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June 27, 2017

American Girl

My daughter is a huge fan of America Girl and fortunately, we live near the one at the Natick Mall. It's a great place to shop and the cafe is a nice treat.

The American Girl store at the Natick Mall has two stories, the Bistro takes up half of the second floor.

Reservations are highly recommended during peak lunch and dinner times. We know from experience that they do close early on New Year's Eve.

American Girl Bistro is Celiac Friendy

The Boston's Children's Hospital Celiac Support Group has held lunch events here several times in the past. That alone should tell you that this place takes gluten free very seriously.

They have delicious gluten free options.

We have eaten here several times in the past couple of years and have never encountered a problem. In fact, my daughter has requested going here for lunch every year for her birthday.

She likes to bring her American Girl doll. They have special seats for the dolls so they can sit at the table. If you forgot yours, or don't have one, you can borrow one for the duration of your meal. (They even get their own place settings)

We usually do a bit of shopping afterward. So it's a fun experience for her.

This year we might be going to xxx as she likes going there.

American Girl Cafe

Tips on Eating in the Bistro

Don't forget to mention that you need to eat gluten free. The servers have been excellent about catering to the needs of Celiac. They will explain all the items on the menu that can be prepared Gluten Fee.

There's a single price per meal for a starter and a Main Course, currently it cost $16.50 for adults. So all the meals are a single price, which makes it easy to just focus on what you want to eat.

Starter Choices

There's not a lot of options for the appetizers. My daughter usually gets the Fancy Fruit Fondue option. I recall that the Mediterranean Hummus and the Warm Artichoke-Spinach Dip are other Starters that can be made Gluten Free.

Main Course

On our last visit, my daughter had the butterfly pasta with butter and oil. She ate most of it, and we brought some home so that she could enjoy as a small snack.

In the past she would have the Butterfly pasta with Alfredo sauce. It's her version of Mac & Cheese since they don't have any gluten-free mac and cheese. She also tried the Bistro Burger with the gluten free bun.

Gluten-free Birthday Cake

If you're celebrating a birthday, call ahead a few days early and they will have a specially prepared gluten-free birthday cake. The Natick American Girl Bistro don't make the cake they get it from Something Sweet Without Wheat a bakery that specializes in Gluten free cakes.

The cake is actually really good.

What's really nice is that if you have a large party they will serve noncelicas guests a regular cake. That way the birthday girl gets more cake to take home.

Fun Experience

Overall it's a fun dining experience. If you should encounter an issue with the server, make sure to let the manager know.

One time when we visited, the server didn't appear to know much about Celiac. We were concerned that things wouldn't go well and did ask for a different server.

That was the only time we ever had an issue. That was several meals ago and we still go back for the delicious food and fun shopping experience.

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June 20, 2017

Jen Review Website

Jen Miller at Jenreviews.com covers a variety of different topics, much like this blog. You can find reviews on the Health Benefits of Juicing to the Best Office Furniture.

Earlier this year the site featured a comprehensive post about the Celiac Disease. It's a well-written guide for anyone that was just diagnosed with Celiac. Perhaps your entertaining a friend that mentioned that they are eating gluten this guide will point you in the right direction.

Jen Review Website

There are four delicious recipes to try. (Isn't it fun to try something new?)

  • "Best Ever" Gluten Free Bread
  • Avacado Tuna Salad
  • Garlic Spinach Dip
  • Pasta with Beets, Ricotta and Pistachios

If you want a simple to read artcle about eating Gluten Free, I would suggest checking out the Celiac Disease Diet Guide (Plus 4 Delicious Recipes) at jenreviews.com.

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June 13, 2017

How And Why to Go Gluten-Free, Fast!

Gluten Free Graphic

Gluten-free eating may seem like a trend, but it is a serious lifestyle choice for many people who are affected by a number of symptoms caused by gluten sensitivities. If you feel at all different after eating gluten-heavy foods, such as having a headache or feeling less energetic, you may want to examine whether or not you are gluten intolerant.

