GIG Recap: Gluten Free Beers and Simple Squares

Our October Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) meeting was all about healthy snacks and delicious drinks!

First up in our packed and tasty meeting was Simple Squares.  Founder and Chief Square Kimberly talked about the origin of Simple Squares and how they are a tasty snack.  All of the squares have five ingredients or less and are perfect for snacking on the go.  She shared samples of her soon-to-be released coffee flavor square.  What a great morning snack!  Simple Squares are organic whole food snack bars with vanilla and herbs - without any wheat. gluten, dairy, soy or refined sugar!  I try to always have some squares on hand for grab and go snacks.

In honor of Halloween, SurfSweets sent us their spooky spider gummies!  These are perfect treats to give kids for Halloween without worrying about allergens or high fructose corn syrup!  Their fun shapes even brought smiles to the adults in the room.

We sampled several different types of gluten free beers and ciders.  I tried everyone that was available, had around a dozen empty cups at the end (don't worry - they weren't poured to the top) and found some new favorites.

Gluten free beer has been transforming over the years.  Bard's Beer is perfect for traditional beer lovers - its sorghum flavoring hits the spot (and is perfect for making beer brats).  New Grist also carries a sorghum based beer that we tried.  We sampled three different options from Green's - wow - some of these had the largest amount of alcohol and tasted great!  Pace yourself!  Goose Island recently introduced Queen-OA, a quinoa based beer from Chicago's popular brewery.  My new favorite is New Planet beer - there are three assorted flavors (Tread Lightly Ale, 3R Raspberry Ale, and Off Grid Pale Ale) and are perfect for those who love fruity flavors in the style of malt beverages like me!

The best part about the tasting was that everyone had their own new favorite and we all tried some very delicious beers.  Gluten free beers can be expensive, so having several companies provide samples for our group has been the best way to see what is out there!  This was our second annual Gluten Free Octoberfest Beer Tasting and I can't wait to see what products are on the market next year!

What is your favorite gluten free beer?  Leave a message in the comments!

Our next meeting is Monday, November 5 and we will be talking about gluten free Thanksgiving, swapping recipes, and sampling some bread.  We meet in the South Loop Whole Food's classroom at 8:00pm!  Hope to see you there!

GIG Recap: Breakfast

Our August meeting for the Chicago Chapter of the Gluten Intolerance Group was all about breakfast foods.  Did you know that there are many delicious options out there?  Start your morning off on a great foot with a filling meal!

At the meeting, we made waffles using Namaste's waffle mix, a little water, eggs and oil.  In mere minutes, the eggs were broken, the mix blended and the waffle iron worked its magic!  Everyone at the meeting had their very own hot waffle - a first for our GIG chapter!

We also sampled lots of different breakfast products.  Ener-G has chocolate donuts (regular and donut holes) and  English muffins that were great tasting.  O'Doughs sent us a variety of their flavorful muffins and bagels   Our members left with a bag of Bob's Red Mill's new certified gluten free oat bran and coupons for frozen waffles from Van's Natural Foods.  Many thanks to these generous companies!  Our members certainly enjoyed tasting everything during our meeting!   You even have some new fans!

Reminder: Use a dedicated gluten free waffle iron!  They are surprisingly cheap.  I use mine a lot and make several batches of waffles at once and freeze them.  They are easy to heat in a toaster.  Speaking of toasters, every gluten free kitchen has a dedicated toaster, right?  Those pesky wheat crumbs go everywhere - don't let it touch your gf food!

Products we tried today:

Oat bran from Bob's Red Mill http://www.bobsredmill.com/

Chocolate doughnuts, chocolate doughnut holes and English muffins from Ener-G http://ener-g.com/

Muffins and bagels from O'Doughs http://odoughs.com/

Waffles from Namaste Foods http://namastefoods.com/

Frozen waffles from Van's http://www.vansfoods.com

Cuisinart Waffle Iron - $39.95

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=624259#axzz22lX0j5eg

Great Resources for Lots of Breakfast Recipes

http://www.gluten.net/recipe-database-search.aspx?id=5 

http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/type/breakfast_recipes/ 

http://theokiecollegegirl.com/recipes/category/breakfast/ 

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/09/brunch-and-bakery-recipes.html

Broccoli and Italian Sausage Egg Muffins

http://www.snackinginthekitchen.com/2010/05/mothers-day-2010-brunch.html

Gluten Free Pancakes – Hold the Xanthan Gum

http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/gluten-free-pancakes-hold-the-xanthan-gum/

Gluten Free French Omlette

http://jenncuisine.com/2012/03/a-gluten-free-french-omelette/

Vegan Chocolate Spinach Shake
http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/vegan_chocolate_spinach_shake/

Next GIG Meetings:

8:00pm.  South Loop Whole Foods Classroom, Chicagp.  FREE gluten free event.  Open to all!

