Sorry I missed you last week. After traveling with my family to Hawaii for the kids’ Spring Break, I headed directly to New York City for the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual conference. Needless to say, gathering 1000 “food people” together in the greatest dining city in the country makes for a good time. I think I need a cleanse. Over the course of my four days in NY, I attended many really cool seminars on topics ranging from food styling to conducting a successful cooking demo. My most anticipated session, though, was cookbook …

We’re lucky here in Portland, OR to have a number of dedicated gluten-free bakeries in our midst. Listed below are many of their holiday offerings (cookie assortments! bûche de Noel! cinnamon rolls!)  and ordering deadlines. Since we’re all probably too busy to bake this month (I am), please support these fabulous bakers who have dedicated themselves to bringing us safe and delicious holiday treats. (Note: please confirm prices with the merchant. I double checked my info, but sometimes typos happen.) Photo: Courtesy of Crave Bake Shop Gluten Free Gem 265 N. Hancock Street, Portland 503-288-1508 …

Alright, folks, it’s November now and time to start thinking about your gluten-free holiday needs.Our fabulous local gluten-free bakeries are offering quite a lineup: pies, tarts, breakfast items, cheesecakes, and the ever-elusive dinner rolls and stuffing mix. I’ve been assembling a list of their special Thanksgiving items, including prices and ordering deadlines. I’ll update the list as I hear from more of the bakeries, so be sure to check back in. (Photo courtesy of Petunia’s Pies and Pastries.) CRAVE BAKE SHOP 503-212-2979 460 Fifth Street, Lake Oswego OR www.cravebakeshop.com Order by Friday, November 18th Apple, …

Jade Bistro, located in the Sellwood neighborhood of SE Portland, is exactly the type of restaurant you hope to find at the end of your block: fantastic food, extensive tea list, and a bustling scene that remains warm and inviting. Co-owner and executive chef Lucy Eklund’s cooking reflects her heritage and travels in a blend of Southeast Asian cuisines, including Thai, Laotian, and French influenced Vietnamese. Lucy’s daughter (and co-owner) April Eklund runs the front of the house, a fresh modern space that still feels like home. When I first started eating at Jade, I …

I grew up in St. Louis and generally spend a week or two there in the summer visiting family. I’ve really watched the gluten-free awareness in the city grow over the past few years. Here’s a brief summary of my restaurant experiences this time around: MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY – Maggiano’s is a chain restaurant that clearly has an allergy-friendly plan in place. The waiter was unfazed by my request for a gluten-free menu and suggested that a chef would come to the table to discuss my options. First a manager who seemed slightly irritated by …

Full disclosure: Kyra Bussanich, owner and pastry chef extraordinaire of Crave Bake Shop, and I are friends. But it’s not what you think. I don’t write about Kyra because we’re friends; we became friends because I couldn’t stop writing about her amazing desserts. (She probably thought I was stalking her and figured it would be easier just to befriend me.) Kyra and I met late in 2009 when she was running Crave Bake Shop as a special-order bakery from her certified gluten-free home kitchen. She brought me a sample pack of some of her cupcakes, …