DC Gluten Free News Round Up

Posted on October 23, 2012 | 8 comments

1. Bier Baron now carrying Omission beer

After a glorious Michigan victory over Michigan State this weekend, I headed to Bier Baron in Dupont for a gluten free beer. Watching your friends drink beer all day at a bar while you have mixed drinks can sure make a girl thirsty!

I was psyched to see that Bier Baron now has Omission pale ale on their menu. However, they were out when I went 😦

But, our awesome waiter was kind enough to bring me all three of the other gluten free beers they have, on the house! After passing them around the table, my friends confirmed that the New Planet Off Grid is kind of funky. I’ve never been a fan of New Grist, but when you have them side-by-side, it actually tastes quite like the St. Peter’s (both are sorghum based and light beers, so it makes sense).

2. Vace Italian Deli in Cleveland Park has a crap ton of gluten free pasta

Even though I live about a five minute walk from Vace Italian Deli, I only went in once before since I only ever saw people buying pizza there. A reader tipped me off (thanks, Fede!) that they have a bunch of authentic Italian pastas that are gluten free!

They have corn riccioli, rice gigli, and one pasta made with squid ink (plus the naturally gluten free risotto). Pair one of these with a homemade sauce (they carry them fresh and frozen), and you’ve got yourself a meal! One more win for my neighborhood!

3. The Maryland crab soup at Clyde’s is gluten free

I went to the last game in the NLDS series (heartbreaker), and was freezing cold and standing up for about six hours. So when I got to Clyde’s in Chinatown and found out that their Maryland crab soup is gluten free, I was overjoyed. Two bowls later and I was feeling slightly better about the Nats losing, and much warmer.

Just a few things happening around this great city in the gluten free realm!

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The worst things you can say to someone who’s gluten free

Posted on October 12, 2012 | 9 comments

People who don’t know a lot (or anything) about Celiac disease can often say some hurtful, ignorant, or just plain annoying things when the topic comes up. So here are my top four things you should never say to someone who needs to eat gluten free, and four that you should say (or that I appreciate when they’re said to me).

Never say:

4. “How much weight have you lost?” or “Well no wonder you’re so skinny!”

3. “Come on, just one bite won’t hurt! This is so good!”

2. “Well have you gotten tested? How do you know you have it?”

1. “I could never do that. I love bread too much! (giggle)”

Okay to say:

4. “Wow, that sucks. But I’m glad you’re feeling better now!”

3. “You know, I just saw a new restaurant with a gluten free menu!”

2. “That’s good to know, thanks for telling me about it. I’ll make sure to have some gluten free snacks on hand next time you come over!”

1. “I don’t know much about Celiac disease. Can you tell me more?”

Any other things that people have said to you that were either helpful or hurtful (or made you just want to punch them in the nose)?

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Gluten free good things

Posted on October 11, 2012 | 3 comments

A few gluten free finds and things that made me happy lately.

1. This sign at Vic’s Bagel Bar in NYC. Their gluten free bagels are seriously drool-worthy, and they are serious about preventing cross contamination for those of us with Celiac disease. Props to them!

2. These cocoa pebbles treats are gluten free! They’re awful for you, but who doesn’t love a little Fred Flinstone-endorsed sugar high?

3. I was quoted in a CNBC article on the food allergy business based off of my blog post about the cost of eating gluten free where I estimated that I spend over a grand more on food than the average single woman my age. So exciting!

As always, sometimes it’s hard to find the bright spots in the world of Celiac disease, but you can always find a way 🙂

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Brunch at Estadio: go for the cheesecake

Posted on October 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Last weekend I was hoping to take my dad to Birch and Barley for brunch, but after finding out there was a 45 minute wait we went with Estadio instead for some Spanish tapas.

I got the scallops with cauliflower and salbitxada. I originally wanted to get the halibut, but the waiter informed me that romesco tomato sauce has bread in it (?!) I guess they take normal tomato sauce and blend in some stale bread. It’s basically a landmine for celiacs. Tricky tricky…

 

I also got a side of mushrooms to share. Mmm fungus.

 

The entire point of this post is to tell you to go eat this manchego and pistachio cheesecake. It’s not advertised as being gluten free, but it is. And it’s amazing.

The crust is just sweetened pistachios, but the cake itself is so good. It’s not too sweet because of the manchego, and the caramel stuff on top is a bit salty. Such a special treat, and the closest thing I had to birthday cake this year.

 

Estadio
1520 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

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Celiac Disease in six words

Posted on October 2, 2012 | 4 comments

SMITH magazine is asking readers to write a six word memoir on various topics, so I decided to create a few on Celiac Disease (the negative and the positive).

The Negative: 

No gluten ever, all your life

Your gut is a war zone

No wheat, rye, barley or fun

Headaches, cramping, and a smelly bathroom

The Positive: 

Eating whole foods is better anyway

Like your body – you get stronger!

You can still eat Snickers bars

Can’t eat entire box of Poptarts

 

Those are mine. What six words would you use to describe Celiac Disease? 

 

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How to tell your co-workers you have Celiac Disease

Posted on September 27, 2012 | 1 comment

Having to eat gluten free in the workplace can be tricky. I’ve been fortunate to have some very supportive coworkers over the years who have brought in gluten free snacks to meetings and made sure that I’ve had something I can eat at events. Recently I transitioned to a new team, however, and I was trying to think of a tactful way to let my new team members know that I have to follow a gluten free diet.

