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Review: Uncle Maddio’s Gluten-Free Pizza

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 2 Comments

Typically, at home, we make our own pizzas, that way we can choose our own toppings, and I can be sure what we are eating is 100% gluten-free.  But, this weekend was my daughter’s birthday and she really wanted to go out for pizza, and with how busy I have been, I figured it would be less stressful on me, and nice to get out and not have to cook and clean. The one pizza place I knew of that carries gluten-free pizza, in Atlanta, was closed Sunday, so I asked for some suggestions, and a friend mentioned Uncle Maddio’s in the Toco Hills area of Atlanta.

As usual, I called them beforehand just to confirm they have gluten-free pizza and if they make their own crust or they bring it in from an outside vendor (they bring it in from an outside vendor), and their procedure for making gluten-free pizzas. I felt pretty comfortable with their responses, so we decided to try it out.

Uncle Maddio’s is located in a shopping center but was very cheerful once we walked in the door, and had a nice area to dine outside.  Since it was my first visit, I had to take in the very large menu before ordering.  At Uncle Maddio’s, you order at the counter, and like many burrito places (Uncle Maddio’s was actually created by the founder of Moe’s Southwest Grill), they get your crust, and you go down the line telling the server what you would like on your pizza. There are many signature pizza combinations you can choose from, or you can go solo and create your own unique concoction.  All of the ingredients looked extremely fresh, and there was a lot of topping choices – over 20! Their pizza sauce is made from scratch, and they use local vegetables and organic spinach, and greens. They also use hormone-free, free-range chicken, and all-natural Angus rib eye steak.  Along with pizzas they also offer large, fresh salads.  Panini is on the menu as well, but not an option for those of us who eat gluten-free.

They were extremely helpful in answering any gluten-free questions I had and told me before doing gluten-free pizzas they always change their gloves and get the gluten-free crust out of a separate area.  They also said if I wanted they would get the ingredients out of separate bins – so if I didn’t want them getting cheese out of the same container as they got cheese for a previous gluten-filled pizza, that was no problem, and they would get it out of a new container.  Just be sure to ask them to do this, as they will not do it automatically if this is what you want.

The gluten-free crust only comes in the 9″ individual size, so we each ordered our own pizzas. My daughter ordered simple and had a pepperoni and cheese pizza. My husband choose tofu, portobello mushroom, broccoli, and jalapeño; and I had spinach, artichoke hearts, green olives, and bacon.  They looked fabulous..and tasted even better!  I was with other family members who ordered pizza on the regular gluten-filled crust, and I have to admit….the gluten-free one looked better!  It was thin and crispy and tasted great!

The food (and the price) was great, and we will definitely be coming back for pizza night this Friday! I have a feeling we will become regulars.  This is a great place for children and offers a kid’s pizza deal with a 6″ pizza with one topping and a drink.  It seems to be a popular place, so plan accordingly, the line was growing at 5:30 on a Sunday when we were there.

Review: Red Robin’s Gluten-Free Buns

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 15 Comments

We have dined at Red Robin many times since following the gluten-free diet.  In fact, it was one of the first places where I felt comfortable eating gluten-free.  Despite the fact that the gluten-free buns were just recently added to their menu, they have always had a nice selection of menu items without gluten.

It was just announced in November that Red Robin would be adding Udi’s Gluten-Free buns to select locations across the US.  Our local Red Robin just recently started serving them, so I knew I had to get over there to sample them as soon as I could.  I know it may sound a little silly, as I have eaten many of Udi’s gluten-free buns/products in the past.  However, just the idea of ordering a burger or chicken sandwich in a restaurant and having it come on a bun that is safe for me to eat is too exciting for me to pass up.

We headed out last night to meet up with my dad, stepmom, and sister for a belated birthday dinner for me.  When they asked where I wanted to go to eat, Red Robin popped into my head immediately.  I went in with the intention of having a burger but ended up ordering the chicken Caprese sandwich.  I had ordered the same chicken sandwich protein-style (wrapped in lettuce) the last time I had been to Red Robin and fell in love.  Having the bun option certainly made the choices harder, but that was something that I was thrilled about.  If you have been following the gluten-free diet for any amount of time, especially before it became so mainstream, you know what I mean.  It used to be that there were few options if any.  There were many times when I felt lucky to get a plain burger, baked potato, and salad with oil & vinegar.IMG_0372

Doesn’t that look amazing?  If you have previously dined at Red Robin, you know that the baskets that the food comes in are typically red.  The yellow baskets are for orders that are gluten-free or have some other kind of allergen red flag.  Red Robin does a wonderful job of catering to those with all kinds of sensitivities, not just gluten-free.  The allergen lists are updated frequently to ensure that any changes in procedures or manufacturers are noted to the best of their abilities.

