More GF LI

TV and Radio Coverage

I thought I'd follow up on my post about Sunday's exciting gluten-free vendor fair by drawing attention to a couple of recent developments on gluten-free Long Island.

Here's Michael Thorn, vendor fair organizer and otherwise active member of the Suffolk County Celiacs, interviewed by Frank Brinka in an extensive Island Outlook radio segment.

And SuezBoss/Sue Moller of GlutenFreeLI appeared with News12 newswoman Mary Mucci in this Long Island Naturally segment (April 20, 2009) that involved visits to Joan's GF Great Bakes as well as GFRAP restaurants Caffe Baldo, Mama's Italian Restaurant, and Smoking Sloe's.

News12 item posted using ShareThis

"Joan's" Lunch in December

Joan's GF Great Bakes—Long Island purveyors of top-notch gf goodiess—will host a product testing and pizza-making party starting at 11am on Saturday, December 13, 2008. In addition to pizzas and new pumpernickel dinner rolls, there will be bagels, cookies, and English muffins.

For more information, see the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) or the Long Island Celiac Disease Meetup Group (LICDMG).

Vendors Announced for Westchester Support Group Meeting

Meeting Scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2008

As mentioned previously, the scheduled speaker for next week's meeting of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group (WCSSG) is Dr. Peter Green, who is to offer "an update on the diagnosis, treatment, ancillary conditions and research into a cure for celiac disease," as the group's newsletter puts it. "Come early if you want a seat—there is usually an overflow crowd for this important presentation of the most important information available," the newsletter advises.

The meeting takes place from 2-4pm at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Discounted copies of the book Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic will be available. Also represented as vendors are Joan's GF Great Bakes (you might want to bring a cooler to keep the bagels and such frozen) and Everybody Eats, Kettle Cuisine, Gluten Free Gourmet Solutions, and Three Dogs Gluten-Free Bakery (formerly Baking with Brodie).

CeliaCalendar: Westchester Events

Walking, Talking, and Eating in September

As mentioned previously, the third annual Colin Leslie Walk for Celiac Disease takes place at Rye High School in Rye, New York, on September 14, 2008. This is the third edition of a fundraising event that has earned more than $113,000 over the past two years, with the money going to the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University (CDCCU).

Calling this event a "walk" doesn't quite capture its magnitude. There is indeed a walk—but there are also vendors and talks. The vendors currently include Everybody Eats, Gaga's Inc., Gluten-Free Living, and Joan's GF Great Bakes. The speakers include Suzanne Simpson, the new nutritionist at the CDCCU and Rory Jones, who co-authored Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic with CDCCU director Dr. Peter Green. Lunches and snacks will be available for purchase from the Poughkeepsie GFRAP restaurant Soul Dog.

Pre-registration, which earns you a free t-shirt and saves you $5, ends on September 2.

A week after this event, Dr. Green speaks at the September 21 meeting of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group (WCSSG) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York from 2 to 4pm. This is an opportunity to learn about celiac disease from an expert; some vendors should also be present.

LONG ISLAND UPDATE

Michael Thorn of the Suffolk County Celiacs recently announced the date of the third Long Island Vendor Fair: Sunday, April 16, 2009! The first and second editions were great, so mark those calendars, okay?

In the meantime, please be advised that veteran vendor Joan of Joan's GF Great Bakes (JGFGB) is slotted to appear at the Health Nuts in Bayside (211-35 26th Avenue) this Sunday, July 13, 2008 [from about Noon 'til 5].

A tip if you go to Bayside: Make sure you have the address! Don't do what I did on the day of the JGFGB grand opening in Bellmore: I drove there without the address and desperately prowled the streets of Bellmore until blogger, New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) organizer, and homegirl Erin phoned and navigated me in.

Here she is with Joan's son Howie. In Howie's other hand is one of Joan's gluten-free faux flying saucers, made especially for this fun occasion.

















Here's Howie with Joan herself!


















Here's a cookie platter featuring Joan's gluten-free graham and chocolate chip and cow cookies. Don't be deceived by the looks of those sweet bovine bites: The cow cookies are dairy-free too!

















Not shown: Joan's bountiful bagel buffet, Joan's onion rolls, Joan's pizza, etc., etc. Everything was delicious—and it was good to see the turnout, including such luminaries as NYCCDMG assistant organizers Ben and Liz, celiac awareness pin creator Aileen Markowsky, Nassau support group leader Jim Blank of the CSA's Long Island Chapter (which is having a July 18 meeting that will also feature Joan), and Erin's mom—another homegirl! More photos can be found here.

