Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Gluten Free / Dairy Free Products I'm Still Searching For


I seem to have a knack for finding Gluten Free and/or Dairy Free products. You see, I have a bit of a Supermarket addiction. After reviewing my credit card receipts, I noticed that on average, I make 12 grocery trips a month! (Yes, that's three a week.) And I don't go to the same store 12 times, but depending on where I am or what product I want, I'd say I visit 5-6 different stores per month (2 different ShopRites, Kings, Whole Foods, Fairway, and the occasional Stop & Shop, A&P, Trader Joes, or Nature's Pavilion).

In visiting so many different stores, when someone is missing something, I usually know exactly where they can find it. Sadly there are still some things I am missing. Specifically:

Gluten free/dairy free ravioli - I used to eat Soyboy, but they don't do gluten free (if you're just dairy free you can buy them at Whole Foods).

Gluten free/pork free pot stickers - Don't remember the brand but Shoprite had chicken ones in their freezer section, sadly, also not gluten free.

Gluten free/dairy free/pork free Pigs-in-a-blanket - I used to eat Cohen's Beef Franks in Puff Pastry (kosher makes them Pork and Dairy free!) Lots of supermarkets carry these if you're just dairy free.

Jelly Donuts - Like I used to eat as a kid at Dunkin Donuts.

If you know where I can find these in the NJ area, please post in the comments below! (I'll settle for links to recipes on where I can make my own, but I'd really rather just pop into a store and buy them!)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Is Peter Wong's in Montvale, NJ Closed?


A friend of mine informed me last week that Peter Wong's in Montvale was closed.  She wasn't sure if this was permanent or if they were just moving.  I checked around and yes, they are closed permanently and concentrating on their ice cream business instead.  If he ever opens another restaurant (and has a gluten free menu), I will be sure to update this entry.

An Energy Kitchen has moved into the same strip mall.  Read my Energy Kitchen Restaurant Review for more info.

And as always, see this list of New Jersey Restaurants with Gluten Free Menus for other nearby options as well.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Restaurant Review: Gluten Free Cart at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ


My brothers and I are season ticket holders for Seton Hall Men's Basketball, one of the three teams to play at the Prudential Center ("The Rock") in Newark, NJ (both the Nets and the Devils play there as well).  I was amazed to find this season that they have an entire cart dedicated to Gluten Free eating! 

The cart sells a variety of drinks, hot dogs, sausages, and snacks.  The hot dogs and sausages are cooked on a rolling grill (like you'd see in a convenience store for example).  The hot dogs are Nathans (who within the last year or two removed the gluten they were adding to their hot dogs) and the sausages are Premio.  They also have Glutino GF Pretzels. 

While the hot dog buns are gluten free (they're made by Ener-G), the sausage rolls are The Grainless Baker and contain dairy.  There are mustard packets available at the cart and I recommended to them that they offer relish packets as well.  (Both relish and sauerkraut are available from the regular condiments stations but they are open and quite susceptible to cross contamination.)

Oh, and the best part?  The Gluten Free Hot Dogs are the exact same price as their gluten containing brethren at the regular concessions. (Yes, still over priced, but it's nice to not have to pay even more!)

Updated - 4/25/11

Now that Udi's is making a hot dog bun, I wonder if they'll switch?