Posts: 34
2/11/10 10:25 P

glutenfreephilly.blogspot.com

Good resource.

Posts: 10,003
8/16/09 12:14 A

Lake Ariel, PA: www.thegrainlessbaker.com/

PA store and restaurant locales: www.thegrainlessbaker.com/findus/PA.html

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 10,003
8/1/09 8:01 P

West Reading: www.goodeatzgreencafe.com/

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 10,003
4/19/09 1:19 P

HERSHEY: www.piazzasorrento.com/

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 76
7/6/08 9:44 P

http://www.glutenfreeeriepa.com/ is the web-site of our local support group. They have a monthly meeting on the second Saturday of each month. The meetings have been very informative and kinda fun. I've met some great people through the group. They also set up dinners at local restaurants. The last one was at bar/restaurant that offers gluten-free pizza and beer; we all ate for free.

I feel very lucky to live near a Wegmans grocery store. They mark all of the gluten-free items that are manufactured for them with a "G" on the front. It makes grocery shopping so easy! I can actually shop the regular aisles and not pay a ton. In their health food section, they have a pretty good selection of specialty gluten-free items. Their prices are good but not great on those items. Often, I find similar items (ex - rice crackers) in the International section that are marked gluten-free and less expensive. My mom is GF as well but lives in MN. She can't wait to go grocery shopping when she comes to my house.

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 5 10 15

20

Posts: 10,003
4/27/08 9:06 A

Bellefonte, PA:

"Sarah Guillard, husband Grant Guillard and his brother Nathan, recently started the Molasses Bakery, a home-based business that ships organic, gluten-free baked goods, some of which are also dairy-free. All recipes are certified organic by Pennsylvania Certified Organics."

"If you’re interested in ordering the bakery can be found online at www.molassesbakery.com or call (814)806-2801 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. It ships nationwide via priority mail.

Guillard said that she plans to offer some of her baked goods at Cool Beans in Bellefonte, which has agreed to offer her some consignment space."

article reference:
www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/55214
0.html

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 3,146
4/4/08 9:39 P

Rhubarb Market in Lancaster carries a ton of GF products.

1521 Lititz Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 390-3001

Stauffers of Kissel Hill on Lititz Pike also has a fairly extensive GF section. Here's a link to their information:

www.skh.com/allergy.html

There is also a GF bakery stand at the Central Market downtown. I think it's called "The Gluten Free Bake Shop"

Edited by: MYSIDE at: 4/4/2008 (21:39)

Posts: 10,003
10/14/07 12:50 P

Someone on the celiac listserv shared this info:

Mr. Ritt's Gluten-Free Bakery (LUCASWE mentioned this below)
709 E. Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
v. 215-627-3034
f. 856-825-8776

Charlie Brown's Steakhouse in Wayne

John Harvard's brewery/steakhouse, on Lancaster Pike in Devon

The Dietary Shoppe, Inc.
4436 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129
215-242-5302

Long's
2018 Hamilton Street
Philadelphia
215 496-9928

Restaurant Spotlight: My Thai, Philadelphia
Located on Philadelphia's famed South Street in Center City, My Thai is a favorite of local celiacs because of chef-owner Id's willingness to make any dish on the menu gluten free. In fact, My Thai and Id were featured in an article about Triumph Dining in the Philadelphia Inquirier earlier this year. The next time you're in Philadelphia, don't miss the chance to try Id's homestyle Thai cooking. My Thai is located 2200 South St. and can be reached by phone at (215) 985-1878.

There is a TGI Fridays within walking distance of the Franklin Institute and of course there are Outback, Carrabba's, and PF Chang's in the area.
If your fussy 8 year old likes Mexican, there is a Qdoba (www.qdoba.com) at 16th and Walnut. I get their 3 cheese nachos and have had no reaction to them and they have a lot of kid friendly burritos and stuff for non-celiacs. Walnut Street is sort of
the artsy street (along with South street) in Philly and I love sitting at the counter in Qdoba's window and watching the Walnut street people walk
past as I eat. (Angel's note: we have a Qdoba's in OKC also and I like getting the "naked burrito" with pico-de-gallo, both beans - black and navy - and avocado, the sour cream is gf also - just fyi).

