Like organic and natural foods, gluten-free foods are popping up in mainstream supermarkets. Yet you can often find more options at places that cater to customers on special diets. Here’s a sampling.
Cake Break
Special order gluten-free bread at this Rehoboth Beach bakery, which also sells gluten-free cupcakes. (260-9264, cakebreakrehoboth.com)
Good Earth Market and Organic Farm
Situated just outside Bethany Beach, Good Earth has an extensive selection of gluten-free grocery items and frozen foods. And, as of this year, it also has The Birch Tree Café, a totally gluten-free restaurant within the market. (537-7100, goodearthmarket.com)
Good News Natural Foods
With locations in Dover and Milford, this shop features both wheat-free and gluten-free items, as well as dairy alternatives, organic foods, vitamins and supplements.
(730-1910, 424-2393, goodnewsnaturalfoods.com)
Harvest Market Natural Foods
A pioneer in offering choices for health-conscious consumers and customers on restricted diets, this market in Hockessin carries basic, unprocessed foods that are naturally gluten-free—eggs, butter, meat, fruits and veggies—as well as specialty products, such as Udi’s breads, Salad Girl dressings and New Chapter supplements. Staff will help you navigate the labels. Some vanilla yogurts, for instance, might contain vanilla extract made with a gluten grain-based alcohol. (234-6779, harvestmarketnaturalfoods.com)
Janssen’s Market
Visit this Greenville landmark’s Web site each day to view a list of gluten-free prepared foods. Recent selections included poached salmon, corn risotto and meatloaf. “All our cold soups are gluten-free, and we have an extensive selection of gluten-free breads,” says Eileen Janssen. That’s in addition to frozen and prepared products, she notes. (654-9941, janssensmarket.com)
Newark Natural Foods
The go-to place for people with special dietary needs, the shop off Main Street in Newark makes gluten-free shopping a snap. Just follow the sign (a slash through a wheat shaft) to find the gluten-free products in each aisle. (368-5894, newarknaturalfoods.com)
Papa’s Pastry Shop
From pizza to cheesecakes to pizzelle cookies, you’ll find a cornucopia of good eats in this Little Italy shop in Wilmington. Papa’s Pastry even offers lasagna made with brown rice flour, spring rolls and quiche. You may need to order in advance. (777-0877, papaspastry.com)
ShopRite
With five locations in New Castle County, the Kenny family’s ShopRite stores have up to 400 fresh, frozen and packaged items. The Concord Pike location’s kosher kitchen turns out fresh prepared foods. (shoprite.com)
Trader Joe’s
Joe’s makes gluten-free shopping easy by putting a list of available gluten-free products on its Web site. Click on “Products & Guides,” print the list and go. There are specialty brands, such as Udi’s, and products that lack gluten, like chunky salsa. Put the all-natural turkey gravy on your list for your holiday dinner. (478-8494, traderjoes.com)
Whole Foods Market
The eagerly anticipated supermarket in Glen Eagle Shopping Center, just over the state line on U.S. 202, offers a wide selection of frozen, packaged and fresh products, including gluten-free banana bread, buttermilk pancakes, pie crusts, stuffing and peanut butter cookies. (610-358-1133, wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/glenmills)
Dining Out
For a list of restaurants featuring a gluten-free menu, visit the Gluten Free Registry (glutenfreeregistry.com), or check out UD grad Michael Savett’s Gluten Free Philly blog (glutenfreephilly.com). His e-book guide, a downloadable PDF for $3.99, includes Delaware.
