Sunday, June 14, 2009

SGFA June Roundup!


THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING FUNDRAISER!



Thank you to ECHO Salon and all of SGFA supporters who helped to make our May 31st Cut-A-Thon a fantastic success! The funds raised will support the development of our school program which will educate schools on how to better support and provide options for GF students! THANK YOU!

Restaurant News and Updates

Panera Bread - Panera's does have certain gf items available. They also have an ingredient binder next to the cashier- at least they are supposed to have one in every store. This was confirmed by two of Sybil's grandchildren who worked there. The chicken is safe - it is coated with rice flour, the salads are ok, and some of their soups are gf. In case you get caught eating there when with friends, there are things we can eat besides gazing at the pastries and breads!

Traveling this Summer?
Good GF options on the road include: Dairy Queen ice cream is gluten free and Wendy's is always a good choice for safe, fast gf food: you can enjoy the chili, baked potatoes, french fries, grilled chicken/salads and Frosties. Do you have more tips? Send them over...or comment down below!

Restaurant Warnings

Max's chain of restaurants does have a gluten free menu however, we need to put out a disclaimer: "Dine there at your own risk!" The one in downtown Hartford and in Glastonbury so far seem to be ok, but the new burger place in West Hartford evidently is having problems in the kitchen, as several people have gotten sick. Also, be very careful at Uno's if you are going for the pizza -- although we had originally heard good things. In addition, The Fresh Meadow product is supposedly excellent, but something is going on the kitchen to render it nearly inedible. Two complaints so far, one at the site at the Danbury Mall and one In Machester. Also, word has been received that the new grilled chicken at KFC is NOT gluten-free. Beware!

One last restaurant to note. At It's Only Natural in Middletown, they check off items on their menu that are gluten-free. One of those items - the sweet potato fries - are checked off, but when asked for more information, it turns out they are made in a shared fryer. Be sure to tell your server you are celiac and have a severe allergy! [We did try to explain to our server that if done in a shared fryer, they are not GF...but to no avail.] The GF sweet potato enchiladas though - were fantastic!


Article of Interest
  • SFGA member, Laurencia Ciprus, recently wrote an article for the Old Saybrook Events Magazine about our group and its origins. The article is on page 42 - you can read it here. Thank you for sharing our story!
Product Finds and Discoveries
  • In support of Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Jones Dairy Farm will donate $5 to the Celiac Disease Foundation for every gluten-free gift pack ordered during May and June. View all of Jones' Gluten-Breakfast Gift Packs - maybe the perfect GF Father's Day gift? The packages includes GF pancake mix, syrup, and a package of gf bacon, sausage, or turkey breakfast patties! YUM!
  • We recently found out that Glutino/Gluten Free Pantry brands are actually owned by the Betty Crocker label. The cake, cookie, and brownnie mixes will be out soon and the Gluten Free Pantry label will be fazed out and the prices should come down. Betty Crocker's website has some more information about the new products -- looking forward to trying them!
Upcoming Events

Are you interested in shaping the future of SGFA or getting more involved in our association? Attend our planning meeting in July - more details will be distributed via Sybil's July Newsletter. The date will most likely shift from Saturday, July 18th to Monday evening, July 13th at 5PM - stay tuned for more details! If you can not attend the meeting but have suggestions, don't hesitate to email Sybil or comment below! Thank you for all of your ongoing support!


Friday, May 15, 2009

SGFA Weekly Roundup!

Events, restaurants news, product finds, and resources!

Upcoming Events

SGFA May Meeting: Join us on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 10 am - please note change in time - at the Westbrook Library. Linda Lawton, owner "Olivia's Garden", Master Gardener, will be giving a talk on "Getting started, What You Need to Know about Organic Gardening". And...Mary Lawrence, owner of "WellonWheels", Chef & Nutritionist will demonstrate "Cooking Organically for Healthier Living". RSVP via email - shoreglutenfree@sbcglobal.net. Hope you can join us!

SGFA on Channel 8: Tune in to Channel 8 on Sunday, May 31st at 7:40am to see some of Board members and members talking about Celiac Awareness Month and helping schools better support children who are gluten intolerant!

