Oklahoma Celiac Gluten Free Blog

Link: http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/pizza.aspx

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse added Gluten Free Pizza to their menus nationwide this past week.  I couldn't wait to try it.    I ate at the Oklahoma City location off of Memorial, between Penn and Hefner Parkway.  It was so good, I ate it 2 days in a row.  The first time I had pepperoni and black olives.  The second time, I had Italian sausage, black olives and green peppers.  Both were delicious.

This is from BJ's menu:

GLUTEN-FREE THIN CRUST PIZZA
A flavorful, herb-infused, 10-inch crust baked to a golden brown and topped with your favorite gluten-free toppings. With the exception of our meatballs, all of BJs Classic ingredients listed on the pizza page in our menu are gluten-free.

The manager, Mark, was incredibly helpful, checking back multiple times and overseeing the kitchen to ensure the pizza was not cross-contaminated.  I found out from the manager that not only is the pizza and all ingredients certified as gluten free, so is the process used in their kitchen!

I tried a couple of salads as well, both very good.  The best news is that starting June 1, 2010, they will be serving Redbridge beer.  It's even on their menu.  It says:  "Add a gluten free Redbridge beer $4.50."  Oh happy days!

It is such a treat to have the option of a chain restaurant when I am with friends or have company in town.  Or just when I crave pizza!

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Link: http://www.glutenfreegoodiesbycindy.com/

Last Celiac Support Group meeting we welcomed Cindy Reddout a baker who specializes in "regular" and gluten free homemade baked goods, who is housed out of Edmond, OK and serves the OKC Metro.

Here is a little info taken from her website about her baking services:

 

I do my baking on Mondays and Fridays (with the exception of major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).  Pick up is available at my residence on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

I also offer free consultation service if you need advice and menu planning for entertaining a gluten intolerant guest in your home.

 

Here is her contact info if you wish to contact her:

Phone Number: 405-359-2019

E-mail: creddout@cox.net

She was so gracious to bring us some goodies, please help support the gluten free industry here in the metro!!!

If you have tried any of her products, feel free to comment on them below!

Happy Eating!

I am tired of endlessly searching for my favorite gluten free beer.  It's not in any of my favorite restaurants.  It's not available at Wal-Mart or Hyvee anymore.  Whenever I ask the managers, I hear the same thing:  "we just can't get it anymore."  There is never a reasonable explanation.

And then on the internet, there are all the rumors:  it's been discontinued; there's not enough demand; they are reformulating it.  So I decided to investigate.

I contacted Anhueser-Bush at 1-800-342-5283 to get this issue resolved once and for all.  After a lot of "let me look up the locations where they sell it near you" and me repeatedly stating that it's nowhere to be found, the representative finally put me on hold and got the true information.

I live in Oklahoma, which is 1 of 5 states (Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah) that has a 3.2 law.  This means that state law permits general establishments, such as supermarket chains and convenience stores to sell only low-point, or 3.2, beer.  Redbridge was originally formulated at over 4%, creating a legal dilemma for these five states.

To simplify things for Anhueser-Bush, they are currently reformulating Redbridge to 3.2% to meet all states' requirements.  We should be seeing Redbridge back on the shelves in pretty short order.  When pushed for a time frame, I was told 1 month.  I am excited to hear this, but won't be holding my breath!

All in all, it's good news for Redbridge lovers!

 

Link: http://glutenfreeville.com/research/gluten-free-menus-a-big-hit-at-major-league-ballparks

Baseball fans in certain cities can get their gluten free grub on and some suds as well during the month of May.

For those of you who couldn't attend here is a recap from the meeting:

A 105 Degrees Restaurant culinary chef came to talk about the upcoming gluten free classes offered in June on Saturdays: living bread and crackers, cookies and biscotti, and raw cakes.  For more info go to: www.105degreesacademy.com. Also the restuarant located at 5820 North Classen Boulevard, Suite 1 Oklahoma City, OK 73118, in the new Classen Curve has many gluten free dishes, just ask.

Cara brought yummy goodies and samples from Bakery on Main street and Enjoy Life foods for everyone!!! Also, Clean Cravings send some pizza crusts that were given in a giveaway and also a Pesto Pizza that was cooked!  Thanks so much if you want to order these pizzas go to www.cleancravings.com! Thank you wonderful companies for sending samples!!!

Also Cara announced that Forward Foods in OKC has gluten free products and that General Mills will be unveiling a Gluten Free Bisquick and Hamburger Helper Meals this summer.  Also Newman's Own is starting to produce gluten free bread, but it is not known when it will be in OKC. Lots of good updates!

Dana Tilford RD, gave a wonderful speech on label reading.  She is a gluten free dietician in the OKC Metro area and very well informed as she has Celiac Disease herself.

Finally, we were treaddy with goodies from Cindy Reddout, a GF caterer here in the OKC Metro.  She brought yummy desserts for treats for everyone.  But I have misplaced her e-mail address and internet address so please post in the comment and I will add it to the blog.

I think that is all for now!  Lots of good things.  The next business meeting will be June 8th with the Ice Cream Social and Bingo Night on July 13th!  Hope to see you then!