I have CD and live in Philadelphia and I eat Cheesesteaks all the time. You just have to make sure the french fries are GF, then ask them to make
a normal cheesesteak (I like provolone, onions, and hot peppers), except I ask them to put the fries on a plate and then put the cheesesteak sans roll on top of the fries. Sweet Lucy's is a family owned and operated BBQ place where they make everything from scratch. They won't change things to make them CD, but they are good about discussing the
ingredients with you and I've found plenty there that I can eat.

I love OLD Bookbinder's...great seafood.

Try Twenty21--it's upscale, (read: not cheap, but not really outrageous) but we had a fabulous meal there. We called ahead and both the kitchen and
the wait staff, as well as the maitre d' seemed to be familiar with the GF diet, and due to the call were prepared for us when we arrived.
www.twenty-21.com

Jules Thin Crust Pizza (GF) in Doylestown. Doylestown

Sotto/Upstairs Varalli---Locust and Broad St

Passage to India -- Walnut and Juniper

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse --Broad St

D'Jango--4th St between South and Lombard

Matyson---37 South 19th St

Lolita---106 South 13th

StFitzwater Cafe---7th and Fitzwater

Paradiso---South PhiladelphiaCucina

Forte---South 8th Street

Magianno's which will work with you (the King of Prussia restaurant has GF pasta on hand, but I don't know if the Phila. site does). Also in Phila., many of the small restaurants on South Street will work with you. Jax Peters (GF Bible) lives in the area so she has talked to many of the owners.

Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Emerald Fish
65 Barclay
Farms Shopping Center
Route 70 (Marlton Pike)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
856-616-9192

They make everything from scratch in view of the diners, so you can request completely gf meal....specialty is fresh fish. I've always made reservations to go here. Small place. I don't usually see kids here. More designed for adults. BYOB. Ask for Eddie the waiter at Emerald Fish.

Cork in Westmont, NJ . The chef always comes to the table before we order .

Radicchio, on 4th Street in Philadelphia has also been great.

Matyson downtown Philly

Rae Restaurant at 30th St Station - Rave Review
This new venue has an excellent adaptable menu, great sides, careful and communicative staff and GREAT chefs! When I made the reservation I informed the staff of my allergies (which they wrote down) and was reassured that the server and chefs would work with me to create a safe meal. I had the beet and goat cheese salad with truffle vinaigrette (their
regular goat cheese is whipped with flour - so they opened a new package for me and it was wonderful). For my meal I had the roast chicken (without
panko bread crumbs) and a side of mashed potatoes that were heavenly. They even went to the trouble of making a special gluten free dessert just for me with several fruit presentations! There were many other options on the menu that would have been very tasty. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for a great meal!

Outback - Solid Staple





Edited by: DOTSLADY at: 10/14/2007 (13:00)

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 10,003
10/5/07 8:33 A

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette October 4, 2007:


It's Celiac Awareness Month


(SORRY - this post is too late for the first event, but the second one here is not:)

To mark October's Celiac Awareness Month, nutritionist Judy Dodd and gluten-free baker/cookbook author Lori Karavolis will present sessions on Gluten-Free Cooking and Nutrition from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Giant Eagle Market District store, Village Square, Bethel Park, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Market District Shadyside store.

Mrs. Karavolis expects to open her own Lori Bakes Gluten Free Cafe/Bakery at 100 S. McDonald St., McDonald, on Oct. 22 to cater to people with celiac sprue, a condition in which gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains, destroys the intestinal lining. The phone is 724-207-0009. For details, visit www.loribakes.com.

She'll also be part of the Three Rivers Endoscopy Center's second, free celiac seminar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Holiday Inn, Moon (reserve at 412-262-1000 or visit www.gihealth.com). Also planning to be there is Mojca Pipus, who last month opened Gluteny gluten- and dairy-free bakery to long lines in Squirrel Hill.

In other gluten-free news ...


The North Hills now has a place to go for home-baked gluten-free goods. Elvira Scolieri is selling her wares from her home at 2911 Grandview Drive, Hampton.

