My Favorite Frozen Pizza Crust

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Bacon and onion pizza.

Good gluten-free pizza is hard to come by.  Harder than cake, cookies, or even- dare I say it-bread.  I stumbled upon a fabulous gluten-free pizza in an Italian restaurant in Vienna, but since moving to Rochester, I haven’t found a pizza or frozen crust I’ve really enjoyed…until I found Silvana’s Arize.  I love this crust.  It is crispy, chewy, and doughy at the same time.  It doesn’t get soggy or soft under the pressure of the sauce, and it tastes good alone.  You can pile toppings on top and they won’t slide off after the pizza cools.  My husband says it best, this crust isn’t good gluten-free pizza crust, it’s just good pizza crust.

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My favorite pizza yet: light on the sauce, spicy, four cheese, tomato and brussel sprouts.

Silvana’s Arize is actually a spin-off company of Nick’s Deli and Pizza in Chili.  Silvana Bellone, an Italian immigrant living in Rochester, was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003.  Shortly thereafter, her son and niece were diagnosed.  Determined to provide the same good quality Italian products she was used to making and eating, she developed and starting selling her bread products at the family’s restaurant: Nick’s Deli and Pizza in Chili.  Nick’s still makes gluten-free pizza and sandwiches to order, but you can also buy the products frozen at Nick’s and now select Wegmans (East Avenue carries the pizza crust).

Gluten-Free News: May 2013

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Happy Celiac Disease Awareness Month!  

Learn more about what you can do to advocate for celiacs with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness 2013 awareness campaign: Fuel the Family.

You can also raise awareness by participating in the “Making Tracks for Celiacs” walk hosted by the  the Western New York Gluten Free Diet Support Group.  It will take place on May 11 at Clarence Town Park in Clarence, NY.

Rochester News & Events

Wegmans is now serving gluten-free pizza at their Market Cafe is select stores.  Store like Penfield and Pittsford, and Canandaigua will have Conte’s new “Gluten-Free Bake-in-Bag Pizza” available to order.  Because this new product is baked in a bag, it does not come into contact with the contaminated surfaces of the pizza station.  Gluten-free customers can choose from three pizzas, Margherita, Mushroom Florentine or Pepperoni.  This products is also available in Nature’s Marketplace.  Read more here.

Small World Food, a local and organic ice creamery, fermentery, and bakery makes gluten-free baked goods.  The sweets are available at the Rochester Public Market, Joe Bean, Little Bleu Cheese Shop, and the Corn Hill Market Exchange.  They are also available in Lento and Natural Oasis Restaurant.

Rochester’s Public Market is highlighted in this issue of SUNY Geneseo’s “Lamron”, as are two vendors that serve gluten-free food: Go Veggies and Small World Food.  See article here.

Lori’s Naturals Foods is hosting their annual, “All Things Gluten-Free” Food Fair on May 19.  Starting at 6:30, customers will be able to taste new gluten-free products at Lori’s store.  The Greater Rochester Celiac Support Group will also be in attendance to talk about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

Gluten-Free in the News

“Blue Ice Vodka Becomes First Spirit with Gluten-Free Labeling.”  Packaging Digest.  April 29, 2013. http://www.packagingdigest.com/article/523255-Blue_Ice_Vodka_becomes_first_spirit_with_gluten_free_labeling.php

“Actress Jennifer Esposito Opens Gluten-Free Bakery.”  Michael d’Estries.  April 12, 2013.  http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/actress-jennifer-esposito-opens-gluten-free-bakery

“Rachael Ray, Gwyneth Paltrow Cook Gluten-Free, Vegan Muffins.”  Huffington Post. April 18, 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/rachael-ray-gwyneth-paltrow_n_3091651.html

“Food Scanning App Now Identifies Gluten-Free Products.”  Food Magazine (Australia).  April 22, 2013.  http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/food-scanning-app-now-lists-gluten-free-status

