Gluten-free is hot these days. There are books and websites, restaurants with gluten free menus, and grocery stores with hundreds of new gluten-free food products on the shelf. Is this a fad, or a reflection of response to a real problem?
Yes, gluten is a real problem. But the problem is not just gluten. In fact, there are three major hidden reasons that wheat products, not just gluten (along with sugar in all its forms) is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, depression and so many other modern ills. Read article
“Source: 2012 National Health Observances, National Health Information Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.”
CC Bonaduce create a new class “Changing the Restaurant Industry” at UC Berkeley, to educate the restaurant industry on preparing and handling of gluten free foods in their restaurant.
Atenette talks about the many gluten free offerings at The Counter restaurants, of the vendors at the Celiac Education Day and Vendor Fair in Walnut Creek, Saturday, April 14, 2012.
The chili with cranberries and basil was excellent.
They have six locations, Corte Madera, Palo Alto, Roseville, San Mateo and Santana Row in San Jose. http://www.thecounterburger.com
With tons of accolades (voted number one in the top ten best vegetarian restauants in the San Francisco Bay Area by Bay Area Vegetarians http://www.bayareaveg.org/ug/featured.htm) Merit Vegetarian is still a relatively “best kept secret” in the South Bay. With a wide variety of tasty vegetarian dishes with Asian flavors and spices there’s plenty even for the “carnivoures among us”. I’ve taken many of my “meat-eating” friends and they’ve enjoyed it so much they definitely are coming back. I love the crock pot dishes especially the eggplant specials. Tom, the owner knows about gluten sensitivity issues and goes out of his way to make sure you have a wonderful, tasty and gluten-free experience.
Merit is located at:
548 Lawrence Expressway
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408-245-8988
Another great find, recently opened Green Bites Cafe on Bascom Avenue is more than just a coffee shop. The owner, Fenny Kwan, creates simple, tasty dishes to satisfy any hungry guest including the occasional carnivore among us. Primarily healthy, vegetarian dishes, they create an assortment of gluten free items including their own baked bread. What a treat. I had the vegetarian sausage and eggs on their gluten free bread for breakfast. Yum. Very reasonably priced as well.
For a simple meal, a quick snack, and good vibes drop by Green Bites Cafe, 1290 S. Bascom Ave., San Jose CA 95128.
