Dominoes Now Offering Gluten Free

Have you heard? All Dominoes locations are now offering gluten free pizza. This is good news for some who are gluten sensitive, but won't make a difference for those who have celiac or are extremely intolerant (without celiac).

Why not, you ask?

Well, I'll let Dominoes tell you themselves:


Don't you love the honesty? They could just say they have gluten free pizza and leave it at that, but then a lot of people would get sick. Very cool of them to fully explain their process and the risks if you have celiac.

What do you think of this? Do you appreciate their honesty? Are you going to try it out (and do you have celiac or non-celiac sensitivity)? Are you able to eat at other regular pizza restaurants that offer gluten free crust or does that make you sick?


Thanks to my awesome husband for bringing this to my attention by sending this article to me!

Chuck E. Cheeses: Testing gluten free in Minnesota

I received an exciting email today! It was from Ambur, a media relations representative from Chuck E. Cheese's. They're offering gluten free pizza and chocolate cupcakes at all of their Minnesota locations! I realize that for all of you who aren't in Minnesota (especially since this is Gluten Free in Utah), that may not sound exciting, but it is. If the test markets perform well they'll be releasing the gluten free food nationwide!

I'm actually visiting my sister in Minnesota this summer, so I'm going to have to check this out. Here's the really cool thing... they're really careful about cross-contamination. Both the gluten free pizzas and cupcakes come from companies that specialize in gluten free. The products are shipped to them, frozen and in packaging that doesn't get unwrapped until it's on your table. The pizza is even cooked in the package. And you'll get a disposable pizza cutter for your gluten free pizza. It even says "gluten free" right on it. Pretty cool, huh? When I first read that Chuck E. Cheeses was doing gluten free I was worried about the cross-contamination. This process will ensure that doesn't happen. And you'll know it's okay because it won't be opened until it's in front of you.

You've got to watch the process in their video:


No more having to miss out on the Chuck E. Cheese fun because of a gluten sensitivity! Your kids (and yourself) can go and enjoy pizza and treats with all the other kids (well, if you live in Minnesota... and hopefully eventually everywhere). Yay! My kids love Chuck E. Cheeses! 

You can read the news release here. It has links to the companies that will be making the gluten free pizzas and gluten free cupcakes. 

I'll let you know how my Minnesota Chuck E. Cheese experience is. :) 

Thanks for letting me know about this Ambur!

Gluten Free Copycat Chili’s Green Chili and Chicken Soup

There’s not a ton of gluten free options at Chili’s, but at least you’re not trying to guess what does and what doesn’t have gluten in it when you go there. I would have guessed that their chips were gluten free, but I would have been wrong. Chili’s has a gluten free menu that they update often. Pretty cool. I really really wish their chips were gluten free, but oh well. At least they have their delicious Green Chili and Chicken Soup.

I had a bunch of avocados this week and was wanting to make this. Luckily the Picky Palate had a copycat recipe for me.This was perfect for me because it’s gluten free, dairy free, and sugar free. Unfortunately, I used chicken bouillon cubes for my chicken broth and they have MSG. At least I now know that MSG for sure makes me nauseous and fuzzy-headed. Figuring out what makes me sick is half the battle. 

I left the cheese out of mine and just garnished with cilantro and avocado. DELICIOUS! I think it’s now time for me to learn to make my own chicken broth, so I can make this often.

Go here to get the recipe.

Enjoy!

Eleanor's Bakeshop Halloween Party

Here's a great gluten free event coming up (again, courtesy of the Gluten Free in Utah County Facebook page):

Rodney Fife

On Oct. 29th Eleanor's Bakeshop and The Gluten Free Consumer are throwing a Gluten Free Halloween Party. It will be from 12 -4. There will be Games, Activities and Prizes. Feel free to call 801 903 8113 for more info.

Gluten Free Sandwiches and Cookies at Gandolfo's!

Yum!!!  I knew it was only a matter of time!
This was on the Gluten Free in Utah County Facebook page:

Jeffrey C Brown

Hello. I own a Gandolfo's deli franchise in Provo. I recently received approval from my franchisor to be a pilot store for GF sandwiches. 3230 N University Ave, Provo, UT 84604. Come by, try us out, and please let me know what you think. I've got GF cookies too! My in-laws (who all have Celiacs) love it.

Check it Out!

