Gluten-Free Pizza - Yum ~

After our Triathlon last weekend, my body was longing for some carbs. I had been told by someone at the Whole Foods deli counter last week that they were now making gluten-free pizza dough (rice) and pizzas made-to-order. Wow. My world just became a little bit brighter.

We decided to give this pizza a try, so I went to the Whole Foods pizza counter and spoke at length with one of their employees. He told me that the dough is made of rice flour and is 100% gluten-free. They are creating 10" rounds that come standard with mozzarella, and then you have three pizza sauces to choose from. The pizzas are custom made-to-order at the counter, and can either be baked at WF or you can take it home to bake in your own oven, which I did. The dough can also be sold separately, so customers can simply take it home, roll it, dress it with toppings and bake on their own. I was told that they keep the dough in a separate area and went to another kitchen in WF to prepare the pizza. I opted to take the pizza home and bake it in my oven which I know is 100% gluten-free. Our WF here in Reno is doing a great job stocking a lot of gluten-free items, however, they state right up front that they are NOT a gluten-free facility, so you always have to keep cross-contamination in mind.

I would like to further-research where they are baking the GF pizzas; are they in the same oven as the regular flour-dough pizzas, or have they designated a separate oven? So until I have that answer clear in my head, I'll keep baking them at home. And the price - it was very reasonable. Surprisingly, our 10" with three toppings (artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and ham) and the choice of garlic/tomato sauce with mozzarella was only $15.00. I've purchased GF pizzas in San Diego that were only 8" and ran somewhere in the $20-something range...so this was also a pleasant surprise, and dangerous...I have to ration my pizza runs now!


The pizza was quite delicious and I enjoyed the crust - I bake my own pizzas, creating the dough at home via an easy recipe I posted last year, but this crust had a lovely crispness to it - and held it's form quite nicely. The toppings were fresh, healthy and I really liked the taste of their mozzarella cheese and the way it bubbled and cooked to a yummy "real pizza" consistency, especially around the crust. So yeah, it was a little bit of Heaven and felt like a real treat to go order a pizza at the counter, shop for 20 minutes and pick it up...dare I say, it kind of felt "normal"...

I would like to hear from those of you who give this Whole Foods pizza a try and hear what you think about the quality, consistency, toppings and price.

If this weekend's heat and lazy summer attitude prevents you from whipping up a storm in the kitchen, you now have the option of a quick and delish pizza - all you really need to do is pick some fresh lettuce and veggies from your backyard garden and drizzle on some olive oil and balsamic!

Happy Summer eating~

Safe Places to Eat in Reno ~

Whenever I find another safe and enjoyable restaurant I tend to write about it on this blog - I always feel so grateful to discover new or old favorites that have updated their menu to include delicious gluten-free items and mostly to meet staff members who "have a clue" about what it truly means to eat safely in a restaurant. I can see all of your heads nodding in agreement...am I right?

In the past month I've had the pleasure of rediscovering a few lovely restaurants in Reno who are very hip now to gluten-free dining...and what a joy eating at all locations truly was.

The first stop was, 4th Street Bistro, owned by Chef Natalie Sellers and partner, General Manager Carol Wilson (who recently went gluten-free), and have been in operation since June of 2000. They serve contemporary cuisine and feature fresh, sustainable and local organically grown food on their menu. In addition, the restaurant is quaint and comfortable with a hint of European decor and a nice view of the Truckee River.

The brunch that we recently enjoyed at 4th Street Bistro was really delicious and when I looked over the menu to find nearly ten items marked gluten-free (GF) I almost started crying...not kidding...because this is such a rarity and honestly, I was a bit overwhelmed for a few minutes! After speaking extensively with Carol, the co-owner who now eats sans gluten, I was really delighted to see the effort that she has put towards bringing a complete dining experience to those who don't eat wheat.

Upon noticing that they offered a fresh basket of gluten-free breads I looked up in awe at the server asking, "can this be true...are you sure, really?"....It was true and the goodies you see blow are proof. The sweet rolls, fresh banana bread and scones were so yummy that my dad ordered a second basket for me to take home! How sweet. When the appetizer arrived, I was handed my own side plate of rice crackers in three different varieties, Glutino, Blue Diamond and Mary's Gone Crackers. Delightful.


