Framingham Beer Works

This past weekend we stopped at Framingham Beer Works for a nice dinner. The restaurant was fairly quiet because it was Independence Day weekend. We didn't have to wait for our table when we arrived.

We asked for a menu that had gluten free options, the door hostess informed that just about anything on the menu could be made gluten free.

When we placed our order we mentioned that our daughter needed to eat gluten free. The waitress was very helpful in letting us know what are options are.

Nachos Not Gluten Free

My daughter was really hungry and we wanted to order an appetizer. We thought that the corn nachos would be good option, but were told that we couldn't order it because the nachos are fried and there could be cross contamination issues.

It was nice to hear a waitress say "cross contamination" clearly they understand allergy concerns. We were impressed with that.

Gluten free pasta

We asked if they had any gluten free pasta since my daughter loves mac and cheese. We were told that they didn't have any. Which was a bit surprising since they told us that just about anything on the menu could be made gluten free.

Overall Experience

My daughter got a cheeseburger and asked for chips. We didn't get a chance to ask if they had a dedicated fryer for french fries.

The food was very good and I asked my daughter how her dinner was and she said yummy. She would give it two thumbs up but had the hamburger on the other hand. The kids burger was $6.50, which was reasonably priced.

We would certainly be going back again. I think Smash Burger makes better burger, but at least she can go to a nice restaurant when we have company.

Gluten Free S'mores

Yes, it's possible to enjoy the great outdoor treat - Smores - gluten free!

Thanks to Kinnikvnnick Foods, you can have a yummy summer night treats by the fire. Kinnikvnnick Foods manufactures gluten-free graham style crackers - called S'moveables. You can find these in just about any major supermarkets, Stop & Shop, Wegmans and Whole Foods for about $4.99.

The S'moreables graham style crackers don't have that much as much flavor in Smores comes from the chocolate and marshmallows. The graham size is a bit smaller than the Nabisco brands. We recommended not to use the jumbo size marshmallows as it will make a big mess.

Try a little variety to your Smores by making Reese's Peanut butter cup s'mores:

Cook the marshmallows until they are browned outside, and soft all the way through, approx 2 to 4 minutes. Place the marshmallows on top of one of the S'moreables graham cracker squares. Place the peanut butter cup on top of the marshmallows. Top with the last S'moreables graham cracker square. Enjoy!

Think about other candies that might make a great compliment to your summertime treat. York Peppermint Patties and Snickers are good to try.

S'moreables vs Nabisco Honey Maid Cinnamon

I was checking the nutritional value of S'moreables vs Nabisco Honey Maid Cinnamon and was surprised to find out that S'moreables has more calories and sodium than Nabisco Honey Maid Cinnamon per serving.

Gluten Free Cart at Fenway Park

This past weekend we visited Fenway Park and got a good hands-on view of all the gluten free options.

The best place to get gluten free foods is from a cart near Fenway Park Gate D entrance. This is important to know if you have bleachers seats. Gate D is right behind home plate, this is otherwise known as the Home Plate Concourse.

At this location, you will find gluten free hotdogs, cookies, and brownies. Other concession stands around the park will have naturally gluten free foods such as peanuts and popcorn.

There isn't a visible marking for the gluten free hot dog stand. You can find it directly across the HomePlate store. There is a small beer stand right next to it.

Some notes

The gluten free cart only accept cash! Just about every place in the park accepts VISA/MasterCard.

There is a Bank of America ATM inside the park. The ATM will charge you a $3 "convenient fee" if you don't have a Bank of America card. (Make sure to bring plenty of cash) there are 5 Bank of America ATMS inside Fenway Park. ATMs are located at (1) Gate E/3rd Base Concourse; (2) Gate A/Yawkey Way; (3) Gate D/Homeplate; (4) The Big Concourse; (5) Gate C.

The gluten free hot dogs cost $5.25, the same price as regular Fenway Franks.

The Gluten Free brownie cost $5 and the gluten free cookie is $4.75.