*******UPDATE AT BOTTOM******

This came in one of those money saver packets in the mail:
Let’s zoom in…
How exciting is that?!  Can you imagine being able to get gluten free pizza from 5 Buck Pizza?!  I’m expecting it to cost more than the $5, but we’ll see.  I called at the beginning of August and the employee said they were expecting to get it later in the month.  I went out of town after that and now that I’m back it’s too late at night to call.  But don’t worry, as soon as I figure out details I’ll let you know!
Have you seen one of these flyers for your area?  Or is it just for the Roy location for now?

UPDATE:  I called and found out more info on the gluten free pizza.  It costs $8.99 for a 12 inch, and I believe that's unlimited toppings, just like the regular 5 buck pizzas.  

The employee on the phone told me they sterilize everything and they have gluten free utensils that are only used for gluten free.  The pizza crust is already made, frozen, and shrink wrapped when they get it.  They just open it, put toppings on, and bake.  Sounds like they know what they're talking about when it comes to cross-contamination.  

He also said it's just their location (Roy) doing gluten free and not a chain-wide thing.  Which means, you either have to come to my city for your cheap yummy gluten free pizza, or you need to give your local 5 Buck Pizza a call and ask them to start doing the same thing.

Gluten Free Restaurant Review: Bella's in Ogden

I had a date night last Thursday with my husband.  It was fun and very much needed.  For dinner we went to a restaurant that was recommended to us and I'm glad we did.

Before we even went I was feeling good about it because of what I saw on the first page on their website.  See if you can guess what that was:  http://www.ilovebellas.com/
Hint:  it's on the left-hand side under "Bella's Menus"

Yep, "Gluten Free Menu" right there on the front page!  Plus it's a full page of delicious gluten free options.  Yay!

Then as a perused more around their site I liked it even more.  The history of this restaurant is just sweet.  Bella's is a family operated restaurant and it was renamed Bella's after their little sister who passed away in 2005.  I especially loved reading how they ran the place when their kids were little.  Really sweet.

So with all of that I was already liking the place and then we went and I was even more impressed.  The atmosphere is awesome!  There are beautiful koi ponds and waterfalls all over.  I loved it!  We ate inside, but apparently the outdoor patio is really neat as well.

Our server was really nice and good at his job.  If you go there and Jason is your server, you'll know you're in good hands.  He kept our chips, salsa, and drinks full.  And even better than that (and I guess the most relevant part for this blog) he knew what he was talking about when it came to gluten free!!! 

I asked him if I could get a gluten free menu and he immediately brought one out for me and then let me know that the chips were gluten free, but that they were fried in the same oil as gluten-filled items, so he could get me some fully gluten free chips that weren't fried.  And he knew all of this immediately without having to go ask a supervisor!  You know you're in good hands at a restaurant when the servers have been trained about gluten free and cross-contamination. 

I got the carnita fajitas and it was yummy, as was the salsa.  We were told later (by my father-in-law) that the other options of salsa are fantastic, so next time we go we're going to be sure to order them (we were offered them, but decided to just go with the regular).

It was a very pleasant dinner.  And to finish it off, our receipt specifically said "gluten free fajita" on it.  I loved that.  It made me feel like they really know what they're doing and they weren't going to mess up and cross-contaminate the gluten free items because they categorized them separately. 

I highly recommend Bella's for a gluten free dining option (and for non-gluten free dining ;) ).  It's a great family business that supports the community. 

Let me know if you go or if you've been before!

Gluten Free: Best Tacos Ever!!!

I should probably explain the lack of good posts for the past month or so.  Along with the normal craziness of life, my sister was in town one weekend, my sister-in-law another one, I’ve been trying to work on the yard on warm days, and I visited my sister-in-law in Texas.  Phew!  It’s been fun, but busy!

So, please forgive me for the lack of recipes, but as a result of my trip to Texas I’ve got some amazing recipes to share.  AMAZING!!! 

Have you ever heard of Fuzzy’s Tacos?  Sounds weird (and moldy), I know.  It’s not.  It’s a fun restaurant with the most amazing food EVER!  We went twice while I was there and I wouldn’t have minded one bit if we’d gone more.  I came back to Utah craving a Fuzzy taco and not being able to get one (we don’t have any in UT ).  So I set to work making my own recipe.  I don’t know that it’s exact, but it’ll do until I can go back to Texas again for a real one.

So do you want to hear what makes Fuzzy Taco’s so different from taco places we have around here?  See if you can tell from this picture:That’s feta cheese and cilantro.  I never would have thought to add those ingredients to a taco!  And the most essential ingredient that you might not be able to see:  creamy garlic sauce.  HEAVEN!!! 

