The Western New York Gluten Free Diet Support Group, Inc. (hence WNYGFDSG) is a member-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports individuals and families  living with Celiac Disease (CD), Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and gluten intolerance.  The WNYGFDSG has been in existence for 18 years and is a growing and dynamic organization, drawing from a very large geographic area in Western New York.  We have over 250 current members. This website lists our monthly meeting schedule, group dinners and social functions, as well as information about the upcoming events important to celiacs and their supporters.   Additionally, you can find information about Celiac Disease , Celiac testing, and Celiac Follow-up care.     If you would like to speak to someone from our group about Celiac disease or other related issues, check the contact names and numbers for more personalized support.Need/wish to write to us? Our address is: WNY Gluten Free Diet Support Group, P.O. BOX 1835, Williamsville, NY 14231        Welcome to the Homepage of the Western NY Gluten-Free Diet Support Group, Inc. Check out the many useful links on our site to help you enjoy living a healthy, Gluten-Free life.        What's Happening in the Gluten Free Community of Western New York?   Happy Summer! We have a dining event in August. See below for details and enjoy!     Great news from Wegmans! They are piloting a program to include prepared dishes/gluten free. Please read the following: Over the years we have received several requests from customers who would like enjoy prepared food items that are made without gluten.  We are excited to announce a new pilot program of fresh prepared entrees and side dishes that have no gluten ingredients.  The program is being offered in two Wegmans stores in the Buffalo area – Sheridan Drive and West Seneca. The items are prepared and packaged in these stores, and are easily identified with a sticker stating “No Gluten Ingredients.”  You can find these items in a refrigerated case in the prepared foods department of the Sheridan Drive and West Seneca stores.  The items are sold ala cart so customers can mix entrees and side dishes that meet their food preferences. If this program proves to be successful, we hope to expand the menu offerings as well as expand program to more stores.  If you have questions about the specific food items being offered, we encourage you to speak with Chef Bill at West Seneca or Chef Fred at Sheridan Drive. Sincerely, Theresa Amborski, RD Wegmans Nutritionist, BuffaloDivision Trish Kazacos, RD, CPT Wegmans Corporate Nutritionist

Asking for Your Assistance   Jacquelyn Askew is a student conducting a research study on celiac and its possible correlation to colic. She has received permission from our national group, Celiac Sprue Associaiton,  to assist in her research by filling out a questionnaire. Please follow this link: http://celiacresearchproject.com/  to view her webpage and to begin the questionnaire. This anonymous information could potentially lead to an earlier diagnosis in individuals all over the world.  Your assistance would be most valuable in this study.  She will be collecting data for several months but obviously would appreciate your prompt assistance. Thank you in advance and remember our motto: Celiacs Helping Celiacs     BUFFALO AREA GLUTEN FREE RESTAURANTS MAP You're hungry - You want to eat out. So where are all the great gluten free restaurants in the Buffalo area & how do you get to them? Our group now has a quick and easy way to locate GF friendly restaurants & stores in our area. Try using our google map and let us know what you think. Please note: The map will be updated as the group hears of more restaurants/food stores carrying gluten free options. Please email us if you have an addition for our map.  email: buffaloglutenfree@gmail.com

