Gluten Intolerance Group meeting for January

As I've mentioned, I lead the Northbrook chapter of the Gluten Intolerance Group. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Northbrook Sunset Foods. On January 12 I am hosting CPA Dan Weitzman who will present on tax deductions for gluten free foods! See the blurb below. Also, if it could get better, we will be sampling Rudi's gluten free bread and also some goodies from Katz's Gluten Free. I hope you can join us!

"Tax Tolerance Threshold:
When Can Your Gluten Intolerance Yield Some Tax Savings?"
CPA to speak at GIG Chicago Area meeting.

It will soon be that time of year again...tax time.
I can hear the groans from everyone as they read these words. Having a Gluten Intolerance can be costly, but are there ways to get some money back for these expenses?

On January 12th at 6:30pm, the Northbrook, IL Gluten Intolerance Group will be hosting Dan Weitzman who will be speaking about what can and cannot be deducted when it comes to Gluten Intolerance.

Dan is a CPA and attorney who has an accounting practice in Glenview, IL. He has over 25 years of experience specializing in the taxation of individuals and closely-held businesses. He has taught accounting at the University of Illinois and Roosevelt University and has made presentations to many groups, including Chicago Bar Association, Citibank, Chicago Tribune and the Pennsylvania CPA Society.

When: January 12th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Where: Sunset Foods, 1127 Church Street in Northbrook
RSVP's to this event are welcome, but not necessary. If you have any additional questions, please contact Laura at glutenfreelci@gmail.com

Gluten Free Caramelized Apple Cake

So I know that I prefer to review restaurants, but this cake really turned out great! I used a recipe that I found in the back of a magazine and just swapped out the flour for a GF blend. I used Meister's flour and also made this with Better Batter flour. (If you use Meister's, be sure to follow their instructions for modifying your baking powder) I'd avoid Bob's Red Mill on this, because I doubt that the cake flavors will mask the bean taste. Because this bakes in a skillet, I was able to transport it easily right in the pan.

Caramelized Apple Cake

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups GF flour blend containing xantham gum
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch slices


1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat 1/2 cup of the butter in a large bowl for 1 minute or until creamy. Add granulated sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until blended. Reduce speed to low. Gradually blend in flour mixture, then sour cream.
4. Melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in an ovenproof 10-inch nonstick skillet. Add brown sugar; stir 2 minutes.
5. Add apple slices to the pan and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes or until tender. Spread apples in a single layer. Let cool for 5 minutes.
6. Spoon batter over apples and spread to edge of skillet. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on rack for 20 minutes. Run knife around edge. Carefully invert onto a plate. If serving this later, leave it in the skillet, heat it briefly on the stovetop before inverting.

Gluten Free Chicagoland Restaurant List

I had only been to the GF Grocery in Westchester twice. It was too far away. And now it is out of business, closed last week. I frequently was on the website, however, because they did have a long restaurant list. I copied it from them and will be adding my own restaurant finds to it as time goes on... so this list will be updating regularly! I have not been to many of these restaurants, so please use caution. Contact the restaurant first to make sure they are still in business and they can still accomodate a gluten free diner. I have excluded 2 suggested restaurants from my list, places where I personally have had a negative experience. Have any suggestions or recommendations?? I am happy to add them, just let me know!

Last updated 3/19/2011
This page is getting a lot of hits! Please leave me your own ideas and suggestions! Are there places to avoid? That may be a good list to start, as well...

Restaurants with multiple locations
Aurelio's Pizza GF Pizza
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano GF Menu
Big Bowl GF Menu
Bonefish Grill GF Menu
Boston Market GF menu
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. GF menu
Carrabba's Italian Grill GF Menu
Carson's GF Menu
Cheeseburger In Paradise GF menu
Chili's Grill & Bar GF menu
Chipotle Mexican Grill GF burrito bowl
Claim Jumper Restaurant GF menu
Cooper's Hawk Winery GF menu
Deerfields Bakery GF baked goods
Ditka's Restaurants GF friendly
Five Guys Burgers and Fries everything except buns are GF
Flat Top Grill GF friendly
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse GF menu
Jason's deli GF Menu
Francesca's Restaurants GF pasta, AH site has GF menu
Kona Grill GF menu
Las Tablas Columbian Steakhouse GF knowledgeable
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria GF crustless pizza
Maggiano's Little Italy GF Pasta
Marcello's GF Menu
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants GF friendly
The Melting Pot GF Menu
Mon Ami Gabi GF friendly
My Pi Pizza GF pizza & pasta
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant GF Menu
Outback Steakhouse GF Menu
Pei Wei Asian Diner GF Menu
PF Chang's China Bistro GF Menu
Piero's Pizza GF pizza
Pinstripes Bowling GF Menu
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers GF Menu
Roti Mediterranean Grill GF Menu
Stir Crazy GF friendly
Topolobompo & Frontera Grill GF friendly
Pizzeria Uno's GF Menu
Walker Brothers Pancake House GF pancakes
Weber Grill Restaurant GF Menu
Wildfire Restaurants GF Menu

