly supervise the entire process.

Gluten Free Crusts
Gluten Free crusts are pre-made using all GF ingredients (including Damato Living Flour) and are sent to the store and kept frozen on site. No GF dough is mixed or made at ZPizza. In addition, to reduce cross-contamination issues when regular wheat pizza is prepared, all wheat flour in the restaurant has been replaced with rice flour. When wheat pizzas are pressed/tossed and prepared, it is using rice flour. This eliminates wheat flour from entering the air and eventually landing on your GF pizza and making you sick. Also, the dough for the wheat pizzas is not made on site further reducing the risks. Wheat flour was replaced with rice flour for about a month before any GF Pizzas were made in the restaurants. The kitchens were also thoroughly cleaned after the switch.

Preparation
Cooks are instructed to wash their hands and put on brand new latex gloves before beginning the preparation. Then a special sealed box is retrieved from the cooler which contains all the necessary tools for making the GF Pizza. It contains pizza pans, cutters, tongs, GF Cheese and GF tomato sauce (along with some other ingredients). Next, your GF crust is taken from the freezer and placed into the GF pan. GF Ingredients are added (they have many choices for pizza - not just cheese!) and the pan is placed in the oven in a dedicated area to the side. A separate paddle is used to place and remove the pizza from the oven. All kitchen staff are notified when a GF pizza is placed in the oven so they do not place wheat pizzas near it. When cooking is finished, the pan is removed and the pizza served.

Ingredients
ZPizza Corporate has thoroughly analyzed all their ingredients and know which are GF and which are not. Any veggies you would like on your pizza are kept in the cooler area and not pulled from the main area where wheat pizzas are topped. ZPizza has a large list of GF ingredients/toppings at the store so please ask when you arrive. Toppings include pepperoni, sausage, cheese and numerous veggies. They also can offer tomato sauce, pesto sauce or chipotle pesto sauce. They are currently working on developing a GF Menu which will be available both online and in the store.

Other items of note
The GF pizzas only come in 10" sizes at this time and cost about $3 more than their wheat pizza counterparts. ZPizza is also looking to add other GF items to their choices including salads, desserts from the Whole Foods Bakehouse and Gluten Free Beer like RedBridge. Please provide feedback to the staff when you visit about what other options you would like to see offered.

My experience
During my tour of ZPizza, the owner made me the following pizzas - Pepperoni with Peppers and Mushrooms, Chipotle Pesto Sauce with tomatoes, corn and roasted red peppers and finally a pesto sauce and cheese pizza. All 3 pizzas were excellent. ZPizza uses high quality ingredients which taste great. For the GF crust, it was very thin and crispy but had a nice flaky, buttery taste to it. Overall, it was a great pizza and I would dine at ZPizza again.

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness - GREAT program
Please see my earlier post about the NFCA's GREAT program here. ZPizza as a franchise has gone through the GREAT training program and has been verified by the NFCA. Look for the window decal when entering the store. See my previous post for all that is included in this verification/certification process.

ZPizza Information
Web site - http://www.zpizzatriangle.com/

Raleigh location
9630 Fall of the Neuse Road
Falls Pointe Shopping Center
(Next to Starbucks)
Phone - 919.844.0065

Cary location
96 Cornerstone Drive
Stone Creek Village
(Corner Davis and High House)
Phone - 919.465.9009

Bella Monica Flatbread Company Update - Whole Foods Cary

2009-02-10T09:01:00.001-05:00

Exciting news for Bella Monica Flatbread Company and their fans... I have just received word that their Gluten Free Pizzas are now available in the Cary Whole Foods location on Waverly Place in Cary! This is good news that they are expanding and will become more widely available to Raleigh area consumers. This is a sign of a successful product! Looks like they will also be moving into the other Raleigh area locations very soon - Stay tuned for those release dates!

See my previous posts about their GF Pizzas here.

Grocery Store Review: Whole Foods, Cary

2009-02-08T10:38:00.006-05:00

We do most of our GF shopping at Whole Foods in Cary located in the Waverly Shopping Center at the corner of Tryon and Kildaire Farm Road.

Whole Foods has a green label on the shelves for items that are advertised as Gluten Free. They often have gluten free information right at the entrance. Their brand, 365 Everyday Value, has many gluten free offerings (including our favorite bread machine mix).

Terrific selection of GF items are easy to find in the Freezer section, Cereal and Chips aisles, Baking aisle, Cookies and Pasta aisles, and Meat and Produce.