Luckily, there are many ways to change your diet to exclude gluten. The food market today is becoming increasingly aware of customer???s gluten-free needs, and making the choice to eat food free from gluten is quite simple.

There are a number of perks for your health and body if you decide to cut out gluten, including:

  • A boost to your immune system
  • Weight loss
  • Heightened energy levels
  • Clearer, smoother skin

If you are looking for a fast solution to cutting out all gluten, you can try something like a raw juice cleanse to infuse your body with proper nutrients to help you begin feeling healthier in a short amount of time!

Tons of Information

Check out the The Gluten Free Diet Plan: What You Need To Know for a lot of useful information:

  • 10 Signs You're Gluten Intolerant
  • Celiac Disease at a Glance
  • What To Avoid In A Gluten-Free Diet

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June 6, 2017

Bit’Chin BBQ

This past weekend we attended the first annual Saint Bridget 5k and fun run. There were carnival games and food trucks to make it a fun filled day.

One of the Food Trucks that was there was the Bit???Chin BBQ. They offer a complete set of BBQ options, everything from Ribs to Hot Dogs. Certainly, a good truck to have to feed a hungry group of runners.

Gluten free Options

My daughter loves Chicken Wings and was disappointed that it wasn't on the menu. They carry Chicken Fingers but I figured that it wasn't gluten free.

My daughter asked the order taker if they had Chicken Wings, the person told us that they didn't but asked the chief. To everyone's surprise, he said that they did.

My six-year-old daughter asked if it was gluten free and let them know she has Celiac. They said that it was and they could prepare it gluten free.

We waited for about five minutes for them to cook the wings.

Bitchin BBQ

Yummy Wings

My daughter absolutely loved the wings, she said they were just as good as the ones she gets in Boston. (Durgin Park)

She didn't eat all of them, so I had a chance to eat a couple and I would agree - they were delicious. My first thought was "Not bad for a food truck." They were cooked perfectly and full of flavor.

We certainly recommend the wings. If you should encounter the truck, make sure to ask for the wings.

Everything was Yummy

Everyone I talked to at the event said the food was good. I had a hot dog - not gluten free - and it was good.

As the day went along, the lines was getting longer. I think once word got around how good the food was, everyone wanted some of it.

Bit???Chin BBQ

You can find more information onBit???Chin BBQ on their website. They have a menu of all their offerings. We found the prices to be very reasonable and the service to be excellent!

Bit???Chin BBQ were very flexible and arrived at our location at 7 am. They set up quickly and were up and running before the first runners arrived.

We were very happy that they came to the school event and will certainly invite them to the next one. (Hopefully, we won't have to wait a year!)

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May 30, 2017

Not Your Average Joes (Westborough)

This past weekend we stopped into Not Your Average Joes in Westborough. We haven't visited here in a long time.

Not your Average Joes has a separate Gluten Free menu. You will need to ask for it when your host takes you to your seat.

Not Your Average Joes Bread

Part of the attraction of going is their bread with the cheese/pepper oil dip. It's very yummy.

Fortunately they do have a gluten-free bread, you will have to ask the waiter for it.

It took a while for our bread to arrive at the table, I believe the waitress forgot that we requested it. Once we reminded her, she brought five slices of a gluten free roll to our table. What's nice is that she brought another dip dish so that there would be no cross contamination with the other dish at our table.

Gluten Free Average Joes

Gluten Free Mac and Cheese

My daughter is a Mac and Cheese lover - which kid isn???t? She was excited to find that they have gluten free mac and cheese.

We ordered the meal and let the order taker know that she has an allergy.

When the order came out, it was delivered by the manager, a clear sign that they take their gluten free food seriously.

My daughter loved the Mac and Cheese. When I asked if she liked the one here or the one at Maggiano???s Little Italy from last weekend. She said that she liked this one better. I think she said that because of the bad experience we had.

In any case, she was very happy to enjoy the dipping bread and Mac and Cheese. We all enjoyed our meals, and will be back sometime soon.