Restaurant Suggestions & News
  • GF Pizza at Uno's Pizzeria! Can you believe it? I had to check out the menu to believe it -- hard to tell if it is available at every Uno's so I would suggest call ahead to the restaurant location you are interested in. If you have a chance to try it - let us know how it is!! (We've heard it's fantastic!!) Here is a coupon for $1 off! As an additional bonus as May is Celiac Awareness Month, print this coupon and 20% off your order will be donated to the American Celiac Disease Alliance - go and bring friends!
  • Mangetout Organic Cafe on State Street in New London is suggested by one of our members. The owner and her son are usually there. It is open for breakfast and lunch only. The menu changes daily. Items on the menu can easily be adjusted to be GF (for example, a wrap with GF components can be changed into a salad version with no wrap). They are very accomodating for ALL allergies. Their food supply is very locally-based and have simple, organic ingredients. There is a Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp Bar that is divine!!! They also do GF birthday cakes with buttercream frosting and flowers! Sybil also say, "The coffee is superb!"
  • Hankering for a vegetarian gluten-free dinner? Check out Shoreline Diner in Guilford.
  • Enjoy waterfront dining? Aqua in Clinton (34 Riverside Dr, Clinton, CT 06413) has excellent food, beautiful view from the outside terrace-- well-informed chef. Don't eat the french fries but just about everything else is available for the gf diner... call ahead, please.
Product Finds
  • Liz Lovely Cookies: Sybil says they are divine and you can get a taste if you are able to attend the May SGFA meeting!!

  • Kim, one of our members, reported, "I served Sherrie's Streusel Topped Blueberry pie hot with vanilla ice cream and everyone raved! Also made French toast from Le Garden Bakery's Challah Bread with raisins. Yum. Both from It's Only Natural, Middletown, pricey but worth it."
  • Nature's Grocer in Vernon(http://www.naturesgrocer.com)is making brilliant GF everything bagels. They also have a huge selection- the store is about the size of FW but it's ALL gf!!! For lactose intolerant celiacs, they will soon be carrying a goat milk cream cheese guaranteed to taste like the real thing, goat milk ice cream, and they already carry lactose-free ice cream. Worth the drive!
  • Aleai's will be coming out with a real gluten-free French bread on or about June 1st - watch for it in stores and restaurants...
  • Betty Crocker will reveal GF brownie and cake mixes in stores on or about June 1st as well, if you don't see them, ASK. Watch out also for General Mills GF cereals at about the same time.

Resources
  • GIG Resources: A great link to all of the informational publications from GIG, includes "Getting Started", "GF Diet", "Medical Awareness", and "Eating Out" - very helpful!
  • Navigating Restaurants: - This link comes from William Beverly entitled "How to tell if a G-F menue is truly G-F" -- chock full of good questions for your favorite local restaurant manager. It is at: http://www.gluten-freesimplicity.com/?p=18
  • The Impact of NonDiagnosis: Recently, a team of Mayo Clinic researchers conducted an assessment of the long-term outcome of undiagnosed celiac disease, and whether the prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease has changed during the past 50 years. The research team found that data from the 45 year of follow-up of subjects showed that people with undiagnosed celiac disease have a 400% higher risk of death than seronegative subjects ("non-celiacs"). They also concluded that rates of undiagnosed celiac disease seem have increased dramatically in the United States over the last 50 years.Read more here.
  • From Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University: A recently published set of recommendations of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases titled "Opportunities and Challenges in Digestive Diseases Research". This report reflects the scope and challenges provided by digestive diseases in the United States. It is encouraging to see celiac disease receive equal attention as other serious GI problems. Check it out!
As always, thank you for your submissions, suggestions, and research finds - continue to send them on - or post them as comments here! The information we are able to share is only as good as the information we are able to put our hands on - thank you for your help in making this blog a helpful resource to our members.

Off to track down some of that Uno's GF pizza.... :-)


Friday, May 1, 2009

SGFA Weekly Roundup!

First Gluten-Free Conference sponsored by SGFA

Our entire Board is so grateful for the association members, family members, interested community members, workshop presenters, and supporters who joined us on Saturday, April 25th - a gorgeous sunny day by the river - for our first conference for individuals who are gluten-free. We were honored to have Cynthia Kupper, R.D., Executive Director, Gluten Intolerance Group, and & Beth Hillson, President, American Celiac Alliance & founder of Gluten Free Pantry, as well as Kim Snow, owner of Aleia's Bakery, join us for the day!

Thank you as well to Alexa Carlson Catering for the amazing GF lunch buffet! As one attendee said, "That was the first buffet I have walked through that I felt safe to eat the food! Thank you!"

Enjoy these pics from the day!