An entire freezer of baked goods: sandwich breads, corn bread, cakes, pies, biscuits, and muffins is located on an end cap in the freezer section. Some of our favorites are the corn bread and the pies. In addition to these items, gluten free pizzas, waffles, chicken nuggets, and fish sticks are available in the freezer aisle.

In the cereal aisle, we stock up on Panda Puffs and other EnviroKidz products. They are reasonably priced (much cheapter than Glutino) and they also have a wide selection of cereal bars (berry rice, peanut butter rice, peanut butter and chocolate rice). These bars are great to have as snacks or to put in lunches. Many cereals are clearly labeled gluten free and the selection is pretty extensive.

We often indulge in Glutino pretzels. They are relatively expensive but they taste great and even friends and family who do not require GF foods like them!

The baking aisle has lots of Bob’s Red Mill gluten free baking mixes and flours. They also have a variety of brands of bread machine mixes, cakes, frosting, and cookie mixes. The only problem is that the selection goes fast.

Did you know about buying by the case at Whole Foods? If you buy things by the case, you get a discount. Check out the label on the shelf. For instance, if you see 8/16oz, it means a case is 8 of the 16 oz packages. Just be sure to get 8 of the exact same item. I believe this is why it is sometimes hard to find a large selection of the baking mixes—people buy a case at a time (I know we do!).

In the cookie aisle, we can choose from Nana’s Cookie Bars (banana, chocolate, berry), Glutino’s chocolate and vanilla cookies, and a range of GF animal crackers, pecan cookies, and macaroons.

The pasta selection has grown in the past few years. Our favorite brand is Tinkyada PastaJoy Ready. Great taste, texture, and variety. They even have “fun” shapes for kids, which is unusual to find!

And of course, a beautiful meat selection and an extensive produce and cheese section lets us do all our shopping here. Although some items at Whole Foods can be expensive, often prices are comparable or even cheaper than other grocery stories. Look for signs that compare prices to let you know you are getting a good deal.

Also, be sure to check out: the whole deal newsletter that can be found at the entrance of the store. The recent issue (January-March) highlights the 365 Everyday Value Gluten Free Pancake Mix. In addition, you can get coupons for:

$1 off EnviroKidz Products

$0.50 off Nut-Thins

The best thing about Whole Foods is that the employees know what Gluten Free means. No one looks at you like you are speaking a foreign language. They will help you find items and even look for items in the back to complete a “case.”

Restaurant Review: Qdoba

2009-01-31T13:54:00.006-05:00

Qdoba Mexican Grill is a fast food restaurant located at 2222 Walnut Street in Cary and in Beaver Creek Commons in Apex. In addition to a very complete listing of common allergen information (including Wheat and Other Glutens) http://www.qdoba.com/Allergens.aspx, they provide a comprehensive list of ingredients (even indicating that maltodextrin is from corn) http://www.qdoba.com/Documents/allergen.pdf .

From their website:

At Qdoba, we care about giving you the information you need to make informed decisions about eating. Food intolerances make these decisions even more important. Ingredients like wheat, soy, milk, eggs, nuts and fish are found in certain food items served at Qdoba.

We have found that the employees (and especially the manager) at the Apex Qdoba truly live up to their statement on their website. When we order, we inform them that our daughter cannot have gluten. The employees will change gloves and accommodate our special needs. We typically get a cheese quesadilla made with a Soft White Corn Tortilla and Black Beans. They have a wide selection of salads, meats, and salsas.

GFRB Health Network Welcomes Personalized Nutrition

2009-01-28T11:25:00.001-05:00

Allow me to welcome Personalized Nutrition to the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog (GFRB) Health Network.

Personalized Nutrition, Inc. is located in Apex, NC and offers individual, couple and family counseling for weight management, food allergies, intolerances, wellness, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cholesterol, eating disorders and sports nutrition. Their clients range from premature infants to toddlers to retired adults. Your treatment plan is personalized and created together with your registered licensed dietitian. Their staff has and is currently counseling numerous Celiac Disease patients and/or folks living the Gluten Free lifestyle.

Click here for their packages and rates.

Click here for their staff. Shelly Wegman will most likely be your contact when dealing with Celiac Disease.

For more information, please contact Personalized Nutrition using the following information.
Personalized Nutrition
307 South Salem Street, Suite #302, Apex, NC 27502
Web site
Email Owner Cathie Ostrowski
Email Shelly Wegman
Phone: 919.367.0677

Useful Resources: Bread machine and bread mix

2009-01-26T18:41:00.007-05:00

We have found that our Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker creates delicious sandwich breads. We have been through three other bread makers and none of them really worked well with gluten free recipes. The Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker has a gluten free setting with specialized kneading, rising, and baking time to accommodate the gluten free batter.

