Alexandra’s “Gluten-Free” Pizza Not Safe for Celiacs

A few weeks ago, local pizza chain Alexandra’s joined Twitter (and followed our blog). I got extremely excited about their first tweet:

 

I immediately tweeted at them asking for more information. They put me in touch with their marketing consultant, who has family members with Celiac and who seemed to really understand my concerns about gluten-containing ingredients and cross-contamination. Her first e-mail gave some information, including the fact that the dough is made off-site to reduce the chance of cross-contamination.

But then something weird happened.

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Great Deals at Chops Meat Market!

A reader recently tipped us off to the great gluten-free options at the new Chops Meat Market in Burnside. (They’re located at the very bottom of Wright Avenue in the black and red building behind the Ultramar on Windmill Road.) One look at the recent deals on their Facebook page and we knew we had to pay them a visit!

Although you could tell that they are still getting organized and getting stock in, we were pretty impressed at the selection of meats and gluten-free items. Things that caught our eye included:

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A Gluten-Free Getaway!

Recently, Michael and I took a weekend trip to White Point Beach Resort, a lovely spot on Nova Scotia’s southern shore. We were excited to see that their full-service dining room had a gluten-free menu that covered breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu at the resort was slightly different than the one currently on the website, but they still have about half a dozen options for each mealtime.

• Breakfast options range from smoothies to a full country breakfast, with bacon (or ham), eggs, beans and gluten-free toast.
• For lunch, you can choose from a burger (with gluten-free bun), salad, fish cakes, and seafood.
• Supper options include pasta, steak, chicken, salmon, and salads.
• They also have a gluten-free maple creme brulée for dessert (although they were unfortunately out of it when we were there).

The menu does come with the standard disclaimer that although they will do everything possible to ensure a safe meal for you, their kitchen is not 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is possible. I emphasized that I have Celiac disease to the server and had no problems at all.

I tried their Meadow Brook pork chop ($22) and the striploin steak with mashed potatoes ($25) while we were there. The steak was just OK, but the pork chop was fantastic! I also got to try their homemade gluten-free bread, which was very good. However, to make sure you get some, you should mention that you are gluten-free when making a reservation. (The bread is frozen and thawed upon request, so I missed out the second night since the kitchen was so busy.)

We did not try eating in Founder’s Lounge (the small pub outside the dining room), but the mussels and burger do appear on the lunchtime gluten-free menu, so I am sure they would be able to accommodate gluten-free requests. (They also share the same kitchen as the main dining room.) As well, all rooms come with mini-fridges and microwaves, making it easy to bring and prepare your own meals. (We brought our own breakfast and lunch supplies.)

Overall, we found that our White Point getaway was very gluten-free friendly. We’re looking forward to going back for another visit!

Gluten-Free on the Run (The 2014 Edition)

We’ve updated our popular Gluten-Free on the Run post (originally published in 2011) with the latest and greatest information. There have been some big changes to the menus at McDonald’s, Tim Hortons, and Subway in particular!

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Gluten-Free Finds On the Road!

Last week, Michael and I went on a road trip to Toronto, and we stopped at a ton of cool places on the way! Although the language barrier was a bit of a challenge in Québec, I didn’t get sick at all and actually enjoyed the opportunity to try some different places.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the places we visited and what I ate.

Pump House Brewery (Moncton, New Brunswick)
Not a ton of gluten-free options, but they have the most amazing locally-made gluten-free pizza crust. The $4 upcharge is totally worth it.

La Captive (Amqui, Québec)
We had an amazing spread of local cheeses for about $12. Just ask for no bread!

Saint-Alexandre Pub (Québec City, Québec)
Their sole gluten-free option (Toulouse-style sausage with salad) is incredible, and they have Glutenberg Blonde by the bottle (although it is pricey).

Les Salons d’Edgar (Québec City, Québec)
We loved the old-style French feel of this restaurant, and the spontaneous ballroom dancing by guests! Although we didn’t eat here, the menu looked quite gluten-friendly, with items like grilled steak and quinoa salad.

