Dining Gluten Free at Puccini's Smiling Teeth Restaurant

  

Puccini’s has some new gluten free options which they will be implementing at each one of their restaurants in the middle of January 2013. New gluten free options that are available now are their baked spaghetti and Italian meatloaf. They do not have a separate gluten free menu but gluten free options are listed on their regular menu, and Puccini’s will be updating their menus soon to include the baked spaghetti and meatloaf.

Recently, we had the opportunity to sample some of their new gluten free options as well some of their regular gluten free options.

We visited their restaurant at the Carmel, Indiana location and we asked some important questions in regards to gluten free preparations. Each one of their restaurants follows the same protocol. For their gluten free options we did discover that when preparing your gluten free meals they do use separate clean gloves. They also have a separate prep area for gluten free items, dedicated utensils and equipment when it comes to applying the sauce to the gluten free pizzas, and gluten free pastas. Puccini’s even has a separate sauce that they use specifically for the gluten free meals. The pizza crust is prepared offsite in a dedicated facility and comes in its own aluminum bake pan. The particular brand of gluten free pizza crust comes from a manufacturer called Rich’s Products. This product is certified gluten free by the GFCO. Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta is the brand they use at their restaurant. Pasta is boiled in a separate clean pot with water that is only used for the gluten free pasta. Did I mention the wait staff was knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and prompt?

Below are some of the gluten free options we tried. 

Beer & Wine

Redbridge gluten free beer and wine options are also available.

Salads

                  

Puccini’s Blue Cheese Wedge Salad: Half a head of lettuce served with their creamy and delicious blue cheese dressing. Can be served with or without the crispy bacon bits. We thoroughly enjoyed this salad.

Spring Mix Salad: I really enjoy a good salad and this one won’t disappoint you. It is served with pecans (but you can ask for it without the pecans), candied cranberries, crumbled blue cheese and a Dijon vinaigrette. We added grilled chicken to ours…..Yum!!  

Appetizers   
Appetizers Will be available in the mid- January, 2013.

Spinach Artichoke Dip: This is one of their new gluten free options. Served with toasted, sliced commercial size Udi’s bread….we loved this appetizer. Creamy, hot and cheesy, this is a must have for an appetizer!

Scamorza: Another new gluten free option. This is melted and smoked mozzarella over tomatoes and herbs and served with Udi’s toast for dipping. Very, very delicious!

  Pasta Dinners and Other Entrée’s  

 

Diavolo: A mild or spicy tomato sauce served with gluten free pasta and your choice of shrimp or chicken. This was very good!

Rosemary Cream Chicken: This was one of our favorites! Sauteed slices of chicken in a rosemary cream sauce accented with mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, served over gluten free pasta.

Clams with White Clam Sauce: A generous portion of clams served with a white clam sauce over gluten free pasta. Delish!!

Baked Spaghetti: This was the delicious dish sampled at our gluten free expo at The Puccini’s booth.  Gluten free pasta is baked with four cheeses (ricotta, provolone, mozzarella and parmesan). Seasoned with herbs, spices and tomato sauce. A definite must try! 2014 UPDATE: This dish may be no longer available at some locations. You can still request this dish, and they will make it gluten-free for you upon request.

Italian Meatloaf: Another great gluten free option that was sampled on the demo stage at our October 2012 Expo. A generous portion of beef and pork mixed with garlic, onions, spices, eggs, tomatoes, cornmeal, balsamic vinegar and served with seasoned new potatoes. Hearty and tasty, this dish is sure to fill you up!

Gluten Free Sandwiches
Sandwiches will be available mid-January, 2013.

Sandwiches are served with Miss Vickie’s potato chips. All sandwiches can be made gluten free with the EXCEPTION of the chicken parmesan and meatball subs. Below are the sandwiches we tried. Sandwiches are made with Udi’s whole grain commercial size bread.

Hot Italian Sandwich:  Salami, ham, tomato, pepperoni and banana peppers.

Sicilian Sausage Sandwich: Sweet Sicilian Sausage, with sautéed onions and peppers. This was my favorite of all the sandwiches….but it’s hard to pick a fave when everything we tried was just so yummy!

Spinach Artichoke Sandwich: Spinach, mushroom, red onion, tomato and artichoke spread, chicken can be included. 

