LI News and Vendor Fair 2009 Lookback

With Many Thanks to Erin Smith and Gluten-Free Fun

Thanks to Erin Smith at Gluten-Free Fun, I see that the 2009 L. Lodico Walk for Celiac Disease (LLWCD) scored television coverage on NY1.

Also thanks to Gluten-Free Fun, I see that Long Island gluten-free bakery Joan's GF Great Bakes (JGFGB) got very positive coverage in The Washington Post.

And thanks to the message board of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG)—which Erin organizes—I see that Joan herself will be at Plainview, Long Island's Get Healthy America (GHA) (148 Manetto Hill Road, 516-931-1900) on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

But Gluten-Free Fun also informs me that before then—tomorrow evening from 7 to 8, actually—Michael Thorn will give a talk about celiac disease at the Wild by Nature (WBN) store in Huntington, Long Island. Having met Michael and heard him interviewed on the radio (here's a recent talk), I think this sounds like a very worthwhile event, especially for GF newbies on LI.

I most recently saw Michael at the 2009 Gluten-Free Vendor Fair on Long Island (GFVFLI). Amidst all the hubbub, I savored the yummy strawberry cake samples from Get Healthy America...


















...and enjoyed talking with Michael and special guest Cynthia Kupper of GIG (below). Don't blame them if they don't seem especially cheery—they were trying to be patient with my photographic skills—or lack thereof!

















Besides the strawberry cake and bagels and English muffins from Joan's GF Great Bakes, my other LI favorites at the fair included the artisanal chocolates from Centerport's Azure Chocolate, crusty bread from Everybody Eats of Brooklyn, cannoli from Mama's of Oakdale, desserts from Buena Sera Restaurant/The Gluten-Free Solution, and the BBQ offerings from Northport's Smokin' Sloe's.

Photos: David Marc Fischer

On Sale Now: The G Free Diet

Curious about Going Gluten-Free? Get Tested First!

Elisabeth Hasselbeck appeared on Good Morning America today to promote her new book The G Free Diet. At the GMA website you can see the segment, read an excerpt from her book, and find a link to the book's website, www.gfreediet.com.

I'm glad that Elisabeth is raising awareness of celiac disease, which is still grossly underdiagnosed, and it's good to see that her story might alert people diagnosed with IBS that they might actually have celiac disease—but I hope that people do not go on a gluten-free diet before getting tested for the condition. I try to avoid shouting on this blog, but here goes: GET TESTED FIRST!

As I'm sure Dr. Peter Green (Elisabeth's doctor and mine) would be glad to tell you, getting screened for celiac disease is a simple and relatively inexpensive process that should be done in coordination with an informed physician. The first step is to get a series of blood tests while gluten is still in your diet. You can find the list of the blood tests at the website of the Celiac Disease Center of Columbia University (CDCCU), where Dr. Green is the director as well as the founder. Based on the results of the tests, the physician may suggest proceeding with an endoscopic biopsy to look for gluten-related intestinal damage, which is the gold standard for a diagnosis.

Speaking of gold, I want to emphasize that the time when you're considering trying out a gluten-free diet is the golden moment for being screened and tested for celiac disease (which is, strictly speaking, not an allergy). Instead of going on the diet right away, make that appointment with your physician and discuss taking the blood tests. After the results come in, you can talk about the next move. (The biopsy also yields the best results while you're still consuming gluten.) After you get the test results, you can still choose to eliminate gluten from your diet, but at least you'll have a baseline that doctors can refer to. If your tests turn out to be positive, they can be useful in monitoring the success of your diet, getting family members tested as well, and even getting federal tax breaks for your expensive gluten-free food!

Want more info? Try the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), the William K. Warren Medical Research Center for Celiac Disease (WCCD), the Celiac Disease Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (CDCBI), the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research (UMCCR), and Mayo Clinic.

Also, be aware that Dr. Green has co-written his own book, Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic. Don't expect to read about Elisabeth in that book, but do expect to spend some time in the company of one of the world's experts on the subject.

Here you can see Elisabeth and Dr. Green on The View, back in March 2007.



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Thanks to Erin at the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) for the lead.

This Sunday: Chef to Plate Awareness Campaign

Support Your Local "Gluten-Free Aware" Restaurant!

In case you hadn't heard...this Sunday offers an opportunity to say "thank you" to restaurateurs who support people on gluten-free diets. Organized by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), the Chef to Plate National Awareness Campaign urges you to patronize these supportive restaurants [PDF] on Sunday, May 3, 2009. The goals of this event are to

Spread national awareness of celiac disease and gluten intolerance conditions during May, Celiac Awareness Month

Spread recognition and awareness of restaurants with gluten-free menu options

Bring Peace of Mind to persons with gluten intolerances when dining out

Join restaurants across the country in a day of awareness

If you'd like to join with others on Sunday evening, the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) will gather for a prix fixe banquet at GustOrganics.

Mangia!