She calls her business Homemade Gluten-Free Goodies and says, "I make everything -- bread, pizzelles, cookies, cheesecakes, cakes, fresh pasta." She just asks that customers order a day or two in advance. Call 724-443-3992.




Edited by: DOTSLADY at: 10/5/2007 (08:33)

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 10,003
8/31/07 9:13 A

From the Pittsburgh Review-Journal this article:

By Karen Roebuck
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 30, 2007

Lori Karavolis did not intend to go into the specialty foods business. Trying to feed three of her children who suffer from various health problems and food allergies, Karavolis, a former nurse, created recipes for gluten-free and casein-free baked goods. Word spread, and soon she was running a state-certified bakery out of her McMurray home, serving more than 300 individuals, businesses and schools and baking 12 hours a day. The booming business was too much to handle with her young family, so in 2005 she reluctantly took a two-year hiatus. In early October, she plans to open Lori Bakes Gluten Free, a storefront bakery and cafe in McDonald. It will join a growing number of independent, specialty food stores in the area catering to people with special dietary needs, gourmet or exotic tastes or desires for healthy alternatives.

"The industry is doing very well," said Ron Tanner, vice president of communications and education of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. The New York-based nonprofit representing specialty foods retailers, manufacturers, importers and distributors hosts three national "Fancy Food Shows" each year. Specialty foods sales in the US more than doubled in the past seven years, from $18 billion in 2000 to $38.5 billion last year, according to Tanner, who grew up in the North Hills. Sales are strongest in the Pacific region, followed by the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, which includes Pennsylvania, he said.

While supermarkets account for the majority of sales -- 69.1% last year -- specialty and natural food stores are claiming larger shares, Tanner said. Sales at specialty food stores increased from 18% in 2004 to 20.7% last year, while sales at natural food stores rose from 9.4% to 10% during the same period, he said.

In 1985, T.Lyle Ferderber and his wife started Frankferd Farms Foods Inc. in Clinton. The flour mill and natural, organic and gluten-free foods retailer and wholesaler offered six types of flours and several pancake mixes. They now have 31 employees, a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, a 52-page catalog of products, 80 acres of wheat, corn, oats and hay and $4 million in annual sales, Ferderber said. Most customers send in their orders in advance and pick them up at the store. "It's definitely a growing business. We've grown every year but one. The year we didn't grow was the year after Y2K," he said. In 1999, sales skyrocketed as those fearing a mass economic shutdown caused by a computer programming error flocked to their store and bought in bulk, he said.

Sunny Bridge Natural Foods opened its 2,500-sf store in Peters five years ago, catering to people with dietary needs, such as gluten- and sugar-free and low-carb, as well as those looking for organic foods and personal care or healthy pet products. Sales have grown 15 percent to more than 20 percent each year, said owner Gina Snyder. "We try to help people on all levels -- mind, body, spirit -- because we feel like those things are all tied in," she said.

Specialty foods are not new to Sharon Young, whose parents opened a corner store in Baldwin in 1946. With her two sisters, Young now owns McGinnis Sisters, a specialty foods grocer with a 20,000-square-foot store in Monroeville and a 10,000-square-foot store in Brentwood. Plans call for a 17,000-square-foot branch in Butler County. Sales are up about 20% in the past five years, she said. Their specialty foods selections include: antibiotic- and hormone-free meats and milks, exotic ingredients, artisan-created specialties, organic vegetables, and gluten-free, wheat-free and soy-free products. Carrying a wide variety also is important for some items, such as 75 types of olive oil or 20 varieties of dried mushrooms. Other products, such as ground ostrich and venison, are stocked for the few customers who want them and so the store can tout itself as carrying a full-range of specialty foods, Young said. "If we're breaking even (on those products), I'd be surprised," she said. "It's just like having that $65 bottle of vinegar. Are you going to sell a lot of it? No, but you have to have it for that person who comes in looking for it. It's an image maker."