Pizza Selections
  

Pepperoni Pizza: Cheesy with a touch of that nice spiciness that comes from great tasting pepperoni….we loved this classic pizza!

Margherita Pizza: fresh tomatoes, fresh garlic, fresh basil, oregano, and fontina cheese.

Shrimp Santori: Shrimp, sesame chili oil, red onions, sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil. I loved this pizza…slightly spicy but incredibly scrumptious!

Make your plans to visit a Puccini's near you soon to experience a delicious family friendly gluten free meal.  Visit the Gluten Free Living Now Facebook page for details on a great  giveaway being provided to our community from Puccini's.

Puccini's Smiling Teeth Restaurant 

Locations and Hours

Puccini’s has 6 locations here in Indy - open 7 days a week

M-F lunch 11am-2pm

M-Th dinner 4 pm-9:30 pm

Friday dinner 4 pm-10:30 pm

Sat 12 pm- 10:30 pm

Sun 12 pm- 9 pm

Dinner Delivery starts at 5 pm until 15 minutes before closing.

Locations:

                   86^th & Ditch (317)875-9223                  

82^nd & Dean (317)842-4028

 Geist & Marina (317)842-2356

  79^th & Sunnyside (317)823-0027

Carmel at 136^th & Meridian (317)580-0087

Fishers at 116^th & I-69 (317)579-0572

Other Locations in Columbus, Bloomington & West Lafayette, IN

Lexington & Louisville, KY

Two Great Holiday Giveaways from Udi's, Glutino & Chosen Foods!

 

 We can't think of a better way to enjoy the holidays than to have lots of special treats from:  Udi's &Glutino &Chosen Foods 

 See the details regarding each package below

To win one of these Holiday giveaways:

1.  Go to our Facebook Page & "LIKE" us

2.  Write a short comment underneath the Udi's/Glutino or Chosen Foods giveaway on the Facebook Page. 

We will announce the winners on December 21st and products will be mailed to you from Udi's & Chosen Foods. 

 

Chosen Foods will be giving away this fabulous trio of products above.  Their products are packed full of antioxidants, Omegas, protein and fiber.  You will receive the AVOmega 100% Avocado Oil, Aztec Chia Chia Seeds, and the Aztec Nopal, Nopal Cactus Powder.  If you would like to read about these great products you may read more at their website at http://www.chosen-foods.com

Udi's will be proving a gift basket valued at $110 stocked full of Udi's and Glutino products! 

Here is what will be in the gift basket:

Udi's Harvest Crunch Muffins, Double Vanilla Muffins, Udi's Mighty Bagels, Udi's Everything Inside Bagels, Udi's White Sandwich Bread, Udi's Millet-Chia Bread, Udi's Pizza Crust, Udi's Dark Chocolate Brownies, Udi's Snickerdoodles, Udi's Original Granola, Udi's Cranberry Granola, Glutino Pretzels, Glutino Chocolate Pretzels, Glutino Yogurt Pretzels, Glutino Bagel Chips - Cinnamon & Sugar & Parmesan & Garlic, Glutino Rosemary & Olive Oil Crackers, Glutino Sea Salt Crackers, Glutino Simply Salted Potato Chips, Glutino Spaghetti Pasta, and Glutino Elbow Pasta. 

     

Can you say MERRY Christmas?  Make sure you visit Udi's at www.udisglutenfree.com and Glutino at www.glutino.com to say thank you for their generosity.  

  

 

Gluten Free Product Review & other Gluten Free Happenings

 

Udi's Rolls out New Products

 

Udi’s has some new products!! From Udi’s Whole Grain Dinner Rolls, Classic French and Crispy and delicious French Baguettes, Everything Inside Bagels, Mighty Bagels, Double Vanilla Muffins to Harvest Crunch Muffins.

I have to admit they have truly outdone themselves with their dinner rolls and their new french baguettes. These truly mimic the “real deal” in both taste and texture and will leave you stating,"Wow….I can’t believe these are gluten free!”

 
Their rolls are soft in the middle with a hard outer crust. They are sold frozen and can be warmed up in the oven. Nature’s Pharm is now carrying ALL these new products and showcasing them through a sampling from Friday Dec. 14th through Sunday Dec. 16th. Don't miss the Udi's roll and baguettes sale until the end of December!

