SGFA Weekly Roundup!

As our region gets doused with cold air and snow showers, we hope this finds you eating warm gf foods and enjoying the new year! Here is this week's roundup of interesting tidbits, Board updates, and news!

SGFA Board Update
The Board met last Tuesday evening - and there are some wonderful developments to report.
- Our group now has 29 paid members. A checking account was opened at Essex Savings Bank (Essex office) and all fees ,inlcuding the cost of checks, were waived. Linda Hunnicut, VP, said they would be happy to be a sponsor if we have an "event".
- Laurencia relayed Dr. Susan McColl's plans to work with physician's offices and schools with personal visits and SGFA brochures as leave behinds.
- Sybil presented the three versions of the SGFA brochures; one with a general focus, "Why Become a Member" and the other 2 directed specifically to medical practioners, or others. Liz Robison reported that her employer - CFF - has offered to underwrite the printing costs for this project. An acknowledgment will appear on the back of each brochure. THANK YOU to CFF for their contribution to supporting our efforts!
- The Board discussed the proposed theme of the February meeting - "Being Good to Yourself" as an introduction to the workshop to be held later in the Spring at The Mercy Center. The Mercy Center workshop would be an opportunity to share the emotional issues surrounding post diagnosis including loss, anger and mourning of a lifestyle. This group discussion would be led by Dr. Amit Oren PhD who is a psychologist and Yale professor who is experienced with these topics. Dates to be announced soon.
- Sybil and Laurencia shared their meeting with Mike Pace - 1st Selectman of Old Saybrook to learn more about our organization. He was very supportive! Laurencia will write an article for the quarterly periodical published by the town. She will address the Shoreline Board of Selectmen Meeting on Jan. 17 about issues critical to Gluten-Free living including public health and education sectors. The group will also be working with the Health Department and School Superintendents to support school-age children with gluten-intolerance.
- Also - keep an eye out in the Shoreline View for an article on GF Living on the Shoreline!

Restaurant Updates
This is a great update from Laurencia, and also mentioned by one of our members, Jennfier - there is now GF pizza in New London!

I just heard of a restaurant that serves gluten-free pizza in Middletown, CT. It is called Illiano's and they serve the gf pizza at two locations in Middletown as well as at their Meriden and New London locations. For their addresses, check their website at www.illianospizza.com. For more information about Still Riding Pizza, who supplies their pizza, check out www.stillridingpizza.com. I haven't been there yet, but I emailed the owner asking what care they take to avoid cross-contamination, and I received the following reply:

"Thanks for taking the time to find out more about my product. We are currently serving gluten free pizza at my two middletown locations, meriden, and new london. as far as insuring no contamination issues: we buy the gluten free dough from a company in bridgeport "still riding pizza." the pizza is than made in a gf environment ie: walk -in refrigerator. the pizza is placed on a designated tray that we only use for gf pizza and placed in our oven. when the pizza is fully cooked, we remove it from the oven and place it directly in a box (take-out) or on a tray (dine-in). lastly, the pizza is cut with a designated gf pizza cutter that looks entirely different from the others and is hung in a remote location. i hope this helps you with your decision of using illiano's for your pizza needs. buon appetito!"

Vinnie Scileppi
Illiano's Restaurants
(860)638-7515

Sybil also weighed in with her review -- "I have already tasted one of these and the crust is wonderful. Illianos is a good place!"

Our Events
We are very much looking forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming monthly meeting on Saturday - hope you can join us! Click here for all details.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Cookie Swap in December! Enjoy these wonderful pictures! (If you can not view them below, click here!)

Take a break from winter!

TAKE A BREAK FROM WINTER!
SGFA MONTHLY MEETING

SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 2009, 12 NOON
(snow date, Sat. Jan. 24)

"BECOME YOUR OWN DETECTIVE"
Uncovering hidden gluten in Prescriptions,
Cosmetics, Skin care, Vitamins and OTC products.
Website: www.glutenfreedrugs.com

Speaker: Liz Comstock, Manager, Food Works II

Location: WESTBROOK LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM

• Downstairs, rear entrance, park in rear lot.
• Join us for a light lunch of soup and bread donated by vendors. We will be testing these new products! Bring a salad or dessert to share (for 4). We will provide beverages.
• Choice of: New England Clam Chowder or Chicken Noodle.

Free for Paid Members, $5.00 for walk-ins.

Hope you can join us!

Important Note:
Dues are $10 per year for individuals or $15 for family.
Please make checks payable to "SGFA" and mail to:
Sybil Nassau, 25 Hunters Ridge,
Westbrook, CT 06498

Happy New Year!

The Board of the SGFA would like to wish all of our members and local supporters a very Happy 2009! Here is this week's round-up!

Articles & Information
A member recently passed on this interesting article about a celiac disease vaccine (nice to see that someone is working on this important effort!): Celiac Disease Vaccine Trials Slated for 2009

Some other sites you may find helpful:

GF Information

• www.glutenfreedrugs.com - Gluten Free Drugs - A source of information about gluten free drugs
  

Connecting with Other GF Folks

• www.GlutenFreeClub.com - Gluten Free Club - This is online club; there is a fee to join, but it looks interesting if you are looking to connect with other GFers around the world.
  
• There are also some great groups on Facebook as well.

Please send us any other sites that you think the group would be interested in! Or post them here - in the comments!