My sandwich was outstanding! The bun was toasted perfectly and held up to the many items that were stuffed inside –chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes. I ordered the pesto aioli (also gluten-free) on the side and ended up dipping my fries in it. I was full about halfway through this meal, but couldn’t help but finish my sandwich because it was so good!

The one thing that Red Robin is missing from their gluten-free menu is dessert. Of course, I don’t usually have room for dessert, but it would add to their already great options for those who are gluten-free. Red Robin has locations across the country, though not all of them may be serving the buns yet. Make sure to call ahead if you are going in specifically to try the buns, as I would hate for you to be disappointed.

Have you had a chance to try the buns at Red Robin yet?  What did you think?

Tim Horton’s Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 38 Comments

If you have ever been inside a Tim Horton’s, you know that there don’t seem to be a lot of gluten-free options to choose from.  I happened to meet a friend there the other day and was discouraged when I was really hungry, yet the employees on duty didn’t have any idea if they had any gluten-free choices other than fruit.  I made a mental note to not only check into the gluten-free options when I got home, but to share what I found with you all as well.

Upon browsing Tim Horton’s website, I found that they do indeed have an allergen list.  I knew that there wouldn’t be any magically appearing gluten-free doughnuts, but I wanted to be better prepared the next time I was at Tim Horton’s, as I really like their coffee. I hadn’t made Tim Horton’s one of my priorities in the past because they weren’t on any of my daily routes.  With a new location in my gym parking lot, I see that changing in the near future.

After perusing the allergen list, I found that the following items don’t contain any gluten (USA):

  • Iced cappuccino (with milk, chocolate milk, or cream)
  • Iced cappuccino supreme
  • Mocha iced capp
  • Iced coffee
  • Iced mocha
  • Iced chill mocha
  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie with yogurt
  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie without yogurt
  • Mixed Berry Smoothie with yogurt
  • Mixed Berry Smoothie without yogurt
  • Frozen Lemonade
  • Real Brewed Iced Tea
  • Coffee
  • Decaffeinated Coffee
  • Hot Chocolate
  • White Hot Chocolate
  • French Vanilla Cappuccino
  • English Toffee Cappuccino
  • Café Mocha
  • Caramel Café Mocha
  • Apple Cider
  • Caramel Apple Cider Supreme
  • Steeped Tea
  • Specialty Teas
  • Hot Smoothies (all flavors)
  • Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
  • Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
  • Caramel Hot Chocolate
  • Hashbrown
  • French onion soup (broth only)
  • Hearty potato bacon soup
  • Turkey and wild rice soup
  • Chili
  • Creamy Sundried Tomato with Roasted Garlic
  • Yogurt & berries

As always, ask questions before ordering.  Iced beverages and smoothies may be made with the same blender as versions that contain gluten, so ask for a new one.  Ask about the hashbrown preparation to see if they are cooked with gluten-containing foods.  Some locations may have different procedures in place, so it is necessary to do your due diligence.  I was pleased to learn the yogurt & berries were on this list, as  I had asked about it yesterday, and since nobody had a definite answer at the time.   I ended up settling on an XL coffee and a bar from my emergency stash.  Tim Horton’s has locations across the US and Canada.

Have you eaten at Tim Horton’s gluten-free?  What did you have?

Jamba Juice Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

The other day as I was reading my email, I read about a woman whose daughter had been glutened by Jamba (formerly Jamba Juice), or more specifically, the brown sugar topping that was put on top of her smoothie. It is important to note that when I write these posts, I do so to inform the community so that we can all learn & be reminded to check the food and drinks we consume each and every time we order and consume them. If one person has made a mistake, it is likely that others have or might be on their next outing.

While the majority of items (smoothies) that Jamba Juice serves are gluten-free, there are a few items to be aware of. Obviously, the baked goods, sandwiches, wraps & oatmeal are not gluten-free, but neither is the brown sugar topping. The Jamba Juice website clearly details which items are free of gluten and then shows which items contain gluten in the ingredient description of each item.

Official Website Menu Information: Jamba Juice Gluten-Free Menu
Location Finder: Find a Jamba Juice Location Near You

Jamba Juice Gluten-Free Menu

The list of smoothies that are free of gluten are:

