News Flash: Dum-Dums are gluten-free

You guys, this weekend was cray-cray! I just got finished partying with a bunch of Celiacs at the annual Celiac Disease Foundation Convention and you know what that means. That’s right, the Tito’s vodka was flowing, the gluten-free pizzas were being passed around, and nobody went home alone. Can I get a wha-what?

Or, you know, maybe the convention started at 7:30 a.m. and since the hotel was all of 2.5 minutes from my house and my kids woke us up at 5:30 I drank a lot of coffee and walked across the street to see what’s new and g-free! Either/Or.

The point is, I discovered some new tasty treats that are all gluten-free, and I’m going to fill you in on that business. As seen in the pile of free samples I walked away with, above. Not pictured: Bard’s gluten-free beer, which was chilling in my fridge; Venice Bakery gluten-free pizza crust, which was in my oven covered in prosciutto and mozzarella; and a snack pack of Lay’s original potato chips which I already ate. I kind of had to, as I didn’t know they were gluten-free, so when the nice man handed them out I immediately busted those chips open.

In addition to these goodies, you could kind of graze your way through the convention hall and fill up for the day on gluten-free foods. I have to say there’s something refreshing and very much an antidote to the disappointment I feel when walking through Costco on the weekend. I could eat anything in that entire place, you guys. ANYTHING. And I did. Here is one of my faves.

Arnel McAtee was there with her original gluten-free concoctions and I have to say this lady was adorbs. I want Arnel to be my nana. She insisted I try her baking mixes that included an incredible buttery and flaky pie crust, buckwheat soft bread, and a chocolate chip cake. All soft, and all delicious. Being the lovely lady that she is, I’m pretty sure Arnel was disappointed in me when I handed her my business card. I’m sorry for using curse words, Arnel, but thanks for the yummy cake!

Onward! So Gorton’s is getting into the gluten-free game. I decided to hang out there for a bit and chat about fish sticks. Only they’re more about the healthy tilapia and stuff. Mostly I was mesmerized by the cute little guy in the boat, but the nice Gorton’s lady reminded me that I really need to be eating fish twice a week. She, and my husband, are apparently right about that.

Meanwhile in the ballroom there were people chatting about Celiac. I tried to listen, I did. But once the topic of, “Do we biopsy, or do we not biopsy?” was discussed for more than 25 seconds, I had to bail. I know I should be paying attention, but the Hodgson Mill people were making fried chicken in the other room and Bard’s was pouring as early as 8:30 in the morning. You can’t really compete with that.

All-in-all it was a successful day in Celiac land. It must feel the same way for nudists when they get to go away for camp and nobody complains about their peccadilloes. It’s just assumed that there is something wrong with you and instead of calling the police, someone hands you a gluten-free muffin. And that, my friends, is rad.

Were you at the convention? Did you get loaded up on fried chicken, beer, and cake?