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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?

Gluten-Free Quick Service Dining at Disney World

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

During our recent trip to Walt Disney World, I planned many of our meals in advance by making dining reservations and noting my gluten-free requirements so I could be sure that one, we were able to get a table; and two, that they were prepared for me.

So tackling the quick service environment felt a little bit more unpredictable since there were no reservations made, and they are pretty packed with people wanting their food fast.  Not the environment you think of as being able to serve you safely and cross-contamination friendly.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

For our first lunch, I was prepared with a list that Disney provided me ahead of time, of certain items that would be safe around the park from snack cart items to sit-down restaurants.  We decided to eat at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland.  I went to the counter and told them I needed to eat gluten-free and they told me a manager would be right out to speak with me.  Even though it was during a busy lunchtime, the manager was out within minutes.  He explained most of the sandwiches would be safe with a gluten-free bun, and that the fries were not safe as they are fried with gluten-containing products and they have gluten-free brownies.  I decided to get a veggie wrap, but on a gluten-free bun, rather than in a flour wrap, the Greek salad, and a gluten-free brownie.  The manager placed my order personally and made the kitchen aware that it was a gluten-free order. They all seemed to take it very seriously.

My husband ordered a regular veggie wrap, which was huge and looked pretty tasty.  However, in comparison, my version was much smaller, and my gluten-free bun – once again by Ener-G, was cold, sticky, and fell apart.  I can say that out of all the food I had at Disney, this was the most disappointing.  The veggie wrap was full of hummus and veggies, but with a cold bun falling apart, it just became a mess.  My husband really enjoyed his gluten-filled version.  The salad was much more enjoyable.  I ended the meal with the gluten-free brownie, which was made by French Meadow Bakery, and delicious! I did find though that nowhere in the restaurant was it noted they had gluten-free items or substitutes, you had to ask for them specifically, but thankfully, I was not charged an additional fee for the disappointing cold bun.

I think that by now, being on my third meal of having an Ener-G bun, I went from ecstatic to a bit bored with it, but all in all, I was thrilled it was an option. I also came to the conclusion that it is only enjoyable when warmed.

Sunshine Seasons Food Fair

We were in Epcot on our second day and decided to have lunch at the Sunshine Seasons Food Fair, the food seemed a lot more interesting than the quick service the day before, and I definitely wanted to order something that didn’t come with an Ener-G roll this time. We happened to get there right at the height of lunchtime, so that made me a bit weary, and there was so much available and it all looked really good, it was difficult to know where to start.  I asked someone at the counter to point me in the right direction and luckily it happened to be the chef, so she stepped aside and walked me through the areas and told me what was safe, and was extremely patient with me and all of my questions. I even went back to her at one point to ask her some more questions and she made sure I felt comfortable with her answers. There is a grilled foods section and I was surprised that she said it was all safe, even the gravy for the mashed potatoes, for which they use corn starch.  I decided on a roasted beet salad with goat cheese and candied pecans, and the Nicoise sustainable fish (again Mahi Mahi) served with an olive dressing on top of green beans and diced potatoes topped with pine nuts. And of course a gluten-free brownie, by French Meadow Bakery, for dessert.  The chef put it together personally, right in front of me.  The salad normally comes with flatbread, but she was careful to use clean gloves and to leave the bread away from my plate.    This time the brownies were on display, and I didn’t need to ask for them.

I was extremely impressed by this experience and the food.  My husband and I shared the two dishes and both were fresh, creative, and tasty and not what I would have expected from a quick-service restaurant at a theme park.  I would definitely have this meal again.

For more reviews on Disney read my introduction to gluten-free eating at Disney World,  my review on Kouzzina by Cat Cora, dinner at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian resort, dinner at Epcot’s Restaurant Marrakesh, our character breakfast at the 1900 Park Faire at the Grand Floridian, and my review of BabyCakesNYC at Downtown Disney.

Branching Out at Gluten-Free Restaurants

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

I talked a little bit in my last post about loyalty to companies that do gluten-free well and have good business practices. Not only do I stick with companies that I know I can trust, but it seems that I stick with a certain food or menu item as well. With all of the restaurants out there now offering a wide variety of different gluten-free foods, I really need to branch out.

When I visit certain restaurants I tend to stick with the tried & true instead of trying something new.  I have been working to try & branch out lately at my favorite gluten-free dining establishments.  For example, when dining at Moe’s earlier this week I had a chicken & rice bowl, and the next time I was there, I had a salad topped with chicken and a multitude of other toppings.  When I went to Bonefish Grill, I had my Chilean Sea Bass “Lily Style”, which is the topping from Lily’s Chicken on the sea bass instead of the Chimichurri sauce that I always get.  The “Lily Style” includes spinach, garlic, artichoke hearts, and a lemon butter sauce.

One of the places that I have found it the hardest to branch out is P.F. Chang’s.  Though they probably have one of the largest gluten-free menus, I always end up getting the same exact thing – Singapore Street Noodles.  I should know from past experiences, it is rare that I will try something new & not like it, so why not give something new a try?  It isn’t like we gluten-free eaters don’t have choices these days, right?  I feel like it was just a few years ago that I was lucky to be able to get a plain salad, baked potato & dry piece of fish or chicken to eat out safely.