September 10, 2012.  Lunches on the Go and Smart Shopping.

October 1, 2012. Octoberfest: Beer Tasting and Tasty Treats.

November 5, 2012.  All Are Welcome (Thanksgiving).

December 3, 2012.  The Twelve Cookies of Christmas.

GIG Recap: Barbecues and Picnics

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!
I hope you are taking advantage of the gorgeous weather and are enjoying some good eats.

In June, the Chicago chapter of the Gluten Intolerance Group chatted about summer barbecues and picnics.  We tasted Kinnikinnick's very soft hot dog and hamburger buns (they are PERFECT for your gluten free summer eats!) - have you tried them yet?  The adults in the group enjoyed Bard's beer.  It is made with sorghum and tastes just like regular beer, our members said.

Below is the information we shared at the meeting:

Gluten Free Barbecues and Picnics

Just because you are gluten free does not mean you need to pass up that invitation to a summer barbecue or picnic!  Here are some tips we shared:

BYOB

Bring your own bread. 

Prevent cross-contamination

Grill foods for guests with food intolerances and allergies on a piece of tin foil.  Use separate utensils as well.

Only eat safe foods

This may mean passing up that tempting side dish because you do not know who prepared it or the complete ingredient list.  Better safe than sorry!  If you have friends or family members attending as well, you may want to plan ahead to make sure that there is a variety of delicious foods for you to enjoy.  This may be as simple as a cousin setting aside some half finished appetizers for you before she adds the finishing touches (which contain offending allergens).

Bring some chips!

There are a ton of potato chips now being labeled as gluten free.  These are a barbeque and picnic staple.  Make yourself a plate early on to prevent cross-contamination.

But watch out for the dip

If there are chips and pretzels next to the dip bowl, be wary before eating any dip.  Cross contamination can easily occur if wheat items are scooped into the dip bowl.

Stay (naturally) sweet

Fruit is a great dessert for hot summer days.  Why not try fruit kabobs?   Or cutting watermelon with cookie cutters and placing on popsicle sticks?

Have fun!

Summer in the city is short-lived.  Enjoy it!

Frito Lay’s allergen list:

http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/lays.html

Heinz’s gluten free list:

http://www.heinz.com/glutenfree/products.html

Grilled corn on the cob with lots of tutorial photos:

http://www.grilledcornonthecob.com/

More resources:

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenfreeparties/a/Barbecues.htm

http://www.celiact.com/blog/2012/05/22/107-gluten-free-barbecue

http://udisglutenfree.com/blog/recipes/healthy-gluten-free-desserts-for-summer-bbqs

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/50-things-to-grill-in-foil/index.html

http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2012/05/24/paleo-picnic-season/

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/08/end-of-summer-picnic-recipes.html

http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/appetizerssnacksand/a/summerdrinks.htm

We have gathered some recipes that you are sure to enjoy.  As always, remember to read labels diligently to make sure items are truly gluten free.  Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen by working with clean utensils, bowls, towels…

Homemade Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce: http://www.spoonfulofsugarfree.com/2011/05/26/beware-of-the-bbq/

Gluten Free Potato Salad with Fresh Green Beans and Tarragon Dressing: http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/soupsandsalads/r/potatosaladrecipe.htm

Grilled Zucchini Salad with Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette and Shaved Romano and Toasted Pine Nuts: 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/grilled-zucchini-salad-with-lemon-herb-vinaigrette-and-shaved-romano-and-toasted-pine-nuts-recipe/index.html
Gluten Free Classic All American Hamburgers: http://www.celiac.com/articles/22123/1/-All-American-Hamburgers-Gluten-Free/Page1.html
Chili and Garlic Chex Mix: http://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=45296&CategoryId=447
Watermelon Lemonade Recipe: http://coffeetea.about.com/od/lemonade/r/waterlem.htm
Summer Corn Salad: http://www.windycitycooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/summer-corn-salad.html

Dining Out Gluten Free

For our July Gluten Intolerance Group Meeting (shameless plug: our meetings are the first Monday of the month at 8:00pm at the South Loop Whole Foods), we talked all about dining out gluten free.  Here are the tops and tricks we shared as well as a list of some fantastic Chicago restaurants!