So obviously the cilantro and feta were easy to figure out.  And for the meat (you can get any kind you want at Fuzzy’s) I went with pulled pork because I have an awesome pork carnita recipe (the meat wasn’t the star of the taco for me, so I wasn’t as concerned with getting that flavor the same).  The garlic sauce was what had me stumped.  It’s the star of the taco, so I knew I had to at least get it close.  And I think I did !  So good!  Here’s my recipe:   

Fuzzy’s Taco (copycat) Ingredients: 

• GF taco shells or tortillas (they taste even better if you heat them up a bit)
• Garlic sauce (recipe to follow)
• Pork (recipe to follow)
• cheddar cheese, shredded
• lettuce, chopped
• tomatoes, chopped
• cilantro, chopped
• feta cheese, crumbled
• Optional/if you’re lucky enough to have it:  Fuzzy’s hot sauce (purchased at Fuzzy’s)

Creamy Garlic Sauce:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tb. butter
• 1 cup mayo
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Sauté garlic in butter over low heat until golden (about 5 minutes).  Add garlic/butter to 1 cup mayo and blend.  Add pepper and garlic powder.  Put on your taco first thing and enjoy!!!

*I used this recipe as my inspiration.

Slow Cooker Carnitas:

(I usually double the spices)

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp crumbled dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 boneless pork shoulder roast

1. Mix spices together.  Coat pork with the spice mixture.  Place bay leaves in the bottom of the slow cooker and place pork on top.  Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.
2. Cover and cook on low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 10 hours.  Turn the meat after it has cooked for 5 hours.  When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker and shred with two forks.
3. To get a little crispiness, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet, add some of the liquid from the slow cooker, and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

(This pork recipe is delicious and freezes really well.) 

*I used this recipe and changed it according to the reviews.

Now just put all the ingredients together for the tacos (lots of garlic sauce, not much cheddar, an equal amount of the veggies, and a generous sprinkling of the feta) and enjoy!  Seriously, so good! 

Now I just need to figure out how to make Fuzzy’s salsa.  Also heavenly! 

FYI: These ingredients are awesome separate too.  I kept getting bowls of the pork and adding garlic sauce, feta, and cilantro.  Yum!   

Restaurant Review: Gluten Free at Red Robin

My husband’s birthday was last week.  He had a coupon from Red Robin for a free birthday burger and he loves burgers, so that’s where we went.  I wasn’t overly excited about it because when we went for the same reason 3 years ago the waitress had no clue what gluten was and after I explained it to her she asked me if beans had gluten in them.  Needless to say, that wasn’t the best restaurant experience, but thankfully this time was completely different!

My husband and daughter at Red Robin 3 years ago.

Often before going to a restaurant we’ll check for a gluten free menu online (that majority of restaurants have one), but we didn’t this time.  When we got there my husband asked the hostess for a gluten free menu.  It took them awhile to get one (they usually have on one on hand, but couldn’t find it, so they had to print off a new nutrition list which was 23 pages long), so I guessed on what I could have and they checked it once it was printed.

Birthday boy with daughter last week.

The manager came out to talk to me about it and was extremely nice and helpful.  Both him and our waitress were knowledgeable about gluten and which of their items it was in (i.e. you can have the fries, but only without the seasoning salt).  You’ll want to ask the manager at your specific location questions about how they prevent cross-contamination (preferably before you get to the restaurant).  I talked to the manager about this and feel confident that the Layton Red Robin location knows what they’re doing.  He told me they have a dedicated french fry fryer and the seasoning salt is added afterwards and the grills are also dedicated for breaded and non-breaded chicken.  He even talked about being sure to use separate bowls and tongs for everything to prevent cross-contamination.  Big change from 3 years ago! 
The food was yummy, too!  Click here to see their gluten free menu.  It’s detailed and great!

Bonus:  The waiting area has TVs on the floor and an arcade to help entertain your busy kids!

P.F. Changs New Gluten Free Dessert!

I got this from HealthyDealsNSteals:

Did you know that today is National Celiac Awareness Day?
P.F. Chang’s wanted to celebrate by introducing a new gluten free dessert to their menu. And it sounds delicious for anyone!!
“Today our gluten free menu with 29 choices expands with the addition of our new Triple Chocolate Mousse Mini dessert. Enjoy three sinful layers of chocolate gananche, milk chocolate mousse, and flourless chocolate cake.”
Yum!!
Plus! You can download recipes for two of their gluten free favorites here: GF Mongolian Beef and GF Shanghai Cucumbers!! (Scroll to the bottom for the recipes).

 Awesome, huh?!  It sounds DELICIOUS!

Thanks Traci!

Gluten Free Baked Goods for Christmas

Against the Grain is taking orders for holiday goodies until December 19th.