Last night we went to P.F. Chang’s and I did it – I branched out – I ordered the Steamed Salmon with Ginger and a side of Sugar Snap Peas with Garlic.  I can’t tell you how wonderful this meal was!  The salmon was so tender, perfectly cooked, and had an amazing flavor.  I would absolutely recommend this meal if you like to eat salmon.  To see the gluten-free menu, click here.  And, last, but not least, once you have eaten a healthy meal of salmon & veggies, splurge on the amazing Chocolate Dome!  I can’t get the pictures to upload from my phone right now, but I will share one with you from a few years back in 2008.  This shows how happy my son is that he can get a gluten-free dessert.

Do you have a habit of sticking with one dish when you dine out or do you branch out & try new things?

Gluten-Free Holiday at Walt Disney World, Orlando

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 7 Comments

Last week my family and I headed to Walt Disney World for a much-needed vacation to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. I had been looking forward to this trip for a year, which is how long we had been planning this.  But as with any adventure outside the comforts of home, one who is gluten-free will have validated concerns about cross-contamination and avoiding being sick, especially on holiday.  The last thing anyone wants is to get sick away from home and put a damper on a family vacation.

A few months before the trip I started to research about eating gluten-free at Disney World and tips and advice so that I could spend my time at Disney enjoying the rides and focusing on my family and not stressing about my next meal and getting ill.

It is not surprising that an abundance of information was available on this topic.  It makes sense since Disney hosts millions of visitors a year.  And with so many people, especially children, being diagnosed with gluten and other intolerances it is no wonder that Disney wants to cater to everyone to assure they really remain the “most magical” place to visit. There are endless blogs with posts that feature this exact concern.

A couple of months before our vacation, I contacted Disney at specialdiets@disneyworld.com and they made sure to mark all of my dining reservations as a “special diet”.  As a result, when you arrive at your reservation for a sit-down meal, the host/hostess will then alert your server, who will then have the chef come out and speak to you, personally, about what you can eat safely.  I found that all the chefs were very patient and extremely knowledgeable about the gluten-free diet and cross-contamination.  As a bonus, at every sit-down meal, when bread was brought to the table, I brought my own basket of gluten-free rolls or pita, depending on the restaurant where I was.  They would even offer to bring separate dishes of butter or olive oil for dipping. Usually, my husband would also take gluten-free bread, so we didn’t have to worry about any stray crumbs.

When eating a quick service meal, which does not require a reservation, it can be just as easy. When you arrive at the location, just mention to a staff (cast) member that you have dietary needs and they will get the manager or chef for you, and again, they will go over your options, and usually serve and bring you out your meal personally.  One thing to note is that most of the quick-service eateries do have gluten-free buns, rolls, and brownies, but they may not be listed, so you have to know to ask for them.  And the bonus, there is no extra cost!  The same at sit-down restaurants, you can eat gluten-free roll after roll, and you won’t be charged for it.

Lastly, there are the infamous character meals, which seem to be mostly buffet-style.  I don’t think since being diagnosed I have eaten at many buffets for fear of easy cross-contamination with shared utensils, or one dish spilling/dripping into another.  Thankfully at Disney, the chef will come to speak to you, personally, walk you through the buffet to show you what is possible for you to eat, and then make you your own plate from the back if that is what you would like, which is what I requested.  I even received some specially made gluten-free Mickey waffles, but more about that in a future post.

I also received many forms by email which helped me plan to eat for our trip, these included safe menu options for most of the restaurants; no gluten-added products used throughout Disney World at snack carts and quick service locations; a dietary request form where you can submit all your specific dietary needs; and where to find certain gluten-free items.  I found that most dining options have gluten-free substitutes such as, but are not limited to bread, desserts, soy sauce, chicken nuggets, mac n’ cheese, pasta, and pizza.

Reservations are not required to eat gluten-free, but it definitely made everything go smoothly and stress-free, and without a reservation, it may be difficult to get into a sit-down restaurant when many people make reservations up to 6 months in advance, especially for the character meals and some of the more popular eateries.

Since being diagnosed with celiac, traveling has always felt a bit tricky, trying to research the dining options at my destination in advance and stocking up on snacks.  So when I heard that eating gluten-free at Disney was easy, I was eager to learn more.  Of course, I was still a bit skeptical until I experienced it for myself.

Now, I can say with total confidence that it really is easy to safely eat at Disney World.  With a little planning, my trip was stress-free, and not once did I have to worry about getting sick.  It made the trip that much better I could once again feel like a “normal” person, it was truly a pleasurable experience.

I had a feeling it was going to be easy shortly after our arrival when I took a walk on the Boardwalk, next to our hotel, and came across Minnie’s Bake Shop gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, pictured above to the right.

This next week, I will be featuring a series of articles on my trip to Disney, and specifically reviewing certain eateries including BabyCakes NYC’s new outpost at Downtown Disney which is 100% gluten-free.

For more of my reviews on our recent Disney trip, read my review on dinner at Kouzzina by Cat Cora, dinner at the Polynesian’s Kona Cafe, Disney’s quick service gluten-free options, dinner at Epcot’s Restaurant Marrakesh, our character breakfast at the 1900 Park Faire at the Grand Floridian, and my review of BabyCakesNYC at Downtown Disney.