It's Here!!! Gluten Free Bisquick   Have you tried the new Betty Crocker GF Bisquick? I found it at Wegmans (Alberta Drive) Let us know what you think of the product.   Remember to look in the REGULAR baking aisle. The Betty Crocker website has many excellent gluten free recipes, including a "no butter" option.Click here and check out these and other recipes and tips.   An update on the Chex. All varieties of GF Chex are available in our area. Always check the box before purchasing to be sure it says "Gluten Free". The cereal is delicious but does contain quite a bit of sugar and does not contain fiber (or very little). Try adding rice bran, flax seeds, ground flax seed, nuts, etc. to your Chex to get the fiber you need. And now, Kix and Honey Kix cereals have also been re-formulated gluten free. The box will not say Gluten Free (because it is not manufactured in a dedicated facility) so you will have to read the ingredients labels.     Want to get the latest newsletter online? WNYGFDSG is going green! We are looking for members to sign up to get the newsletter sent electronically instead of printed and sent through the mail. You can save a tree, save our group money that can be spent on celiac awareness in our community, and you can stay informed! To switch to the electronic version (which you can print out if you prefer a hard copy), just send an email to buffaloglutenfree@gmail.com. and put newsletter in your subject. Once your membership in the group has been confirmed, you will be sent all newsletters to your email in a PDF format. The news will even get to you BEFORE we mail it out to the general membership! Give it a try, today. Here is our Spring Newsletter for you to look at in the "online" format.   Upcoming Events  MARK YOUR CALENDARS - DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 4:30 PM (cash bar) 5:00 (dinner) Summer dining out event at Root Five - Waterfront Restaurant -  4914 Lakeshore Road (Rte 5) in Hamburg. Come and enjoy a delicious gluten-free dinner with us at this unique establishment, whose motto is “The only thing we overlook is the lake!” Click on the dinners and special events link  to get more details. Hope to see you there. September 11– Krista VanWagner, Owner and Executive Chef at Curly’s Restaurant and Banquet  Center,  will be first our speaker of the 2010/2011 year. We are excited to have her return to speak to the group.   Did you miss the last meeting (June)? Here are the minutes to help keep you informed.     Here are some of the newest additions to our ever-growing list of local GF friendly restaurants!   78 West (Yes,This is the restaurant's name!) 7566 Transit Road - Amherst, New York  14221 - 716-580-3221 This new restaurant has a dedicated fryer and great tasting GF french fries! They have the ability to serve those with food allergies, just let the server know you need your meny choices to be made gluten free.     MIGHTY TACO RESTAURANTS The Western New York area now has a gluten free fast food alternative. Mighty Taco restaurants have a gluten free menu (click here to view). MANY of the products can now be enjoyed gluten free. (Please alert the cashier that you need your meal prepared gluten free.) There is a Mighty Taco with GF options near you! That's a mighty great piece of news!!!!!   P.F. Changs Located at the Galleria Mall, this restaurant chain offers high quality Chinese cuisine with many gluten-free options. Click here to see the menu.     Gianni Mazia's 10325 Main Street, Clarence Hollow  We have been told that this restaurant has a dedicated fryer for GF chicken wings and french fries, as well as GF ice cream cones. They are working on a GF pizza to be available in a few weeks. Give them a try.   Glen Iris Inn They have a separate GF menu with a number of mouth-watering choices. GF rolls are included in the meal. Wow! Head to Letchworth Park for a day of hiking and a GF meal to remember. (Click above for location, directions, etc.)   Thai Orchid Restaurant (Evanstown Plaza - 417 Evans near Sheridan Drive in Williamsville) Delicious Thai and Vietnamese menu choices. Many items have been identified as gluten free. La Nova Pizzeria La Nova now carries Vin-Chet pizza at both locations (Main St./Williamsville & West Ferry/Buffalo.  You can now order Gluten Free pizza at LaNova's. They have a 12 inch cheese and pepperoni pizza made by Vin-Chet bakery. You can have them bake the pizza or buy it frozen to make at home. The price for the 12inch pie - $16.95.     Southtowns area restaurants serving Gluten Free Choices Ilio DiPaolos Restaurant 3785 South Park Avenue - Blasdell, NY 14219 - phone 825-3675 DiPaolos has a great menu with many GF choices, including pasta dishes.  O'Brien's Pub 8557 North Main Street, Eden, NY 14057 - phone 992-4338 This restaurant has a number of GF items and a chef & wait staff who understand the gluten free diet. Our Fall dinner event was held here on September 13. All we can say - Mmmm! Gluten-free Good!   Know of a good restaurant in your area that caters to the gluten free diet? Help add to our restaurant list. Please contact Marilyn Hauck  and/or the, Paula McGirr (see contacts link).   Here is a Clarence store offering Gluten-Free products The Podge at 10205 Main St. in the Clarence Hollow Their gluten-free selections include: CherryBrook Kitchen mixes GF pastas: corn and rice Quinoa GF ice cream cones/sugar cones (BOGO) GF crackers, a few varieties All Chebe mixes Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (GF)

