GF pizza all over Baltimore

With temperatures starting to drop, my interest in pizza really heats up. Fortunately, I can indulge my cravings this fall. I’ve noticed a number of local eateries now advertising gluten-free pies:

Cheezy’s
Gluten-free pizza prepared in a separate section of the kitchen with dedicated utensils and tools.


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1637 E. Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286
(410) 33-PIZZA
(410) 337-4992
www.cheezyspizza.com




Season’s Pizza
Gluten-free pizzas shipped ready-made from the stores' distributor to avoid cross-contamination and baked using dedicated equipment at the restaurants.


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10010 York Rd
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(410) 666-2660
www.seasonspizza.com

Sweet Sin Cupcakes and Cafe
Dedicated gluten-free.


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123 West 27th Street
Baltimore, MD
(410) 464-7211
www.glutenfreedesserts.com



Uno’s

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Baltimore - 201 E. Pratt St., Harboplace
Baltimore MD 21202
(410) 625-5900
www.unos.com


Pizzazz Tuscan Grille


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711 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
Waterside at the Pier 5 Hotel
(410) 528-7772
www.pizzazztuscangrille.com


-Christine

Grano Pasta Bar (a.k.a. Little Grano)

Gluten-Free Pasta? Not cooked by me? In a restaurant?  Obviously I had to go and check it out.  So that's what I was doing on Thursday. Grano Pasta Bar is very small, probably seats about 14 total.  It's great because it's almost as though you've been allowed to come into someone's kitchen to sit down and have some great food.  The kitchen is right there on the other side of the bar, so you get to watch your food get cooked right in front of you, which is a treat in and of itself.

The menu is simple:  Choose a pasta. Choose a sauce. Done.  Want salad with that, ok -- we have a few types.  The portion size of the pasta dish is huge, so be ready for leftovers, which I'm always a fan of -- dinner and lunch the next day? It's a win.  If you want wine with dinner, bring your own, or do what we did and head down to the wine bar just down the street and end your meal there with a glass of wine and some dessert.  Brilliant.


Looking for a bigger place?  3 blocks up there's Grano on Chestnut.  Haven't been there yet, but it's on the to-do list.

Bringing Gluten-Free Chicago to Baltimore. It's a Win.

Da Luciano's
8343 W Grand Ave
River Grove, IL 60171
708-453-1000
dalucianos.com

This wonderful restaurant is near Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Why am I mentioning it to Baltimore area celiacs? Because they will now SHIP gluten free food!! They offer gluten free food I have literally never seen elsewhere including gluten free ravioli, tiramisu, cannoli, and much more. Check out their website! My husband - who does not have celiac disease - says their gluten free food doesn’t taste gluten-free. (Doesn’t taste like it’s missing anything.) All I can say is I am very happy whenever I eat their food.

This restaurant is owned by a husband and wife who have children with Celiac disease so they really know how to cook for celiacs. If you’re ever in Chicago, it’s a must visit.

-Susan

Longing for Gluten-Free Pasta at an Italian Restaurant? We have three for you.

Susan wrote to use about these two great options. We're ready to go eat some pasta, and can't contain our excitement, so we're sharing with you. Get excited, and let us know your pasta experience at Ciao Bella, Aldo's, and/or Pizzazz Tuscan Grille!

 

Ciao Bella 
236 S High Street 
Baltimore MD 21202 
(410) 685-7733  
cbella.com 

Have you ever longed for genuine Italian pasta but your longing couldn't be satisfied because you have celiac disease? You don’t have to wait any longer! This lovely restaurant in the middle of Baltimore’s little Italy area is very friendly towards celiacs. If you bring your own gluten free pasta, they will make the pasta and put on any sauce you choose. My favorite is pasta a capri, which is a mixture of seafood (shrimp, clams, scallops) in a creamy white sauce. Most Italian pasta dishes are gluten free, as long as the pasta itself is gluten free. Make your reservation by phone. Mention when you make the reservation that you have celiac disease and you will bring your own pasta. Never hurts to follow up the day before your reservation. You will likely be asked for your pasta as soon as you walk in the restaurant. If you forget to bring your own pasta, no problem! Walk to Whole Foods just a few blocks south of the restaurant and buy gluten free pasta from there. I personally prefer the corn based pasta (as opposed to the rice based pasta). By the way, this restaurant is owned by Chef Gambino who you might have seen on TV. It’s a real treat to eat here and well worth the drive!

