Gluten Free Vacation to Key Lime Cove Resort in Gurnee

We recently had the pleasure of spending a 3 day weekend at Key Lime Cove Resort in Gurnee, right across the street from Great America. It's very easy to spot from I-294 near the Grand Avenue exit.

We had heard from 2 different friends that the resort can accomodate gluten free dining. Back to my big pet peeve, this valuable information is not indicated anywhere on the website! I called and spoke to Chef Jeff who was very helpful and reassuring. I also spoke to him while dining. Chef Jeff shared that the resort is trying to improve the gluten free dining experience before advertising and announcing it on the website. Chef said they are hopeful to even have a gluten free party option, whereby all the diners could have a great gf dining experience. Sounds fantastic!

The gluten free food can be found at the D.W. Anderson's Eatery on the lower level. Here is the menu. For lunch and dinner, there are pizza crusts and buns from the French Meadow Bakery in Minnesota. Even french fries are available! The restaurant will fry them up in a clean pot of oil. Some of the salads are available and the manager was able to tell me which dressings are gluten free.

Breakfast was not an option for us. There is a buffet breakfast only. The restaurant will bring out fresh eggs, hash browns, and breakfast meats to avoid cross-contamination. I'm sure that is a fantastic offer for some. For us, my son does not eat these things. I asked Chef Jeff about gluten free pancakes and for now it is too difficult for the kitchen to prep them. We were staying in a suite with a refrigerator and dining table, so I brought fresh fruit and muffins and we were all very happy with our in-room breakfast.

A final note is that our food took longer than normal to prepare due to the extra steps needed, so plan accordingly!

Key Lime Cove offers a really fun waterpark with a lot of slides AND the safe gluten free dining options that my family needs. It was a great weekend.

All the Gluten Free Menus at Lettuce Entertain You

I was updating my post about GF restaurants around Chicago when I stumbed upon this link to all the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants that offer a gluten free menu. What a great resource!

Gluten Free Event in Chicago-- this Saturday!!

a friend forwarded this to me...


Gluten Free Fair and Deerfields Bakery Baking Demonstration

Saturday 12:00pm at Whole Foods Market Sauganash, Chicago , IL

Let us show you how delicious a gluten free lifestyle can be! Explore the store and taste some of our favorite gluten free products. Plus, Deerfields Bakery will be teaching a class on gluten-free baking at noon. They'll demo two delicious recipes. For more information or to sign up for the class, please call 773.205.1100.

Gluten Intolerance Group March meeting

As I have mentioned, I lead the Northbrook chapter of the Chicagoland GIG. I am excited to announce our March 9 meeting, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Northbrook Sunset Foods. I hope you can join us!

Dr. Cynthia Jaffe will discuss food allergies and sensitivities; including what are food sensitivities, types of immunity, auto-immune disorders, childhood allergies, allergy categories-IGE, IGG, and treatment. She will discuss how to avoid and monitor allergens. She will introduce the rotation gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, yeast-free 5 day a week-2 meals a day (lunch and dinner) meal plan available through her office. Her office provides a 164 food allergy panel and can test both IgE allergens and sensitivity testing of IgG and IgA. She can also test for celiac disease and gluten sensitivities. More information is available at her website www.chicagoloopchiropractic.com

Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels develops a gluten free option

Here is something neat that I just heard about. A friend happened upon a remark on facebook and forwarded it to me, and I sent on an email and learned about this option from Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels. We used to eat their pretzels at Kohl Children's Museum, back when we ate gluten. I bet that the GF version is equally yummy. We are checking out the new product at an event on February 25. Check back to find out more!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels Introduces Gluten-Free Soft Pretzel
A Twisted, Savory Treat for the Gluten-free Community

CHICAGO -- (February 1, 2011) Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, the company known for its premium stuffed soft pretzels, is introducing a gluten-free soft pretzel to its tasty roster.