After many experiments with recipes, our own attempts at recipes, and boxed bread machine mixes, we think that Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value Gluten Free Sandwich Bread Mix makes the best bread. It holds together well and has a pleasing texture and taste. It smells great—and so does our house when it is cooking!

Typically, my husband will make a loaf of bread, slice it, and freeze it. The bread makes great sandwiches, toast, and French toast.

We got our Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker at Bed, Bath, and Beyond at Crossroads. You can also go to the Cuisinart website.

From the recipe booklet included with the Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker:

“Gluten-free – One in approximately 100 people has an allergy or sensitivity to gluten. Since gluten is found in most flours used in traditional bread baking, the ingredients to create gluten-free breads are unique. While they are “yeast breads,” the doughs are generally wetter and more like a batter. It is also important not to over-mix or over-knead gluten-free doughs. There is only one rise, and due to the high moisture content, baking time is increased. Our exclusive gluten-free setting makes it easy to get the right results. Mix-ins must be added at the very beginning of the cycle with other basic ingredients.”

Grocery Store Review: The Fresh Market, Cary

2009-01-24T13:12:00.006-05:00

The Fresh Market in Cary (3655 SW Cary Parkway) is a "fine neighborhood specialty grocery store" and, to be honest, I just love the atmosphere. However, on my shopping trip yesterday, I asked three employees about a gluten free list (like Trader Joe’s list). One out of the three had no idea what I was talking about until I showed him the Gluten Free label on the vegetable broth that I was buying. The other two employees said they did not have a gluten free list and the gluten free items were not organized into a specific section.

Although Fresh Market does have a beautiful selection of produce, meats, cheeses, chocolates, and wines (all gluten free, of course), it is not ideal for a regular shopping trip for gluten free products because their selection is extremely limited. In addition, the gluten free items they do have are mixed in with the rest without any tags on the shelves to indicate GF foods.

However, if you are looking for something “different” or “unusual” and you don’t mind spending time reading labels (I guess we are all used to that!) you can find some interesting gluten free items like red pepper eggplant spread, or hot pepper peach preserves, or risotto garlic primavera.

The following warning from the Bakery appears on The Fresh Market website: "Gluten is a protein found in wheat rye, oats and barley. Obviously, many of our whole grain offerings and bakery items do contain gluten. Because we prepare a large amount of scratch bakery products with flour, we are unable to guarantee that our products are 100% gluten-free. We encourage you to visit our grocery department for a selection of gluten-free products."

Also on the Fresh Market website, you can find some gluten free items by doing a (very complicated) search:

-Enter gluten free in the search box at the top right.
-Select Advanced Search
-Enter gluten free
-Select Exact Words
-Select By Category: ONLINE MARKET

Click here for The Fresh Market Cary website.

Also, two Raleigh locations: 400 Woodburn Road and 6325 Falls of Neuse Road

Cary/Apex first post

2009-01-23T12:20:00.002-05:00

"That must be AWFUL! I can't imagine not eating ANY wheat!"

This is the response I get from friends, family, and strangers when I explain why my daughter cannot eat something. Occasionally I clarify that it is not just wheat, but actually gluten… at other times I just nod my head.

However, the truth is that helping my daughter live gluten free is not awful.
Frustrating? Yes: Did we run out of the "safe" snacks that we keep in the car?
Stressful? Sometimes: Did the waiter really understand that she can NOT eat anything with gluten?
Complicated? Frequently: I thought they would have some fruit or "safe" ice cream for dessert here.

Even though my daughter's dietary needs can be an obstacle, we never want to limit her life because she has to limit what she can eat. We love to eat out, enjoy different foods, experiment with recipes, and benefit from all that the Cary and Apex area has to offer families—we just have to do a little research beforehand.

In this part of the blog, you'll find GF information specific to Cary and Apex. My goal is to help expand on Zach's incredible collection of GF resourses.

New Guest Cary Blogger - Sarah Egan Warren

2009-01-23T08:09:00.001-05:00

Allow me to introduce Sarah Egan Warren who will become a guest blogger for Gluten Free Cary.

See my post over at Gluten Free Raleigh about Sarah.

More to come from Sarah and her Cary/Apex experiences very soon!

Stay tuned.

Lucky 32 - Gluten Free Menu Update

2008-10-09T08:13:00.000-04:00

I heard from the General Manager of Lucky 32 in Cary recently. I had previously written about their GF notations on their regular menu and gave the warning that this in fact means "Guilt Free" and NOT Gluten Free.