Board Member Ramblings
I am happy to report that I personally had a wonderful uneventful holiday season - complete with gluten-free scones (thanks to Pamela's Baking Mix), gluten-free cookies, an amazing gluten free pumpkin cheesecake and some great gluten-free bread both of which my sister-in-law made for me! How were your holidays? Any great recipes to share? Post them here!

One more reminder about the SGFA website/blog survey - please take a minute to provide your thoughts!

Looking forward to 2009 - meeting notices for the coming year will be posted shortly - we hope you will be able to join us!

Round-Up!

It's been a busy time for the Shoreline Gluten Free Association! Thank you so much to everyone who attended the holiday event on the 13th - we hope you enjoyed the cookies! Notes from the meeting will be posted shortly. The comments on this meeting were so positive, we will do something similar for Easter. Everyone went home with a huge assortment of cookies and a big smile. Dr. Leffler was very well received; he could easily have stayed all afternoon! Great crowd-- nice to see more than 40 people in attendance.

Restaurant Visits & News
Board on the Run
Our board members are always busy traveling the state to visit local restaurants serving up GF goodies. This week's recap comes from Laurencia:

Sybil and I took an impromptu field trip on Saturday morning to check out The "Natural Food Store" at 374 Main Street Niantic (860.739.9916 Toll Free: 866.242.8016). Located right on the main drag in Niantic with easy on-the-street parking, it appears deceptively small at first glance. Once inside, you realize that it is a fabulous find; one room chock-full of GF goodies including 3 full dedicated freezers. Many product lines that were even new to us! Knowledgeable staff who are willing to special order and are proactive about expanding this segment of their business.

From there we were off to "The Paperback" to celebrate the launch of their GF menu and found the place packed! Russell said that by midday, he had already served 8 tables with the new menu . I had the eggs benedict over a Gillian's muffin which I'm happy to report, rivaled pre-diagnosis brunch fare. Sybil had the vegetable soup and a salad which was wonderful as always.

Hats off to Russell and his on-going effort to continuously please his GF customers!

THE GFRAP MANUALS HAVE ARRIVED (01.02.09) TRAINING WILL START SOON. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 3-4 PLACES WITH GLUTEN FREE MENUS IN EACH TOWN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON THIS PROJECT, PLEASE LET US KNOW!

More GF Pizza in CT!
Still Riding Pizza (http://www.stillridingpizza.com/) has partnered with local pizzerias and restaurants to serve a real, authentic gluten free pizza to Celiacs and wheat intolerant diners. This product is now being offered at Illiano's in Middletown. (534 Washington Street, Middletown 860-343-9244; & 404 South Main Street Middletown 860-346-5656)
FIELD TRIP ANYONE??? You may also purhcase it on line to enjoy at home. Factory is in Bridgeport, pizzas come in 9 and 12 inch sizes, overnight delivery.

Member Finds!
This week's round-up of GF finds from our members comes from Ellen:

• I read in my latest issue of vegetariantimes.com that they now feature an e-mail subscription for gluten-free recipes, check it out www.vegetariantimes.com/newsletters. I found quite a few yummy recipes for holiday parties. Bon Appetit!
• http://www.engineno6pizza.com/ - Engine 6 in Norwich has gluten free pizza, calzones, lasagna, breadsticks - you need to phone ahead as it takes a little longer. I’ve not been yet but a dear friend of mine and her two celiac sisters and Mom have given it 8 thumbs up!
• http://www.babycakesnyc.com/delivery.html - An amazing resource for special occasions (Kids Birthday’s) and holidays, shipping is a bit expensive but they are absolutely yummy. The blogs testimonies say that Babycakes cupcakes taste just as good as traditional cupcakes and are made with no refined sugar. They use agave for sweetener. Oh happy day!
• http://www.nicolescrackers.com/ - Nicole's Crackers were voted the best in Chicago by Chicago Magazine. Nicole's 15 fabulous flavors include: You Asked For Garlic, Chili Chocolate Day, All This And Martinis Too, and Heaven Is Lavender. Ask about our four gluten-free crackers. We ship all over the world – visit NicolesCrackers.com and order your crackers today. Fromage in Old Saybrook carries the Gluten Free line and they are to die for, the Tomato was absolutely amazing, reminded me of a thin crust pizza crust.

If you try out a member find, let us know what you think by posting a comment!

What want to hear from you!
To be sure that our blog meets your needs, please take a few minutes to complete our user survey. Your feedback will help us to determine how to best support you in all things gluten - free!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9O6UpgVw8e85_2biVIXCjEsQ_3d_3d

Next Meeting: SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 12 NOON. WESTBROOK LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS COMMUNITY ROOM. PARK IN BACK OF THE BUILDING!
"Bring Your Own Bowl" - a gluten-free soup luncheon with soup donated by Kettle Cuisine. Bring your bowl and your ears -- as we will also be having a speaker on "Hidden Gluten". Liz Comstock, Manager of Food Works, will be the guest speaker, helping us learn to find the hidden gluten in costmetics, vitamins, and other products. Come and enjoy some soup, bring a salad or dessert to share. We are looking for a source of bread/and or crackers for this luncheon? Any ideas??? RSVP necessary, supplies are limited. Free to members, $5 for walk-ins.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! HERE IS A HELPFUL LINK: go to http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/ and print out the lists of prescription drugs as well as OTC products at Walgreen's and much more. Print out your own copies; we will be discussing hidden gluten in skin care, vitamins, and other products we use every day. All local pharmacies have been contacted and given this (and more) information!