Gluten-Free Paradise?

Hello dear readers from the lovely Portland, OR. I am here for work this week and was totally freaking out all of last week in preparation for this trip. Although I travel extensively for fun, I never had a colleague plan my entire trip for me... meals and all. I have to say I am quite impressed with Portland so far in terms of gluten-free dining. There are gluten-free menus everywhere. Usually I do a lot of research and look for gluten-free restaurant destinations. Here, I don't even have to look hard for menus because I am finding them everywhere. I am still using my map but I am finding gluten-free options in some really unassuming places.

I plan to write up my Portland tales on my Gluten-Free Globetrotter site as soon as I get home. In the meantime, I assure you Portland understands this whole gluten-free thing and I feel quite relieved.

The First Annual Mid-Hudson Walk for Celiac Disease

I am really excited to participate in the 1st Mid-Hudson Walk for Celiac Disease on May 19th. This part of the Hudson Valley holds a special place in my heart since I am a Marist College alumni and I spent four wonderful years in this area. Details about my participation are still being decided by the planning committee but it looks like I might be at a table for gluten-free bloggers. I will keep you posted. If you are in the area on May 19, please come to this fundraiser and say hello! 

http://www.digestivediseaseny.com/walk-for-celiac/

More than 2 million Americans suffer from Celiac Disease, a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients in food.  People who have Celiac Disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley.

All proceeds from the Walk for Celiac Disease will benefit the Celiac Disease Foundation, Hudson Valley Chapter and the ongoing research programs of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.  This Walk will help educate the greater Mid-Hudson Valley Community about this disease and will, hopefully, make those with Celiac more aware of the education, support and other resources available to them in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Through diagnosis and dietary education, the Digestive Disease Center of the Hudson Valley dedicates itself to helping people with Celiac feel better and to improving their digestive health and quality of life.

To this end, the Digestive Disease Center has created the Digestive Disease Center Community Fund in an effort to diagnose individuals, to educate patients and clinicians, to advocate for patients and to promote gastrointestinal health in the Mid-Hudson Valley Community.

CHECK-IN: 9 am Highland Walkway Entrance

WALK BEGINS: 10 am @ Highland Entrance of the ‘Walkway over the Hudson’ to Poughkeepsie side and back. Music provided by Q-92 Lite FM.  The Walk will be followed by a Gluten-Free Fair with music, gluten-free food and vendors.

Pre-Registration: $20 (Includes walk, t-shirt and bottle of water)
Late Registration: $25 on Day of Event

http://www.communityfoundationdc.org/page10005650.cfm

If you can't join us for the walk, please consider sending your donation online below or mail your check to the address below. Make check payable to Digestive Disease Center Community Fund:

The Walk for Celiac Disease
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
80 Washington Street, Suite 201
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

For more information about the walk, contact Jeanine Agnolet, Event Organizer, 845-249-8554 or e-mail jagnolet@ gmail.com.

http://www.communityfoundationdc.org/page10005650.cfm

Me on the Walkway over the Hudson. Look at that gorgeous view!

 Click here for more information about the Walkway including driving directions.

Photo Friday: Gluten-Free Gosling

I have a thing for Gosling.
Originally posted here

Foodie Events in NYC

Many people who are gluten-free would be reluctant to attend food events that aren't catered to their specific dietary needs. Me? I welcome these invitations. Even if I don't get to eat much at these events for fear of gluten containing foods or cross contamination, attending these events gives me a chance to meet chefs and restaurant staff face to face to talk about gluten-free dining. Making these in-person connections is invaluable to me. Often, I follow-up with an email or a meal at the restaurant and the staff remembers me as the gluten-free girl and I am fine with this reference.

There are two fun events coming up in May that I am planning on attending. Neither event has confirmed which participants are gluten-free, I think they are nervous to put any GF claims out there since the events are busy and they don't want to be held liable. As the events get closer, I will update you with my gluten-free discoveries.