Aldo's 
306 South High Street 
Baltimore, Maryland 21202 
410.727.0700  
aldositaly.com
This wonderful restaurant in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood has FRESH gluten free pasta! I could not believe my ears when the waiter told me that they have fresh gluten free pasta. I had to of course try it out. I had their GF pasta with wild boar ragu sauce. It was one of the best meals of my entire life. The ragu sauce is very rich and complements the pasta. The wild boar ragu sauce is not a regular menu item; they only have it certain times. The waiter told me however that they generally have fresh GF pasta on the weekends. Just to be sure, though, call a day or two ahead and let them know you will want their GF pasta. It's awesome!!

We can't forget about Pizzazz, our current favorite, which is the restaurant that makes us feel the most normal. We can get almost anything from the menu and know it's going to be great. From sandwiches to pizza to pasta, anything that normally would be off limits is a-ok.

Gluten-Free and Looking for Your New Favorite Place to Eat (that's not your kitchen?) Your answer is: Pizzazz Tuscan Grille. Go, Now!

www.pizzazztuscangrille.com

711 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202-4320
(410) 528-7772

I've now been to Pizzazz Tuscan Grille more than 5 times, and I'm always delighted with my meal. I thought the only place I could get a gluten-free sandwich -- with the bread -- was either from my kitchen at home or Lilit Cafe in Bethesda, MD. It turns out that Pizzazz Tuscan Grille right in Baltimore is serving up an outstanding selection of gluten-free friendly items. Sandwiches are served on chewy, not crumbly, gluten-free rolls. The crust for the last pizza I had was on a Whole Foods Market Gluten-free Bakehouse crust. If you've eaten one of these crusts, they are dense and heavy, but delicious and (once again) have some chew to them, rather than the typical crumbly and sandy mess that has been the foundation for so many gluten-free items for the past 15 years.

Pizzazz is attached to the Pier 5 Hotel, but from what I can tell, caters not only to the hotel guests, but also to Baltimore's own. With a distinct atmosphere that combines seated dining areas, a bar, order-out, and outdoor seating (when the city isn't encapsulated by three feet of snow and ice), Pizzazz is offering up the right combination right in the downtown Baltimore area. From great food (check out their menu) to a hospitable staff who get to know the regulars and hotel guests with ease.

To be honest, I've only been for Brunch and Lunch, but I'll be going back for Breakfast and Dinner because I want to try a gluten-free pasta dish prepared somewhere other than in my kitchen at home. Plus, there are so many options, it's going to take quite a few visits, and that's ok by me...as well as the family and friends I take with me.

If you're still on the fence about whether you'll go or not, check out their extensive menus. But, seriously, I can't imagine you'd be disappointed.

-Kate

Gluten Free Specials!

According to their website, Great Sage Restaurant plans to feature Gluten Free Specials on the first Wednesday of every month. Check it out:

5809 Clarksville Square Drive

Clarksville, Md 21029

443.535.9400

www.great-sage.com

Woodberry Kitchen: consistently delicious

This past weekend I enjoyed a fantastic gluten-free meal at Woodberry Kitchen. The bustling eatery has already been reviewed by Gluten Free in Baltimore, but I thought I'd add another happy dining experience to the blog. For those who haven't been, Woodberry Kitchen has a gluten-free menu with only slightly fewer choices than the regular menu. With so many options, I labored over the decision of what to order -- until the server dropped off a plate of warm gluten-free bread. It was only the second time I've had gluten-free bread in a restaurant (the first was at Hemingway's in Killington, VT). With soft, warm bread, the decision was easier -- I wanted soup to start. So, I kicked off the meal with a bowl of velvety Heirloom Pumpkin Soup, lapped up with warm gluten-free bread. For dinner I chose a vegetarian option, the Hot Pot with a smoky cauliflower sauce. Importantly, the menu pointed out in obvious, large font that they do not have a dedicated gluten-free fryer. I appreciated being immediately informed of that potential source of cross-contamination (for dishes with French fries, crispy onions, etc., ask for them to be left off or swapped out for something else). I also appreciated how the staff announced "gluten-free" as they dropped off each dish -- they were paying attention.

Pizzazz Tuscan Grille

My personal favorite email thus far:

Hi,

I saw a menu online of Pizzazz that says they have gluten-free bread for sandwiches and cornmeal crust for pizzas upon request. I haven't been yet, so I don't know how good any of it is, but I thought it was worth letting you guys know. The website is http://www.pizzazztuscangrille.com/index.html. Thanks for having a site for those of us in Baltimore that have celiac!