Welcome by Mary Jane Engle of the CT River Area Health District

Cynthia & Sybil
Our Esteemed Panel -
Beth Hillson, Food Editor Living Without Magazine, Alex Lawton, SGFA Teen Rep, Kim Snow, owner of Aleia's Bakery, Ida Mae Kelley, Enfield
Listening to Our PanelThe Amazing GF Lunch Buffet
Enjoying Lunch

Thank you once again for organizing such a wonderful event.
And what a nice setting on the water, too!

The food was wonderful - I can't believe gluten-free food could taste so good!

I'd like to add my name to what was probably a long list of satisfied attendees.
It was a most enjoyable, informative, AND delicious day!!

Thank you to our members, our sponsors, and the companies
that donated products to make our first conference a success!


Restaurant News
  • Paperback Cafe in Old Saybrook is now officially a GIG restaurant, Cynthia and Sybil awarded the restaurant its door seal last night and the chef is so happy. Russ said he will start making GF muffins and scones soon, by mid May, but the regular GF menu is approved and he is doing a brisk business with it. (Note: The pesto pizza is great!!)
  • Nature's Grocer in Vernon (intersection of Rts 30-31, exit 67), a totally gluen-free grocery store AND cafe,is now an official GIG location, serving breakfast on Saturday, pizza on Fri nite, great bread, muffins and cookies, excellent lunches and soups. They are now a certified GF restaurant, have been open about a year. If anyone finds themselves in that part of I-84, they now have a place to eat and shop! Hours, M-F, 9-7, Sat. 9-4. Closed Sunday. Website is http://www.naturesgrocervernon.com
Products & Finds
  • Great pasta!: The name of the amazing pasta mentioned at the conference is La Veneziane and can be purchased at Olive Nation http://www.olivenation.com
  • Questions about the truffles from Dee's One Smart Cookie: they are diabetic friendly, prepared with black bean flour, agave nectar, almonds, eggs, and almond extract, and are a total all protein treat! Dee's is open Mon 12-6, Tues-Wed-Thurs-Fri- 9-6, Sat. 9-3. Closed Sunday. Products will soon be delivered to Food Works, Old Saybrook. Birthday cakes,etc will be available on a special order, pre-paid basis. Watch for the announcement during May. Website is http://www.deesonesmartcookie.com
  • Member find: here is a new line of breads at Foodworks from Le Garden Bakery. One of our members tried the Swedish Rye Bread -- and said "it was fantastic. Rye has been something that I have craved for..and this was not only a great Rye, but a great bread. You've got to try it!"
Resources
  • GF Cheat Sheet: Katrina the Gluten Freee Goddess recently posted a GF Cheat Sheet for people who are newly diagnosed - very helpful!
  • Recommended Newsletter: The newsletter from Clan Thompson's Celiac Site is recommended by one of our members - check it out here.
Take Action!
Upcoming Events
  • Chip In For Celiac Golf Tournament 2009: The Wheeler family invites you to for a day of great golf, food and friends to raise money for a great cause. The event is on Friday, May 15, 2009 -- if you are interested, you can view their website for more information. Proceeds are going to the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland and a donation from the proceeds will be made to the Greater New Haven Celiac Group.
  • SGFA May Meeting: Join us on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 10 am - please note change in time - at the Westbrook Library. Linda Lawton, owner "Olivia's Garden", Master Gardener, will be giving a talk on "Getting started, What You Need to Know about Organic Gardening". And...Mary Lawrence, owner of "WellonWheels", Chef & Nutritionist will demonstrate "Cooking Organically for Healthier Living". RSVP via email - shoreglutenfree@sbcglobal.net. Hope you can join us!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

LAST CHANCE for FIRST GLUTEN FREE CONFERENCE!

REGISTER NOW!
FIRST GLUTEN-FREE CONFERENCE IN CT

Positive Change:
Leaving the past behind and
going forward



SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009,
10:30AM -3:00 PM
SAYBROOK POINT PAVILION



Featuring:
Keynote Speaker:
CYNTHIA KUPPER, R.D.,
Executive Director
Gluten Intolerance Group, North America
&
BETH HILLSON, President
American Celiac Alliance & founder
of Gluten Free Pantry

Send your payment of $25 for members/$30 for non-members to:
Sybil Nassau
Founder/Branch Manager
Shoreline Gluten Free GIG Association
25 Hunters Ridge
Westbrook, CT 06498
860-399-3410
Checks must by received no later than Wednesday, April 22nd.