Contact information for Against The Grain:
2292 West 5400 South, Taylorsville, Utah 84118
• Phone: (801) 955-4418
• Fax: (801) 955-4323

Place your order soon for:
Sugar Cookies - 1 dz $9.00
Sugar Cookies w/frosting on the side - 1 dz $9.00
Pumpkin Pie - 10-inch - $10.99
Apple Pie - 10-inch - $11.99
Cherry Pie - 10-inch - $11.99
Pecan Pie - 10-inch - $12.99
Key Lime Pie - 10-inch - $12.99
Dinner Rolls - 1 dz $5.50
Pie Shells - 10-inch or dough balls (for a top) $5.00

YUM!!!

(Info from the facebook group: Gluten Free in Utah County. Go join! Also, I've started up a "Gluten Free in Utah" facebook group. I haven't done anything with it yet, but it would be great to get up and going, so go join that too!)

Boston's has Gluten Free Pizza!

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but Boston's Gourmet Pizza now has gluten free pizza!!! I can't wait to try it out! I went there before they had gluten free and I got a salad, which was delicious and I'm guessing the pizza will be amazing.

It's in Layton:
694 West Antelope Dr.
Layton, UT 84041
Telephone - (801) 779-9088

I looked at a take-out menu and it lets you know which pizzas can't be made gluten free (because of the sauce), so I'm guessing they know what they're doing. As always, you'll have to decide for yourself about cross-contamination issues. I haven't talked to the manager there to find out how they deal with this.

If anyone has a chance to try it out let me know how it is and I'll do the same. I can't wait to try it!

Pier 49 Pizza- Be sure to call ahead

So in my previous post about Pier 49 Pizza I stated that all locations in Utah now have gluten free pizza. Apparently this isn't the case. My sister went to the one on Center Street in Provo and they don't carry gluten free. Sad. Call ahead of time to make sure your location has gluten free (plus that way you can pre-order and not have to wait).

Also, you'll want to call ahead to make sure they have the crust in stock. My wonderful husband got me some pizza last Wednesday (right before we went to the hospital to have our beautiful baby boy!) and he had to call around to multiple locations to find one with the crust in stock.

Click here for locations and numbers.

I know the Bountiful, Layton, Salt Lake, and Provo/Orem locations carry gluten free. I've either talked to them personally about it, purchased it from that location, or my sister has. Hopefully any location that doesn't carry it will if they get enough customer interest in it!

Pier 49 Pizza

As of the start of the year (2009) all Pier 49 Pizza locations in Utah started carrying gluten free pizza! This makes me so happy!!! I knew that the downtown Salt Lake location did GF pizza (I've been there twice) and that the owner of that one was trying to get other locations to offer it, but I didn't realize he'd succeeded in convincing them until my thoughtful husband randomly called up our local Pier 49 to ask about it and was told all Utah locations started offering it at the beginning of the year. Yay!

I really need to find out exactly how it all started and probably should have done so before doing this post, but I'm just so excited about it I couldn't wait (plus I don't want anyone who doesn't know about the GF pizza to have to go any longer without). Anyway, from what I understand, the manager of the downtown S.L. Pier 49 has a mother-in-law or daughter-in-law or some other relative who found out they couldn't eat gluten. That got him to start offering it at his location and he was rallying the other locations to do the same. He's pretty much my hero. I think I need to figure out his name and send him a thank you card.

Anyway, let me tell you about the pizza. It's DELICIOUS! I make homemade gluten free pizza, but it's not the same at all. There's just something about a pizza ordered from a pizza place that you can't duplicate at home and Pier 49 pizzas are better than most.

Pier 49 doesn't make the crust themselves, so you don't need to worry about cross-contamination problems happening with the flours in the kitchen. I've also heard that they're very careful about using only gluten-free pans and covering the pizza so it won't be cross-contaminated. I've never had a problem with it, but I'm also not super sensitive. If you are worried about cross-contamination, give your local Pier 49 a call and find out exactly how they do it. It'd probably be a good idea to call ahead anyway, to make sure they have some gluten free crusts on hand (since they order them in). Also, as a result of ordering the pre-made crust, there is only 1 size (10 inch at my location), so it's a pizza basically for 1 (with leftovers) or 2 (but you'll both be wanting more).

Since you'll want to get your own pizza rather than sharing, it does cost more than a normal pizza run would, but it's totally worth it. Plan on spending probably $12-15 for the pizza depending on your toppings. You can have whatever toppings you want and even do 1/2 one thing and 1/2 another (that's what I do since I'm so indecisive).

Click here to find a location near you.