This gluten-free soft pretzel, two years in the baking, offers a great soft pretzel experience. The hand-twisted product has hit some Whole Foods stores in various regions and will continue to expanding into other chains throughout the spring. Also, it can be purchased on the company’s website, www.kimandscotts.com and at the company’s Chicago café, Café Twist, 2218 N. Lincoln Ave.

While gluten-free diets top the charts of menu trends, gluten-free consumers are on hunt for delicious meal alternatives. Kim & Scott’s gluten-free soft pretzel boasts a blend of 5 “ancient grains,” including sorghum flour, millet flour, quinoa flour, amaranth flour and teff flour. In addition to rice flour, these “ancient grains” offer more fiber and therefore a healthier pretzel.

“Some gluten-free products rely solely on rice flour as their alternative grain,” said Scott Holstein, COO and founder of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels. “’Ancient grains’ allow us to bake a more nutritious food, something gluten-free dieters often need and want.”

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels has proudly baked nut-free pretzels in a nut-free facility for the past 15 years. Now not only can consumers with nut allergies enjoy the soft snack, but also those with other dietary constraints. Kim & Scott’s will showcase the gluten-free pretzel at trade show, Expo West 2011 (March 11-13, Anaheim, CA, booth no. 3789) and looks forward to its nut-free and gluten-free pretzels not only selling in frozen grocery aisles, but also ballparks.

“We’re always looking to bake new flavors and not only tempt the taste buds, but also satisfy dietary restraints,” said Kim Holstein, president and Chief Inspiration Officer of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels. “Everyone deserves to enjoy flavorful soft pretzels and with the addition of our gluten-free pretzel, the soft pretzel can be a mainstay in everyone’s kitchen.”

Gluten-free and allergy conscious cuisine was included in the top 20 food trends this year, according to The National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2011” survey.

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels can be found in the frozen aisles of Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, Jewel, Kroger, Super Target, Walmart and other major grocery chains. They’re also sold in smoothie chains, coffee shops, movie theaters and airports around the country. Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels was started in 1995 and is now run out of a 38,000 sq. foot Chicago bakery with annual sales projected at $10-15 million. Fifteen years later they’ve transformed the pretzel from a snack to an anytime meal. Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels deliciously touts more than 12 varieties. Each all-natural pretzel is twisted by hand and made from scratch. The company is proud that its pretzels are made in a nut-free facility, a great source of whole grains and free from trans fats, preservatives and hydrogenated oils.

Those who maintain a gluten-free lifestyle often have Celiac Sprue disease, disorder-related gastro-intestinal distress, or are using it for weight management. Various outlets have stated that gluten-free celebrities include Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Keith Olberman, Victoria Beckham, Rachel Weisz, Emmy Rossum, Dayna Delaney and Meredith Vieira.

Golden Chef Restaurant in Wheeling

I had heard through word of mouth that the Golden Chef Restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling can modify anything on the menu to be gluten free. I've heard it a bunch of times, actually. Over the weekend we decided to take the kids out for dinner and I wanted to try someplace new. So we took the kids for their first Chinese food!

I asked the man behind the host counter "Can you serve us gluten free" and he said "Yes, anything on the menu." Can you even imagine how good that felt?

My husband has told me for a long time that he does not like Chinese Food. I had a hunch that if we ordered the right dishes that I could convert him, and I did.

We ordered egg rolls (the regular size ones are not GF, we had some mini rolls, I think called Shanghai rolls), sweet & sour chicken, beef with broccoli, and shrimp chow fun (served with rice noodles). The sweet & sour sauce on the table is GF and good. The food looked great- it was obviously fresh and nicely presented. My kids liked the egg rolls the most. My older son actually took a large bite out of the flowered carrot garnish... I don't think that there was any soy sauce in our food, and I wished for a bit of saltiness. I may bring my bottle of San-J tamari with me next time. Or maybe if I had asked there was some in the back.

The owner/chef is Esther Moy, and she came out to talk to me. She said that she studied to be a nutritionist but then married a chef. She said that she is happy to cook gluten free for diners. She told me that she gets customers referred by the Northbrook Gluten Free Store and offered me their business card. She also gave me her business card and an extra menu that I will bring to my next gluten intolerance group meeting. Her take-out menu does have a list of 8 items on a gluten free menu. Although she said that she can make any entree gluten free.