Being totally perplexed as to what I would order, since I was now being offered legitimate choices, I went for this amazing poached egg dish served over a bed of wilted spinach with a pork-potato con-fit...Heaven. Then I easily convinced my father to order the Tortilla Espanola (a family favorite) so that we could share!


Sneaky, huh? As I've always noted on this blog, my family and friends are amazingly supportive of my diet and lifestyle...so much so that most everyone I know and love now eats rice crackers and many other gluten-free food items! The true power of positive influence.

Love it.

The brunch was delicious and everyone raved about their meal, the freshness, taste and quality. I am pretty sure that I was the happiest person in the entire restaurant and can't wait to go back!

My mom's birthday was this month and we decided to take her to La Famiglia Ristorante for some delicious Italian food and wanted to check out their beautiful new downtown location, as well. I hadn't eaten there in a few years, not for any other reason that the downturn in the economy and the fact that I've been cooking so much more at my home, so it was at treat to go back and discover that in a few years La Famiglia and its staff have embraced serving more gluten-free items safely and deliciously.

To start, I ordered their Insalata di Frutta - a delightful bed of greens, fresh pear, Gorgonzola and candied walnuts with a balsamic drizzle of dressing. Very tasty.


My entree choice was fresh halibut prepared with a lemon butter glaze, pine nuts and olives, and substituted the pasta with some fresh polenta and vegetables. I spoke with the waiter extensively about this meal and he was very confident about how they would prepare it for me separately, in a new pan, and served with fresh polenta that was certain to not contain any gluten. I have to admit that I was a little nervous, but I asked as many questions as possible and was very assertive with exactly HOW my meal needed to be prepared. Trusting my intuition and the fact that our server did seem very versed with gluten-free, I chose to trust and enjoy.


Not wanting to miss out on the birthday celebration at the end of our meal, I was able to eat their flan-like-custard dessert. It was very good and served with fresh whipped cream.


Overall, the meal experience was very good and the new location inside an industrial-type beautiful brick building, just across from the Pioneer Theater was very nice and I'll definitely go back again. Buon appetito!

My last recommendation is Cafe de Thai, located in south Reno. I've written about them before but have been back several times lately and I can honestly say this...I'm in love with their gluten-free Pad Thai and fresh Spring Rolls! Could eat 'em every day.

They also offer gluten-free dipping sauces that are wonderful and some of the best and most fun drink concoctions in town. You will NOT be disappointed.

This weekend, give one of these lovely restaurants and try and tell them that Gluten Free Bowl of Soul sent you.

Enjoy safe food~

4th Street Bistro
www.4thstbistro.com
3065 West 4th Street
Reno, NV 89523-8808
(775) 323-3200

La Famiglia Ristorante
180 East 1st Street
Reno, NV 89501-1602
(775) 324-1414

Cafe De Thai
www.cafedethaireno.com
7499 Longley Lane
Reno, NV 89511-1208
(775) 829-8424

Good Friday ~

Easter is just two days away and on this Good Friday I look outside my office window to see the snow falling...yes, snow on April 10th. Evidently, this is spring in Nevada.

In my last post I wrote about the possibility of my mother also having Celiac Disease but I don't have an update for you yet - she's still awaiting test results. We are all curious, though I think she's a bit afraid to call the Dr.'s office to find out! We understand.

I wanted to share with you my two gluten-free foodie experiences that I had this week here in Reno:

On Tuesday afternoon I stopped by the local Great Harvest Bread Company in the Plumbgate Shopping center to see if the rumors of gluten-free fresh-baked bread on Monday's and Tuesday's was true - it is! I picked up a delicious loaf of cinnamon-raisin bread that is actually quite tasty and light. They also bake plain white bread and pumpkin bread on Monday's and made-to-order items. If you live in the Reno area, it would be worth a try. It just felt special to walk into a bread company and request a loaf of bread from the rack and then walk out feeling quite "normal"...I know it's only bread, but it's also progress!

Another tasty experience happened yesterday while dining at Beaujolais Bistro with a client. I had the pleasure of working on a TV shoot two weeks ago at this Bistro for another client, and at 5 a.m. Chef/owner Bill Gilbert had prepared an amazing rabbit confit that we were all enjoying, along with some wine for breakfast! I had never dined on rabbit before, mostly due to my affection for the little creatures, but after a 3 a.m. wake up call, the savory, buttery aroma won me over and I dug in for my first bite of authentically prepared rabbit with amazing beans imported from France, sprinkled with hazelnuts...my mouth is watering just recounting and writing this...and yes, it was all gluten-free.


