Best gluten free food options in State College

[PSUJam]

I know we've beaten the crap out of the best restaurants in SC thing but our daughter has a gluten allergy and we're heading out that way later for dinner. I've been through just about every menu this past week but wondering if anyone has any secret places or good options?

 

[PrtLng Lion]

I hope you find some places that know how to properly prepare gluten free.

My daughter has celiac disease, I can relate to the challenge. It's to the point she can't eat at places with "GF options" because there's too much cross contamination potential, but only at places with dedicated GF kitchens.

I got her a gluten meter (NIMA) to take along when she goes out.

 

[JWB389]

My wife and daughter both have Celiac and we visit State College often. Cozy Thai Bistro on Allen St. is great. The burrito place (Yallah Taco?) on College Ave where Roy Roger's used to be is also very good. There's a Brother's Pizza in Stormstown, not too far from State College that is very good. My wife is EXTREMELY careful with where she eats.

If you're on Facebook, join the Gluten Free State College page.

 

[PSUJam]

My wife and daughter both have Celiac and we visit State College often. Cozy Thai Bistro on Allen St. is great. The burrito place (Yallah Taco?) on College Ave where Roy Roger's used to be is also very good. There's a Brother's Pizza in Stormstown, not too far from State College that is very good. My wife is EXTREMELY careful with where she eats.

If you're on Facebook, join the Gluten Free State College page.

Thank you.

 

[Tom_PSU]

My wife and daughter both have Celiac and we visit State College often. Cozy Thai Bistro on Allen St. is great. The burrito place (Yallah Taco?) on College Ave where Roy Roger's used to be is also very good. There's a Brother's Pizza in Stormstown, not too far from State College that is very good. My wife is EXTREMELY careful with where she eats.

If you're on Facebook, join the Gluten Free State College page.

It’s so damn frustrating, I also have a daughter with Celiac. Years ago before they diagnosed it, I was scared to death with her losing weight and always being tired and feeling ill. Sadly it’s one of those things that they can monitor and maintain but not cure.

 

[JWB389]

It’s so damn frustrating, I also have a daughter with Celiac. Years ago before they diagnosed it, I was scared to death with her losing weight and always being tired and feeling ill. Sadly it’s one of those things that they can monitor and maintain but not cure.

Yea, we've learned to live with it. Eating at home is easy. My wife is incredible with it. PrtLng mentions the NIMA above. My wife has one of those. I cant tell you how many restaurant outings have been ruined because they came back positive on the NIMA.

I'm not complaining, but I feel a tremendous amount of guilt, because I am the only one in the house that can eat whatever I want. My daughter was diagnosed at 11. It was heartbreaking when she couldn't eat the cupcakes or pizza at school parties, etc. We've always overcompensated in many ways though. We've seen her excluded from things, we assume because other parents don't want to deal with it.

Penn State University Park dining has great options for food challenges, for what that's worth.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

Before we travel anywhere we're always scouting out restaurants at the destination that are GF. My daughter has an app she uses where people rate restaurants based on their celiac-friendliness, and it's been pretty accurate so far in Sedona, Detroit, Austin, Miami, and Minneapolis. I forget the name of the app... if anyone is interested I'll ask her and edit this post.

 

[JWB389]

Before we travel anywhere we're always scouting out restaurants at the destination that are GF. My daughter has an app she uses where people rate restaurants based on their celiac-friendliness, and it's been pretty accurate so far in Sedona, Detroit, Austin, Miami, and Minneapolis. I forget the name of the app... if anyone is interested I'll ask her and edit this post.

There are two apps. My wife says Glutendude is by far the best. Findmeglutenfree she claims is unreliable.

 

[JWB389]

Before we travel anywhere we're always scouting out restaurants at the destination that are GF. My daughter has an app she uses where people rate restaurants based on their celiac-friendliness, and it's been pretty accurate so far in Sedona, Detroit, Austin, Miami, and Minneapolis. I forget the name of the app... if anyone is interested I'll ask her and edit this post.

From my experience, New York City and Disney parks are great destinations for GF. We can be in Manhattan in just over an hour. We'll go to the city for the day just to eat 3 meals and dessert. Outside of that, we mostly stick to several chains we know to be reliable, unless she can find a flawless review on glutendude.

The holy grail is to find a good sandwich bread.

 

[Tom_PSU]

From my experience, New York City and Disney parks are great destinations for GF. We can be in Manhattan in just over an hour. We'll go to the city for the day just to eat 3 meals and dessert. Outside of that, we mostly stick to several chains we know to be reliable, unless she can find a flawless review on glutendude.

The holy grail is to find a good sandwich bread.

Try “UDIS”, that’s the brand name. It’s a CONAGRA product and gluten free. It’s a white sandwich bread that’s a little pricey (not that it matters). They also make a brown bread and many others including hamburger buns.My daughter swears by them. She makes me great grilled cheese or chicken salad sandwiches and it tastes just like regular bread.

 

[PSUJam]

Try “UDIS”, that’s the brand name. It’s a CONAGRA product and gluten free. It’s a white sandwich bread that’s a little pricey (not that it matters). They also make a brown bread and many others including hamburger buns.My daughter swears by them. She makes me great grilled cheese or chicken salad sandwiches and it tastes just like regular bread.