What a great find! We had a great AND safe dinner, my kids tried something new, and we found yet another dining out option. My husband even mentioned that we could consider catering from the Golden Chef for some future event, that was a great idea!

Subway Restaurants testing 2 gluten free products

I read on celiac.com that the Subway restaurants are testing a gluten free roll and gluten free brownie. Down in Texas the test involves pre-wrapped gluten free rolls and brownies and sandwich artists are being trained through a tutorial video on avoiding cross-contamination. Subway is including a one-time-only use knife and the sandwich is prepared down the line by one person. You can read the full article here. I know that I find that the quality between Subways really varies a lot, and I wish them great success with the test. How great would that be to have Subway as an option? There are so many of them!

book review- The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free

I read a preview about this book in the Chicago Tribune a few months ago. I was so excited to be able to finally order it on Amazon! I read through the entire book, made notes, used my highlighter. Have you heard of Anne Byrn, the Cake Doctor? She takes regular grocery store mixes and fancies them up into something special. Just for us, she has worked her magic with gf cake and brownie mixes! She does not specify which mix to buy, but she does reference Betty Crocker a few times :) I recently ordered a case of Pamela's yellow cake mix from Amazon so I have been using those. (Although the book calls for a 15 ounce box of cake mix and Pamela's bag
is 21 ounces and I've had to count out 30 tablespoons to get the right amount for the recipe). Anne has color pictures at the front of the book for each baked goodie! Chapters are layer cakes, bundt cakes, pan cakes, cupcakes & muffins, brownies/bars & cookies, and frosting.

I had just recently bought a bundt pan so I tried the caramel melted ice cream cake first. It was so easy, and really came out nicely. I overbaked it just slightly and will be more careful next time. My family loved the cake! It had a nice crumb, sliced well, was moist, and looked really pretty! Here's a pic:



Right now I am baking Kathy's Cinnamon Breakfast Cake- with 2 layers of struesel! My kids are very excited about the Cookies & Cream cake- truth is they both called it an Oreo cake. I didn't have enough whipping cream for the frosting so we will try that layer cake later this week.

I definitely recommend this book. I think it would be a great gift for someone new to the GF life, and much appreciated by those of us looking to make a fantastic dessert with a pre-made mix. Happy reading!

Gluten Intolerance Group meeting for January

As I've mentioned, I lead the Northbrook chapter of the Gluten Intolerance Group. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Northbrook Sunset Foods. On January 12 I am hosting CPA Dan Weitzman who will present on tax deductions for gluten free foods! See the blurb below. Also, if it could get better, we will be sampling Rudi's gluten free bread and also some goodies from Katz's Gluten Free. I hope you can join us!

"Tax Tolerance Threshold:
When Can Your Gluten Intolerance Yield Some Tax Savings?"
CPA to speak at GIG Chicago Area meeting.

It will soon be that time of year again...tax time.
I can hear the groans from everyone as they read these words. Having a Gluten Intolerance can be costly, but are there ways to get some money back for these expenses?

On January 12th at 6:30pm, the Northbrook, IL Gluten Intolerance Group will be hosting Dan Weitzman who will be speaking about what can and cannot be deducted when it comes to Gluten Intolerance.

Dan is a CPA and attorney who has an accounting practice in Glenview, IL. He has over 25 years of experience specializing in the taxation of individuals and closely-held businesses. He has taught accounting at the University of Illinois and Roosevelt University and has made presentations to many groups, including Chicago Bar Association, Citibank, Chicago Tribune and the Pennsylvania CPA Society.