Dining Out Tips and Tricks

Research/Call Ahead!
A quick internet search can find reviews from other gluten free diners to see if a restaurant can accommodate food allergies and intolerances. The best source, however, is calling the restaurant. Some places can even provide gluten free bread (sometimes at an additional cost) with advance notice. Call the restaurant between 2:00 and 4:00pm so they are not in the middle of a mealtime rush and can thoroughly answer your questions. When making reservations, leave your name along with your food allergies, then the restaurant is better prepared. Major chains have their allergen lists readily available online. It is best to dine early in the evening to avoid the dinner time rush.

Come prepared!
Whether it is a piece of bread, bag of crackers or cookies, or single servings of San-J’s gluten free soy sauce, come prepared for your meal.

Speak up!
Upon arriving at the restaurant, inform the host or hostess that you have a food allergy. Ask if they can accommodate you, or if a manager or chef can assist you before you even sit down. When talking with your server, it often helps to have a script that is tailored towards your diet and needs. You are your own advocate! If you have gluten intolerance or simply enjoy a gluten free diet, it may be better to use terms like “gluten allergy” or “Celiac disease” to add weight to your request. Ask questions about how the food is prepared. You’ll never know if they carry gluten free beer unless you ask. You may even be surprised by the vast selection!

Substitute!
Remember: plain is okay. Many sauces contain wheat as a thickening agent. Perhaps drizzled olive oil can boost the flavor? Want to spruce up a plain baked potato if you are dairy free? Ask for some chopped chives. Substitute with different vegetables or grains. Make sure stocks and broths do not contain gluten.

Use a restaurant card!
Triumph Dining sells ten laminated cards (American, Chinese, French, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese) cards that are tailored to each cuisine. All cards are written in two languages and are conveniently broken into sections including “I cannot eat”, “Please check” and “I can eat” as well as detail cross contamination concerns. Triumph Dining also sells disposable dining cards (American), Gluten Free stickers, a restaurant guide and much more!
You can always write your own restaurant card detailing your specific allergies or intolerances.

Know what to order!
Ordering a salad without the croutons is an easy choice. But what about chicken wings? Although they can be baked, many restaurants fry them in oil with those containing wheat. Ask how the food is prepared. Are any red flags raised?

Confirm your order!
When your food arrives, ask if it is gluten free. And yes, you can send the food back if it contains gluten, but make sure that it is a new dish and the server did not simply remove the piece of bread from the plate.

Trust your gut!
If you suspect your food is not gluten free, do not feel obligated to eat it. Always trust your gut.

Tip well and review!
Tip well so the server and restaurant will look forward to customers with food allergies returning. Politeness also goes a long way – help pave the way for future gluten free guests by being an outstanding restaurant patron. Be sure to review the restaurant on sites such as Yelp.com so other people can enjoy the food and service there.

More resources:
Delight Magazine: Ask the Chef
Living Without: Inside Look at Eating Out
Triumph Dining - restaurant cards
AllergyEats - online search for restaurants
GIG - Gluten Intolerance Group's restaurant search
GlutenFreePassport - fantastic resource that includes apps, books and much more. Great for travelers.

Great Chicago Restaurants for Gluten Free Diners

Chipotle
Various locations.
Peanut and tree nut free; dairy is only used in cheese and sour cream. Gluten is only in their flour
tortillas and (if avoiding distilled vinegar) red tomatillo salsa. Employees change gloves upon request.
http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/menu/special_diet_information/special_diet_information.aspx

DaLuciano’s
8343 W Grand Ave, River Grove, IL 60171
Gluten free Italian food.
http://www.dalucianos.com/

Ethiopian Diamond
6120 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Gluten free bread is available for $2.00 extra, call ahead 24 hours.
http://ethiopiandiamondcuisine.com/