“Rudi’s Organic Bakery New Dedicated Gluten-Free Facility.”  Rudi’s Bakery Blog- Fresh from the Oven.  April 25, 2013. http://www.rudisbakery.com/gluten-free-post/rudis-organic-bakery-new-dedicated-gluten-free-facility/

“Gov’t: Food Allergies May be Disability Under Law.” The Big Story- AP.  January 18, 2013.  http://bigstory.ap.org/article/food-servers-more-vulnerable-legal-threats

 

 

 

Post-5K Eats and Drinks at Victoire

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310717_10101941522794604_1948470766_nThis past Saturday I ran my first 5K- the Color Vibe.  I’ve never really enjoyed running.  I signed up for Color Vibe 5K because of peer pressure – all my friends were doing it!  Once I signed up though, it became serious.  I trained for the 5K like runners train for a marathon, working my way up to those 3.1 miles slowly over periods of weeks.  When I woke up Saturday morning to a windy combination of rain, hail, and  snow, I thought, “Really, Universe? How is this supposed to motivate me”?  But strangely it did.  I was determined to conquer this race.  My friend Alissa, an experience half-marathon runner, set the pace and I followed even though I was huffing and puffing on the brink of collapse during our last half-mile sprint.  But, I did it!  I ran the race in under 30 minutes which was my goal and I felt awesome.  Really awesome.

7572_10101926734066334_1767894334_nAfter we all crossed the finish line, gave high-fives, and took photos, we decided to celebrate with some bloody marys.  We went to Victoire because it was the only bar in the neighborhood that was open at 11 am!  Victoire specializes in Belgian beer and food. I had a great experience at Victoire, despite being a place where a celiac could potentially have NO gluten-free options, I had plenty. Not only do they carry Green’s Endeavor Dubbel Ale, a Belgian gluten-free beer, but three interesting cider options, and a Raspberry Kombucha Beer, which is made from hops, kombucha, and raspberries – therefore gluten-free.  I had the latter on this occasion and while it was too sweet for me, I was just happy to have an interesting drink option at a beer bar.  For food, I really wanted fries.  Obviously, there was a slim chance of this being a possibility because of cross-contamination.  However, I this to my server and she asked the chef who confirmed that the oil was new and I was able to enjoy their signature Belgian frites with different dipping sauces.  Victoire was the perfect end to my first 5K experience: cosy atmosphere, delicious frites, and ample drink options.

 

Lucy’s Maple Bliss Cookies + Giveaway

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Recently, Lucy’s Cookies emailed me and asked if I wanted to sample their Maple Bliss Cookies in honor of Maple Syrup Month.  I grew up in a house where we ate my father’s from-scratch pancakes every weekend, and one of my favorite things in the world is a warm pancake slathered with butter, covered with real, pure, maple syrup.  So of course, I couldn’t refuse!

Lucy Gibney founded Lucy’s Cookies after discovering her son had severe food allergies.  All of her cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, tree nut and peanut-free.  They are made in a dedicated bakery where trace amounts of these common allergens are tested for.  Not only is this great for individuals with multiple allergies, but multiple allergies within a household.

I’ve had Lucy’s cookies once before.  This past December, my friend served Lucy’s special holiday Merry Mint Cookies at a book club.  I found them light but with a huge punch of flavor.  Everyone else did too.  These Maple Bliss Cookies are also light and crunchy which is driven by the oat-based ingredients (all gluten-free, of course).  This cookie is sightly sweet and the maple flavor is present but not pronounced.    The cookie actually captures the buttery-sweetness of a properly dressed pancake.   I like this, but if you are looking to indulge at the end of the meal, this is not the cookie for you.  Instead, this cookie is best enjoyed in the afternoon with a glass of milk.

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Luckily, I  am not the only one benefiting from Lucy’s Cookies generosity.  I have an extra box to give away to a reader.  Comment on this post by April 17 with your favorite way to enjoy maple syrup, and I will randomly select a winner!