Yes, it's that time again...my weekly roundup of all things gluten free. Here's what's happening in the wacky world of celiac...
The Girls Scouts' motto: Be prepared.
The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, in Kalamazoo, have taken this sentiment to a whole new level – they have become the first Scout chapter nationwide to release a gluten-free cookie – Wholevine Chocolate Chip Snack Bites. They launched the new snack for $5 a package at a Jamboree and Pow Wow in Jackson, Mich., last weekend. By Tuesday, they were sold out. Currently, the product is only available in Michigan, and there are no plans as yet to market them nationally. The gluten-free snack was developed in partnership California-based WholeVine, a company whose owners have "developed a way to convert by-products from wine grapes into oils, gluten-free flour, food coloring, nutritional additives and gluten-free cookies. That way, grape skins, seeds, leaves, stems and shoots are recycled instead of discarded." A portion of the proceeds were donated to nonprofits, including the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan.
(based on an online report by
MLive)
Today is Healthy Haven's Five-Year Anniversary Gala
To celebrate five years in business,
Healthy Haven is hosting a Gala event on Sat., Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At least 10 vendors will be on hand with samples of everything from baked goods to gluten-free cosmetics – you can even enjoy a FREE facial! Enter the free raffle while you're there. Healthy Haven is located on 80 Main Road, Tiverton, RI 02878. For more information, call 401-816-5844.
Restaurant Hosting Gluten-Free Chinese Buffet
China Lake Restaurant will be hosting a gluten-free buffet dinner on Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. at 2732 County St., Somerset, Mass. Buffet offerings include: fried chicken wings, teriyaki steaks, Young Chow fried rice, Bo Lo Gai Pan, Chow Har Kew, and house special rice noodle with beef. Cost is $15.50 per person, and includes hot tea, coffee or soda with refills. Meal tax and tip not included. Reservations and payment in advance are required by Sept. 22. For more information, call (508) 678-1888, or visit Healthy Haven for details. No walk-ins will be accepted.
Ghost Dinner and Exploration and Offers GF option
The Tavern on Main, 1157 Victory Highway, Chepachet, will host a Ghost Dinner and Exploration on Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Paranormal experts Thomas D'Agostino and Arlene Nicholson will speak. Dinner choices include roast sirloin or crab-stuffed haddock, and they can accommodate vegeterian, gluten-free or allergy-free. Dinner and exploration costs $45 per person.
Natural Food Grocery Celebrates Thirty Years!
Back to Basics Natural Foods Grocery will celebrate 30 years in business on Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 500 Main St., East Greenwich. An herbalist and a gluten-free specialist will be on hand to answer questions, and there will be food samples, samples and beauty tips from their top skin care lines, supplement samples music and gift bags. For more information, visit
www.backtobasicsnaturalfoods.com.
Healthy Villi Hosts Gluten Free Expo in Norwood, Mass.
Healthy Villi, a celiac support group in Southeastern Massachusetts, will hold a Gluten Free Expo on Sunday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Norwood, Mass. OVer 85 vendors will be offering samples, and there will be workshops, including: Newly Diagnosed, Gluten-free Nutrition, Basic Gluten-free Baking Demo, Families Living Gluten-free, Eating Well Gluten-free Cooking Demo and a Traveling and Eating Out panel.
Each workshop will repeat at 10:30 a.m., noon & 2 p.m., with seating allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required. Registration costs $20 for Healthy Villi members, $30 for non-members, and $5 for children age 12 and younger. For more information, cal (617) 262-5422, or visit
www.healthyvilli.org/event-list. If anyone is interested in going, email me at celiacgirlri@gmail.com. Maybe we can get a group to carpool?
EvaRuth's Offers New Treats and Adds a New Market to Their Distributors
EvaRuth's Bakery, 796 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown is offering new selections for the fall. Curry carrot soup is one new offering. Also new are fig and honey muffins, apple cinnamon scones, pumkin whoopie pies with maple filling (I tried one...yum!), pesto turkey sandwiches, curry chicken salad, green apple cheddar grilled cheese sandwich, and – of course – their amazing bread and fresh-squeezed juice. You can also find their products at the Eastside Marketplace on Pitman Street in Providence.
Follower question of the week:
Where do you find Rudi's tortillas, or some type that doesn't crack when folded?
CeliacGirlRI follower Lauren has asked if anyone knows where to find Rudi's tortillas, or some type of tortilla that doesn't crack when folded. Please use the comment form, or e-mail me at celiacgirlri@gmail.com if you know of a good product, or if you are a manufacturer who makes this product.
Luane Kohnke, author of "Gluten Free Cookies" launches "Luane's Cookies"
Luane Kohnke is the author of one of my favorite gluten-free cookbooks, "Gluten-Free Cookies." These recipes rock! The result is a cookie that tastes...normal and delicious. No cardboard cookies for Kohnke. Now she's launching a new venture..."Luane's Cookies," in New York. She's promised five gluten-free cookies, and she's got a soft launch planned for November. I'd love to get my paws on some product to sample and review. What do you say, Luane?
Large Variety of Gluten-Free Beer Found in the Most Unlikely Place...
My younger brother has been encouraging me to search out and try some gluten-free beers. Now, I've never been a beer drinkeI'r, but I thought I'd try some to see what all the hoopla is about. I found several varieties of GF beer in a country market in Westport, a town in southeastern Massachusetts. I love this town, with its lovely beaches, farms, horses and charm. But never in a million years did I expect them to have the large variety of GF beer and cider that they stock. During a recent trip to Perfect Smiles dentists in Westport, I crossed the street to
Lee's Market, 796 Main Road. After dragging myself away from the considerable display of canning supplies that I spied when I first walked through the lobby, I made my way to the beer and wine aisle. What I found blew me away. Lees stocks Redbridge, Dogshead Tweason Ale, New Grist, and New Planet's Tread Lightly, 3R Raspberry Ale, and Off Gride Pale Ale, just to name a few. There were also ciders available that were gluten-free. I've heart that Green's is really good. Have any of you tried it?
All of this brings me to my question of the week:
Is anyone out there interested in a gluten-free beer and wine tasting?
I'd love to be able to taste several varieties of beer and wine without having to purchase a four- or six-pack of beer or a large bottle of wine just to see if I like it. Wouldn't it be great to go to a tasting event, where you could sample a variety of gluten-free options, and be able to purchase what you liked – and only what you liked – and know where you could always find it?
Please let me know if you are interested in attending a gluten-free beer and wine tasting. I'd like to speak with some liquor stores and see if they would be willing to assist me in setting up a tasting, but I'm sure they will ask me how many people might be interested, so I need an idea of a head count.
GF Items On Sale This Week in Dave's Marketplace Circular
Dave's Marketplace is carrying more gluten-free items lately, and there are three on sale in this week's sales circular. Glutino Genius White Sandwich Bread or Multigrain is on sale for $4.99 each, Glutino New York Style Gluten Free Bagels are $5.99, and Gaga Gluten Free Frozen Dessert Bars.
Go to
www.davesmarketplace.com, and download their flyer for details.
Just a bit of a warning from me to you...I recently had a bad reaction to some GF food. I got a slammin' headache of migraine proportions, felt like I'd been run over by a truck, and was extremely fatigued. The headache came on pretty quickly after eating, and although I don't think I was glutened, I do believe I was exposed to MSG. Although most MSG is not supposed to contain gluten, I still have an alarming reaction similar to gluten exposure when I ingest MSG. I believe that it is just another benefit to our overall wonderful celiac package. Have any of you had similar reactions to MSG?
That's all I've got for now. Have a great week, and eat safe!