Queens Taste 2012
The Queens Economic Development Corporation and lead sponsors Citi and Fairway Market invite you to Queens Taste 2012, the borough's premiere networking and culinary event. At least 50 restaurants and other food purveyors will provide delectables to more than 1,000 attendees, including some of the most powerful and best-connected Queens residents. The cuisine will feature everything from sweet to savory, Asian to Italian, and crunchy to creamy. But it will all be mouth-watering.

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (ET)
Location: Citi Field's Caesars Club
123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing
Cost: $100 per person; $185 per couple
Buy your tickets here

Queens Taste Gluten-Free* Participants
Beyond Kombucha
Brewla Bars
Sweet Silk
Krumville Bake Shop
Spicy 'N Sweet
McClure's Pickles

*I cannot guarantee that any of these participants are 100% gluten-free. I am only basing my list on visiting their website. On the flip side, Krumville Bake Shop is a gluten-free baked good shops and has been a proud supporter of the NYC Celiac meetup group over the past few months!

The Great GoogaMooga
The Great GoogaMooga, the food, drink and music festival coming to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park this May 19th and 20th, reveals details about Extra Mooga today, its all-inclusive, paid ticketed experience. Set in a beautiful wooded area of the park, Extra Mooga is a festival-within-the-festival and offers an unprecedented intersection of food, drink, music, comedy. The Extra Mooga program includes 20 different events per day in the way of culinary seminars, music performances, cocktail demos, wine and beer tastings, and theme parties as well as over two-dozen specially curated menus.

Get excited! Free tickets are available and registration begins on April 24th!

Gluten-Free Dining with OpenTable: Blogger Erin Smith Shares Her Tips

Last month I had a really great experience using OpenTable.com for a reservation at Pappardella in New York City. After tweeting about my experience, OpenTable.com asked me to write a guest post about dining out gluten-free. I am excited to share this link with my readers.

Gluten-Free Dining with OpenTable: Blogger Erin Smith Shares Her Tips
Celiac Disease affects more than 2 million people in the United States. Avoiding gluten while dining out is imperative to sufferers, yet it’s not always easy, despite increasing awareness. Erin Smith was diagnosed with celiac disease in the early 1980s, so she’s been eating gluten-free almost her entire life. Erin has a unique perspective of growing up in the gluten-free community and blogs about living — and enjoying — a gluten-free lifestyle at Gluten-Free Fun. Today, she shares her advice. 


Click to read more. 

Camp Eagle Hill Goes Gluten-Free

If you haven't read it here before, read it now: I LOVE CAMP. You can search my website and see how many times I talk fondly of my days as a camper. Nothing makes me happier than to learn about camps now accommodating gluten-free campers with ease. 

Camp Eagle Hill is a beautiful and modern two hundred acre facility located just ninety miles north of New York City in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. They are very proud of their many new camp areas and facilities. Recently, Camp Eagle Hill completely renovated all of their girls’cabins, added a large Dance Studio, built a new Cooking Area, added a Technical Theatre Area, and built a new climbing tower and zip line. They also built a brand new baseball field with a beautiful dirt infield. The camp facility is filled with great activity areas and each year they add to their facility and program.

NEW FOR 2012: A dedicated gluten free kitchen. 

The Camp Eagle Hill gluten-free menu will echo their regular food service menu and allow gluten free campers to enjoy the same meals eaten by all of campers every camp day.

Camp Eagle Hill offers a well rounded program with a combination of group and individually selected activities. They have a full Sports program (with a tremendous gymnasium), extensive arts program, lots of waterfront activities, a strong performing arts program, campouts, trips, special events and much more.

Camp Eagle Hill has a very large adult Staff and offers excellent supervision and instruction. Small camp groups at Eagle Hill allow for extra attention and care for the individual camper. Many large indoor areas help to eliminate any rainy day problems! Most important, they have a Directorship that will know and care for each child and help him/her to enjoy a great camp experience!

