Cheesey celebration for celiacs

A first-time visit (EVER!) to a Chuck E. Cheese arcade-restaurant left us wanting to hug the mouse.

(For the record, we didn't, since there's a real person inside that costume who would likely have been freaked out by adults hugging him and squealing with delight.)

After all, how many chain dining options synonymous with kids' birthday parties and pizza really offer gluten-free options?

The Cherry Hill site, as well as more than 500 others across the country, includes on its menu gluten-free versions of pizza and a cupcake. The combo allows celiac children to fully participate in parties without feeling left out. Gotta love that!

On the Road: South Carolina ... Part Three

We’re back from a summer vacation Down South. During our long road trip, we spotted a good number of Jersey license plates in each of our destinations. Along the way, we ate in a number of local restaurants and discovered some great gluten-free meals that were delicious, unique and convenient.

This is the last of a three-part post highlighting our favorite gluten-free finds, and its all about a Jersey favorite: Pizza! 

Photo/Gluten-Free Garden State

Summerville, SC

My fellow travelers were in the mood for pizza, and didn't want to leave our hotel. Being from Jersey, we try to avoid pizza chains, since they typically don't deliver the quality which we've grown accustomed. So, we consulted the front desk for suggestions on "local" shops.

Intending to order a salad (the staple of every celiac when confronted with a lack of gluten-free options), I was happily surprised to notice a small line of type written below the list of pizza varieties offered by Famulari's Pizzeria. For a mere 99 cents more, I could order a gluten-free crust.

Hot tomato!

Photo/Gluten Free Garden State

Pizza shop owner Giulio Padalino didn't start serving gluten-free foods to appeal to his customers or to jump on a trendy bandwagon. He was instead looking to help his son, who was diagnosed with celiac disease as a child.

That was more than 25 years ago!

Palermo's Ristorante, which has locations in Bordentown, Roebling (aka Florence) and Ewing, has catered to celiac customers longer than most.Although Padalino began stocking celiac-friendly pastas and pizza shells for the family's personal use, he recognized its appeal to some customers early on and has been expanding the menu every since.

Sunny days keeping hunger at bay

I fully expect to have a tough time finding suitable food options when I'm in a place like a theme park, where it's a great inconvenience to leave the premises for a meal. Therefore, it's so nice to find a family-friendly tourist attraction that caters to celiacs. On visits to Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., it certainly surprised me.

"Allergy-friendly" eateries are noted on maps of the park, which is a short drive from Trenton. In addition to gluten-free, they offer special items for visitors with peanut and dairy allergies. While the menu isn't new, it's expanding and its' good for parents with young children to know.

GF greeting on the boardwalk

One of the best, if not THE best, freshly-prepared GF pizzas I’ve ever eaten came from Siculiana’s in Asbury Park. I remember “real” pizza and this was the closet thing I’ve found thus far. The cheese was perfectly melted, the crust was a nice texture and the taste was, well, fabulous. 

This pie was even better than my homemade pizza that I had thought was perfected.

My dining party entered Siculiana’s via the boardwalk. We were looking for a quick bite when I saw the sandwich board sign advertising “gluten-free pizza.” You just don’t see such a thing often on a Jersey Shore boardwalk.I had earlier assumed I'd be stuck with a salad or something equally non-filling.