University of Virginia Health System

January Newsletter

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE January 29th meeting

• The Charlottesvilli went out for brunch!  The Blue Bird Café on West Main St. in Charlottesville hosted this event.  We had quite a crowd (30 people!) and everyone had a great time!  Many people asked, “When are we going to do this again?”   Let us know where you would like to go next…

• The special brunch menu included a choice of: Blue Bird omelette (tomatoes, basil and cheese) with potatoes and bacon, West Main omelette (smoked salmon, boursin cheese and asparagus) with potatoes and bacon, chicken and vegetable stir-fry with spicy peanut sauce over rice, grilled portobello mushroom and Brie over cheddar grit cakes with fresh fruit or a jumbo chicken Caesar salad. 

• The Blue Bird Café will now have on hand a menu that identifies which items on their regular lunch and dinner menus are gluten-free.  Make sure to ask for it if you go back., but remember it is still a good idea to ask questions and remind your server of your restrictions.

• A number of members at the meeting asked for the Hungarian Bakery contact information again.  The website is www.hungarianbakery.com and has many photos as well as pricing information for Kati’s fabulous gluten free (and regular) baked goods.  You can also contact Kati at 434.973.8863.  The bakery is located in Earlysville.

OTHER DINING OUT RESOURCES

• Bob and Ruth’s Going Out to Eat and Traveling Workshop                    

 The West End Gluten Intolerance Group in Richmond will be hosting this dining out workshop. It will include who to talk to in restaurants, how to read menus gluten-free style, eating out with children on the gluten-free diet, how to ask for help and get it, being creative when ordering, family, social and business eating out situations and a lot more.  The workshop is February 19^th from 9-1 pm and costs $20 per person ($10 if Bob and Ruth’s member).  For more info: www.bobandruths.com.  For the registration form contact Amy Pagano (ap8a@virginia.edu, 434-243-4666) or Anna Ashworth (Agashworth@aol.com , 804-364-39794). Please note registration must be completed by February 9^th. 

• More on Bob and Ruth’s…                                                                             

They also put together vacations which have gluten-free meals included.  Upcoming getaways are planned for Charleston South Carolina , a safari in Africa , a cruise around Italy and a family Club Med vacation in Florida . www.BobandRuths.com

• New book!                                                                                                      

Waiter Is There Wheat In My Soup?  is a new book from LynnRae Ries, the author of What? No Wheat?  Its contents include explanations of menu terms, descriptions of ethnic cuisines and common ingredients used (i.e. Indian, Italian, Vietnamese…), information on chain restaurants, bed & breakfasts, camps, airlines and theme parks and much more.  We have not personally reviewed the book, but it does sound interesting.  If anyone has it, please let us know what you think. Available on www.whatnowheat.com and www.amazon.com

• Good Health Publishing has The Gluten and Wheat Free Guide to Eating Out, which lists the gluten-free items found in 59 common restaurants.  Again we have not reviewed this material, so let us know if you have had any experiences with it. www.goodhealthpublishing.com

• Legal Sea Foods Restaurants and Oyster Bars now have an official Celiac Menu!  There are several Legal Sea Foods located in Northern Virginia and Washington DC .  The menu is huge and actually substitutes gluten-free breadcrumbs when needed!  View the menu online at http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm/ac/fresh_cooking

• Glutenfreeda (an online cooking magazine) also plans vacations with gluten-free meals included.  They are located at a bed and breakfast on one of the San Juan Islands in Washington State .  www.glutenfreeda.com

MEMBER NEWS

• Do you remember the gluten-free beer that was sampled at our March meeting? Well, new members Mike and Carol Donahue have family in the same area of New York as Ramapo Valley Brewery.  Since they drive up to visit their family often, they have graciously offered to transport gluten-free beer for fellow members who would like to avoid shipping costs.  The brewery describes the Passover Honey Beer as an “innovative brew made with neither barley, nor wheat. The main fermentable is amber honey with molasses for flavor, nutrients and color. Noble hops add a touch of bitterness to balance the honey sweetness.”  Go to http://ramapovalleybrewery.com/ for more information on the beer.  The cost is $45 per case plus $15 for shipping.  If you would like to avoid the shipping cost, contact Carol or Mike Donahue at 434-589-7613.

• Member Gaynelle Morris is in search of gluten-free cocktail or tartar sauces.  If have know of some or have a favorite, please let us know or bring the information in to the next meeting.

CELIAC UPDATES

• Celiac Awareness Bracelets!

Have you seen those Lance Armstrong Livestrong bracelets?  Many organizations are now creating their own bracelets to raise funds and awareness about a particular disease.  Now you can get green celiac bracelets that say Making Tracks for Celiacs through the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research.  The bracelets are $2 each plus shipping.  www.celiaccenter.org/bracelet.asp

• A radio documentary about celiac disease is available for public radio stations.  It is called Gut Reaction and features several people talking about their experiences with celiac disease.  For information on the show, go to http://www.prx.org/piece/2545 .   For suggestions on how to talk to your local public radio station and encourage them to air it, go to http://celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1072. 

• Shelley Case, the author of Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, is looking for information about how students with celiac disease handle going to college and dealing with food service issues. Do you have any personal stories, specific experiences or tips to share?
   *Addendum: This edition (2003) no longer available as of  July 2006*

RESOURCES

• National Foundation for Celiac Awareness 

This non-profit is dedicated to finding a cure for celiac disease!!  It is a fund-raising organization that is working to support scientific research on celiac disease as well as increase public awareness of the disease.  They have a great website and if you go to it right now you can sign up for a $2 coupon for Whole Foods gluten-free baked goods. Check it out at www.celiacawareness.org  

• On sale!!!!   Copies of Shelley Case’s Gluten Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide , 2003 edition, are available through UVa at the bargain price of $8.00.  A new edition with some manufacturer updates is expected to come out soon, however the bulk of the information will be the same.  This highly recommended book makes a great holiday gift for a new celiac or a family member who has been wondering what celiac disease is all about.

RECIPES

• Feel free to send us a favorite recipe to share with the group. 

• We just missed the superbowl, but this recipe is a crowd-pleaser for any party!  Recipe courtesy of the Gluten Free Pantry (www.glutenfree.com)  

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