Eat Healthy the Panini way

I really enjoy (and miss) a hot sandwich with melted cheese and onions. Prior to being diagnosed with celiac disease, cheesesteaks were a regular, but not-too-often part of my diet.

Photo/EatHealthyDeli.com

The panini sandwiches freshly made by the Eat Healthy Deli of Fairfield easily satisfy my craving. The roast beef with onions and cheese I sampled at the recent Gluten Free & Allergen Free Expo were To. Die. For.

Specifically, it was full of flavor, none overwhelming, and the texture was crispy or chewy in all the right places.

Surfside Morning

Photo/GFGardenState

I love discovering small businesses that cater to the gluten-free community, and a recent pit stop in Surf City did not disappoint.

Finding an open coffee shop in a post-Labor Day shore town isn't always easy. Consider the Surfside Coffee House on Long Beach Boulevard a rare oasis.

A small shop, it serves gluten-free Udi's bagels with the standard toppings or as part of a breakfast sandwich. I chose the egg, cheese and Canadian bacon bagel sandwich, and it really hit the spot. As with any good breakfast sandwich, each part was cooked they way they should be and each flavor stood out. Prepared by owner Linda Cerillo, it was also crunchy, gooey, sturdy or chewy all in the right spots. 

GFGS Community Calendar: September 2014

As a service to our regular readers and the Celiac community at large, Gluten Free Garden State offers an ongoing list of upcoming events of interest. We feature local happenings, regional events and national programs open to the public. The calendar appears on the second Sunday of each month. Links are posted to Facebook and Twitter using the hashtages #2ndSundaySked and #savetheceliacdate.

Fall is a great time for a road trip, and there's plenty to do within a couple hours of drive time. But first, cap off the summer with a baseball game or golf outing!

In the Garden State

Today: Gluten-Baking classes, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Sur La Table, Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrenceville and the Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton (Evesham). Instructed by Sara Cruz and Kristen Gehert, respectively, students will make fruit muffins with streusel topping, flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, chocolate brownies, banana bread with coconut and flax. The cost is $69 per person, age 18 and older only. Call 800-243-0852 for more information.

Saturday, Sept. 20: FARE Walk for Food Allergy, hosted by the Food Allergy Resource & Education (formerly FAAN) at Campbell's Field in Camden; An awareness and fund raising event, it starts 9 a.m. with check-in, followed by the walk at 10 a.m. in the home of the Camden RiverSharks. Family-friendly activities and entertainment are included. Visit FARE's website for more information.

Sunday, Oct. 5: CSA (Celiac Sprue Association) Southern New Jersey Chapter #9 meeting, 2 p.m. at Hope Church, 700 Cooper Rd., Voorhees. New members welcome. Visit the group's website for more information.

Sur La Table for baking

Gluten-Free Baking classes are being held Sunday at Sur LaTable stores in Lawrenceville and Marlton, part of Evesham Twp.

Both sessions are being held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. They will have patrons making fruit muffins with streusel topping, flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, chocolate brownies, and banana bread with coconut and flax.

At the Lawrenceville store, located in the Quakerbridge Mall, the instructor will be Sara Cruz. In Marlton, the session located at the Promenade at Sagemore store will be led by Kristen Gehert.

New products EXPOsed

Photo/GFGardenState: Schar's new pasta line

The Gluten Free & Allergen Free Expo held last weekend in Secaucus was a great opportunity for visitors to see products soon to be released to the public or already making their way to grocers.

Samples weren't available for many of these recent additions, but judging by their companies' reputations and appearance of the items, we're looking forward to trying them.

Here's an idea of what's coming or has recently been made available.

Celiacs at the farm

The gluten free life is coming Saturday to Donaldson Farms in Hackettstown.

The free Celiac Disease & Living Gluten Free event starts 10 a.m. at the Warren County site.

The educational highlight is a presentation by registered dietician Nicole Cerillo, a program clinical manager for the Kogan Celiac Center at Barnabas Health. An overview of celiac disease will be provide with discussions about diagnostics, the gluten-free lifestyle, product labeling laws and other related topics.

Light gluten-free snacks will be served, as well as samples from Mama's Cafe Baci & Restaurant in Hackettstown, which offers a full menu of gluten-free dining and catering options. In addition, a variety of fruits, vegetables, jams and other food items are available for sale in the Donaldson market.

The farm is located at 358 Allen Road. Call 908-296-1945 or visit the farm's website for more information.

#GFAFExpo in Photos

Photo/Gluten Free Garden State

Photo/Gluten Free Garden State

We have lots of product reviews and details about the 2014 Gluten Free & Allergen Free Expo coming. In the meantime, enjoy some of the images taken by Gluten Free Garden State photographers, who were on site both days.

Lots to love at the GFAF Expo

Photo/Gluten Free Garden State

Day One of the Gluten Free & Allergen Free Expo is in the books, and there isn't much, if anything, not to love.

Tastings, take-home samples, coupons, product information, medical resources, photo booth, kids' area, interesting classes, friendly vendors, fantastic organization, fellow bloggers ... whew, the list of things to love goes on and on.

And then there was romance.

Many attendees were privileged to witness a marriage proposal at the end of Amy Fothergill's presentation that offered tips for gluten-free baking and cooking. She helped facilitate the proposal's execution by leading the unsuspecting young woman's boyfriend to the microphone.

Yes, the young man did get down on one knee to present his ring. The proposal also involved a gluten-free cupcake. And she said .... Well, you're just going to have to watch the video. 

An in-store celebration of gluten-free groceries

Photo/ZalliesFreshKitchen.com

National Celiac Disease Day is Sept. 13, and ShopRite of Medford is honoring it with a Gluten-Free Food Festival.

The public event, 11 am-4 pm, features more than 50 stations throughout the store showcasing gluten-free foods. Free samples, recipes, basket raffles and cooking demonstrations will be provided.

The highlight is an appearance by Chef Pasquale Mast, the owner of Pasta Pomodora, a gluten-free Italian restaurant in Voorhees, who will cook a celiac-friendly dinner.