When: January 12th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Where: Sunset Foods, 1127 Church Street in Northbrook
RSVP's to this event are welcome, but not necessary. If you have any additional questions, please contact Laura at glutenfreelci@gmail.com

Gluten Free Caramelized Apple Cake

So I know that I prefer to review restaurants, but this cake really turned out great! I used a recipe that I found in the back of a magazine and just swapped out the flour for a GF blend. I used Meister's flour and also made this with Better Batter flour. (If you use Meister's, be sure to follow their instructions for modifying your baking powder) I'd avoid Bob's Red Mill on this, because I doubt that the cake flavors will mask the bean taste. Because this bakes in a skillet, I was able to transport it easily right in the pan.

Caramelized Apple Cake

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups GF flour blend containing xantham gum
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch slices


1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat 1/2 cup of the butter in a large bowl for 1 minute or until creamy. Add granulated sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until blended. Reduce speed to low. Gradually blend in flour mixture, then sour cream.
4. Melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in an ovenproof 10-inch nonstick skillet. Add brown sugar; stir 2 minutes.
5. Add apple slices to the pan and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes or until tender. Spread apples in a single layer. Let cool for 5 minutes.
6. Spoon batter over apples and spread to edge of skillet. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on rack for 20 minutes. Run knife around edge. Carefully invert onto a plate. If serving this later, leave it in the skillet, heat it briefly on the stovetop before inverting.

Gluten Free Chicagoland Restaurant List

I had only been to the GF Grocery in Westchester twice. It was too far away. And now it is out of business, closed last week. I frequently was on the website, however, because they did have a long restaurant list. I copied it from them and will be adding my own restaurant finds to it as time goes on... so this list will be updating regularly! I have not been to many of these restaurants, so please use caution. Contact the restaurant first to make sure they are still in business and they can still accomodate a gluten free diner. I have excluded 2 suggested restaurants from my list, places where I personally have had a negative experience. Have any suggestions or recommendations?? I am happy to add them, just let me know!

Last updated 3/19/2011
This page is getting a lot of hits! Please leave me your own ideas and suggestions! Are there places to avoid? That may be a good list to start, as well...

Restaurants with multiple locations
Aurelio's Pizza GF Pizza
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano GF Menu
Big Bowl GF Menu
Bonefish Grill GF Menu
Boston Market GF menu
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. GF menu
Carrabba's Italian Grill GF Menu
Carson's GF Menu
Cheeseburger In Paradise GF menu
Chili's Grill & Bar GF menu
Chipotle Mexican Grill GF burrito bowl
Claim Jumper Restaurant GF menu
Cooper's Hawk Winery GF menu
Deerfields Bakery GF baked goods
Ditka's Restaurants GF friendly
Five Guys Burgers and Fries everything except buns are GF
Flat Top Grill GF friendly
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse GF menu
Jason's deli GF Menu
Francesca's Restaurants GF pasta, AH site has GF menu
Kona Grill GF menu
Las Tablas Columbian Steakhouse GF knowledgeable
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria GF crustless pizza
Maggiano's Little Italy GF Pasta
Marcello's GF Menu
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants GF friendly
The Melting Pot GF Menu
Mon Ami Gabi GF friendly
My Pi Pizza GF pizza & pasta
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant GF Menu
Outback Steakhouse GF Menu
Pei Wei Asian Diner GF Menu
PF Chang's China Bistro GF Menu
Piero's Pizza GF pizza
Pinstripes Bowling GF Menu
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers GF Menu
Roti Mediterranean Grill GF Menu
Stir Crazy GF friendly
Topolobompo & Frontera Grill GF friendly
Pizzeria Uno's GF Menu
Walker Brothers Pancake House GF pancakes
Weber Grill Restaurant GF Menu
Wildfire Restaurants GF Menu

