Today I’m excited to tell you about a gluten-free bakery that not only offers amazingly delicious gluten-free products, but one that I frequently get to visit  as they are located right here in the beautiful Bay Area.

Mariposa’s gluten-free kitchen can be found in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland. At this location is also their first retail bakeshop. Luckily for both San Franciscans and tourists headed to this amazing city, Mariposa also has a store in the Ferry Terminal Building where customers can expect to find all sorts of yummy breads and hand-crafted goodies.

Savory products include lots of fantastic breads, bagels, crackers, croutons, pizza bases Click to continue reading »

Living in Manhattan I am constantly reminded that the city is unwaveringly boastful over two food items: pizza and bagels. Many will argue that is the creativity of cuisine and water that distinguishes both gluten-filled doughs from other cities around the world, but it just might be prideful competition that keep both popularly demanded items at their best.

While I can’t deny a good bagel (and often still have trouble finding one), pizza is one food that is hard to refuse. Whether it’s for a quick bite or a sit-down celebration, the right combination of sauce, cheese, and vegetables can satisfy any taste bud craving. Click to continue reading »

Having grown up in the Boston area, Dunkin’ Donuts has always been my gold standard when it comes to baked morning goodies (albeit, gluten-filled). That orange and pink box showed up on more than one Sunday morning filled with a dozen different types of doughnuts, from glazed to frosted to jelly-filled. Now, in my gluten-free life, the DD means great coffee, not doughnuts and I still miss those morning munchkins.

Well, here’s some big news for all of you Dunkin’ Donuts fans! According to InvestorPlace, and as reported by the Huffington Post, DD is in the trial stages of incorporating some celiac-friendly fare to its menu! The chain is starting with locations in southern Florida (like Miami) and around Boston by selling individually wrapped gluten-free products so we don’t even have to worry about cross-contamination. Click to continue reading »

By Laura (The Gluten-Free Traveller)

Nizza is an Italian restaurant in New York City, which has been offering gluten-free dishes to customers since they opened in 2007. They are located on 630 9^th Avenue, in a busy area of the city, very close to Times Square. Last week when I was in the city they were kind enough to let me sample some of their gluten-free items and I was very impressed!

Whilst not a completely gluten-free restaurant, Nizza offers a separate gluten free menu with lots of delicious dishes to choose from. Their chef and staff members are very well trained on gluten-free dining. They understand the serious threat of cross contamination and do everything they can to prevent it. They prepare gluten free items in a separate area and with separate utensils. As they are a small restaurant, cross contamination is, of course, always a possibility, but this is always the case unless a restaurant is 100% gluten-free. I am a very cautious and sensitive celiac, but I felt safe and comfortable eating here knowing that staff were doing everything they could to keep me safe.

Their gluten-free bread is made from a mixture of different flours and it’s really tasty. It’s the kind of bread that makes you want to double check that it’s safe for you to eat (and of course it is!) as it really doesn’t taste gluten-free at all. I couldn’t get enough of their gluten-free bruschetta topped with pesto and tomatoes. It was delicious.

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By our newest blogger Laura (http://glutenfreetraveller.com/)

Last week some of the Triumph Dining crew headed out for lunch. As I’m Celiac and even the tinniest amount of gluten could make me horribly sick for days, the hunt was on for somewhere that not only does gluten-free options but where cross contamination wouldn’t be a risk. Some restaurants with shared kitchens do a much better job than others of working to keep Celiacs safe, but you can’t beat a 100% gluten-free facility!

After some research we decided on Asian Box, a relaxed restaurant whose mission is to make delicious food which stays true to the ingredients and style of authentic Asian street food. As an avid gluten-free traveller my favorite way to soak in the culture of a new place is to sample the street food so I was very excited to try this place!

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By Zach

Gluten-free eaters come in all shapes, sizes and carrying themselves with their own behaviors, which is an umbrella statement that can also be applied to stores and restaurants that service gluten-free foods. Here’s why: it’s hard to deny and not notice the emergence of new gluten-free options popping up each day, whether it’s in big grocery stores, small fast food joints or dine-in restaurants, but not all servicers of gluten-free menu options abide by the same protocol.