  • 3G Charger™ Boost
  • Acai Super-Antioxidant™
  • Aloha Pineapple®
  • Antioxidant Power™ Boost
  • Apples & Greens
  • Banana Berry
  • Berry Up BEET
  • Blackberry Bliss
  • Caribbean Passion
  • Carrot Juice
  • Chocolate Moo’d
  • Classic Hot Chocolate
  • Coffee Craze
  • Five Fruit Frenzy
  • Flax & Fiber Boost
  • Immunity Boost
  • Mango Mantra
  • Manga-a-go-go
  • Matcha Energy Shot Orange Juice
  • Matcha Energy Green Tea Blast
  • Mega Mango
  • Mocha Mojo
  • Orange Carrot Karma
  • Orange Dream Machine
  • Orange Juice
  • Organic African Nectar
  • Organic Breakfast
  • Organic Detox Infusion
  • Organic Earl Grey
  • Organic Green Dragon
  • Organic House Blend
  • Organic House Blend Decaf
  • Organic Spring Jasmine
  • Original Spiced Chai
  • Peach Perfection
  • Peach Pleasure
  • Peanut Butter Moo’d
  • Pomegranate Paradise
  • Pomegranate Pick-me-up
  • Protein Berry Workout
  • Pumpkin Smash
  • Razzmatazz
  • Soy Protein Boost
  • Strawberries Wild
  • Strawberry Nirvana
  • Strawberry Surf Rider
  • Strawberry Whirl
  • The Coldbuster
  • Whey Protein Boost

This is a lot of different options that can be found at Jamba across their many locations!  As with any other dining experience, ensure that the person making your smoothie is aware of your need to eat gluten-free. Ask them to use a clean blender so as to not risk any cross-contamination. Jamba also offers non-dairy and vegan options in addition to gluten-free options.

As always, when dining out gluten-free, do your due diligence and make sure the staff understands your needs. There are very few restaurants that are 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is always a risk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are hearing from the staff, perhaps it is best to dine elsewhere.

For information about other gluten-free restaurants menus, check out our gluten-free restaurants page.

Gluten-Free on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Hilton Head Island, SC has been a favorite of mine since I was little, and now we go as a family at least once a year. It is a nice, easy getaway from Atlanta. Typically we cook our meals at the house, in addition to keeping costs down, I don’t have to worry or stress about cross-contamination at restaurants.

But on this recent visit, we decided to explore a little bit, and since going gluten-free this was my first time actually eating out there.  I tried to do some research before our holiday and ask for suggestions, but the only responses I received were for chain restaurants.  And while I appreciate that chain restaurants are expanding their gluten-free offerings, those are restaurants I can go to anywhere, whether I am in Hilton Head or on the west coast.  I really wanted to find something unique and local.

We happened to have some friends staying on Hilton Head at the same time and they suggested meeting at The Sea Shack for dinner. One look at the website and it looked like a gluten haven, but after calling and being reassured I could order fish grilled, I felt a little better.  When we arrived, it really did look like a shack in a very-unlikely area.  Nothing fancy, yet  had a line out the door at 7pm.  Seeing all the fried items, I was a little apprehensive…ok, a lot apprehensive.  It is the type of place you go to the counter and order, so I asked several questions, while holding up the line and placed my order.  I ordered plain, grilled salmon, with grits and cucumber salad.  I also asked them if they could grill my fish on a clean surface and not to add any seasoning. They seemed pretty knowledgeable and  pretty sure their seasonings were safe, but I didn’t want to risk it, especially on vacation.  This reminded me why going to a restaurant for the first time when it is packed is not the best idea.

Thankfully, the dinner was delicious.  I looked longingly at my daughter’s hushpuppies, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and left there feeling great.  I will definitely be back on our next visit.

Another night during our visit, I really wanted to take a break from cooking and do something easy. This time I went against my philosophy of “no chains” and decided to order out from Mellow Mushroom, which I have yet to try since going gluten-free.  I miss the days when I could eat the gluten-filled Mellow Mushroom crust and it smells so good, but I was happy I could still go there and order a pizza.  The gluten-free crust only came in a 12″, so I ordered a Mega Veggie on gluten-free crust, and a Greek salad (the dressing is gluten-free).  My husband and I were very pleased with the pizza, and sharing that and a salad was more than enough.  We even had enough salad for lunch the next day.

On our last night, we decided to go out one more time, and this time we tried Land’s End Tavern at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. We choose this place based on the pirate theme…there was no planning or calling ahead for this one.  I figured I could order grilled fish if nothing else.

Luckily, before being seated, I asked the hostess about gluten-free options and she told me she also had celiac and went through the menu and marked everything that was safe.  And let me know anytime a dish has fried fish, it could also be done grilled.  She also told me they had a separate fryer just for fries, so I was exited about this.  But, then she went on to say how while she has celiac, she will sometimes cheat – my confidence just dropped.  When we sat down I asked the server to confirm about the fryer and he said no, they are all fried in the same oil. That nixed my chances for tasting my daughter’s fries.  I ended up ordering grilled fish (swordfish) tacos with crispy corn tortillas with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies.  The fish tacos were very tasty and I felt great after the meal.  My husband ordered the same as me, but fried, and after tasting mine, he said he preferred mine.  Plus, the grilled is much healthier.

All in all, my three experiences eating out while we were in Hilton Head were a success, and I would be happy to revisit all three of these places. My conclusion when visiting a beach side restaurant, stick with simple…grilled fish, grilled or steamed veggies and potatoes.  But always ask questions about exact ingredients and preparations.