Restaurants in North Suburbs
Bella Via (Highland Park) GF friendly
Bob Chinn's Crabhouse (Wheeling) GF friendly
Breadsmith (Highland Park) fresh GF baked on Wednesdays
City Park Grill (Highland Park) GF Menu
The Claim Company (Northbrook) GF Menu
Di Pescara (Northbrook) GF friendly
Golden Chef Cantonese & Szechwan Restaurant (Wheeling) entire menu available GF
Goode & Fresh Pizza Bakery (Glenview) GF Menu
The Happ Inn (Northfield) GF Menu
Main Street Smoke House (Libertyville) GF Menu
Malibu Pizza & Pasta (Skokie) GF Pizza
Max and Benny's Restaurant (Northbrook) GF Menu
Mitchell's Fish Market (Glenview) GF Menu
Nirvana Wine Bar and Grillerie (Vernon Hills) GF Menu
Rose's Bakery (Evanston) GF Bakery and Cafe
Risotto's Italian Ristorante (Gurnee) GF Menu
Smokin' T's BBQ (Long Grove) GF Menu
Sushi Kushi Toyo (Lake Forest and Vernon Hills) GF soy sauce
Tavern Libertyville Restaurant (Libertyville) GF friendly
Tsukasa of Tokyo (Vernon Hills) GF teriyaki & soy sauce

Restaurants in Northwest Suburbs
AFFRESCO Pizzeria & Lounge (Park Ridge) GF Menu
Barrington Gourmet (Barrington) GF Menu
Divino Gelato (Grayslake) GF Pizza
Gluten-Free Cookie Passion (Mundelein) GF Bakery
Graziano's (Niles) GF Menu
Julio's Latin Cafe (Lake Zurich) GF Menu
Kaiser's Pizza & Pub (Mundelein) GF Pizza
Mambo Italiano Ristorante (Mundelein) GF pasta
Nick's Pizza & Pub (Crystal Lake) GF Pizza
The Pizza Place and More (Crystal Lake) GF Pizza
Sunrise Grill (Des Plaines) (847)298-1600 GF friendly
Sweet Pea Cakes (Barrington) GF cupcakes Friday & Saturday
That Pasta Place (Grayslake) GF Menu

Restaurants in Chicago
Adobo Grill GF Menu
Belly Shack GF Menu
Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant GF Menu
The Balanced Kitchen GF Menu
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba GF friendly
Cassava Bread GF baked goods
The Chicago Diner GF Menu
Fattoush Lebanese Cuisine GF Friendly/GF pita
The Grill on the Alley GF Menu
Harry Caray's Tavern Navy Pier GF Menu
Il Vicinato 773-927-5444 Cermak & Western GF Pasta
Ina's GF Menu
Italian Village Restaurant GF friendly
Petterino's GF Menu
RL Restaurant GF friendly
Riva Crabhouse Navy Pier GF friendly
Roy's Restaurant GF friendly
Sol y Nieve GF Friendly
Swirlz Cupcakes GF cupcakes
Tipsy Cake GF baked goods
Vinci Chicago GF Menu
ZED451 GF Friendly

Restaurants in West Suburbs
Barone's (Glen Ellyn) GF Pizza
Da Luciano (River Grove) GF Menu
Emilio's Tapas (Hillside) GF Friendly
Gaetano's Cafe (Forest Park) GF friendly
Glen Prairie Fine Food (Glen Ellyn) GF Menu
Greco's Fine Italian Restaurant (Willow Springs) GF Pasta
Lucca's Pizzeria and Ristorante (LaGrange) GF pasta & pizza
Maya del Sol (Oak Park) GF friendly
Mykhas's Restaurant (Glen Ellyn) GF friendly
Prasino (La Grange & St. Charles) GF Menu
Prima La Pizza (Hillside) GF pizza & pasta
Q BBQ (La Grange) Gf Friendly
Roberto's Ristorante (Elmhurst) GF friendly
The Bank Restaurant (Wheaton) GF Menu
The Clubhouse (Oak Brook) GF friendly
Trattoria 225 (Oak Park) GF Menu
The White Chocolate Grill (Naperville) GF Menu


Restaurants in South Suburbs
Guardi's Pizza (Tinley Park) GF Pizza
OMG It's Gluten Free Cafe (Frankfort) All GF Cafe
Palermo's Italian Restaurant GF Menu

Gluten Free buffet dinner this Sunday!

I learned about this event just today... I joined the email list for the Free From Market (http://www.freefrommarket.com/) down in Orland Park and this dinner was at the bottom of a long list of gf events around town.