Restaurants in North Suburbs
Bella Via (Highland Park) GF friendly
Bob Chinn's Crabhouse (Wheeling) GF friendly
Breadsmith (Highland Park) fresh GF baked on Wednesdays
City Park Grill (Highland Park) GF Menu
The Claim Company (Northbrook) GF Menu
Di Pescara (Northbrook) GF friendly
Golden Chef Cantonese & Szechwan Restaurant (Wheeling) entire menu available GF
Goode & Fresh Pizza Bakery (Glenview) GF Menu
The Happ Inn (Northfield) GF Menu
Main Street Smoke House (Libertyville) GF Menu
Malibu Pizza & Pasta (Skokie) GF Pizza
Max and Benny's Restaurant (Northbrook) GF Menu
Mitchell's Fish Market (Glenview) GF Menu
Nirvana Wine Bar and Grillerie (Vernon Hills) GF Menu
Rose's Bakery (Evanston) GF Bakery and Cafe
Risotto's Italian Ristorante (Gurnee) GF Menu
Smokin' T's BBQ (Long Grove) GF Menu
Sushi Kushi Toyo (Lake Forest and Vernon Hills) GF soy sauce
Tavern Libertyville Restaurant (Libertyville) GF friendly
Tsukasa of Tokyo (Vernon Hills) GF teriyaki & soy sauce

Restaurants in Northwest Suburbs
AFFRESCO Pizzeria & Lounge (Park Ridge) GF Menu
Barrington Gourmet (Barrington) GF Menu
Divino Gelato (Grayslake) GF Pizza
Gluten-Free Cookie Passion (Mundelein) GF Bakery
Graziano's (Niles) GF Menu
Julio's Latin Cafe (Lake Zurich) GF Menu
Kaiser's Pizza & Pub (Mundelein) GF Pizza
Mambo Italiano Ristorante (Mundelein) GF pasta
Nick's Pizza & Pub (Crystal Lake) GF Pizza
The Pizza Place and More (Crystal Lake) GF Pizza
Sunrise Grill (Des Plaines) (847)298-1600 GF friendly
Sweet Pea Cakes (Barrington) GF cupcakes Friday & Saturday
That Pasta Place (Grayslake) GF Menu

Restaurants in Chicago
Adobo Grill GF Menu
Belly Shack GF Menu
Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant GF Menu
The Balanced Kitchen GF Menu
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba GF friendly
Cassava Bread GF baked goods
The Chicago Diner GF Menu
Fattoush Lebanese Cuisine GF Friendly/GF pita
The Grill on the Alley GF Menu
Harry Caray's Tavern Navy Pier GF Menu
Il Vicinato 773-927-5444 Cermak & Western GF Pasta
Ina's GF Menu
Italian Village Restaurant GF friendly
Petterino's GF Menu
RL Restaurant GF friendly
Riva Crabhouse Navy Pier GF friendly
Roy's Restaurant GF friendly
Sol y Nieve GF Friendly
Swirlz Cupcakes GF cupcakes
Tipsy Cake GF baked goods
Vinci Chicago GF Menu
ZED451 GF Friendly

Restaurants in West Suburbs
Barone's (Glen Ellyn) GF Pizza
Da Luciano (River Grove) GF Menu
Emilio's Tapas (Hillside) GF Friendly
Gaetano's Cafe (Forest Park) GF friendly
Glen Prairie Fine Food (Glen Ellyn) GF Menu
Greco's Fine Italian Restaurant (Willow Springs) GF Pasta
Lucca's Pizzeria and Ristorante (LaGrange) GF pasta & pizza
Maya del Sol (Oak Park) GF friendly
Mykhas's Restaurant (Glen Ellyn) GF friendly
Prasino (La Grange & St. Charles) GF Menu
Prima La Pizza (Hillside) GF pizza & pasta
Q BBQ (La Grange) Gf Friendly
Roberto's Ristorante (Elmhurst) GF friendly
The Bank Restaurant (Wheaton) GF Menu
The Clubhouse (Oak Brook) GF friendly
Trattoria 225 (Oak Park) GF Menu
The White Chocolate Grill (Naperville) GF Menu


Restaurants in South Suburbs
Guardi's Pizza (Tinley Park) GF Pizza
OMG It's Gluten Free Cafe (Frankfort) All GF Cafe
Palermo's Italian Restaurant GF Menu