Wegmans gluten free section is like a store within a store if you have one in your area.

 

[Tom_PSU]

Wegmans gluten free section is like a store within a store if you have one in your area.

I know there’s a couple of Wegmans near me, but she was so excited about the stuff I mentioned when she found it I hate to upset the apple cart. Baby steps.

 

[PSUJam]

I know there’s a couple of Wegmans near me, but she was so excited about the stuff I mentioned when she found it I hate to upset the apple cart. Baby steps.

My daughter was recently diagnosed and these were what I texted my wife while at Wegmans this week.

 

[Tom_PSU]

My daughter was recently diagnosed and these were what I texted my wife while at Wegmans this week.

View attachment 301327View attachment 301329View attachment 301330View attachment 301332

I’m glad Wegmans has it, more stores should provide a wider selection. Bye the way, I was disappointed with WHOLE FOODS. For all their preachy health food nonsense they were more limited in selections than my regular grocery store regarding gluten free offerings. I’m old fashioned (actually I’m just really old) and paying on an average 25% more for several items gluten free or not bothered me. But I was given some nifty bags to carry things out, so I guess that’s a plus.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

My daughter has been getting the Canyon brand GF bread, she seems to like it a lot. She's in Ohio now for med school, and goes to Kroger. They have a dedicated GF aisle too (thank g-d!)

Wegmans is the best, period. None here in south FL yet. Loved going to the one on Tilghman St in Allentown.

She has a major sweet tooth, so she's always looking for GF bakeries. Surprisingly most cities we've been to recently have at least one or two really good ones.

 

[JWB389]

My daughter has been getting the Canyon brand GF bread, she seems to like it a lot. She's in Ohio now for med school, and goes to Kroger. They have a dedicated GF aisle too (thank g-d!)

Wegmans is the best, period. None here in south FL yet. Loved going to the one on Tilghman St in Allentown.

She has a major sweet tooth, so she's always looking for GF bakeries. Surprisingly most cities we've been to recently have at least one or two really good ones.

View attachment 301359

We're in Wegman's territory and they do seem to have the best selection by far. Canyon Bakehouse is her go-to option. Also, Aldi has some very good products. Overall, she likes them better.

She found a woman in Bethany Beach, DE with a GF commercial kitchen in her house. She would supply the local health food stores in the area. She was phenomenal, but it seems she only bakes batches now and doesn't do personal orders. Her stuff goes the first day it hits the shelves. That is the "holy grail" bread. We would buy 10 loaves and freeze them.

This below is her favorite restaurant, if you're ever in NYC. Small, but very good and very safe. They also have a café/bakery down the street.

Senza Gluten

 

[JWB389]

View attachment 301332

Wegman's stocks a baguette, usually in this section here. My wife loves it. Comes in a pack of 2. Looks a bit like the Olive Garden garlic bread. She uses it to make a garlic bread to go with pasta. It can be hard to find. Wish I knew the name or had a photo.

 

[PSUJam]

Wegman's stocks a baguette, usually in this section here. My wife loves it. Comes in a pack of 2. Looks a bit like the Olive Garden garlic bread. She uses it to make a garlic bread to go with pasta. It can be hard to find. Wish I knew the name or had a photo.

I'm thinking these. I'm going to cut them into slices to go with the ribs I'm smoking today.

 

[JWB389]

I'm thinking these. I'm going to cut them into slices to go with the ribs I'm smoking today.

View attachment 301373

Those aren't the ones I'm thinking of. She doesn't care for Schar brand. I'll see if I can find them.

EDIT: Here it is. BFree. These are good and I'm not GF.

BFree link

 

[PSUJam]

Those aren't the ones I'm thinking of. She doesn't care for Schar brand. I'll see if I can find them.

EDIT: Here it is. BFree. These are good and I'm not GF.

BFree link

View attachment 301376

Thanks again!

 

[JWB389]

I’m glad Wegmans has it, more stores should provide a wider selection. Bye the way, I was disappointed with WHOLE FOODS. For all their preachy health food nonsense they were more limited in selections than my regular grocery store regarding gluten free offerings. I’m old fashioned (actually I’m just really old) and paying on an average 25% more for several items gluten free or not bothered me. But I was given some nifty bags to carry things out, so I guess that’s a plus.

You should check Aldi if you have one close. Better prices and better selection than Whole Paycheck Foods,

 

[PSUJam]

Best GF option for a playoff Sunday.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

We're in Wegman's territory and they do seem to have the best selection by far. Canyon Bakehouse is her go-to option. Also, Aldi has some very good products. Overall, she likes them better.

She found a woman in Bethany Beach, DE with a GF commercial kitchen in her house. She would supply the local health food stores in the area. She was phenomenal, but it seems she only bakes batches now and doesn't do personal orders. Her stuff goes the first day it hits the shelves. That is the "holy grail" bread. We would buy 10 loaves and freeze them.

This below is her favorite restaurant, if you're ever in NYC. Small, but very good and very safe. They also have a café/bakery down the street.

Senza Gluten

Senza looks great. Next time we're in NYC that'll be a stop.

We found a similar type place in Sedona called Picazzos. Everything on the menu could be made GF, including all pasta dishes. My daughter was dumbfounded. We bought so much extra food that we kept in the Airbnb for the week.

Picazzos Sedona