At the regular concession stands you can get souvenirs drinks for $8 with free refills throughout the game. Get a couple of refills to get your money worth. Not drinking that much soda? Share the container with someone in your party. They are great cups for water at your desk.

At one of the concession stand, we saw black bean dip by go picnic, which is gluten free. Didn't see how much that cost.

Independent Street Vendors

Be sure to support the street vendors! In particular the peanut cart on Yawkey Way. The cart has been run by the same family since 1912. If your Grandfather visited Fenway chances are he got peanuts from the same cart.

Van's Gluten Free French Toast Sticks

My daughter's favorite morning breakfast is the Van's Gluten Free French Toast Sticks with a small dab of Nutella on the side. She asks me to make the French Toast for her while she slowly wakes up to whatever is on the Disney Junior Channel. It's a great morning routine.

Van's Gluten Free French Toast Sticks are really good. Usually, one French Toast Stick is just enough for my daughter, there are 6 french toast sticks in the box. The only time that she doesn't have them is when she wants leftover scramble eggs.

She loves to dip the French Toast sticks in the small pile of Nutella that I put on her plate.

There are 95 calories in 1 slice of Van's Cinnamon French Toast Sticks. You'd need to walk 25 minutes to burn those 95 calories. She'll easily burn off those calories before her class starts.

We buy the large size container of Nutella. We go through a lot of it. I am very careful to make sure that there's only a small amount of Nutella on her plate. Anything she doesn't eat, I enjoy as a morning snack.

You can find the Van's Gluten Free French Toast Sticks in the specialty frozen food section in most supermarkets. Usually, they are with the other frozen gluten free foods. They are available at Stop and Shop and at Wegmans. We'll stock up when they go on sale since they are a bit expensive - about $3.99 for the box.

Sam Mills Deluxe Mac and Cheese

A good gluten free replacement for Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and cheese is Sam Mills Deluxe Mac and Cheese. Sam Mills is available in most major supermarkets. In our area, Wegmans seems to be store that has it in stock.

Its very simple to make a great tasting Mac and Cheese meal. The total cooking/prep time is about 20 minutes. While the microwave versions might be quicker, at least with the Sam Mills version, I know that there will be leftovers.

This bigger box size (11-Ounces) is a bit deceiving, as you don't get as many elbows as a standard 7-Ounce box. What you do get is large soft cheese packet. The extra cheese does make the meal taste a lot better. It???s certainly a hit in our household.

Did you know that the cheese mix in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is Gluten-free? Did you also know that you can buy the cheese packets separately on Amazon?

You can simply buy a box of gluten free elbows - we recommend the Barilla Gluten Free Pasta variety. Then make your own version of Mac and Cheese. This is a good option if you have a Mac and Cheese addict in your household.

Since Mac and Cheese last a while, We have found that you can never have enough Mac and Cheese in stock.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill

Uno Pizzeria & Grill has a great selection of Gluten free foods. While they might be known for their pizza, their gluten free pizza didn't always equal in taste. That is until we ate at the Westboro location.

We have always eaten at the Framingham location since it's very convenient to our house. The place is always busy and the food has been so so. The Westboro UNOs was better.

When we arrived at 5pm on Sunday, we were surprised that there weren't many cars in the parking lot. As this was our first visit to this location, we thought that it was because people didn't like to eat here.

We told the server that our daughter needed to eat gluten free and ordered the Gluten free pizza. We did ask that the to be cooked a bit longer, as our past experience with UNOs is that it tends to be a bit soggy.

The pizza arrived a few minutes later. It looked and smelled very yummy. It was nice and crispy. The pizza also tasted way better than the one we get at the Framingham location. While the pizza was cooked longer than normal, there was something else different that told us that we will be going back to this place again.

Important Side Note

At each table is a Ziosk Tablet where you can request drink refills or call your server to the table. There's also a bunch of games that kids can play. However, there is a $1.99 surcharge to play the games.

We didn't know about the surcharge before our daughter took control of the machine. Before, the surcharge only applied to certain games. There might have been a warning but my daughter must have clicked 'ok' to approve it.

