2nd Annual SGFA Conference - Next Week!

Upcoming Event

The 2nd Annual Shoreline Gluten Free Conference - "Beyond Gluten Intolernace: healing the mind, body, and spirit" is next Saturday, April 17th from 10AM - 3PM at the Saybrook Point Pavilion.



Have you registered yet? RSVP to shoreglutenfree@sbcglobal.net for instructions for submitting your payment prior to the event.

Product Suggestions

• Mike Nuzzio from Agrande Pizza in Clinton suggested this company Diet Specialties, Waterbury, CT, 1-888-640-2800- they make both low-protein and gluten free foods! And the packages have nutritional labelling! Let us know how the food is if you give it a try!
• A member was very impressed with the pizza from Conte Pasta - have you tried it? What did you think?
  

News Round-Up: Products, Medical, and Restaurants

• The New Haven Advocate recently did three articles on being GF in CT: "Gluten and You", "Gluten Free CT", and "Thanks, God: Reuniting with Pizza"
  
• An interesting article about the link between gluten and neurological disorders
• NY Times also recently did a piece on celiac vs. gluten insensitivity
• The Boston Globe reported that King Arthur Flour is launching a GF product line!
• Another medical article about the connection between reflux and food allergies, especially in childrn
  
• Product Recall: Please check your shelves for a package of GLUTEN FREE NATURALS PANCAKE MIX!! Go to the website, www.gfnfoods.com and check to see if your package is on the list for possible contamination from salmonella. You may also call: 866-761-6147 and speak to them personally. They will replace your package as soon as shipments are ready. The problem concerns a soy flour distributor whom they are no longer using.This is the only product in the line so affected.
  
• GF Chef Rob Landolphi was recently featured in an article by the Hartford Currant - it includes two of his recipes from his fantastic cookbook!
  

Restaurant Updates

• DePuma's Gluten Free Cavatelli and Spinach Ravioli are now available at Georgie's Diner in West Haven, CT! Georgie's offers gluten free and vegan entree options. Check them out and ask for DePuma's GF pasta! Georgie's Diner, 427 Elm Street, West Haven, CT 06516
• Have you been to a Pei Wei? It is an absolutely brilliant, reasonably priced spin-off of PF Changs with a number of GF options - if you are traveling, check out their locations list and definitely give it a try!
  

Happy New Year!

It's 2010...and we hope everyone had a wonderful healthy holiday season! Our apologies for the hiatus -- but the association had a busy fall as well - complete with a very successful event with Rob Landolphi in November and our fantastic cookie swap in December which was a huge success.

The year will be kicked off with our exciting upcoming event on Saturday, February 6th, entitled "LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFE IN 2010" - an informational and mini-vendor event. A busy afternoon will be in store for you and your children, starting at 12 noon. We will meeting at the CLINTON (HULL) LIBRARY on Rt. 81, next to Clinton Crossing Mall, exit 63 off I-95.

[PLEASE note the change in meeting place and the date, the FIRST Saturday! (Due to scheduling conflicts and school vacation we had to make some changes.)]

The following vendors will be available with samples to taste and products to buy– it is a great chance to taste a new products!
-- John DePuma is returning with a new ravioli he created especially for kids— bring the gang and check this out!
-- Dee Kittle from Dee’s One Smart Cookie will have her pizza shells, mini cupcakes (and more) available to taste and buy. She will also have unfrosted mini cupcakes so the kids can frost and decorate their own!
-- Lauren DeLisa from LaPiastra is returning with more samples and products to take home. She sold out last time! Make sure you bring your checkbook this time so you won’t be disappointed! -- Two informational programs will be presented starting at 12:30 with Susan Kyne, followed by Jennifer Ashley- Maurice, both of whom will have ideas about living a healthier life style– something we all need!

This meeting is free for paid members, $5 for non-members, children are free. Paid members will receive a free raffle ticket, everyone will receive a free gift.
In the event of bad weather, event will be canceled.

Save-the-Date: March 20th - A Gluten-Free & Allergy-Free Pancake Breakfast!
Stay tuned for more details!!

SGFA November Update

Thank you to Russell at the Paperback Cafe!

We would first like to wholeheartedly thank Russell for hosting our association for dinner at the Paperback Cafe in October. It was a wonderful event where members and their family and friends got a chance to connect and enjoy a FANTASTIC gluten-free dinner - with no worries of getting sick! From the smoky shrimp and crab appetizer to the chicken parmesan and the vegetable pasta, it was all so yummy and tasty. The cake he made for dessert was also great. Please be sure to stop in a visit Russell - he's always got something special cooking for his gluten-free guests (I recently had GF cookies to top off my lunch there!) and is always willing to make adjustments for you to have a safe meal. The big news is that, although they are closed for dinner through the winter, you can order your favorite GF meals before 3:30PM and pick them up for dinner at home. Give them a call to learn more! Once again, thanks to Russell and all our members who came out for a great night!