Photos: David Marc Fischer

REMINDER: JOAN'S GF GREAT BAKES

As mentioned previously, amazing bagelmaker Joan's GF Great Bakes plans a grand opening celebration for its new facilities at 1905 A Bellmore Avenue in Bellmore, Long Island (516-804-5600) from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

A half-mile walk or ride north of the Bellmore LIRR station, the event is on the schedules of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) and the Long Island Celiac Disease Meetup (LICDM).

As you may know, Joan's bagels (now sold in plastic bags rather than hard plastic containers) come frozen and require about 22 minutes of baking. So bring coolers suitable for traveling with them or any other available products, including English muffins that are free of eggs and dairy as well as wheat. I don't know how much of Joan's stock will be available, but you probably can't go wrong showing up early.

Can't make it to the grand opening? Joan's products recently became available in New York City at Health Nuts stores in Manhattan (1208 2nd Ave
New York, 212-593-0116) and Queens (211-35 26th Avenue
Queens, 718-225-8164). She also maintains lists of her New York and non-New York retailers. And you can sometimes find Joan as a vendor at support group meetings and other events in the greater metropolitan area. Here she is at last year's Long Island Vendor Fair.


















Photo: David Marc Fischer

GLUTEN-FREE BUSINESS WATCH

Joan's GF Great Bakes seems to be charging forward on gluten-free bagel power! Makers of outstanding bagels and English muffins as well as other ready-to-bake goods including pizza, Joan's recently made inroads into Big Apple health food stores (Health Nuts at 1208 2nd Avenue in Manhattan and 211-35 26th Avenue in Queens as well as Fit Food at 23 Nelson Avenue in Staten Island), made its packaging more convenient, and opened up a new kitchen in Bellmore, New York, where it will host a Grand Opening Celebration starting at 11am on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Members of The New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) plan to attend.

Another gluten-free pizza maker, Connecticut's Still Riding Pizza, recently got good coverage from News12 Connecticut.



Source (2:52)


Want to launch a gluten-free business of your own? The New York Times recently got a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the decision-making behind the launch of "Wicked Good Company, which makes a line of all-natural (no corn syrup and gluten free) gourmet condiments, sauces and dips."

MEANWHILE On the West Coast, Danna Korn and her soon-to-be hubby Bryan Van Noy have launched SonicBoom, a firm that consults with corporations to improve employee health. It just got a write-up from the San Diego Business Journal Online.

Thanks to Michael Thorn for the SonicBoom lead.

CELIACALENDAR

The Staten Island Celiac Meetup Group (SICMG) is having its next meeting—with pizza—at Tuttoriso on Thursday evening, May 8, at 7:00pm. Indicate your interest at the webpage for the meetup group.

The Greater New York City Celiac Support Group (CSA/USA) will meet at Outback (919 Third Avenue at East 56th Street) on Monday evening, May 12, at 6:30pm. RSVP by calling Merle at 212-662-2464 or Mary Ferry at 212-304-1026.

The New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) kicks off a Happy Hour at the East End Tavern (1589 First Avenue) on Wednesday evening, May 14 at 5:00pm. Drinks will include Redbridge ($4.50) and Magners ($3.50); pub food will be ordered from Peters'! Indicate your interest at the webpage for the meetup group.

The Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group (WCSSG) holds an event with nutritionist Anne Roland Lee at DeCicco's (Ardsley) on Saturday afternoon, May 17 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Vendors include Everybody Eats and Joan's Gluten-Free Great Bakes.

The 2008 L. Lodico Walk for Celiac Disease takes place at Little Bay Park on Sunday morning, June 1, starting at 9:00am. Proceeds go to the CSA this year. Read about last year's walk here.

The WCSSG holds its annual picnic (weather permitting) at Kingsland Point Park (Sleepy Hollow) on Sunday afternoon, June 22, from noon to dusk. Metro-North's Philipse Manor station is just north of the picnic grounds.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

The Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group (WCSSG) is holding its next meeting on Sunday, March 30th at 3:00 pm at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Come as early as 1:30 pm to take full advantage of the vendors at the meeting. They include Everybody Eats (crusty breads!) and Joan's GF Great Bakes (bagels and now a pizza with great buzz!) as well as Mary Ann Roglieri, author of The Gluten Free Guide to New York.