The Camp Eagle Hill facilities include: a beautiful lake and 2 pools, 2 baseball fields, 2 soccer fields, 5 basketball courts, 8 tennis courts, 3 volleyball courts, a hockey rink, a large multi-purpose gymnasium, a tremendous recreation hall/canteen, a large Arts Center, a Theatre Arts Building, go-karts track, archery area, dance studio, climbing tower and zip line area, gymnastics pavilion, mountain biking trails, a beautiful overnights campsite and more.

Please visit the Camp Eagle Hill website today for more information. 

Photo Friday: New Gluten-Free Beer in NYC

BREAKING NEWS!!! Heartland Brewery is now making it's very own gluten-free beer!
Coming soon to a bottle and KEG near you, NewYorkers!

Gluten-free beer launch party coming soon. 

Come back to this blog for details. 

You heard it here first!

Take a gluten-free ride on the Good Bus

Only three more days to get a discount at our Gluten-Free Gourmet Weekend at Good Commons this June. With transportation directly from NYC on the Good Bus, gluten-free snacks for the trip there and back, an exciting New England itinerary, massages, yoga, and gluten-free gourmet meals and wine served to you all weekend long how can you say no?! I would love if you could join us.

$75 Early registration discount through April 15, 2012

Join Good Commons and The New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group for a worry-free decadent getaway. Whether you have dietary restrictions or are traveling with a loved one, our on-site chefs and health & wellness experts will ensure delicious meals, culinary adventures, and a chance to experience the bounty of the Green Mountain State.

Weekend includes:

• Round-trip transportation on The Good Bus (NYC only) 
• 3 nights lodging at Good Commons 
• All meals, snacks & beverages as outlined in itinerary, prepared by on-site private chef 
• 4-course dinner with wine pairings featuring sommelier Kristen Siebecker
• 2 gluten-free baking classes by Olivia Dupin 
• Optional yoga classes and Thai massage workshop with Elyse Sparks
• Local excursions 
• Massage by on-site certified massage therapist Jessica Ruth Shepard (additional charge) 

You must register with this link to get the early bird Meetup discount! http://www.goodcommons.com/GF2012meetup.html

Click here for the full itinerary including host bios and links.  (I'm a co-host!)

Originally posted on my Gluten-Free Globetrotter blog last month, but I REALLY want to Go with Oh to Barcelona so I am posting this again. I think I offer a very unique perspective of travel that no else is doing right now in the gluten-free blogosphere. I challenge you to find another Celiac with 30+ years gluten-free experience of international travel. :-)

I want to ‘Go with Oh’ to Barcelona

Posted on March 15, 2012 

My two passions in life are gluten-free living and traveling. (Hence the reason I started this blog.) When I am not reading gluten-free blogs/Twitter/Facebook, I am reading travel blogs/Twitter/Facebook. I love reading about and meeting bloggers that have quit their day jobs to travel the world as their full-time job. I admire “career breakers” and well-seasoned, professional travelers. I want to learn from them and one day follow in their footsteps. One of these travelers is Sherry Ott.

I first met Sherry at a MeetPlanGo event in NYC in 2010. I left this event really inspired and longing to book my next vacation, adding Sherry’s blog to my daily RSS feed immediately. Since then, I have been following Sherry’s travels around the globe through her blog Ott’s World. Her participation in the Mongol Rally was hilarious, inspiring, and scary, yet she finished it with pride. I was really excited to learn about Sherry’s next adventure to Europe trip with Go with Oh. Sherry will be living in Europe and guest blogging along the way. I’m excited to see where Sherry’s adventures take her on this next journey.
Go with Oh is a company that helps travelers in Europe find their ideal accommodations including hotels, apartments, and hostels. They are hosting a contest that I am really excited about. As a winner of this contest, the company will “put you up in their holiday rental apartments in up to FOUR European destinations” over the course of a month! In return, the winner will need to share their experiences in the European cities. This includes blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, and all other sorts of social media postings to report on the European city living.