Did you know there is a local bakery that carries gluten free items? Vin-Chet Pastry Shop 2178 Kensington Amherst, NY 14226 839-0871 Come to a meeting and purchase baked goods or visit their Amherst retail location. Now you can even order products online! Check out their website - Gluten Free Baked Goods This is now the ONLY location for getting a variety of fresh, gluten-free baked goods. Call in your order by Friday at noon for pick-up on Saturday (between 2-4 PM). Vin-Chet's offers the following great tasting, gluten-free products:   cinnamon raisin bread Savary sandwich bread Cottage bread Mock Rye bread (using caraway seeds) sour cream coffee cake Chocolate chip cookies--with real butter and certified gluten-free Ghirardelli chocolate Chocolate ganache cakes and cupcakes Almond biscotti carrot cake Pizza crust: par-baked 12" crusts Pizza - cheese and pepperoni & white Hamburger  and hot dog buns They also now carry many other GF products: Schar pasta, GF sauce, crackers and chips. Vin-Chet products are also now at Dash Markets and on Fridays & Saturdays can be purchased FRESH not frozen! Thanks, Vin-Chet and Dash's Markets.

Check out the Message Board on the Web Page and our Facebook Page! Have you ever had a question about the Gluten-Free diet or wanted to discuss a topic with others in the group but couldn't get to a meeting? Would you like to share your knowledge about area GF restaurants/products. Here is your opportunity. We now have a Message Board. Post a topic/question or add to a posting. Try it out & get involved.(The message board is not working but should be back up soon, when security updates are made within the website. Thank you for your patience with this.) And for those of you who enjoy Facebook - Our group now has a Facebook group page.This is a place to share and discuss everything about gluten free living in the Buffalo area. You can start discussion threads, ask questions, and share your gluten free ideas. Click here for the Facebook page.       Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Did you know that there are new studies linking celiac disease and dental problems in children? Check out the  Articles section of the webpage.  The latest in a string of national articles featuring the GF lyfestyle can be found.   Here is a link to a great segment on the CBS Early Show, featuring GF recipes for biscuits, onion rings and pizza. The chef is the author of a wonderful cookbook, Gluten Free Every Day. Here is a link to information on the Food Labeling Act. Click here for a link to the National Celiac Spru Association - It lists U.S. government links regarding GF labeling anf food allergies in general.

Triumph Dining Cards and products - since 2005 Since 2005, Triumph Dining has helped over 40,000 people with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity enjoy delicious gluten-free foods. Whether you're staying local or traveling, their guides and cards will help you eat at home, go out, or do both! What's available?   Dining Cards: Order restaurant meals safely in 10 languages Restaurant Guide: Find gluten-free restaurants across the U.S. Grocery Guide: Shop gluten-free in any store nationwide     Check out the launch of GlutenFreeTravelSite.com Visitors to the site will be able to quickly and easily access travel reviews organized by geographic region and read about others’ personal experiences traveling and dining out in any part of the world. The site is user-based and you are encouraged to submit a review sharing your experience from a hotel, resort, cruise, or favorite restaurant. Pass the word along to your friends & family. So...let's put Buffalo, New York on the map as a celiac friendly community by posting reviews to our restaurants.

Do you like to cook and bake? Our group has a number of copies of  Pleasing the Gluten-Free Palate, a wonderful resource for Gluten-Free cooking, ready for you to purchase. Also, our library has a number of wonderful Gluten-Free cookbooks for you to borrow (when you become a member) and create to your heart's (and stomach's) content. Also, check out this website's list of GF recipes. Do you have a favorite recipe that you could share with us? Let the webmaster know! We LOVE to share!

Information on Oats     The mission of each of the following companies is to provide the purest oats available for people with celiac disease and wheat allergies. Inspected by celiacs from planting to packaging, these companies understand the importance of avoiding cross-contamination from wheat, rye or barley.   Bob's Red Mill     now brings you GF oats! The oats are packaged in their new, 100% gluten free facility and tested for gluten again to ensure their purity. Now available locally. Cream Hill Estates   in Quebec, Canada. They have an order form on the website for purchasing rolled oats (called oat flakes) and oat flour.  (The oats have been ELISA tested at below 3 ppm*) Gluten Free Oats®   (This IS the name of the company), based in Wyoming has an order form on their website for rolled oats in a 2 pound 9 oz. size. (These oats have tested at below 3 ppm*)  *Please be advised that a small percentage of people with celiac disease may not tolerate even the purest of oats. If you are unsure whether oats are suitable for your diet, please check first with your health advisor before eating them.