Thanks,

(Gluten Free in Baltimore Reader)

Pizzazz Tuscan Grille

711 Eastern Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: 410.528.7772

Hours:

M-Th - 6am to 9pm

Fr-Sa - 6am to 10pm

Sun - 7am to 6pm

***From the online menu:  Whole wheat bread or gluten free bread can be substituted on most of our sandwiches. Rice or soy cheese can be substituted for $1.50 extra.

Baba's Mediterranean Kitchen

745 East Fort Avenue

Baltimore, MD  21230

410-727-PITA

www.babaskitchen.net

Downtown Baltimore has a new celiac-friendly restaurant:  Baba's Mediterranean Kitchen.  While I haven't been able to check it out in person yet,  I've done some research and spoken with owner, Farid Bishara Salloum, to get the gluten-free scoop.

As the online menu states (or rather, tempts), many of the dishes are indeed gluten-free.  The Dolmas, Hummus, Baba Ghannouge, Gareed's Falafel, B's Burger, the Veggie pocket, and Chicken and Lamb kabobs are gluten free.  By avoiding pita and opting for rice, most menu items are gluten-free.  Salloum actually swapped out the traditional ingredient, bulgur wheat, from the Tabouleh Salad and replaced it with quinoa to make it gluten-free.  Salloum learned about the gluten-free diet through his sister-in-law, who is allergic to gluten, and from his late father, who followed the diet for a period of time.  Notably, the restaurant is named for Salloum's father, "Baba" is "father" in Arabic.

Baba's Kitchen does take-out as well as dine-in.

Uno Chicago Grill, Part II

Mikki wrote our first review of Uno Chicago Grill.  Christine went to the location in Baltimore and had a bit of a different experience.

Uno's Gluten-free pizza...A Work in Progress

Last night I went to Uno's after hearing that their gluten-free pizzas had hit Baltimore.  Fellow contributor, Mikki, recently reviewed the Uno's in Woodbridge, VA.

While it was exciting to walk into a main stream pizza place and know I could order a gluten-free pie, I have to admit, the pizza itself was a bit disappointing.  I tried the pepperoni pizza ($11.99) and though it had good flavor, the gluten-free crust was dry and crumbly.  It wasn't piping hot either, perhaps because the pizza arrives at the restaurant pre-made and frozen (not necessarily a bad thing, cross-contamination-wise, that the pizza is prepared off-site).  I'm hoping this is something they may work out over time.

The server told me that Uno's has been really pushing their gluten-free menu, though I have to imagine the pizza is by far the biggest draw (In addition to two pizza choices: pepperoni or cheese/tomato, the gluten-free menu offers salads, sides, steaks, chicken, salmon, burgers, and a vanilla ice cream sundae for dessert.)

I inquired how they keep the gluten-free pizza separated in the kitchen and the server told me that it's cooked in the same oven as the regular pizza, but they're careful about keeping them separated and on different baking trays.

Despite being a little disappointed, I'm sure I'll go back and give it a second chance.  After all, pizza is hands-down my most missed food, and I appreciate Uno's efforts, even if they could be improved upon.

So, we want to know...Have you been to Uno's?  How was your experience?  Let us know!

UNO Chicago Grill Now Carries Gluten Free Pizza Nationwide

UNO Chicago Grill 

201 East Pratt Street

Harborplace

Baltimore, MD 21202

410-625-5900

(Click Here to find the Location Closest to You)

The Gluten Free Information You're Longing For

I ate pizza.  At a real restaurant.  Honest to goodness thin crust pepperoni pizza.  I am so happy.  It has been 9 months since I've had restaurant pizza, and when I found out that Uno Chicago Grill was now carrying gluten free pizza in all their restaurants, I shuffled off to the nearest one, in Woodbridge, VA.  

Uno's has a gluten free menu, but you won't see the pizza on it.  The pizza (for now, anyway) is listed on the regular menu.  You have your choice of Cheese or Pepperoni, and the pizza is 6-slice, 10", thin crust.  It was delicious.  The crust is flaky and crisp, but soft.  It's not like a cracker crust would be.

I did ask the server about adding other ingredients to the pizza.  Her response was that if I had celiac disease, I should not add any other ingredients because of the risk of cross-contamination from the shared ingredients.  If you can be happy with a simple pepperoni or cheese pizza, however, this is the pie for you.  

In addition to the pizza, their gluten-free menu offers steak, chicken, burgers, a variety of different sides, and both a house salad and a cobb salad.  There is also a selection of smoothies and such from the bar.

Overall, my visit to Uno Chicago Grill was excellent, and I recommend it whole-heartedly.

-Mikki

Note from the Editor's Desk:  We are looking into the gluten-free pizza offerings at our local UNO Chicago Grill on Pratt Street.