Sun., Sept. 26, 4:00-7:00 pm - Barrington Gourmet (http://www.barringtongourmet.com/) All Gluten Free Buffet, 232 E. Main Street, Barrington 847-304-0708 (Metra train station is right across the street). Cost is $10 at the door with reservation and $13 without, children under 10 are free, cash bar with cider and GF beer. The buffet will be extensive. RSVP either by calling the restaurant at 847-304-0708 or by e-mailing Bruce Zarlengo (brucezarcsa@gmail.com)

Happy National Celiac Awareness Day

This is the new gluten free dessert at P.F. Chang's China Bistro! Introduced today in honor of National Celiac Awareness Day. Looks good, eh?? It is a triple chocolate mousse mini dessert-- chocolate ganache, milk chocolate mousse, and flourless chocolate cake. This dessert expands the GF menu to 29 items. Thanks to P.F. Chang's for supporting the GF community, may they serve as inspiration to many, many other restaurants.

3 new GF things I learned today...

Today I was chatting at the playground of my son's preschool when some well meaning and observant moms shared some gf sightings they have had. I'm always so grateful to hear this information. So often I already know what I am told but then, like today, I learn about 3 new options and I am happy to check them out and file them for future use. Here is what I learned:

Mariano's Fresh Market in Arlington Heights (http://www.marianosfreshmarket.com/). It is hard to tell from the minimal website, but this looks like a less expensive Whole Foods. They have a "large selection" of gluten free shelf items and they stock four varieties of frozen whole GF cakes- carrot, chocolate, vanilla, lemon. I don't know about brands or taste, but isn't nice to know that the option is there?

My Pie Pizza in Northbrook (http://www.mypiepizza.com/). It is actually My Pi (like 3.14- the math sign). They are located in downtown Northbrook by the train station. They carry Udi's pizza crusts and will create any of their pizza options with the GF crust. They also have rice pasta to substitute on any menu item. The manager I spoke to understood about cross-contamination and seemed to have steps in place to keep the gluten safely separate.

Breadsmith of Highland Park (http://www.breadsmith.com/locations/highlandpark.html). Every Wednesday they bake gf fresh onsite: bread, 3 kinds of muffins, 2 types of cookies. Yum!

The White Sox are offering some GF eats

Have you heard about this? U.S. Cellular Field is now offering a bunch of gluten free options, including beer for those of you seeking a very complete baseball experience.

Fresh carved sandwiches with multi-grain bread, cookies, hot dogs with gf buns, nachos, tex-mex barbacoa and carnitas, soft-serve ice cream, and some Bard's Tale gf beer.

How wonderful that gf diners are not limited to a bag of peanuts. As GF dining becomes more mainstream I am excited by the possibilities!

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/ballpark/cws_concessions.jsp

The Gluten Intolerance Group

I have taken on a leadership role at the Northbrook chapter of the gluten intolerance group. Meetings are held at the Northbrook Sunset Foods on the second Wednesday of the month.
I know there are a lot of different meetings and events-- some called gluten intolerant and some limiting to celiac disease. I found I am most comfortable with this group. Please considering joining me! For more information on the larger organization, check here: http://www.chicagoglutenfree.com/News_and_Events.html

Here is a flyer for next month's meeting:

The Gluten Intolerance Group of Greater Chicago
will be meeting upstairs at the
Northbrook Sunset Foods
on Wednesday, August 11, 6:30-8 p.m.

This month we will have a
gluten free product show & tell.
Please bring a favorite (or least favorite) gluten free item to the meeting.