The educational part of the program is a "response to the many requests we have for help with living as well as eating gluten free." Social workers Emily Feiner and Eibhlin Donlon-Farry will cover topics such as menu essentials, keeping things in perspective, self-perception and self-esteem, dealing with social embarrassment, coping according to your personality type, and dining (and dining out) for business, friends, and family.


The Greater New York City Celiac Support Group (GNYCCSG/CSA) is holding another one of its dinners, this time at Bistango (415 Third Avenue at East 29th Street) on Tuesday, March 25 at 6:30 (though you're encouraged to arrive fifteen minutes earlier). Reservations (and, if necessary cancellations) should be made with group leaders Merle Cachia (212-662-2464) or Mary Ferry (212-304-1026).


HEADS UP A fundraising walk is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2008. Click here for a glimpse of last year's walk.

DECEMBER EVENTS

Here are two upcoming events in addition to the Holiday Cooking Class fundraiser scheduled for Monday, December 2, 2007 and the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group meeting scheduled for Sunday, December 9, 2007.

Both of the following events are fundraisers for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA).

Lest you think this is just another boring event post, check out the videos at the end. They feature exciting footage of two celebrities involved in the second event. Wowee!

Raising Our Celiac Kids (ROCK) Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Morris County Library (less than a 5-minute cab ride from the Morristown train station)
30 E. Hanover Avenue
Whippany, NJ
6:00 to 8:30 pm
This event features a magician and some great vendor sampling. Joan's GF Great Bakes will bring bagels and English muffins and pre-orders. You can also order items right away (by day's end November 29) at Joan's website, choosing the "no shipping" option and putting "Dec. 5 ROCK event" in the comments section. (Sorry if I'm late in posting this—I suppose you can always contact the bakery and beg....)

Preorders are also available from Everybody Eats, which will bring samples of pizza, baguettes, cinnamon buns, and chocolate chip cookies.

Other vendors: Conte's Pasta (ravioli, pierogies, and other Italian specialties), Gluten Free Joy (local GF catering company with dishes including manicotti and macaroni & cheese), The Grainless Baker (featuring graham crackers and muffins), Cinderella's Sweets/Shabtai (kosher treats that are gluten, casein, lactose, soy & dairy free), Celiac Specialties (featuring donut holes), Blackwell's Organic (gelato and fruit sorbetto), Food Allergy Gourmet (holiday sugar and gingerbread cookies), and some place called Whole Foods (GF Bakehouse pie crust and sandwich bread).

Through December 11, 2007, you can also help to raise money by purchasing kitchen stuff through vendor The Pampered Chef by following these directions: "If ordering any product, you will be asked whether you have been invited to a show. Put in 'ROCK' in the organization line and press the search button....you will then see the Morristown ROCK group listed on the left hand side. Click on this link and this way any product you order will be counted toward the NFCA fundraising event."


Gannascoli Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 15, 2007
48 Davison Ave
East Rockaway, NY
6:00pm
Suggested Donation: $25

Joe Gannascoli—Vito from The Sopranos—and his family host a Winter Wonderland block party also featuring Kevin Covais from American Idol.

There will be food sampling, a cooking demonstration, and appearances from magicians and Mickey Mouse. Dress warmly!

Here's a 2006 Sopranos tour with a cooking demonstration from Joe Gannascoli.



Source (3:57)

And here's Kevin Covais auditioning for Idol.



Source (2:02)

MEETING: WESTCHESTER SUPPORT GROUP

I'm not just an admirer of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group (WCSSG)—I'm a member of the group, too.

WCSSG kicks off its 2007-2008 season from 2-4 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2007 with guest speaker Beth Hillson, founder of glutenfree.com and President of the American Celiac Disease Alliance.

Try to get there on the early side, because the vendors include Joan's GF Great Bakes as well as Enjoy Life Foods, Maxwell's Kitchen, and WCSSG member Annalise Roberts with her cookbook Gluten-Free Baking Classics.

The meeting takes place at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center at 701 North Broadway at the intersection of Routes 9 and 117 in Sleepy Hollow, New York. You can get there by taxi from the Metro-North station in Tarrytown, but if you're reasonably fit you can also walk there (give yourself at least 45 minutes and check a map in advance) from the Philipse Manor Station.

In other news, the WCSSG-sponsored GFRAP restaurant Frascati now offers gluten-free pizza with crusts from Still Riding Pizza. There's a change in ownership at Frascati, but it looks like the restaurant will remain in GFRAP.