A Visit to Supersol

Kosher Outpost on the Upper West Side (and Elsewhere)

















Having already ventured into Brooklyn to find gluten-free Passover products at Pomegranate, I followed up on another lead from the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) and paid a visit to the Supersol supermarket on the Upper West Side. (There are also Supersols in Flushing, Lawrence, and Scarsdale.)

It was a madhouse on Sunday afternoon, but I made my way up and down the narrow aisles and found a number of familiar products (including Frankel's frozen foods and baked goodies from Oberlander's and Shabtai) as well as some items that were new to me. From Noam Gourmet there were potato-y Passover Bagels as well as Passover Pizza Bagels, which I'd also seen at Pomegranate.

And I found yet another faux matzoh ball mix—this time under the Haddar label.
























Photo: David Marc Fischer

S'MAC Sale!

15% Off on February 9-12, 2009


















Double-plus good news! GFRAP restaurant S'MAC is offering 15% off its menu items Monday through Thursday of this week! And it's opened a takeout/delivery storefront next to its East Village location! The former promotes the latter, which should help speed up the service considerably.

Remember: It doesn't hurt to double-check with the staff to make sure that you've gotten the gluten-free noodles in your order.

Also, GFRAP really really really wants your feedback, positive as well as negative.

Thanks to Erin of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) and Gluten-Free Fun for spreading the news!

Photo: David S'MARC Fischer

GFRAP Welcomes Midtown Restaurant Nizza

Upstate Bakery Also Added

The latest New York City restaurant to join the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program is Nizza.

Located at 630 Ninth Avenue near 45th Street, Nizza (rhymes with pizza) is convenient to Times Square and the Broadway and Off-Broadway shows in the Theatre District, and even relatively close the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. (Not very long ago, you had to be intrepid to wander through this part of Hell's Kitchen, but now it's a welcoming part of town that's crowded with restaurants and host to an annual food fair.)

Nizza, which delivers, opened around October 2007. Since then its Italian-French fare (including a chick pea pizza-pancake-crepe called socca) has been written up in The New York Times, New York, and Time Out New York. It's also been sized up by the good folks at Menupages and Zagat, where it rated a very respectable food rating of 20.

Nizza's GFRAP participation is not coordinated with an area group.

Another addition is Three Dogs Gluten-Free Bakery of Briarcliff Manor. The owner of Three Dogs is GFRAP leader Karen Miller, who is also involved with the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group (WCSSG). Karen brought a plate of delicious bakery samples when she recently visited Manhattan to speak about GFRAP and the WCSSG with the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG). I especially enjoyed her chocolate chip cookies.

The GFRAP participation of Three Dogs Gluten-Free Bakery is coordinated with WCSSG.

"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).

WABC Eyewitness News Goes to Miller's

WABC's Eyewitness News recently paid a visit to Miller's Gluten Free Bread Co. in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. The video is here.

Thanks to Erin of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) for the lead. You can find more coverage courtesy of Ben Cappel at the CeliacChicks website.

NOTED My sympathies to go the Coluccio, Dupont, and Milito families on their recent losses. You may know the Coluccios as purveyors of imported Italian gluten-free pasta in Brooklyn.

This Soup for You!

Today and tomorrow you can get free samples of gluten-free Kettle Cuisine soups at two Whole Foods Markets in Manhattan, according to a post on the message board of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG).

Monday, October 20, 3-7pm
Whole Foods Chelsea
Chicken Chili with White Beans
Grilled Chicken and Corn Chowder

Tuesday, October 21, 3-7pm
Whole Foods Columbus Circle
Chicken with Rice Noodle
Angus Beef Chili
Grilled Chicken and Corn Chowder

I am not sure if gf bread is included with the samples, so ask about it at your own risk!



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Mary's Gold Crackers

Plus Award-Winning Recipes
























The above picture shows renowned chef Jacques Pépin with Mary's Gone Crackers co-founder Mary Waldner at this summer's Fancy Food Show hosted in Manhattan by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade's (NASFT). At the food show, Mary's Gone Crackers won the Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation, Gold Award for Outstanding Cracker of 2008.

Yes, that's right: Gluten-free crackers got the gold in the cracker category! Will wonders never cease? (I hope not.)

While they were in town for the food show, Mary and her husband and partner, Dale Rodrigues, hosted a dinner (chaperoned courtesy of publicist Rachel Kay) at the GFRAP restaurant Lumi that was attended by myself, Erin Smith of Gluten-Free Fun and the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG), Nancy Lapid of About.com, and Cynthia Beckman and Dr. Peter Green of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University (CDCCU). While we waited for our orders, we munched on sticks and twigs piled atop our table. That might sound a little primitive unless you know that Mary and Dale recently branched out and added Sticks & Twigs to their product line. The "gluten equivalent" of these hearty and crisp snacks might be sesame sticks—so keep them in mind for dips and appetizers as well as attacks of the munchies.

A funny thing about our get-together was how some of us were virtually bubbling over with ideas about Mary's Gone Crackers—they should be vitamin fortified, they should come with something to educate people about what "gluten-free" means, etc. But the bottom line is that Mary's Gone Crackers are fine as they are—and that Mary's Gone Crackers has a very good track record in terms of working with reputable gluten-free causes, including the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF).