Please join us if you have any questions or concerns about gluten free living!
We meet the second Wednesday of every month
at Sunset Foods.
Questions?? Email Laura at glutenfreelci@gmail.com

Big Bowl announces a new GF menu

Not sure how I ended up on their email list, but I received this from the Big Bowl people. They have a restaurant in Lincolnshire on Milwaukee Avenue. If you try out the GF menu, please share your comments with me! Here's a link to the menu page: http://www.bigbowl.com/main/menu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Big Bowl introduces comprehensive gluten-free menuNew offerings give those with food allergies more choices and peace of mind (Chicago, Minneapolis, Reston, VA., July 16, 2010) - Big Bowl has created a new gluten free-menu, replete with appetizers, entrees, dessert and even a wheat-free beer. The gluten-free choices appear on their own menu, eliminating the need to sort through all of the restaurant's choices. While contact with ingredients such as wheat poses no issues like tree nuts, Big Bowl is following the same protocol used for life-threatening food allergies. All ingredients and utensils are kept separate on the line and in storage. A chef signs off on every order and a manager – not the server – brings the gluten-free dish to the diner. "We take this as seriously as our allergy culture," says Big Bowl president Dan McGowan. "Whatever your restaurant or business believes in, it has to be instilled in the culture."

Because of the prominence of soy sauce in Asian cooking, Chinese and Thai cuisine is typically not gluten-free friendly. To create this menu, Executive Chef Marc Bernard scrutinized every product to ensure that wheat or other less obvious ingredients such as the commonly found modified food starch were not present. Tamari and a gluten-free oyster sauce are used instead. "We've taken away the need to cobble a meal together and the monotony of eating the same foods for those who have a gluten intolerance," says Bernard. "There are two dishes that are only on the gluten-free menu for space reasons but they are as equally outstanding as anything on the main menu, and of course, anyone can order them. The gluten-free menu features two appetizers – vegetable summer roll and Thai chicken lettuce wraps. Entrees include chicken and broccoli, kung pao chicken, orange chicken, Mongolian beef and shrimp with snow peas. All four Big Bowl signature pad thai dishes are featured on the gluten-free menu as well as two desserts – lemon ginger crème brulee and mochi (ice cream wrapped in sweetened rice confection). The wheat free beer is New Grist, a crisp, refreshing ale made in Milwaukee.

Because of Big Bowl's commitment to the gluten-free menu, it is being introduced one restaurant at a time to ensure a smooth implementation. The gluten free menu is now in place at all the Chicago and suburban locations. It will be rolled out in Reston on July 22 and in the Minneapolis area restaurants on July 27 (Roseville), July 28 (Minnetonka) and July 29 (Edina). For additional information, including new photos and a complete menu, please contact Laura Yee, 773 339-1195 or LauraYee@lymedia.net.


# # #Big Bowl is a pioneering Asian restaurant, distinctive in cuisine, vibrant in design and true in its commitment to earth-friendly practices, and sustainable and seasonal products. Integrity defines Big Bowl, from the authentic Chinese and Thai ingredients that sync traditional flavors with contemporary tastes to supporting small and local businesses. Big Bowl is located at 6 E. Cedar Ave., Chicago, (312) 640-8888; 60 E. Ohio Ave., Chicago, (312) 951-1888; 215 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 808-8880; 1950 East Higgins St., Schaumburg, (847) 517-8881; 3669 Galleria, Edina, MN., (952) 928-7888; 1705 Highway 36 W., Roseville, MN., (651) 636-7173; 12649 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN., (952) 797-9888; and 11915 Democracy Drive, Reston, VA., (703) 787-8852.

Gltuen Free dining at THE MELTING POT

The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant chain recently introduced a gluten free menu nationwide. Fondue seems like something that can easily be made gluten free... skipping bread dipped into the cheese and pound cake dipped into the chocolate.

My girlfriend and I had dinner at the Buffalo Grove location. I was promptly given a GF menu upon request and the server had been obviously educated about the differences and precautions in serving food gluten free. Although, the GF menu had no prices!! How can a restaurant possible justify giving me a menu without prices!?!?!

While preparing our cheese fondue for us, our server explained the different steps he had taken to keep ours gluten free. After asking if it was OK, he did bring my girlfriend out some bread on a separate plate- and brought her a spoon to drizzle the cheese onto her bread. We next enjoyed the entree fondue and we were able to choose from many cooking styles and there were plenty of gluten free sauces for dipping. Very little modification was needed.