These rolls are an absolute must have for your Gluten Free Holiday Dinner!

Here’s a brief description of their latest bagel and muffin creations:

Double Vanilla Muffins: these are really good and they taste a little like angel food cake in the texture of a muffin.

Harvest Crunch Muffins: these are made with cranberries, sweet potato, quinoa flour and pepitas. Need I say more? Yum!

 Everything Inside Bagels: made with millet seeds, flax seeds, poppy seeds, onion, salt and garlic….these do remind me a little of the “Everything Bagels” that I tried in  New York years ago during my pre-gluten free era…except that these are a little milder but still packed full of flavor.

Mighty Bagels: made with cranberries, quinoa flour, sunflower seeds, pepitas, millet seeds and flax seeds…I really liked these, perfect to have around the Holidays with a little smear of cream cheese.

Chosen Foods   

 

 

Their Products are packed with antioxidants, omegas, protein and fiber. For the health conscious out there here are some products that are good and good for you.

AVOmega, 100%  Avocado Oil: this oil is considered to be one of the healthiest oils on the planet and is the highest source of heart healthy monounsaturated fat…plus it is packed full of antioxidants.

It has a high heating point, which means you can heat the oil to 520 degrees and it won’t breakdown. Use this oil for cooking, frying, baking and salad dressings. Surprisingly affordable at only 13.95/per bottle.

AztecChia, Chia Seeds: high in fiber, omega-3, antioxidants and protein….this company never uses pesticides, chemicals or growth accelerators on their crops and their product is tested for purity and omega values. Use this in cereals, yogurt, smoothies, baked goods or as an egg replacer and binder in gluten free baking.

AztecNopal, Nopal Cactus Powder: this product harnesses the natural power of the nopal cactus and it is said to lower blood glucose and increase insulin sensitivity, promoting weight loss. Mix this product in juice, yogurt, smoothies or use in cooking and baking to lower the glycemic index of food.  Their products can be found at:  http://www.chosen-foods.com. 

Give the Gift of Camp for Christmas! 

   

Camp Gluten Freedom Offers Carefree Camp Activities and Worry Free Food!

Reservations / Deposits are being accepted now for Camp Gluten Freedom July 25th - July 28th, 2013. This is an overnight camp that will be DEDICATED gluten-free.  While we are allowing campers to bring a buddy this year, ALL the food will be gluten free.  The camp is for children ages 8-14.  Don't have a child that is camp age?  That's okay, feel free to sponsor a child that may not have the opportunity to go to camp without your assistance.  You may see info listed at Gluten Free Living Now's website.  Please feel free to email tina@glutenfreelivingnow.org for additional information. 

 

Don't forget the Food for the Gluten Intolerant Program!

Learn more about our Food For Gluten Intolerant where you can donate to sponsor a financially challenged family. We are currently seeking donors to assist with the Food for the Gluten Intolerant Program. For those who struggle economically, meeting the additional financial challenges that the gluten free requirement creates, can become overwhelming. This program will allow you to to make financial donations to support a struggling family. Want to help with donations for the Food Program? Donations are being accepted HERE.

Dates for Expo 2013 are set for Saturday October 5, 2013

The Gluten Free Living Now Expo will be held for one day only, so get your booth space while you can.  This event will run from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and will definitely sell out.   We are expecting over 3,000 visitors who will come to sample and purchase gluten free products and services.   Make sure you contact shelia@glutenfreelivingnow.org as soon as possible to ensure you are included in this great community event. 

Did you miss your chance to see GFLN on Indy Style?

 

Gluten Free Living Now's own, Shelia Cafferty, appeared on Indy Style on December 4th.  She shared her great gingerbread cookie recipe and how to have a gluten free Holiday.  If you missed it or would enjoy watching again just click on Shelia's name above or on GFLN. Make sure you click on the link to get the great recipe too!

Center for Celiac Research to Join Mass General in Boston

After nearly 20 years of providing clinical care for patients and conducting breakthrough research in celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders in Baltimore, Maryland, the Center for Celiac Research (CFCR) will become part of the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 7, 2013. The CFCR will also be working in partnership with the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) at Harvard Medical School.  Read more HERE