As someone that loves to travel and is already obsessed with social media, this sounds like my dream gig! I am already writing this travel blog but winning this contest would kick it up a notch. If I won, I could take my travel writing to the next level! I think being gluten-free makes me a unique stand-out in this competition. I can explore Europe from a cultural point of view, as well as a gluten-free culinary perspective. I am sure not many gluten-free Americans would take this plunge to live in a European country for a month without having a major food panic attack. I am up for the challenge and adventure!

Without further delay, here is my entry:

My Gluten-Free Globetrotter 5-Senses Wish List:I want to Go with Oh to Barcelona 

• See: I want to see all things Gaudi in Barcelona including the Church of the Sacred Family, Park Güell, and Casa Batllo.
• Smell: I want to stop and smell the 10,000 rose bushes at the Cervantes Rose Garden. Ok, well maybe not all 10,000.
• Hear: I want to hear the cheers of a Barca Football game. Going to a European soccer match was added to my “bucket list” after watching some FIFA World Cup matches in the Astoria, NY a few summers ago. I can only imagine the hype and hysteria of being at a live game.
• Taste: I want to taste traditional (yet gluten-free) Catalan cuisine with help from theAssociacio de Celiacs de Catalunya while sipping on some sparkling cava.
• Touch: I want to walk from the city center to Barceloneta Beach, one of the World’s Best Beaches according to Discovery Channel in 2005, and dip my toes in to the Mediterranean Sea.

Do you want to win a prize with Go with Oh (www.GowithOh.com)? Check out theirFacebook competition to win 4 fantastic prizes.

Happy Birthday Gluten-Free Fun

Today is my birthday. To say it has been a really crazy year would be an understatement. I got really sick with black mold , moved, got healthy, got sick again with thyroid disease, and started getting better. I traveled to the Czech Republic, Canada, and Aruba. I made new friends and broke up with old friends. I worked, blogged, volunteered, and worked some more. I learned a lot this year about myself and others and feel very comfortable with who I am today. I don't think I could have said this 10 years ago or even 5 years ago. I think that comes with age and although some people are uncomfortable with turning older, I truly do think I have become wiser over the past year.

I have decided that my birthday present to myself this year is to make some resolutions. I need to slow down, sleep more, enjoy the little things in life, and take things one day at at a time. Below are two of my favorite posters and inspiration for this next year of my life.

Meghan Telpner's Live with Love

Holstee Manifesto

LAST WEEK to save on the Gluten-Free Gourmet Weekend

$75 Early registration discount through April 15, 2012

Join Good Commons and The New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group for a worry-free decadent getaway. Whether you have dietary restrictions or are traveling with a loved one, our on-site chefs and health & wellness experts will ensure delicious meals, culinary adventures, and a chance to experience the bounty of the Green Mountain State.

Weekend includes:

• Round-trip transportation on The Good Bus (NYC only) 
• 3 nights lodging at Good Commons 
• All meals, snacks & beverages as outlined in itinerary, prepared by on-site private chef 
• 4-course dinner with wine pairings featuring sommelier Kristen Siebecker
• 2 gluten-free baking classes by Olivia Dupin 
• Optional yoga classes and Thai massage workshop with Elyse Sparks
• Local excursions 
• Massage by on-site certified massage therapist Jessica Ruth Shepard (additional charge) 

You must register with this link to get the early bird Meetup discount! http://www.goodcommons.com/GF2012meetup.html

Click here for the full itinerary including host bios and links.  (I'm a co-host!)

Photo Friday: Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies Giftbasket

I won this gift basket from Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies. YAY! 

Gluten-Free Fun is heading to Portland

Do you know I write two blogs? My blog Gluten-Free Globetrotter is about embracing a gluten-free lifestyle while traveling the world. I love to travel but hear all too often that people with Celiac Disease on a gluten-free diet are afraid to leave home. While I understand the nervousness, I have NEVER let Celiac stop me from exploring the world. I have been to some really amazing places in my life and if I let my gluten-free lifestyle keep me from traveling I would have never eaten gluten-free spaghetti outside of the Vatican, dined in a gourmet restaurant on the rim of the Grand Canyon, or ridden ATVs in the desert of Aruba.