Lucky 32 does indeed have a Gluten Free menu available upon request and I have placed portions of it below. The menu may have items on it that are actually no longer available but they indicated they do attempt to keep it up to date.

CHILDREN’S MENU:
-Lucky’s Lunch
Turkey, havarti cheese, carrot sticks, and fresh fruit.

-Grilled Chicken
5 oz. of chicken served with creamy mashed potatoes, fresh fruit

-Grilled Salmon
4 oz. of salmon served with creamy mashed potatoes, fresh fruit

SALADS:
-Fresh Roasted Turkey Salad
Slices of both dark and light moist roast turkey meat from all natural free-range birds raised locally for us, sit atop a bed of crisp mixed greens. Bacon, red onions, toasted pecans and Granny Smith apples add brightness and diversity of flavors. The salad is finished with four slices of avocado, blue cheese crumbles and blue cheese dressing.
(NO CRACKERS, BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLES OR BLUE CHEESE DRESSING)

-Citrus Chicken Salad
Bright and complimentary flavors are the hallmark of this delicious salad. Chicken breasts (7 ounce) have been marinated overnight in a mixture of lemon peel, garlic, Dijon mustard, sherry vinegar and herbs. The chicken is grilled, sliced and placed over a bed of mixed greens. Four wedges of fresh pear, green onions and toasted walnut breadcrumbs garnish the plate. Please ask your guest for choice of dressing.
(NO BREAD CRUMBS OR CRACKERS)

-Grilled Salmon Salad
A 4 ounce portion of salmon is placed on top of salad base and served with carrot sticks, a roasted roma half, red onions, capers, a hard boiled egg. Expo garnish is a ramekin of lemon-mustard vinaigrette and a lemon wedge.
(NO CRACKERS)

-Weaver Tuna Salad
Albacore tuna is tossed with diced cucumbers and combined with lemon- mustard vinaigrette. This mixture is served over a bed of salad base and placed in a chilled pasta bowl and served with toasted flat bread, two slices of tomato, carrot match sticks, and a serving of lemon-mustard vinaigrette.
(NO CRACKERS) base is vinegar if a Celiac

-Mixed Green Salad
Our salad base is made with a combination of romaine lettuce and spinach. The salad base is with a tomato wedge, topped with carrot matchsticks, sunflower seeds, and is served with a Parmesan cracker and a choice of dressing.
(NO CRACKERS)

SALAD DRESSINGS:
All of our salad dressings are made at Lucky 32.

-Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette-mayonnaise and sour cream based, flavored with Balsamic vinegar, roasted garlic, Parmesan cheese and herbs

-Buttermilk Herb- similar to a ranch dressing made with sour cream and savory herbs.

-Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette-a tart and flavorful blend of stone ground and spicy brown mustards, red wine vinegar, and fresh lemon juice

-Honey Mustard-a sweet blend of honey, mayonnaise, spicy brown mustard and yellow mustard

-Balsamic Vinegar and Virgin Olive Oil

-Warm Bacon Vinaigrette-This vinaigrette is made with sautéed shallots, Old Smokehouse Bacon, mustard, balsamic vinegar olive oil, a touch of honey, brown sugar and salt and pepper.

CHICKEN & BEEF:
-Roast Half Chicken
An entire half chicken is slow roasted then finished in the bake oven to crisp up the crust. It is served on a large round plate with creamy mashed potatoes and fresh vegetable.

-Russian River Chicken
A breast of springer mountain free farmed chicken is marinated in oil, parsley, thyme, oregano, basil and sage. Topped with goat lady Chevre crumbles and olive oil. With fried spinach on Top. Served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetable.
(NO FRIED SPINACH)

-Grilled Ribeye
A 10-oz. Niman RanchÒ Beef Ribeye (14 oz at dinner) is seasoned and grilled to temperature. The Ribeye is served with fries at lunch and creamy mashed potatoes at dinner. It is served on a large round plate with a steak knife on right side of plate. A mixed green salad is served at dinner.
NO FRIES DUE TO OIL BEING FRIED WITH GLUTEN

SEAFOOD:
Grilled Salmon
-A salmon fillet (6 oz at lunch/8 oz at dinner) is seasoned with salt and pepper and then grilled to order. We offer a choice of toppings that include; lemon caper butter, corn relish, herbed cucumber sauce, Creole mayonnaise, bourbon butter and any special toppings from the special menu. The salmon is served with fresh vegetable and creamy grits and garnished with a lemon wedge at expo. A mixed green salad is served at dinner.