And, judging from the WCSSG member newsletter, it seems that one or two area restaurants will soon join the roster of GFRAP, which still welcomes volunteers. For volunteer information, contact area coordinator Liz Lebo.

SWEET KARMA



















I recently visited Sweet Karma on Long Island. At this small East Meadow bakery, just south of Hempstead Turnpike, I found two gluten-free dome-shaped confections: Cappuccino Commotion and a Dark Chocolate Mousse. Under the bakership of Brian Fishman, Sweet Karma prepares other items with gluten, but Brian assured me that these items were whipped up first after a thorough cleaning. Some were in the middle of a display case with non-GF food, but I was able to purchase four frozen (discounted from the $3.75/dome price) and enjoy them later, after they had thawed and become creamy and fluffy and delicate as well as...you guessed it...sweet!

Sweet Karma also sells Joan's bagels and English muffins and hopes to expand and perhaps move at a future date. It's currently at 550 East Meadow Avenue (516-794-4478).

Photo: David Marc Fischer

A BEEF ABOUT BUNS

Hamburgers are one of the most readily available foods in the United States. But a classic burger--a ground beef patty with a bun--is hard to find in the gluten-free variety.

The ground beef isn't the problem. It's the bun.

You see, I'm grateful for restaurants that take responsibility when it comes to gluten-free food and clearly state that buns shouldn't be included in a gluten-free "burger" order.

But I'm extra-grateful for those restaurants that actually provide a gluten-free bun--or at least a bun substitute, like two pieces of toast--with their burgers.

I'd be even more grateful if I didn't have to pay a surcharge for the gluten-free bread, which has often been my experience.

I don't think I've yet found any gf hamburger buns that I really like. So far my favorite substitutes are gluten-free English muffins (pictured) from Joan's GF Great Bakes. Or gluten-free toast.

You know what got me thinking of this? I read that Outback Steakhouses in Clifton Park (NY) as well as Enfield (CT) and West Springfield (MA) are trying out gluten-free bread and hamburger rolls, and that the Outback in Yonkers (NY) plans to introduce the bread this Wednesday! That encouraging news made me realize how much of the ordinary Outback menu I was missing/ignoring.

The bread is made by Vermont's Walk on Water Gluten Free Bakery--and I sure hope it's good!

Anyway, thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to read my beef about buns. Here is a (possibly very loud) clip from Sesame Street that shows where buns come from. Warning: These buns are not certified as gluten-free!



Source (1:15)

GLUTEN-FREE VENDOR FAIR 2007

On Sunday I attended the second Gluten-Free Vendor Fair hosted by the Suffolk County Celiacs. I can't cover every aspect of this impressive event, but here's an overview.

The fair took place in Roosevelt Hall of SUNY Farmingdale. This is a view of the vendor entrance, where you can barely see the Suffolk County Celiacs greenshirts "guarding" the door.



















Outside the main entrance, cherry blossoms blew in the breeze.



















Inside--past the Marble Slab Creamery of Lindenhurst ice cream stand at the entryway--there was a big, big crowd. How big? Late in the afternoon, organizer Michael Thorn was excited to hear that the number was around 1400, which he said was double the attendance of last year's event!



















In the crowd were lots of familiar faces, including Lou Zimet, a member of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group, and Dr. Peter Green, who came across as calm, cool, casual, and convivial before the first of his two presentations.



















Also present (unless I'm mistaken, which is, of course, always a possibility) and other "cast members" from Generation Gluten-Free: Sue Goldstein...Pat MacGregor...Beth Hillson of Gluten-Free Pantry...George and Ceil Chookazian of Foods by George. Hm. Too bad there wasn't an autograph table!

I noticed Ann Whelan of Gluten-Free Living, too. And nutritionist Anne Roland Lee of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

I spotted a bunch of other New York City people, including the amazing Erin of Gluten-Free Fun, who very thoughtfully handed out New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group stickers to keep us from having identity crises. (I forgot to tell Erin some nice things but I'll try to make up for that this week.) And I overcame my usual shyness to say "hi" to Kelly of the CeliacChicks. (Yet I forgot to tell her that, outside the building, I had seen a little celiac chick looking incredibly precious in Chick Couture.)

Among the dozens vendors, one of the main attractions was Joan's GF Great Bakes. That table was buzzing with folks buying bagels as well as chocolate chip cookies and English muffins. (The muffins--which, I hear, sold out pretty fast--are egg-free and dairy-free as well as gluten-free.) Here's Joan herself!



