So if you aren't reading about my gluten-free travels or following them on Facebook and Twitter, I encourage you to do so today!

If you do read my Gluten-Free Globetrotter blog you will know that there are some big changes happening in my professional life. I can't get into too many public details but my day job (yes, I have one completely unrelated to this gluten-free world) is going to require some travel to the West Coast. This will be quite an adventure for this East Coast gal but exciting as well. I love exploring and this will give me the opportunity to check out Portland, OR. Read on for my details:

Yep, it’s true. I am adding a new city and state to my travelogue soon! 

There has been a lot going on in my “real” job lately. Although my passion and my babies are my two blogs and my NYC Celiac Meetup group, I have to pay my bills! When I tell people that I have a day job unrelated to the gluten-free world they are often shocked that I have the time for everything. Trust me, I don’t sleep much! 

My professional world has taken an unexpected turn and I have some regular travel to Portland, OR in my immediate future. I am excited about this for a few reasons. The top reason is that I hear Portland is a great place to be gluten-free. Obviously, this is music to my gluten-free ears. I am slowly adding bookmarks and taking all recommendations for gluten-free in Portland. Also, I love being outdoors. Portland is a very green city and I am excited to explore by foot and bicycle. 

Do you have any gluten-free favorites that I can’t miss in Portland? Please post them in the comments section below. I look forward to your recommendations. Stay tuned for my reviews and summaries soon!

Throw Away Your Toaster: Kinnikinnick Launches New Gluten-Free Soft Bread

Last week, I received a sample box of bread from Kinnikinnick Foods that included their new multigrain bread, soft white bread, and hot dog and hamburger buns. Over the weekend, I tried one of the hamburger buns as well as the multigrain bread. I have to say, I think these hamburger buns were some of the best gluten-free buns that I have tried. They were frozen, so I microwaved the hamburger bun for 30 seconds on medium and then let it sit tio cool down. I ate it plain and it was soft and chewy and really tasty. I highly recommend these.

For breakfast on Saturday, I had the multigrain bread. I have to admit, I did toast the bread (which goes against the new campaign name "Throw Away Your Toaster") but I wanted toast. The multigrain was good, but I thought it was lacking a little bit of flavor. I added unsalted butter but it was still missing something. I am looking forward to trying the new soft white bread to give it a taste test.

For links to Kinnikinnick and more information, please see their press info below.

While many gluten free breads are dense and less than palatable, Kinnikinnick Foods, North America’s leading provider of gluten-free baked goods and snacks, is launching a new soft bread lineup. Baked fresh and quick frozen, it is soft and moist once thawed - no toaster required!

Including Soft White, Multigrain Bread, Hot Dogs & Hamburger Buns, Kinnikinnick’s soft bread is made with no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors; fortified with five essential nutrients; contains at least five grams of fiber per serving and zero cholesterol. The lineup is also dairy free, nut free and certified OU Kosher. 

Kinnikinnick’s new breads are currently available online at www.kinnikinick.com and will be available at select natural food and traditional grocery stores throughout the U.S. and Canada this March for a SRP of $4.99 for the sliced bread and $4.59 for the hamburger and hotdog buns.

15th International Celiac Disease Symposium

The 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium is coming to the United States in 2013 and will be hosted by the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. I think this is a huge honor for the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center and I hope I can attend.

Sunday 22 September to Tuesday 24 September, 2013
Sheraton Chicago Hotel Towers
301 East North Water Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
USA

The great location of Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers puts you in the heart of the city and offers views of the river and lake. Directly on the riverfront, we are within walking distance of Navy Pier, Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue.


The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center has been selected to host the 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium in 2013. This is a short informational video about the host city Chicago. The video also includes "From Care To Cure," created to highlight the center's mission and activities, especially the path from Care to Cure, and the goal to cure celiac disease in the next 10-15 years.