Not your Average Joes - Westborough

The Not Your Average Joes in Westborough is located on the westbound side of Route 9. ( 291 Turnpike Rd, Westborough, MA) It's near the intersection of Route 9 and Otis Street. It's directly across the street from Herb Chambers Ford of Westborough. Every time that we have eaten at this particular location it hasn't been that busy. This is a good location if your heading to Wegman's to do your daily shopping, or if your thinking of doing a dinner and a movie as Regal Cinemas of Westborough is within a 1/2 mile from the restaurant.

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May 23, 2017

Maggiano's Little Italy

This past weekend we saw Annie at the Boch Center (Wang Center). After the show we headed over to Maggiano's for an early dinner.

Since we arrived after a sold out show the restaurant was very busy. In addition, there were several nearby graduation ceremonies. We planned ahead and had reservations. However, we still had to wait 20 minutes before sitting down at our table.

Some Things I Learned While Waiting

  • There is an elevator to the restroom downstairs - it's located just beyond the stairs.
  • There is a small waiting area near the elevator with a couple of chairs
  • It's very difficult to hear the table announcements from the chairs.
  • The bar is the best place to be to hear the table announcements.
  • There is a plug by one of the chairs by the elevator, and someone was using that to charge their phone.

Service Was a Bit Weird

While the food was great, We did have a problem with our waiter. While we were waiting for our order, my daughter was getting hungry. There was bread on the table, but it wasn't gluten free. The waiter told us that the didn't have any gluten-free bread.

We asked if their soup was gluten free, he seemed a bit unsure. We then asked if he could get cucumbers for her as an appetizer, he then told us that he was "too busy to get the cucumbers."

We were shocked that he would say that and asked to see the manager. We were afraid that this would turn into the experience that we had last year at the Cheese Cake Factory.

Thankfully the management did step up and made our experience enjoyable. They were out of the way to make sure that the table service was very good.

When we placed our order, we did request the kid's meal to be served the same time as the appetizers. Turns out that less than 30 seconds later that the meal arrived at our table. The original server, who had no time, could have simply checked on the status of the meals.

Gluten Free Options

My daughter order the Fettuccine Alfredo with gluten free pasta, basically fancy Mac & Cheese. She loved the meal and ate most of it. There wasn't enough leftover to take home, which she usually does.

For desert, she had Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with some chocolate sauce. It was excellent!

Gluten Free Maggianos
Gluten Free Fettuccine Alfredo

Will we go Back?

Yes! Despite the initial poor quality of service. We will certainly go back. We did enjoy the food and had a good time after watching Annie.

Getting to Maggiano's Little Italy

Maggiano's Little Italy is located at 4 Columbus Ave near the theater district. We parked at the Motor Mart Garage, which is located just upstairs. It cost $28 to park at Motor Mart Garage, which is the same price as the garage next to

The restaurant is located about 3 blocks from the Boch Center - Wang Theatre.

If you are going to a show, make the reservations at least 30 minutes after the show ends. That will give you time to leave and walk over to the restaurant.

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May 16, 2017

Gluten Free Cupcakes at Cupcake Charlie's

Last Year, I posted that Cupcake Charlie's carries some gluten free goodies. They have a delicious selection of gluten free pudding cakes and cookies.

On a recent visit, we were surprised to find that they carry gluten free cupcakes. It turns out that they have a very limited supply and they get their shipments on Fridays.

Charlie Cup Cake

When my daughter took a bite into her cupcake, she was pleasantly surprised to find a chocolate fillings. She loved it and can't wait to get another one.

Natick Cupcake Charlie

Cupcake Charlie's is located on the second in the middle of the Natick Mall. Your best parking options would be to park at the third level in the garage near Lord and Taylor. Then it's a simple walk to the Mall and head towards Neiman Marcus.

Make sure to stop by on Friday, as we have visited the store numerous times on the weekend and didn't know that they had gluten free cupcakes.

You can eat in or take it home. Tip: Take it home so that you can enjoy the delicious treat.

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May 9, 2017

Gluten Free Pizza at The Chateau

Having Celiac as a kid can be hard when going to friends parties. Some of my daughter's friends will go put of the way to get gluten free pizza and cake. But we always make sure she has something to eat with the other kids.