We noticed the charged on the food bill. We didn't dispute the charges because we did see the sign on the device but didn't take any action until its too late

Ziosk should require a credit card swipe in order to approve the charges. This way an adult would know about the charges.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill

Westborough Uno Pizzeria & Grill is located at 225 Turnpike Rd, Westborough, MA 01581. They are located right in front of the Westborough AMC theater, making it a perfect place to have a dinner and a movie.

Make Popcorn Awesome Again

Everyone loves Popcorn!

Popcorn is a great snack since for the most part it's free from the top 8 food allergies - soy, milk, eggs, citrus fruit, nuts, fish, peanuts, shellfish and wheat. The following suggested recipe does contain nuts (coconut) and milk (butter).

Healthy Disclaimer: The following recipe is awesome for those times when you want an extra special movie night. This isn't a healthy solution for everyday snacking.

Popcorn Ingredients

Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn - Sure you can get the store brand for slightly cheaper, but if you want the best tasting popcorn it starts with the right popcorn kernels. Store brand popcorn contains generic kernels that don't have much flavor. Orville Redenbacher's has strict quality control, which means you get a better batch of popcorn. Newman's Own kernels is another brand that produces excellent popcorn. If you haven't had good popcorn at home, it's probably because you been using cheap popcorn kernels. (3/4 cup)

Coconut Oil - Popcorn tastes better with Coconut oil. Movie theaters had used it before the lawyers at the "Center for Science in the Public Interest" forced them to change in 1994. There's no particular brand to use here, get whatever is available in the store. (3/4 cup)

Red Palm Oil - Use this if you want your popcorn to have a little yellow look - just like it came from the movie theaters. This has an added benefit of some additional vitamins to your snack. (One Tablespoon)

Powdered Salt - Don't use table salt, use a more refined salt. This way most of the salt doesn't end up on the bottom of the bowl. Salt to taste.

Kerry Gold Butter - A naturally soft Irish butter and has a great taste. Forty-five seconds in the microwave is all you need to melt it down. (1/2 stick)

Cooking with WhirleyPop(TM) Popcorn Popper

I use the WhirleyPop Popcorn Popper as I find that it makes the best popcorn at home. Someday, I hope to have a Classic stand alone Popcorn Machine. You can find it at Bed Bath and Beyond and online at their store.

Turn the stovetop on to medium. Add the Coconut and Red Palm Oil first. Wait until it starts to bubble, then add five popcorn kernels. Stir slowly. Once it starts popping, add the remaining kernels.

The whole process should take less than 10 minutes.

After the popping is done, I take the popcorn and pour it into a bowl and add butter and salt to taste. I take a table knife and stir the popcorn around.

I let the popcorn sit for a bit before serving. This is so the butter has a chance to be absorbed by the popcorn. Then it's time to sit and watch the movie.

Popcorn is a great naturally gluten free snack! Try the above recipe and make it the way you like it.

Fenway Park (Gluten Free)

Fenway park is Gluten Free and for the most part celiac friendly. The best place to find Gluten Free food is at the ???Home Place Concourse.???

You can get Gluten free Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, and Whoopi Pies. Fenway Park does offer gluten free pizza but the "word on the street" is that it isn't celiac friendly because its bake unprotected in the same oven as regular pizza.(Need Verification)

There is a gluten free cart, but it isn't clear on what is available in there.

Don't forget to stop by the peanut cart near Gate ???A??? That???s where you???ll see Nicholas ???Nicky??? Jacobs selling them. The family has been selling peanuts at the same spot since 1912.

Bring Food into the Park

You can bring your own food into the park. There are some limitations that you should be aware of:

All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering Fenway Park. No bag or item larger than 16"x16"x8" will be permitted inside the Park.