Foodlife and Mity Nice
Water Tower Place 835 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
Upon arriving, ask for their gluten free menu from the host/hostess. This upscale cafeteria style
restaurants has many gluten free options. Mity Nice, whose entrance is through Foodlife, has several
gluten free options, including buns.
http://www.foodlifechicago.com/
http://www.mitynicechicago.com/menu/

Lady Gregory’s
5260 N Clark, Chicago, IL 60640
Wilde Bar & Restaurant
3130 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
Gluten free menu, complete with appetizers, beer, sandwiches, burgers and more.
http://ladygregorys.com/images/LGs_Menu_GlutenFree_June2012.pdf
http://www.wildechicago.com/IMAGES/WILDE_GlutenFree_2012.pdf

Marcello’s Father and Son Restaurants
645 North Ave, Chicago
2475 N Milwaukee, Chicago
1911 Cherry, Northbrook
Gluten free menu includes thin and crispy pizza as well as pan pizza, pasta, and dessert pizzas.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marcellos.com%2Fpdf%2FAbbe's_Gluten_Free.pdf

Ranalli’s of Andersonville
1512 W Berwyn, Chicago, IL 60640
Gluten free menu, complete with pasta, sandwiches, pizza and more.
http://ranallispizza.com/main/?page_id=53

Rose’s Wheat Free Bakery
2901 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201
Dedicated gluten free bakery with extensive café menu.
http://www.rosesbakery.com/

Senza
2873 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
Dedicated gluten free restaurant opening at the end of July.
http://senzachicago.com/

Wildfire Chicago
159 W Erie, Chicago, IL 60654
Gluten free menu includes pizza, steaks , sandwiches and more.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?
url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildfirerestaurant.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fmenus%2FILGlutenFre
e11.11_0.pdf

Here are some more restaurants that our members at the meeting have recommended!

Leona's Pizza
Gluten free thin crust pizza at various locations throughout the city.
http://leonas.com/detail/328/1/world_class_pizza.html

RPM Italian Restaurant
52 W Illinois, Chicago, IL 60654
Full page gluten free menu.
http://rpmitalian.com/
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Frpmitalian.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F02%2FGluten-Free2.pdf

Weber Grill
539 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
They even have gluten free buns!
http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/locations/?chicago&mcid=0&scid=3&id=79

Zapatista Cantina
Northbrook, Lincoln Park, South Loop locations
They have a gluten free menu - their soft corn tortillas are hand made.
http://www.zapatistacantina.com/index.php?section=12

Fresh Farms International Market
2626 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Great selection of foods in this grocery store; the deli staff has even thoroughly cleaned the meat slicer for one of our members!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fresh-farms-international-market-chicago

Jason's Deli
1258 S Canal St, Chicago, IL and 195 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL
Gluten free menu and their online ordering section  clearly states gluten free options.  A drop down menu selects under "preparation detail" for "preparer change gloves".
http://www.jasonsdeli.com/restaurants/il/chicago/naperville-deli

HomeMade Pizza Co
Lots of Illinois locations
They carry gluten free pizza for you to make at home.
https://www.homemadepizza.com/locations/illinois.html

For those with Smart Phones, be sure to check out our members' recommended apps:

Find Me Gluten Free
iEatOut Gluten & Allergen Free
iCanEat OnTheGo Gluten & Allergen Free

Major Thanks

Major thanks goes to Swirlz Cupcakes for proving these yummy gluten free and vegan mini cupcakes for our meeting!  The quickly emptied box shows how much our members loved them!

Coming Up Next with GIG:

New to a Gluten Free Diet?  Or are you the top Celiac Chef in your family?  Come join the Chicago Chapter of the Gluten Intolerance Group every month at 8:00pm in the Whole Foods South Loop (1101 S Canal St, Chicago) classroom.  Meetings are always free and open to all.
Our next meeting is August 6 - Morning Fuel Ups.  This meeting is all about revamping your bowl of cereal and discovering some new family favorites for even the most hectic mornings! From bagels to doughnuts and from waffles to oatmeal, learn more about the best options for your breakfast plate.
Follow the Chicago chapter of GIG on Twitter at @ChicagoGIG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GIGofGreaterChicago

Let's keep this list going!  What are your favorite restaurants for gluten free dining in Chicago?  What tips did we miss?  What app can't be missed?