Lastly, we enjoyed some chocolate fondue. We enjoyed all the juicy, fresh fruit and I brought my own brownies with for dipping (YUM!). Our server again brought out extra goodies on a separate plate for my friend along with her own drizzling spoon.

It was a nice dinner-- the Melting Pot is slow eating, quiet, a great place to spend 2 hours chatting with a good friend. The GF menu also included a drink list- since I am not a drinker I don't know much about which alcohols are safe to drink and found some interesting reading. And a very delicious looking chocolate martini is right on the GF menu.

Before you go - check the website and join club fondue-- you will get a free chocolate dessert and some great coupons and offers will be sent to you. That's right- free chocolate!!
http://www.themeltingpotclubfondue.com/signup.cgi?n=65953

Gluten free dining at P.F. Chang's China Bistro

P.F. Chang's has a newly expanded gluten free menu. We tried it for dinner with the kids. We ate at the Northbrook location, which is on the south side of Lake Cook Road, so not quite in Lake County. The menu was large- 27 items and 1 dessert. The GF menu did contain prices, which I find to be very respectful to the GF diner. I did compare the prices to the regular menu and there was about an $0.50 markup on the GF items. Some of the items are further designated as vegetarian. There was a large range- chicken, beef, and seafood. We ordered GF Mongolian Beef, GF Philip's Better Lemon Chicken, GF Singapore Street Noodles, GF spinach with garlic, and GF chocolate dome dessert.

Upon being seated we immediately identified ourselves as GF diners to our waiter. He had brought us a condiment tray and so he took the soy sauce away, leaving us a tray obviously minus one bottle. It would have been really nice had he brought us a container of gf soy sauce to have tableside.

The food was good. The mongolian beef was caramelized and tender, the noodles were saucy with ample shrimp, and the chicken was very fresh. A warning on the lemon chicken, however-- it was very lemony! And the broccoli served with the dish was either raw or very significantly undercooked.

The chocolate dome dessert is the same item as on the regular menu- it was very dense and rich. How nice to be able to order a dessert when dining out. You can see the GF menu here
http://www.pfchangs.com/menu/

Finally, if you are going, register for a Warrior Card (http://www.pfchangs.com/warriorcard/) to get 10% of your bill every time you dine at P.F. Chang's for all of 2010. What a great savings!

Gluten free dining at STARVED ROCK LODGE in Utica, IL

I'm venturing far out of Lake County in this one...

We visited Starved Rock State Park last weekend and we stayed at the Lodge located within the state park. I had sent an email through the lodge website asking if there is any GF dining options and I was so happy to hear back from Kimberly, the dining room manager. I can't give you her email because it includes her last name and I don't feel right sharing it, but her phone number is: 815-220-7372.

Kimberly assured me, over the course of about 12 emails, that the dining room at the lodge could definitely accommodate us. She discussed menu options with me, offered to make us gf pancakes for breakfast, and even ordered us some gluten free ice cream. It's funny that she asked me to bring in a new package of pancake mix for the chef to prepare... I showed up with my bag of Pamela's only to discover that Chef Charlie (another wonderfully helpful person) had a bag stashed in his kitchen. Chef Charlie even made us special french fries! The fryer is used for breaded items so was off limits to us-- Chef Charlie sliced us up some fresh potatoes and-- we were eating french fries!

And here's something else demonstrating the need for GF dining options. A woman approached our table during breakfast to ask about ordering gf pancakes. She had noticed us at dinner with our box of Glutino breadsticks... She introduced herself as Maria, said she also has celiac disease, and that she had no idea she could order gf pancakes. She told me about her restaurant in Peoria where she has many gf options. And, in case you are in Peoria, here is a link to find her.(http://www.peoriarestaurants.com/restaurants/?restaurant=marias_in_washington).

I hope that this post helps someone find a wonderful weekend away in Starved Rock. The lodge is old and the rooms very basic, but the hiking is fabulous and there is safe food... How wonderful! It is through sharing and networking that we can uncover all these hidden possibilities... http://www.starvedrocklodge.com/