Chef at Five Sixty says gluten-free is no problem

Wolfgang Puck's new asian-influenced restaurant Five Sixty - so named because it is 560 feet in the air at the top of Reunion Tower - in Dallas is a four-star affair.  Expect to pay $70 per person including a beverage.  However, if you're looking for a gluten-safe night on the town, this could be your best bet.  Executive Chef Sara Johannes said any of the entrees could be made gluten free.

The restaurant has plenty of sushi, yakitori and fish, chicken and beef.  I couldn't find a vegetarian dish on the menu.  Many of Puck's other restaurants are found in the Triumph Dining guide.

300 Reunion Blvd. East

Dallas, TX 75207

(214) 741-5560

www.wolfgangpuck.com

Amy's has new Gluten-Free tamale dishes

Amy's new Cheese Tamale Verde wasn't half bad.  My favorite Amy's dishes are the GF lasagna and mac & cheese, but this was a nice change.  The rice was moist and flavorful.  A lot of frozen dinners can get too dry if you're not careful when you nuke them.

NEW Cheese Tamale Verde (9.0 ounces, SRP: $4.29)
Corn masa tamale filled with Monterey jack cheese and Anaheim chilies. Topped with an authentic verde sauce of organic tomatillos. Spanish rice made with organic brown rice and tender black beans are served on the side. Gluten free.

Ode to the natural foods section at the Kroger

OK, it's not really an ode.  Since I've been cutting back on expenses, I've been trying not to shop at so many specialty stores.  Surprisingly, the Kroger within walking distance to my house in Bedford at Central and Harwood has a fabulous natural foods section and I rarely have to go elsewhere.

I was initially miffed that they were reorganizing "my store," but after the renovations, I've  really grown to appreciate the fact that they've got all of the gluten-free and veggie items in one place.  It makes my shopping trips much faster.  Sometimes they even have samples of gluten-free items like nut thins and occasionally they have sales.  Which is more than I can say for many specialty stores.

So, I'm not sure if all Krogers are like this, I rarely stray from the one near me, but you guys in the area might want to check this one out!

Gluten Free Cafe is pretty yummy

Lately, when I go to the neighborhood Kroger I am amazed at the sudden profusion of Gluten-Free products.  I have to give myself a hard smack sometimes, though.  Just because something is gluten-free and vegetarian (my general preference) doesn't mean I should eat it.  I mean, you can't just throw out all that stuff about fat and sodium, etc.

However, last night I had to try Gluten Free Cafe's fettuccine alfredo.  It was 400 calories a serving, and I ate it with some pineapple on the side.  It was quite tasty and the portion size was adequate.  It had a fairly complex medley of cheeses and the rice noodles didn't fall apart after cooking.  I will definitely add this, at least occasionally, to the rotation!

It looks like Gluten Free Cafe is new to the market.  I look forward to seeing what else they come up with!

Secret Diary of a Call Girl bashed the gluten intolerant

OK, maybe this is just me being a little sensitive, but I love watching the Showtime series Secret Diary of a Call Girl and in the past week's opening, she kind of bashes girls with Gluten Intolerance, which I did not think was cool. 

I know, it was supposed to be a snarkily innocent opening.  The whole series is about a high-class prostitute named Belle. Anyway, so in the opening, Belle talks about why husbands/boyfriends would prefer spending time with her rather than their "real" girlfriends/wives.  

Belle says something to the effect of "Why would they want to live real lives with real problems like a girlfriend with a gluten intolerance."  That's not verbatim.  I don't remember all of it, just the last part!

Seriously people, thanks for kicking a girl who can't eat donuts  - or something.

Gluten-free for a cause - Project 7

A new company called Project 7 donates 50% of its profits to deserving causes.  Check out this video I made about them for the Star-Telegram.

 Happily, their vitamin and antioxidant-containing gum is gluten-free.  It comes in a variety of flavors.  They also sell bottled water and t-shirts.  To learn more about them, check out their website.  You can even go online and vote for which cause gets supported.

Ack, I got glutened

To be sociable, I went out to a cajun restaurant called Shuck N Jive in Dallas.  I did my normal interrogation of the waitress and we negotiated down to grilled chicken on iceberg lettuce with italian dressing that they swore contained no modified food starch.

In no way do I blame the restaurant for accidentally poisoning me.  I made the choice to eat at a place that specializes in fried foods and cuisine that is routinely dredged in flour.

Still, 20 minutes later, my stomach was making ominous gurgling noises that I couldn't cover up.  Luckily, I'd only eaten half of my food so it wasn't severe.  I don't know if the gluten was in seasoning on the chicken - no one ever really believes you want plain chicken because that's gross - or there was cross-contamination, but there was definitely something glutinous involved.  

I'm not sure what the answer is - never eat out? Never try new places?  What do you guys think? Clearly, getting poisoned is not a good way to make new friends so being sociable is not a good reason to take gluten risks.