So I used National Celiac Awareness day as an “in” to broach the topic. I think that you could do this at other times too though (like as a nice gesture on a casual Friday, for example).

I sent out this email to my team:

Hi folks!

Some of you may know that I have Celiac Disease and have to eat a gluten free diet, but you probably didn’t know that today is National Celiac Awareness Day! For the occasion I got some apples from the farmer’s market, which are on the 2nd floor front desk (and are naturally gluten free, of course).

And in the spirit of spreading awareness, check out this checklist of symptoms to see if you or someone you know may have it (1 out of 133 people do, actually)! http://www.celiaccentral.org/disease-symptoms-checklist/

Best,

Anna

I had a few people tell me how much they appreciated the email (and the snack) – and one person even told me a story about her sister, who she thinks may have Celiacs as well.

Any other ideas for how you can tell your coworkers? 

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Another gluten free hangover cure

Posted on September 25, 2012 | 1 comment

I already did a post about foods that are great for a hangover (jalapeno pizza with an egg on top and french fries). But I think I have determined that the preeminent gluten free hangover cure is…drumroll please…

Huevos rancheros! Bonus points if the tortillas are fried, and it comes with fried potatoes on the side like mine did this weekend.

This lovely artery-clogging meal was brought to me by Scion in Dupont. They have gluten free icons on their menu (incredibly helpful), as well as $13 bottomless mimosas and a free fruit buffet to replenish those vitamins.

Cheese = good. Salsa = good. Beans = good. Throw in a heavy dose of grease and you’ve got yourself a quality meal.

My other favorite fried thing at Scion is their hand-cut herbed fries. Dedicated fryer for the win.

 

Scion also has some healthier options, of course, but don’t ask me about those since apparently I only consume carbohydrates and grease when I go there.

Other gluten free items on their menu that would be great for soothing a hangover = potato nachos and lobster hash.

Scion
2100 P Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037

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Nitally’s Thai-Mex Fusion: St. Pete, FL

Posted on September 24, 2012 | 1 comment

I was visiting a friend in Florida recently, and had one of the more unique meals I’ve ever eaten: Thai-Mexican fusion from Nitally’s in St. Pete. They mix Thai curry with Mexican mole, use chipotle in stir fried rice, and put cilantro on everything.

They have a dedicated gluten free menu, which was great since I’m always wary of lurking soy sauce or fillers in curries and Asian food.

We started with the tofu appetizer, which came with peanut and sweet and sour sauce for dipping and fresh cilantro.

For an entree I had red curry tofu tacos, which seemed odd, but were crazy good. There was a ton of fresh cilantro on top, which I love. The corn tortilla/rice/curry sauce combination was unexpectedly addictive, and I ended up eating way more of the huge portion than I anticipated.

I think next time I get Thai food take out I’m going to just dump it on a bunch of tortillas. It’s a whole new way to eat it with no chopsticks required!

Nitally’s 
2462 Central – St. Pete (25th St & Central Ave)

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The next generation of gluten free beers

Posted on September 21, 2012 | 1 comment

Have you ever seen something so beautiful? A gluten free beer and the NYC skyline.

When I was in the city a couple of weeks ago I was really lucky to try a few new gluten free beers that really are in a class of their own.

First was Prairie Path Golden Ale from Two Brothers Brewing Co.

Prairie Path is crafted to remove gluten and has less than 5 ppm, according to their lab report (awesome they provide that!)

It has a “complex malt character” and is a “crisp, drinkable, savory ale that is light in color, but not flavor.” Check out that color!

Then I progressed to something a bit heavier – Harvester Brewing Dark Ale.

This beer “uses a very dark, near espresso-like roast” of chestnuts. Which “lend a roasty flavor and aroma with notes of chocolate and dark fruits.” You can really taste the chestnuts in this one! It’s a beer with some complex flavors, and is very sip-able (unlike Redbridge, which I can basically chug it’s so light).

While these beers may not be the easiest to find – it makes me giddy as a school girl at a carnival that there are some bold new brews coming to the market.

Cheers to beers!

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Pip’s Place: THE Gluten Free Cakery

Posted on September 12, 2012 | 5 comments

I was in New York City this weekend, and you know what that means – bakeries! When I get to the city I pretty much throw any health awareness out the window and consume only baked goods for at least one meal a day.

I’d been dying to go to Pip’s Place since they opened, so that was my first stop.

The interior was so cute. I think if I had a bakery of my own, this is exactly what it would look like. And the feeling of walking into a bakery where you can eat everything? Just pure elation.

After mulling it over and getting some recommendations from the friendly staff – I landed on a snickerdoodle cookie, a chocolate chip cookie, and a Heath layered bar.

They had a bunch of varieties of cookies, pecan pie, rye bread, banana chip bread – I could go there every day for a month and not get the same thing.

Quite a few things were dairy free as well, like these adorable lemon tarts.

But this guy. He was the star of the show. A shortbread cookie, topped with caramel, topped with a thick layer of chocolate, finished off with Heath bar crumbles on top.

Seriously, just one bite and I was beside myself. I had to ration it over two days so I could savor it longer.

I want to live in Pip’s Place and eat these bars for every meal. Or at least give the owner a giant hug for making them. Put this place on your gluten free bucket list.

Pip’s Place
1729-31 1st Ave
New York, NY

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