Baltimore's Sotto Sopra is a Gluten Free Friendly Restaurant Worth Checking Out

Sotto Sopra
405 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-625-0534

Not knowing anything about this restaurant, except for its location and that it claims to be Italian, I was delighted to discover that it is a fantastic restaurant that knows how to accommodate gluten-free diners. The dinner menu is comprehensive, and from what I ate, offers delicious food. There was absolutely no question when I said that my food needed to be "gluten-free"; in fact, when our waiter brought a basket of bread to the table, he quickly moved it away from my side of the table. If you're looking for a great italian restaurant, you really must check out Sotto Sopra. It's definitely worth your while. And if you're as much a creme brulee fanatic as I am, you will not be disappointed!

Pazo & The Entire Cindy Wolf Dynasty

Pazo

1425 Aliceanna Street

Baltimore, MD 21231

410-534-7296

Another one of Cindy Wolf & Tony Foreman's Successful Endeavors...

They may not have a dedicated gluten-free menu, but they sure do have accommodating servers. Every time (which is more than I can remember at this point -- and not due to their overwhelmingly spectacular selection of wine...) I am there, I have a great time, delicious food, and a different experience.  The restaurant is so versatile that while one evening can be spent traditionally with an appetizer or two, a salad, an entree, and a dessert; another evening may consist purely of a wide selection of small plates to be shared by everyone at the table.  I've also enjoyed several nights where a little of both took place, but those nights are always the ones where I regret having eaten quite so much!  Not only is the menu a delight, each seat in the restaurant allows for a different experience: from dining upstairs on the mezzanine level and looking down below to the lounge and other seated dining area, to sitting on one of the greatest couches ever made in the lounge and munching on perhaps one or more of the tapas.  The bar, too offers yet another experience all within the same great space; however, I'm not really a bar person, so I won't really be commenting on that.

In terms of suggestions for food, I will try; however, the menu is regularly changing to reflect current seasonal influences.  But, as all good gluten-free diners know...better to ask than wind up sick!  So, here's a personal list of favorites (that either already are gluten-free or can easily be prepared gluten-free):

• Manchego & Manzana
• Local Heirloom Tomato Caprese
• Jamon Pincho
• Shrimp with Garlic
• Papas Fritas "Nuevas"
• Sauteed Broccoli
• Braised Lamb Shoulder (no lamb jus though!)
• Grilled Hanger Steak
• Wood Grilled Organic Chicken
• If they have the Bronzini -- you really must try it

Oh, and if you were concerned about it only being for the hip, trendy set...don't fret... Pazo is about comfort.  I've seen clients from young twenty-somethings ready to party-it-up at the bar to business-dressed men and women sitting in the lounge, to first dates, to older married couples out to dinner.  I've worn jeans and I've worn something a bit more fancy, so it's up to you!  Make it what you want.  Just be sure it's gluten-free!

The Most Delicious Gluten-Free, Vegan Carrot Cake Ever Made

Great Sage

5809 Clarksville Square Drive

Clarksville, MD  21029

443-535-9400

As promised, I'm reporting back to you.  Great Sage has gone above and beyond my expectations.  When we picked up the cake, I was impressed with how delicious it looked, and a bit worried by just how heavy this cake was.  As we drove to the party, it felt as though a small infant was sitting on my lap.  That's probably an exaggeration, but it gives you the idea.  Well, after several jokes had been made about its weight, we cut the cake.  The cut cake revealed, three layers of moist carrot cake, with thin layers of icing in between each layer.  This cake was so moist and delicious, everyone loved it, including the skeptics and those disgusted by previous encounters with gluten-free food and/or vegan food.  I would drive the 40 minutes any day to get a few more bites of this carrot cake.  I, of course, would have to feast on all of the other amazing food they serve.

Vegan & Gluten-Free?

My cousin is vegan, and I am gluten-free.  For his birthday my family thought it would be a great idea to get him a vegan cake.  After calling what seemed like thousands of places, I finally contacted Great Sage in Clarksville, MD.  Well, they apparently have a gluten-free, vegan carrot cake.  I am quite excited to try it tomorrow and let you know the results.

Lilit Cafe

7921 Old Georgetown Road

Bethesda, MD  20814

301-654-5454

http://www.lilitcafe.com

So I had my second ever gluten-free sandwich at a restaurant.  The first was at a restaurant in Canada.  I've eaten lots of "gluten-free sandwiches" where the way the sandwich becomes gluten- free is that I ask for it without the bread; however, this time was different.  The contents of this sandwich were graciously surrounded by two pieces of gluten-free bread.  Lilit Cafe is a bit of a drive from Baltimore, but completely worth it.  Not only will you enjoy a delicious gluten-free meal, you can stock up on the amazingly delicious products from Sweet Sin Bakery.  The Cafe has them in their refrigerated section.

