There has been a lot of buzz recently about Domino's new gluten free pizza. A few months ago the same thing happened when California Pizza Kitchen announced a gluten free pizza. The problem? While the pizza crust itself is gluten free, the restaurants don't have safe practices for the pizza toppings and sauce. So the same ladle is used to put sauce on all pizzas potentially cross-contaminating the gluten free pizza. Additionally, traditional pizza kitchens have a lot of flour flying around and some is bound to land on a gluten free pizza.
That's where my guilt AND gratitude come in. My guilt? I am not celiac but rather gluten intolerant. From what I have read about other people's conditions, mine is fairly mild. I can eat wheat and drink beer and be fine. My problem creeps up on me when I eat too much or too many meals in a row containing gluten. Then the stomach issues begin, the rash shows up and/or I get canker sores. I have learned that I can eat something gluten about once a week or every other week and be just fine. I have that luxury. I can eat out with friends or family and "be normal" if I want to. I know many, many, many others in the gluten free community could not even toy with this idea. I have a freedom they don't.
And that's why I am grateful. I am grateful I can indulge once in a while. I am also grateful that Domino's and California Pizza Kitchen have gluten free pizza. I am happy that Whole Foods will make me a sandwich on gluten free bread even if the work area is full of bread crumbs from other customer's sandwiches. It means I can enjoy certain foods whenever I want because a little cross-contamination isn't going to hurt me. My body won't even notice. For some people, even using a wooden spoon that was used for something with flour in it can make them sick. I personally cannot fathom such sensitivity - and I am grateful for that. And it makes me feel guilty that I have it so easy. I do not have to drill waitstaff on menu ingredients and safe kitchen practices. I can handle it if a soup is thickened with flour or the french fries are cooked in the same oil as the onion rings. I am sooooo grateful for that.
Okay, I am off to write my grocery list for the ingredients I need to make gluten free green chili and corn lasagna - my Memorial Day dinner party contribution. I am modifying this recipe to suit my needs (namely gluten free pasta, half and half instead of cream and green chili's instead of poblanos.) Happy Memorial Day weekend!
P.S. The lasagna turned out great but next time I will make a little extra of the corn mixture as it was a tad dry and will use whole milk instead of half and half. I think the gluten free pasta soaked up all the sauce.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Gluten-Free Dining and Foods
- Abrusci's (gluten free Italian menu) Applewood
- Basil Docs (gluten free pizza) Multiple Locations
- Beau Jo's (gluten free pizza and beer) Multiple Locations
- Big Bill's Pizza (gluten free pizza) Centennial
- Blue Bonnet (gluten free menu) Denver
- Blue Sky Cafe (gluten free bread, pancakes, more) Lakewood
- Bonefish (gluten free menu w/ flourless brownie!) Multiple Locations
- California Pizza Kitchen (gluten free pizza)
- City O'City (gluten free pizza & bread) Denver
- French Press (gluten free "petal" wraps) Lakewood
- Le Central (gluten free bread and it's yummy!) Denver
- Noodles and Company (gluten free menu) Multiple Locations
- Olive Garden (gluten free penne) Multiple Locations
- Oven, The (gluten free pizza) Lakewood
- Panzano (gluten free menu & chef) Denver
- PF Chang's (gluten free menu) Multiple Locations
- Rheinlander Bakery (gluten free baked goods) Arvada
- Rioja Denver (gluten free desserts) Denver
- Romano's Italian Restaurant (gluten free pizza) Littleton & Highlands Ranch
- Skinny Crisps Crackers
- Snooze (gluten free menu) Multiple Locations
- Sweet Tomatoes (lots of non-gluten food choices) Multiple Locations
- The Bundt Shoppe (gluten free cake) Castle Pines
- The Rock Wood Fired Pizza (gluten free pizza) Multiple Locations
- Udi's Cafe (gluten free pizza and sandwiches) Multiple Locations
- Virgilio's Pizzeria (gluten free pizza) Lakewood
- Watercourse Foods (a few gluten free options but no bread) Denver
- Whole Foods (a whole section of gluten free items)
- Yard House (gluten free menu) Lakewood
No comments:
Post a Comment