And here's an action photo at the table of another welcome returnee from last year: Everybody Eats. Love those crusty breads!



















Not far away was Caffe Baldo's Joanne...



















...supervising the distribution of some of her specialties--including her famous pizza! (Check out the cheese, please.)



















Okay. We've sampled the bagels. We've sampled the pizza. What else might one expect to find at a Long Island food fair?

Chinese food, of course! One of the more popular (and generous) tables was for New York City's own Gourmet Land. I'm still being told that GFRAP membership is in the works--can't be soon enough, as far as this blogger is concerned.



















As for the sweet treats, I'll start with Julianna's Delectible Fruit. I particularly enjoyed her raspberry and blueberry jams--gifts for my mom--and I was blown away by her story: She received her diagnosis about a year after earning a degree in Pastry Arts. Ouch!

I accidentally erased my shot of Julianna and her goodies, but...um...here's Julianna's jalopy?



















Near Julianna was the table for Massapequa's sugar-free and gluten-free Low Carb Bakery, where (near the end of the day) I managed to grab a wonderfully creamy morsel of an almond-topped cheesecake.



















Close to the center of the room was an amazing sight: a box of gluten-free cannoli shells from John of Mama's Italian Restaurant in Oakdale. See the picture? That's just the top layer!



















Also represented: chocolate.

At the Legal Sea Foods table, I discovered that the chain now offers a rich flourless chocolate cake.



















The chocolatier Heather, of Centerport's Azure Chocolat, shared a table with her ebullient friend Nicole Bubolo, a.k.a. The Benevolent Baker. When I was finally ready for my shot, Nicole was off at the cooking panel, so I had to settle for a blurry picture of Heather and her webmaster Alex, who is Nicole's husband. Got that? He actually hit the road to resupply the Azure Chocolat table after supplies ran out.



















That wouldn't have worked for Tuesday of Empire Torte, who came down from Massachusetts...



















...to dole out platters of her intense chocolate morsels.



















Some others traveled great distances. A Kinnikinnick contingent came all the way from Edmonton, Alberta--and managed to catch Christopher Plummer in Inherit the Wind on the way. And coming in from the Philly area was Mr. Ritt's...



















...which (I learned) is on the move to Millville, New Jersey--more on that at a later date, I hope.

In the meantime, here's the Rittsmobile, back from a recent trip to Detroit!



















I wish I could show you the Cherrybrook Kitchen chariot, but I guess I screwed that up, too. I also failed to take a shot of what I believe is a vintage Silly Yak bumper sticker. But, as I prowled through the crowded parking lots, I did see this on one car's passenger window.



















Hey...did you make it all the way to the end of this post? If so: Way to go!

Photos: David Marc Fischer

LONG ISLAND VENDOR FAIR 2007

There's still time to pre-register for the second Long Island Gluten Free Vendor Fair, hosted by Suffolk County Celiacs and scheduled for 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2007 at Farmingdale State College. Basic admission is a very reasonable $5.

Among the main attractions:

Talk by Dr. Peter Green (additional $5)
Against the Grain Gourmet Foods
Celiac Chicks
Everybody Eats
Foods by George
Joan's GF Great Bakes
Mr. Ritts

Want more information about exotic-sounding Farmingdale, Long Island? I've put together a map of the area, with select gluten-free locations in green and some more generic attractions in yellow.

Also of possible interest: My dining map of Gluten-Free NYC.

JOAN'S GF GREAT BAKES















Is there anyone out there who doesn't love the bagels from Joan's GF Great Bakes? Perhaps you recall that I raved about 'em back in June, after getting a taste at the first Long Island Gluten-Free Vendor Fair (pictured above). And just days ago, CeliacChick Kelly revealed Joan's "secret to good taste."

Joan's GF Great Bakes is scheduled to be at the 2007 Gluten-Free Vendor Fair on Sunday, April 29, in Farmingdale. The bagels and other goodies are still not sold in the Big Apple, but they can be shipped...and also bought from the following retailers outside the city. Joan (second from the right) suggests you call ahead to make sure the goodies will be there for you or your designated buyer.

The Happy Carrot
636 Kinderkamack Road
River Edge, NJ
201-986-0818

Sweet Karma Desserts
550 East Meadow Avenue
East Meadow (Long Island)
516-794-4478

The Diet Shop
600-16 Portion Road
Ronkonkoma (Long Island)
631-981-0882

Cornucopia
39 N. Main Street
Sayville (Long Island)
631-589-9579

Photo: David Marc Fischer