Last week we were in a rush to find a Gluten Free pizza place near Westborough. We needed to bring a gluten-free pizza to a pizza party at Laser Craze that we were attending.

After a quick brainstorming, we thought that we would give the Chateau a try. We have eaten there in the past and enjoyed their food.

Placing the Order

When we called them, we asked if they had a gluten free pizza, and they said they did. Then they asked if it was for an allergy. We said it was, and the person that took our call asked us to wait a minute. She came back to the phone and said that they could do that.

We placed our order in Natick and arrived 20 minutes later at the Chateau in Westborough.

Excellent Pizza

My daughter really liked the pizza, which is all that mattered. She had 2 slices and said it was good.

To me the pizza looks like it was slightly under cook. When I tasted a slice it was actually very good.

The pizza was on top of a foil pizza tray. Which was a clear sign that they were preventing any cross contamination in the oven.

I think the slightly discoloring that I saw was a result of cooking on the pizza tray. It looked like it was undercooked but the pizza was nice and crunchy.

Westborough Chateau
Gluten Free Pizza at the Chateau in Westborough, Massachusetts.

Overall Good Experience

The whole experience was excellent. The Chateau in Westborough is right off of Route 9, which made it an easy stop on our way to a birthday party.

Its nice to know of an another good quality pizza place nearby. Now we have options go to another party in the future. More importantly, we can let her choose which place to get her pizza from.

What about Desert?

We were running a bit early, that we had time to stop at Gerardo's European Bakery to get some gluten free brownies.

They didn't have any gluten free cupcakes but the brownies were a great substitute. We got one for one of her friends too. The brownies were delicious and more chocolatey than a typical brownie.

Getting to the Chateau

The Westborough Chateau is located just off of Route 9 - Westbound. It's the second exit after 495 and 9 interchange.

The Chateau has lots of gluten free options, it not just a pizza shop. Check out their online menu.

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May 2, 2017

May is Celiac Awareness Month

May is Celiac Awareness Month. The purpose is to bring attention to the autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine.

Manufacturers to Watch

Here are some companies to watch this month. They will most likely offer coupons and deals. Be sure to subscribe to get any coupons!

Got Celiac?

If you're a Celiac, spread the word on how delicious the food is! Some people might be afraid to try Gluten Free foods.

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April 25, 2017

Udi’s Gluten Free

None

When it comes to bread there are a couple of major companies, Udi???s Gluten Free and Schär.

Udis Gluten Free

Best Hamburger Roll

If you're looking for the best gluten-free hamburger rolls, try Udi???s Gluten Free. We have tried all sorts of different brands and found Udi???s Gluten Free are the best tasting rolls.

Best Sandwich Bread

When it comes to sandwich bread, Schär is better tasting. Udi's bread is good if you toast it. Overall, we prefer Schär as it taste close to regular bread than anything we tried.

My daughter is picky when it comes to sandwich bread, and really likes the Schär bread. We have found that other bread types will have large holes in some slices. But the Schär is perfect with every slice.

Limited Availability

Both Udi???s Gluten Free Hamburger rolls and Schar bread are hard to find. Evidently, the word is out that these are the best bread to get. Our local Stop & Shop does carry it.

We usually end up going to Wegmans in Northborough and stock up on our supplies.

Udi???s Gluten Free Hamburger rolls is located in the freezer section. The Schar bread is in the Gluten free aisle.

What do you think?

What is the best hamburger roll? Let me know if there are any other brands that are worth checking out!

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About

This series of posts will cover some tips and tricks that I have learned about my twelve-year-old daughter's gluten-free lifestyle in the Boston area. Gluten-free eating can be challenging in any big city, but especially in Boston due to the high number of restaurants and availability of options. I've been learning what I can to make sure my daughter can still enjoy eating out, and I want to share what I've learned so that other families in the same situation can benefit.

Check out all the blog posts.

Schedule

ThursdayGluten Free
FridayMacintosh
SaturdayInternet Tools
SundayOpen Topic
MondayMedia Monday
TuesdayQA
WednesdayNew England