The sandwich I had was the Turkey Caprese -- and yes, they knew to toast the bread.  It was the perfect lunch sandwich.  The Cafe is a big combination of gelato shop, liquor store, gluten-free shop, and cafe.  It's the perfect place to go to grab lunch, or to sit and eat a cup of gelato on a hot summer's day.

A Wake-Up Call for a Veteran Celiac...

The Story:

So, I went out to dinner tonight with my Uncle.  We returned to Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore.  The food, once again, was outstanding.  I even considered trying the gluten-free beer they offer: New Grist, but I didn't because I wasn't really in the mood for a beer.  Anyway, that's not really what I'm going to talk about.  What I want to talk about is the Gluten-Free Bread, and my wake-up call.  As we were sitting there--my Uncle was enjoying his thick slices of some medium brown untoasted bread, and I was enjoying my thin slices of toasted gluten-free bread--I offered a slice of gluten-free bread to my Uncle.  Now, I was thoroughly convinced that this bread was some of the best tasting gluten-free bread ever baked.  I could still be correct; however, apparently in comparison to "regular" bread, it doesn't even fall into a bread-like category.  The look on my Uncle's face was proof enough that I hadn't accidentally been served a plate of very thinly sliced "regular" bread.  It was at that moment that I realized just how far I've come.  I'm a veteran.  My ability to fully review gluten-free products can only be made in comparison to other gluten-free products.  I am so far removed from the world of gluten-filled foods that I can no longer compare "gluten-free" products with "gluten-filled" products.

I have not fully come to terms with this new realization.  What I have taken away from this experience, and would like to share with all newbies:  You will reach the point where the bread tastes normal and good.  I promise.   If you're questioning me, contact me after 5 years of consuming only gluten-free products.  At that point, if you still are having trouble with the bread, I probably won't have any advice for you, but I will find it fascinating that you've been able to maintain your sense of taste for that long.

Roy's Restaurant is Gluten-Free Heaven

720 Aliceanna Street #B

Baltimore, MD 21202

410-659-0099

www.roysrestaurant.com

Roy's Restaurant, which is located in Harbor East (but is also a chain, so exists elsewhere in the United States...), is gluten-free heaven.  I finally graduated from college (only 6 years!), and it happened to take place two days before my birthday, so my family and I had a dinner out at Roy's.  I chose it specifically because of their phenomenal gluten-free menu - and delicious food.  Their food has Hawaiian and Asian influences, but even my Aunt (who only eats very specific foods because she's a really picky eater) was able to find something to eat and fully enjoy.  They're known for their seafood, but their meats are also outstanding.  Try the lamb: You won't be disappointed!  Their Beef Short Ribs are also outstanding.  And, the Shrimp was seasoned to perfection.  To end it all, their chocolate souffle is gluten-free and delicious, so make sure you leave room!  One of the best parts about the whole experience was that as I was sitting there looking at the menu, my menu - from the outside - looked no different from any of the others.  Unlike most Gluten-Free menus, it wasn't like: Look at me! Look at me!  I have special needs!  And I like that feeling of blending in with everyone, but still knowing that my meal would be prepared gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Catering? Yes! Tenzo Artisan

1016 South Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

410-209-2253

tenzoartisan.com

So, I have not personally tried any food from Tenzo Artisan, but as soon as I do, I will be sure to update this post.  They seem to have a great selection.  And, even better, they seem to be knowledgeable about gluten!  So, if you check it out before I do, let me know what you think.

Sweet Sin Bakery

123 West 27th Street

Baltimore, MD 21218

410-368-5777

www.glutenfreedesserts.com

I had my first taste of Sweet Sin Bakery's desserts when I bought several of their mini-desserts from the freezer case of the Whole Foods Market in Mount Washington.  Yes, I did have to let them defrost, but once they had, I couldn't keep my hands off of them because they were so excellent.  I have not tried all the various options from the freezer case (which is a very small portion of what the Bakery actually offers), but I will say that the Pecan Tart (which is also dairy free), the Lemon Meringue Tart (also dairy free), and the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Tart are decadent.  I actually had doubts that they could be gluten-free because they were so delicious!  But, no, they are indeed gluten-free.

If you want to see their extensive list of gluten-free offerings, go check out their website: Your mouth will be watering; I promise.