I AM a Gluten-Free Goddess

Pretty much anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a Gluten-Free Goddess. The Queen of Celiac, eating all that is gluten-free, and dontcha forget it. I'm constantly amused by those who are unaware of what is and isn't gluten. When I tell them I can't eat bread, I will get "well what about crackers?" Let's face it, crackers are pretty much a little piece of dehydrated bread. No cake, cookies, pizza, pasta, etc. The look of terror that spreads across their face is priceless. "So what do you eat then?" as if they had never heard of fresh fruit and vegetables; meats, chicken, and fish. I don't think I've ever been asked "Do they make any type of bread you can eat?" It's always just assumed that I'm starving and am magically alive by the power of sheer will.


The whole reason that inspired this blog, well two reasons actually, are that within the past month I've had two insane questions thrown at me. Two completely logical concerns, but ridiculous none the less. One coming from our new roommate. It was the weekend that he moved in and had just done his first batch of grocery shopping. (When we met him, we went out to dinner and I ordered a burger without the bun. After the waitress took our order, I explained why I don't/can't eat the bun.) So when he did finally move in and bought a loaf of bread, he asked me if it was OK if he kept his bread in the kitchen. Of course I had to laugh at that. It was nice that he was worried about contamination, but something I had yet to hear. The other, was just last week when Gillian, Lauren, and I went to the Empty Bottle to see Bang! Bang! (fabulous local band, by the way!!) Gillian asked if I could hold her beer while she ran to the ladies room. Then quickly added, "Wait! Can you hold my beer? Or will that make you sick?" We all laughed at that one, but again, I was grateful she was concerned about me.


I also wanted to mention that a few weeks ago I took a little part-time job (and we're talking paaaart time - I work a total of eight hours a week) at a gluten-free bakery and café in Evanston. While the job itself isn't the greatest, the food is delicious! Seriously. Even my non-gluten free friends were loving all the brownies, cookies, crisps, eclairs, and cheesecakes I brought home.


The sad thing about this is that for the past five years or so, I've always wanted to open a gluten-free café or bakery. I even enrolled in culinary school, but dropped out before classes started because all the extra gear like knife sets and uniforms cost too much. I really believe there is a great need to raise awareness of Celiac disease and living a gluten-free lifestyle. Take me for example. I lived years in misery before I found out I couldn't eat gluten. It is pretty cool to see that gluten-free foods are on the rise, but I wish I would have done something sooner to be a part of the gluten-free revolution.


With that said, I still want to do my part! This past spring, my only known gluten-free friend, Alexandra, and I decided to start up a gluten-free group. Not necessarily a "support group", but one in which we could share information such as new gluten-free finds, exchange recipes, and even dine out at restaurants servin' up some gluten-free fare. These groups, like the bakery and café, are also in demand. Alexandra mentioned that when she wrote reviews on Yelp!, people would contact her looking for the answers of all their dietary woes. She was like a savior to them. Where could they find gluten-free foods? What could they eat? What couldn't they eat? They had symptoms, were they Celiac? Only being able to tell them "I'm not a doctor" and "Check out my other reviews for more gluten-free places to shop/eat" she, too, wanted to do more to help these poor, poor souls...and their stomachs.


Hence, we established the gluten-free group, Celiac and the City. (Get it? Get it?) I held a kick off party in June. I had written to several gluten-free manufactures whom sent me oodles of gluten-free goodies. Only three people there actually needed to eat gluten-free (Alexandra, my mom, and myself), but it was the thought that counted. Since then we haven't done much to get the show on the road, but now that I've taken the bakery job, I've been inspired to get our group goin' again. I see all the people that come in and tell me about their allergies, and I want to say, "Join my gluten-free club!" But oh wait, technically we really don't have a club yet. In theory we do, but in reality we don't.


So that is the plan of action for this upcoming week. Alexandra and I are going to meet up and start planning. We will be the Mother Teresas of the gluten intolerant.

Coming soon! Promise!