A representative from P.F. Chang's contacted me recently and sent my family to our local P.F. Chang's to try some of the new additions to their Gluten Free Menu. Already big fans of P.F. Chang's, we were excited to sample a few new items we hadn't yet had the opportunity to order. Beginning this past Spring, P.F. Chang's started offering seasonal menu items available only for a limited time. Now through the end of August, they are offering their Summer Menu, which includes one new gluten free item: Summer Vegetable Quinoa "Fried Rice." This is such a unique and delicious meal, and a description just doesn't do it justice. You really have to try this entree yourself. It's described as "Wok-toasted quinoa with sunburst squash, mango, tomatoes, and snow peas -- topped with a sunny-side egg." I'm already a big fan of quinoa, and the quinoa used in this dish is red quinoa, which I found especially tasty. Upon delivering the Summer Vegetable Quinoa "Fried Rice" to the table, your server will immediately cut and mix the sunny side egg into the quinoa, where it becomes part of the "sauce." This was really cool to watch -- and made me... Read more →
July 2013
Last night we enjoyed a night out with extended family to attend the Orioles/Red Sox game at Camden Yards in Baltimore. We are are Sox fans, and let me tell you, we weren't the only ones there! And fortunately, unlike the night before, it was a good night to be a Sox fan! The only thing as good as watching the Sox defeat the Orioles 7-3 (sorry, O's fans!) was having an all-around good gluten free dining experience. Upon arriving at the ballpark, we went into the Fan Assistance office in the main warehouse building right inside the entrance on Eutaw Steet. They handed us a "Gluten-Free Options" listing, which details the choices for gluten free fare at various places around the ballpark. My son and I opted for Boog's BBQ on the Main Concourse on Eutaw Street -- right across from the Fan Assistance office. They offer many types of gluten free barbeque meat, along with baked beans and coleslaw, which are all gluten free. They even offer gluten free rolls. I think they were Udi's. They also know to change their gloves before fulfilling a gluten free order. The people working here were very friendly and helpful with... Read more →
I've always enjoyed shopping at Wegmans, especially for meat and specialty items. However, the closest one is 20 minutes from my home, so I don't typically shop there on a weekly basis. But two exciting things have happened lately: 1.) Wegmans has a new dedicated area for gluten free products -- shelf stable as well as frozen -- in the center of their store. We've been able to find the majority of our favorite brands and products here, which helps reduce the need for shopping at multiple stores to find the gluten free items our family likes. 2.) I've discovered that many of Wegmans' mouth-watering recipes in their Menu magazine are gluten free -- or can very easily be tailored to be gluten free with some simple substitutions. (Menu magazines are mailed free to you when you sign up for a Wegmans shoppers club loyalty card. Their recipes are also available free online.) As those of you who shop at Wegmans and use their Menu magazine know, their recipes contain many private label products that you can only find at Wegmans -- things like pre-made sauces, marinades, or dressings (one of my favorites is their Lemon and Caper Sauce, which... Read more →