The following items are also prohibited: hard-sided coolers, cans, bottles (except sealed water bottles of 16 oz or less), glass containers of any kind, alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, firearms, noise-making devices, flag poles, selfie-sticks, sign poles, brooms (or any other similar props that may be dangerous or cause injury to other fans), knives, box cutters, tools of any kind (including Leathermen), or any item that could be used as a weapon, any commercial audio/visual equipment and any sign, costume, clothing or item that may be deemed offensive.

Your best best is to eat before coming to the park and enjoying a small snack during the game.

Back Bay Restaurants

If you're arriving at the park early, you do have some choices from nearby Back Bay restaurants that offer Celiac friendly menus. We have eaten at all of these and can vouch that they are worth stopping at.

Five Napkin

Huntington Ave.

Great Food. Huge Beer selection. Usually quiet than most places. Very Celiac friendly will let you know your options and answer any concerns you may have. Every time we go the staff seems to be very knowledgeable about the topics.

Cheesecake Factory

Prudential Mall

Lots of Gluten-free healthy options. Biggest downside is that it can be crowded. Kitchen can be busy, so if your in a rush don't stop here.

PF Chang

Prudential Mall

Good Gluten-free options. Chinese may not be on your mind going to baseball games, but it's there if you're hungry for alternate to burgers and you don't want to wait for the Cheesecake factory.

b.Good

137 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115

The burgers are slightly cheaper than Five Napkin. Very casual. Closer to the park than other places. This isn't a fast food restaurant but your food will be served faster. There is limited seating. Burgers are good.

Legal Seafood

Copley Place

This is a bit fancier than the other places. Good Gluten-free options. You are a long way to get to Fenway after a meal. Your best bet would be to grab a taxi to get to Fenway Park. It will cost about $10.

We'll be visiting the park on June 19th and I'll post an update on our experience on the 21st.

Tates Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last week, while I was waiting in line at Shaws, I spotted a bag of Tates Gluten Free Chocolate, Chip Cookies. I thought it looked very interesting and we hadn't seen that particular brand before. So I purchased a bag and brought them home to try out.

They are an instant hit and barely lasted a whole weekend. I don't think we have tasted a better batch of gluten-free box cookies like this before. Yes, they are dangerously delicious.

What makes them really good is that they are very thin and crunchy. While the cookies might be small, they do pack a lot of taste with each bite.

You can find Tates Gluten Free cookies at Shaws or online at Tates Bake Shop. They have a retail shop in Southampton but it's a 4-hour drive via ferry from Framingham. We probably won't be going to that retail store anytime soon.

What we will do is head back to Shaws and pick up another batch of yummy Tates Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Have you tried them?

Happy 70th Birthday La Cantina

Every now and again we seek some good Italian food. This is challenging when you have to eat Gluten-Free as many fine Italian restaurants don???t have much to offer.

La Cantina in Framingham does offer a good selection of Gluten-Free foods, include a tasty Gluten-Free Pizza that my daughter loves to eat every time we eat in or use their take out. It's a 10??? Gluten-Free thin Crust pizza, a perfect size for one person. When my daughter orders it, we have some leftovers for her to enjoy another time.

My daughter is also into Mac & Cheese. Do you know of a 5-year-old doesn???t want to eat that every day? At La Cantina, a good alternative is the Alfredo Gluten-Free penne. She tells me at its the best Mac & Cheese treat when she eats out. She likes it that she has a choice between yummy Pizza and Mac & Cheese.

Other dishes that can be made Gluten-free include Chopped Sirloin, Veal Cacciatore, Veal Saltimbocca, Baked Penne Parmigiana, Penne Oil Garlic & Broccoli, Pasta Deyve, Grill Chicken Tenders, Roast half Chicken, Seafood Saute, Risotto con Frutti di Mare,

Today is the 70th birthday of La Cantina. It opened its doors back in 1946. Back then, Waverly Street was a busy Italian district with restaurants and grocery stores. They have a special rollback menu for today, unfortunately, they are not offering any gluten-free dishes.

Check out the menu that I posted on July 22, 2008. The day after our first visit to La Cantina.

La Cantina is located at 911 Waverly Street in Framingham Massachusetts. You can reach them at (508) 879-7874.