Upcoming Events:

November 14th, 12PM - 3:00PM, Westbrook Firehouse: Are YOU dreading the coming holidays? Need some ideas for stuffing, desserts and casseroles? How about real onion rings? The SGFA is very proud to announce that Rob Landolphi, chef at UCONN and author of "Gluten-Free Every Day", will be joining our group for a cooking demonstration and will be answering your questions about cooking GF! Rob was recently featured on the CBS Early Show -- where he stressed that, "Gluten-Free Doesn't Have to Be Flavor-Free!" Come meet Rob -- we promise you won't be disappointed!

There will also be tons of samples, raffles for GF products, and holiday recipe. Bring a recipe, holiday side dish to share, and your tips for holiday survival!

Admission is free with a GF donation to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens. Empty handed? Come anyway!! Admission is $5. For more information, contact Sybil at 860-399-3410 or email shoreglutenfree@sbcglobal.net

SAVE THE DATE: December 12th, 12PM: The Infamous SGFA Cookie Swap! Put your baking caps on and get ready...more details soon!

Do you want to inside skinny on SGFA, great recipes,

and discounts on our events?

Become a 2010 member! The SGFA has recently formalized a monthly newsletter but guess what? It's members only and our events and adovacy efforts can only happen with your support. Please consider becoming a member for only $25 for new members and $20 for returning member. For more information, contact Sybil at 860-399-3410 or email shoreglutenfree@sbcglobal.net

Opportunity to Volunteer
Do you like to write? And perhaps research topics of interest to our members? We are looking for writers who may want to contribute to the newsletter and this blog. Touch base with Sybil if you might be interested!

That's it for now -- more restaurant information, product reviews, and research articles next month!

September SGFA Round-Up

Blink....summer's over and the chill of fall is in the air! Our September SGFA Round-Up is long over due - so take a look at these updates and we hope to see you at one of our many events this fall! Without further ado....

Upcoming SGFA Events

• September 26th - SGFA Meeting at 12PM at the Westbrook Library, with Guest Speaker, Kim Snow, Owner of Aleia's; please RSVP by emailing our new secretary at lunajake AT yahoo.com.
• Stay tuned for details on the rest of our fall events:
  
• October 17th - Mystery Luncheon: A gluten-free lunch extravaganza at a surprise local restaurant!
  
• November 14th - A Taste of Gluten-Free in CT and Beyond! Come and taste them all at the Westbrook Firehouse. Gluten free vendors from around CT and beyond will be bring their products for you to taste!
  
• December 12th - GF Holiday Cookie Swap: The very popular, kid-friendly, SGFA cookie swap at the Westbrook Library - yummy!
  

Restaurant Updates

• Bell' Amici in Guilford - Currently offering a in a gluten free menu -- and here is link to a coupon too!
• Chain Restaurants with Gluten Free Menus - This is a nice article with links to the set of chain restaurants that have developed a gluten-free menu. A few surprises like Olive Garden!? :-) I would be interested in hearing if any of you have tried these and what your experience was like! Post a comment below...
• Paperback Cafe - There was a wonderful article on Russ and the Paperback Cafe in the Day in mid-August - here is the link if you missed it. Also includes his recipe for GF Chicken Parm!

Member Travels

One of members, Kristin, traveled to Italy this summer - and had this to report!

Last month I traveled to Italy...where it was unbelievably easy for me to eat! Almost every restaurant I walked into had gluten-free pasta on hand...in Rome as well as smaller cities. One night, I ordered gelato and was surprised to see that the person helping me washed his scoop and took out a fresh bin of gelato for me...without my even asking! It was really refreshing to see how Celiacs are treated in other countries...I hope we catch up here soon!

It took me a while to figure out, but all the gluten-free products are sold in the pharmacy! Schar has quite a number of excellent products in Europe (ciabatta breads, chocolate croissants, focaccia, baguettes, etc) that they apparently don't sell/ship here because they are perishable. There is also another great brand that I encountered in Europe called "Galbusera," which had amazing crackers and cookies. If you are interested, below are two sites that carry some of the products I found:

• http://www.glutenfreemall.com/catalog/schar-schaer-m-110.html?gclid=CPrY-8fFspwCFRBM5QodsBuyog
• http://www.quattrobimbi.com/cookies.aspx

Thanks for the update Kristin!

Product Suggestions

• Are you longing for good GF at pizza at home? That is BRILLIANT? Run to Foodworks in Old Saybrook and pick an Against the Grain pizza crust...I will never go back to any other pre-made pizza crust at home. Crunchy crust, yet chewy too...can withstand a good amount of sauce. Lovely! Try it now!
• Are you also looking for a hamburger/sandwich roll that won't break the bank? Try The Grainless Baker Buns (also sold at Foodworks)! You get 6 rolls for under $6! And they are good! Give them a try and let me know what you think!
  

Research & News Articles

• Article in Scientific American on Celiac Disease
  
• Article in the New Haven Register about the challenges of being undiagnosed
• Worried about the expense of eating GF? This article in the NY Times is chock full of tips for staying healthy and not breaking the bank. Thanks Lea!

That's all for now - stay in touch and see you this fall!