Le Saint Bock (Montréal, Québec)
This pub has Glutenberg Red, American Pale Ale, and Blonde by the bottle. Extremely cool spot, especially during a Canadiens game!

Zero8 (Montréal, Québec)
This place is a must-visit for anyone with Celiac disease or food allergens. Their restaurant is 100% free of the eight major allergens: gluten, fish and seafood, all nuts, sesame, soya, dairy, and eggs. They also mark items with mustard and sulphites on their menu, and are happy to accomodate any other allergens. Watch for a review coming soon!

Shoeless Joe’s (Toronto, Ontario)
We were surprised by how gluten-friendly this sports bar chain is, with gluten-free pizza and burgers. There is a small upcharge for gluten-free pizza ($1.99) and no upcharge for burgers.

Il Fornello (Toronto, Ontario)
This Italian restaurant serves gluten-free pasta, pizza, and the most amazing chocolate souffle I’ve ever had.

Gluten Zero Bread Hits the Shelves

Several weeks ago, a friend and blog reader told us that they found gluten-free Dempster’s bread (called Gluten Zero) in the bakery section of their local Sobeys! Last week, we found some in the Downsview Mall Sobeys, so we picked up a loaf of white bread to try. (It also comes in multigrain.) At $5.99, the price is comparable to brands like Udi’s and Glutino, although the loaf is slightly smaller. (We did get a coupon that brought the price down to $4.99). One of the nice things about this bread is that it is not supposed to be frozen by the retailer: it’s baked and delivered fresh within a few days.

Here’s what the bag looks like:

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Glutenberg is Coming Back to Town

Earlier this summer, we noticed a lack of Glutenberg beer at our local NSLC. We asked an NSLC employee what was going on, and we were told that it was being discontinued. In a panic, we tweeted at Garrison Brewing, who imports the beer from Quebec microbrewery Brasseurs Sans Gluten. It was all a mistake, they said. In fact, they were working on bringing another variety (in addition to the blonde) into Nova Scotia.

Fast-forward six weeks and the Glutenberg shortage got worse. In fact, it was taken off the NSLC’s website entirely, and as of today, it’s still missing. We tweeted at Garrison again and were told that it was some kind of trade dispute at the provincial level that was out of their hands. Since then, both Garrison and the NSLC have reassured us that Glutenberg will be back on shelves by the end of October.

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Catch of the Bay is a Real Find!

Last weekend, Michael and I finally made it to Catch of the Bay at Masstown Market! We pulled into the market, and after a little wandering around, found the fish and chip boat at the far end of the parking lot. (It’s beside the fresh fish market in the lighthouse.) This little boat has been turned into a fish and chip “truck,” and has a patio with picnic tables built right around it.

After a quick glance at the menu (which does not specifically list gluten-free items), Michael and I each ordered a one-piece haddock fish and chips ($7.99) and a Diet Coke ($1.75). We grabbed our drinks from the cooler next to the order window, as well as some napkins and ketchup, and took a seat at a picnic table under an umbrella. We also had a new friend in tow:

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Glutenberg is Here, and It’s Good!

Montreal-based gluten-free microbrewery Brasseurs Sans Gluten is famous for its Glutenberg ale, and it’s finally available in Nova Scotia! Halifax-based Garrison Brewing has taken on distribution of Glutenberg Blonde, which can now be found in NSLC stores across the province. (Tip: To see if Glutenberg is available in your local store, search for it, and click “Find it” on the product page.)

We were first to purchase a six-pack from the Sackville (Downsview) NSLC last night!

It was $16.99 – not bad for a gluten-free beer. I really liked the taste of it: crisp, light, refreshing, and no nasty rice flavour.

There’s also an interesting article in the Chronicle Herald about Glutenberg. You can read it here. (Fun fact: Garrison chose to distribute Glutenberg because president Brian Titus’s wife has Celiac disease.)

Seven Fun Summer Things to Do in Nova Scotia… Without Gluten!

It’s summertime and it seems like food is everywhere… including hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, and many other things that us gluten-intolerant folk can’t have. However, I love Chex’s motto: Live in the yes!

Here are seven amazing things you can do this summer that are totally gluten-free.

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