Some reports estimate that the gluten-free industry is worth $6.3 billion per year and is continuing on an upswing. This demand was propelled by gluten-free enthusiasts toward large businesses like Dominos and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro to small business like Fresh Brothers in an effort to join progressive forces throughout the gluten-free industry.

Though as some of you might know, Dominos and other newcomers that offer gluten-free alternatives conduct their gluten-free processes in a liberal manner that is not safe for people with Celiac disease due to high chances of cross-contamination. But there are places that are doing it in a more kosher manner.

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You may have thought all the Celiac Awareness Month fun was over, well have we got news for you. And, if you live near one of the 42 Chevys Fresh Mex restaurants dotted around the US, then today’s announcement might be particularly exciting: Chevys has joined the growing list of restaurants with a gluten-free menu.

Now, let’s get right to it and manage expectations: the menu comes with a disclaimer, and according to the press release…

Preparation facilities vary by location and all guests with gluten-related disorders should inform their server beforehand to ensure that preparation and ingredients align with dietary requirements.

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If you’ve been following the news regarding Domino’s foray into gluten-free and the NFCA’s Amber Designation for their pizzas — and judging by the comments and shares on our post about it, many of you have — then it will come as no surprise to you that the NFCA decided to act.

In light of the uproar, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has opted to suspend the designation; Amber was supposed to indicate that a restaurant had completed, “Ingredient Verification and Basic Server Training, but kitchen practices may vary widely.” The NFCA has removed the program from their website and issued a press release indicating that they will review the, “most effective and clearest way to warn the community of the risk of cross-contamination and the use of the phrase ‘Gluten Free.’”
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Amid all the hubbub about Domino’s gluten-free (but not celiac-safe) pizza, another very exciting gluten-free offering seems to have gotten a bit lost.

If you’re in Minnesota and have a child, you can now go to Chuck E. Cheese’s and enjoy a celiac-safe gluten-free pizza and gluten-free chocolate cupcake. Hearteningly, Chuck E. Cheese’s is going to extreme effort to ensure that these menu options are safe and uncontaminated.

As the press release explains, “the personal cheese pizza, manufactured by USDA/FDA-approved, gluten-free facility Conte’s Pasta, will arrive to stores in frozen, pre-sealed packaging. The bake-in-bag pizza will remain sealed while cooked and delivered and until opened and served with a personal pizza cutter at families’ tables by the adult in charge.”

There are also single-serving, pre-sealed chocolate fudge cupcakes from Fabe’s All Natural Bakery. You can see both options in the video above, and both are made by GFCO-certified companies.

Kudos to Chuck E. Cheese’s for going above and beyond to ensure a safe experience for all gluten-free children (in Minnesota). As with other test markets, if this one goes well we can expect to see more Chuck E. Cheese locations around the country offering gluten-free pizza and  cupcakes.

Have you tried the pizza? How was it?

By Bridget

While we all love to see gluten-free items pop up on the menus at our former favorite restaurants, it always makes me a little weary to see that gluten-free pasta as an option, served right alongside the gluten-filled versions. It’s like when people say you can just take the bun off the burger and, voila, it’s gluten-free. For people suffering from full-blown Celiac’s disease, this “solution” is hardly an acceptable remedy. The risk of cross-contamination means that devoted gluten-free restaurants are often the only acceptable eating out options. Just as gluten-free products need to be processed in dedicated facilities, so too should our prepared meals. This means separate, “gluten-free” cookware, down to the meat thermometers and cutting boards!

Well, people living in San Francisco may soon be getting an answer to all their hopes and dreams when it comes to gluten-free eating out. Simone Shifnadel, a trained chef, nutritionist, and fellow gluten-free eater has big plans for the gluten-free community. Her plan is to open a gluten-free shared kitchen, café, and community space, called Zenbelly Kitchen, where bakers and chefs can come together to create gluten-free products in a completely devoted environment. No gluten will ever cross the threshold of the kitchen’s doors!

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