SUBURBAN SPECIALTIES
While many specialty food stores call the Strip District or Squirrel Hill home, numerous independent, specialty foods stores also are based in the suburbs. They include:

• Frankferd Farms Foods Inc., Clinton
724-352-9500

• Lori Bakes Gluten Free, McDonald
724-207-0009

• McGinnis Sisters,
Monroeville
412-884-6400
Brentwood
412-858-7000

• Nature's Way Market, Greensburg
724-836-3524

• Nema Food Company, McKeesport
412-678-9541

• Soergel's Farm Market, Wexford
724-935-1743

• Sunrise Specialty Foods Inc., Monroeville
412-823-6619

• Sunny Bridge Natural Foods, Peters
724-942-5800

• T-Bones Inc., Wexford
724-935-0530

• Today's Market, Oakmont
412-828-4244

• The Uncommon Market, Bethel Park
412-831-7777

• Pounds Turkey Farm
Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County
724-845-7661

• Baldinger's
Jackson, Butler County
724-452-9310


Karen Roebuck can be reached at kroebuck@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7939.

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 10,003
8/19/07 12:42 A

From the celiac listserv, someone from Philadelphia has this to share:

Rae Restaurant at 30th St Station - Rave Review
This new venue has an excellent adaptable menu, great sides, careful and communicative staff and GREAT chefs! When I made the reservation I informed the staff of my allergies (which they wrote down) and was reassured that the server and chefs would work with me to create a safe meal. I had the beet and goat cheese salad with truffle vinaigrette (their regular goat cheese is whipped with flour - so they opened a new package for me and it was wonderful). For my meal I had the roast chicken (without panko bread crumbs) and a side of mashed potatoes that were heavenly. They even went to the trouble of making a special gluten free dessert just for me with several fruit presentations! There were many other options on the menu that would have been very tasty. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for a great meal!

Outback - Solid Staple
Outback consistently strives to train and educate its employees and I continue to rely on this chain for safe meals. I have taste tested three Outbacks in the area and so far all pass with flying colors. Managers seem willing to work around additional allergies and deliver good customer service before, during and after the meal. Call ahead seating has been a lifesaver - and I find that hosts are ready and waiting with my gluten free menu when I arrive!

Carrabba's - Painful Experience -
Will NOT Be Dining Here Again I got gluten-ed last week at my first and only visit to Carrabba's in the Springfield Mall. My server seemed to have no knowledge of the gluten-free menu and was careless with the bread served to the table as well as our water glasses (I dined with a non-celiac friend). When I had additional questions the kitchen manager I spoke with when I called ahead did not come out, but sent someone else to let me know everything should be okay when it came out. I ordered three sides: mashed potatoes, green beans, and broccoli (but did not eat the broccoli because it was overcooked and cold). I had a severe reaction the next evening and was still reeling for the next 24 hours. When I called back to let the staff know that there was a serious incident of cross-contamination and that I became ill they were
sorry, but ultimately have made no attempts to identify or resolve the issue. I am thrilled that more restaurants are offering gluten free menus,
and I regret that some do not live up to the responsibility of keeping the meals safe for us. I will not be eating at Carrabba's again because of their lack of action and claim of "this has never happened before" dismissal.

I look forward to many more yummy (and safe) meals in Philly, and I encourage you to continue to patronize the places that feed you well! :)


Edited by: DOTSLADY at: 8/19/2007 (00:44)

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700

Posts: 29
8/13/07 8:49 P

The Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant near the King of Prussia Mall (Lower Merion, PA) carries GF pasta (this according to a Celiac co-worker. When I ate there I just went without pasta, but the chef did offer to come out and talk to me about what I could order.)

In Philadelphia, the original home of Mr. Ritt's Bakery, they still have a store on Passyunk Ave., below South St., that sells their Gluten Free baked goods.

Back to the suburbs, in Devon, there is an British store, A Taste of Britain, that sells Heinz Tomato Soup, which is marked Gluten Free. It's not condensed, but tastes just like Campbells Cream of Tomato Soup.

Posts: 10,003
8/13/07 1:03 P

Please share your experiences from the Keystone state.

2,666 Days since:  gluten

0 675 1350 2025

2700