In fact, I think I first tasted the crackers because they'd been donated as refreshments at an event featuring Dr. Green (more recently, Sticks & Twigs samples were in the goody bags at the recent "Chill and Grill" CDCCU fundraiser in Queens), but the products really won me over after I used a coupon to buy some for myself at my local health food store. A 13-cracker serving contains 12% of the daily value of dietary fiber, 6% of the daily value of iron, and 4% of the daily value of calcium. And, as I've just learned this week, the Herb flavor goes well with peanut butter.

I've also heard some musings of combining the crackers with chocolate, but I haven't gone there yet.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Coeliac UK (CUK) named two winners in its Gluten-Free Chef of the Year competition, part of its Food Without Fear campaign. Vanessa Scott, of the Norfolk hotel-and-restaurant Strattons, won with her cheesy Twice-Baked Binham Blue & Potato soufflé [PDF]; Christine Bailey, a journalist and chef trainer [see article here], won with her Apricot and Orange Polenta Cake [PDF]. Catering student Sophie Haskins received "outstanding achievement" recognition for her Oshi Sushi [PDF].

Congrats to all!

Photo courtesy of the NASFT

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

BISTANGO IS BACK!

A little while ago, I saw a meetup group message reporting that the GFRAP restaurant Bistango had finally reopened. Then I called the restaurant and confirmed the news!

Sigh of relief—because restaurants that close for renovation sometimes never open again!

So welcome back, Bistango! I look forward to visiting soon. In the meantime, this tango's for you!

Updates will be forthcoming at the map and the restaurant page.



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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

S'MAC ATTACK!

The East Village mac-and-cheese haven S'MAC will sell its gluten-free Nosh All-American ("a tasty blend of American & Cheddar cheeses") for $2 (it's normally $5.75) on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, as part of its second birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday, S'MAC—and thanks to Erin at Gluten-Free Fun (and the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG)) for spreading the inflation-beating word.

Specify that you want the gluten-free version (the regular is $1) and remember: The breadcrumbs at S'MAC are always gluten-free (made from corn flakes)!

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.



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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.

BISTANGO CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS

The well-liked GFRAP restaurant Bistango is currently closed, as noted yesterday on the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) message board.

Signs on the front indicate that the restaurant is undergoing renovations.

MEETUP: GLUTEN-FREE FOOD IN NEW JERSEY

Ben Cappel, head of the Jersey City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (JCCDMG) and member of many other celiac disease meetup groups, is organizing and facilitating transportation to a very promising vendor fair (and shopping opportunity) in collaboration with the Gluten-Free Market of Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

The current line-up for the vendor fair includes Everybody Eats, Outrageous Foods, Shabtai Gourmet, Mr. Ritt's Bakery, Epicure Gourmet, and Full Flavor Foods (of Michigan).

The event is scheduled for noon on Sunday, January 27, 2008. Transportation may be available from the Grove Street PATH Station around 10:30 AM. There will also be a dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy in Hackensack, though please note that the restaurant is not in the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP).

Interested? See the pages of the Jersey City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (JCCDMG) and the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) to register and get more information.

GLUTEN-FREE LIVING LICKS STICKY SUBJECTS

I'm still making my way through the latest issue of Gluten-Free Living (Fall 2007), but it already strikes me as a keeper. I'm going to try to go over some of the highlights while not stepping on too many toes, and also take note of an opportunity to save on future issues of the magazine.

As you might recall, Gluten-Free Living has been in the forefront of using research to debunk myths about eating gluten-free, such as the unsupported fear of distilled liquor and most vinegars. In this issue of Gluten-Free Living, associate editor Amy Ratner investigates the issue of gluten in envelope and stamp glue. After contacting envelope glue manufacturers as well as the United States Postal Service, Ratner finds that both types of glue are gluten-free. So, if you're still using snailmail, worry no more about winding up like George's fiancée Susan on Seinfeld!

Elsewhere in the magazine, Ratner also covers opinions about the continuing issue of "gluten free" labeling. (I tend to concur with Bruce Ritter of Elisa Technologies, who favors identifying specific test results, such as "Contains less than 5 ppms of gluten," rather than simply using blanket statements such as "gluten free" or "low gluten," which are recommended by food industry interests including General Mills, as Ratner reports.)

The new issue also includes a remembrance of the late Bette Hagman, a mention of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG), advice on fat in gluten-free diets from Tricia Thompson, cold weather recipes from Jacqueline Mallorca, and articles on "tricky" ingredients and healthy pregnancies by magazine founder Ann Whelan. Plus, there's a $1.50 coupon for Erewhon cereals!

Which brings me to the money-saving opportunity. The cost of the magazine is due to go up to $34/one year or $56/two years starting on January 1, 2008, so there's still time to subscribe at the current rate of $29/year or $49/two years. Supporting Gluten-Free Living supports its journalistic research, which plays an important role in addressing the day-to-day needs of gluten-free people. You might even want to bring the publication to the attention of area libraries that could add it to their holdings.