-Salmon and Chef’s Selection Toppings and Optional Cooking Methods:
Bourbon Butter-butter, bourbon and green onions
Corn Relish- Our Corn Relish is a mixture of sweet corn, jalapeno peppers, roasted tomatoes, red onion, fresh garlic, lime juice, fresh cilantro, ground cumin and olive oil marinated overnight before served.
Lemon Caper Butter-butter, capers and lemon juice
Herbed Cucumber Sauce-yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, mint and kosher salt
Cajun Grilled-seasoned with Cajun spices and cooked on our wood fired grill
Blackened- brushed with oil, seasoned with Cajun spices and cooked on a cast iron grill top

SIDE ORDERS:
-Fresh Vegetables
4-oz. of steamed vegetables (seasonal), tossed with butter, salt and pepper.

-Roasted Vegetables
4-oz. of vegetables (yellow squash, zucchini, red onions, & cremini mushrooms) tossed with salt, pepper, oregano leaves, garlic, and dry rosemary, then roasted.

-Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Skin-on Idaho potatoes are baked and mashed until creamy with butter, whole milk and salt.

BRUNCH:
-Cure 81 Ham and Cheddar Omelet
Sauté a three-egg omelet with 3-oz. of diced Cure 81 ham and 1-1/2 oz. of cheddar cheese. The omelet is served with hash browns. Expo places seasonal fruit garnish.

-Vegetarian Omelet
Sauté a three-egg omelet with diced green bell pepper, red onions, tomatoes, avocado, and cheddar cheese. . The omelet is served with hash browns. Topped with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

-Old Smokehouse Bacon and Cheddar Omelet
Sauté A three-egg omelet with 3-oz. of diced cooked bacon and 1-1/2 oz of cheddar cheese. The omelet is served with hash browns.

-Crustless Quiche
Bake 6-oz. of egg mixture in a casserole dish with Swiss, cheddar cheese, spinach leaves, onions and baked until golden. It’s served with hash browns and brunch garnish.

-Steak and Eggs
Grill An 8 oz sirloin is grilled to order. It is served with two scrambled eggs, hash browns and brunch garnish.

BRUNCH SIDES:
-Old Smokehouse Bacon
Four slices of crispy bacon. BRUNCH ONLY

-Hash browns
¾ cup mixture of potatoes, butter, salt and black pepper. BRUNCH ONLY

I will be following up with Lucky 32 as some of their items (which I have excluded here) had Blue Cheese.

ENJOY!

WORD OF CAUTION - Lucky 32 in Cary

2008-09-15T20:50:00.000-04:00

I have received some emails about Lucky 32 in Cary offering a Gluten Free menu option. I had been to the location in Raleigh a few years ago before it closed and always liked the food so I decided to do a little digging.

The following is a warning about what I found out about Lucky 32's menu as well as information given to me by their Executive Chef, Jay Pierce.

If you have been to this restaurant in the past, you may have noticed something interesting about their menu. See the following webpage for yourself. Beside some of the menu choices are little GF logos. Somebody like myself automatically assumed that meant Gluten Free, right? WRONG. If you look down at the fine print you will see the following.

GF - Say "Guilt Free" and we'll modify the receipe to reduce sodium and fat. For other special dietary needs, please inform your server.

YIKES - as you can see from this, GF is not Gluten Free at Lucky 32. Once I saw this I contacted Jay to inquire further. I would hate for any people trying to order Gluten Free to be misled. Jay's prompt response is below...

From: Jay Pierce jpierce@qwrh.com
Date: Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Subject: RE: Gluten Free Question
To: GlutenFree Raleigh glutenfreeraleigh@gmail.com

Thank you so much for your email. We do train our staff to offer gluten-free options on menus, because we do have recipes on hand for everything that is made in house, and most things are. We will not call anything gluten free that contains wheat, soy sauce or mustard, which I learned from a celiac-centric web site causes problems for some folks but not all.
As for our GF designation, I will definitely run your suggestion up the ladder. I do know that the symbol you are referring to is a registered trademark that we have been using for quite a few years to designate items lower in sodium and fat.

Once again, thanks for your observations, and feel free to asks questions about menu items of our good folks there in Cary when dining in, or email me when planning a trip there; I’d love to help out.

Jay Pierce
Executive Chef
Lucky 32
1421 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC 27408
p: 336-370-0707
f: 336-574-0037
jpierce@qwrh.com
www.lucky32.com

So there you have it. As I always recommend, proceed with caution at ANY restaurant, even the ones that have GF all over their menu.