Yesterday's lunch was just as lovely. I ordered the scrumptious Omelette (Organic eggs) with mushrooms and Gruyére, served with a perfect organic salad, drizzled with an amazing vinaigrette. The flavors of this meal were bursting in my mouth and in all honesty, conjured up memories of dining in Paris and France. The freshness of every ingredient is hard to find in this city or in the majority of restaurants, in general. The care and understanding of real French cuisine is defined at Beaujolais Bistro and by Chef Bill.

In addition, the majority of their daily soups are gluten-free and thickened with a light cream, vs. a heavy flour base. Be sure to ask your server but each time I've visited now, I've reviewed the menu with both the Chef and server to discuss what is and isn't safe for a Celiac, and they are very helpful and careful.

It's still snowing and gloomy outside but on this particular day, Good Friday, it seems appropriate. However, by Easter Sunday we should be experiencing temperatures in the high 60's and lots of sunshine ~ just in time to celebrate Life!

Happy Easter and don't eat too many chocolate bunnies!

Cheers ~

Celiac Family Ties...

It's April Fool's day and already spring time - hard to believe. When I got a call from my mom earlier today stating that she might also have Celiac Disease, I thought she was playing an April Fool's joke on me at first, but she wasn't. She's been suffering with stomach issues as of late and her weight has dropped and she's just really thin and can't ever seem to remedy that. I had suggested last month that she pay a visit to my wonderful Celiac doc, Dr. Dennis Yamamoto in Reno. She did so, and after a colonoscopy, the results revealed that she's healthy; no tumors, no ulcers, etc...but the issues she was having have persisted. This morning, Dr. Yamamoto met with her and delivered his opinion about the fact that he feels she most likely has Celiac Disease due to the inflamed lining of her stomach.

To this present day, I'm the ONLY person in our entire family, on both sides, who has this disease. Others have complained of stomach issues and abnormalities, yet they won't get properly tested. My maternal grandfather died of stomach cancer, but we always assumed it was due to his years of smoking and drinking alcohol (that generation of men were drinkers) and an unbalanced diet, perhaps. My maternal Aunt also has huge issues with her stomach and numerous other related problems, that in my mind, are directly related to having an auto-immune disease...but what do I know right, I just live with Celiac and was diagnosed after nine years of suffering! :)

If my mom does end up having Celiac Disease I think I will be filled with mixed emotions for her. On the one hand, she's lived around my disease for years now and has been a tremendous help and support to me, always by my side and willing to learn anything and everything about CD, so she definitely has a "head start." But on the other hand, I will be a little sad for her, knowing how much she loves her Guinness beer every once in a while, or a good Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista in SF, or a sweet roll. I also have the distinct feeling that she'll take this on full-force, yet try to hide the fact that she's overwhelmed and perhaps grieving a bit for her past life with gluten. I can't imagine living 63 years of life with gluten and then whammo - no more.

If the tests do confirm she has Celiac Disease, I've decided that my gift to her will be to show the support I've received during the last nine years, times 10. I want her to grieve for what's behind her, but be excited and hopeful about a "new life" that would consist, most-likely of better health, more energy, some weight gain and longevity. It's all any of us can hope and pray for in life.

And for all of you out there who have been recently diagnosed or maybe still struggling with the adaptation that must take place as you transition into a life sans gluten, know that you are NOT alone and take comfort in the fact that this is truly a great time to be diagnosed as a Celiac. That statement may sound strange or "Pollyanna" to you, but I can tell you, as someone who rarely found a "gluten-free" product on a store shelf nine years ago, your resources now are abundant and blossoming. In addition, I can tell you for a fact that the struggle is worth the effort and "cheating" will get you nowhere but sick in bed for weeks.

I will update you once my mom's diagnosis is soundly determined. It could be an interesting week for our family. If she does join "my world" you never know what can happen - maybe this blog will take on a new shape and theme...

Two Celiac minds are always more creative than just one!

Until then, keep sticking to your gluten-free diet and enjoy the benefits of eating healthy and all of the goodness that nourishing, fresh food brings to your body.