Turning tables: Restaurant and food news
Main dish
It was only last month that I called all the local pizza places with delivery to find just one offering gluten-free crust. My calls were met with confusion, “Gluten what?” Domino’s Pizza was one of the places I called.
It seems that I was just a few weeks too early. Last week, Domino’s announced that it now offers gluten-free crusts. The crusts contain no wheat, rye or barley. Instead, the ingredients include rice flour, rice starch, potato starch and olive oil.
While we have some wonderful independent pizza places making gluten-free crusts in Atlanta, Domino’s is the first large-scale pizza chain to offer them. This signals the recognition of the trend towards gluten-free products for those with Celiac disease or gluten-sensitivity. Domino’s, however, introduces its gluten-free crust with a disclaimer: it is not recommended for individuals with Celiac disease.
The new crusts are made in the same kitchen as traditional wheat-flour based crusts, which introduces the possibility for cross contamination. According to its website, Domino’s conducted third-party studies on cross contamination. They found the risk to be minimal, but cannot guarantee that it won’t occur.
You should now be able to find the gluten-free crusts at your local Domino’s Pizza.
Bites
- Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop, the lunch-only spot that sits just behind Pura Vida Tapas on Blue Ridge Ave., announced that it is closing its doors. Despite the high praise the restaurant received from diners and critics alike, Super Pan didn't receive enough business to sustain it. According to the press release, "the foot traffic in the area is not enough to support the high-labor, high-food-cost concept in its current location." Owners Hector and Leslie Santiago, who also own Pura Vida, hope to reopen Super Pan in a new location with space for a full Latin bakery and coffee shop and, of course, the sandwiches for which Super Pan is known. The new location would be open for coffee, breakfast, lunch and possibly dinner. The Santiagos are currently looking for investors before beginning the project.
Gravy
Iron-Chef-style farmers market . . . Peachtree Road Farmers Market, www.peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com
On Friday, June 1, the Peachtree Road Farmers Market will shake things up a bit with a Friday night market. The special event will be marked with an Iron-Chef-style competition where six local chefs will be given two hours and $45 to shop at the market’s vendors to prepare fresh-from-the-farm plates to serve 100 people. The event will also feature food trucks and live Bluegrass music. The Friday market will take place in lieu of a Saturday morning market for this one week only. 4-8 p.m. June 1. $5.
Casting Call . . . Fado's Irish Pub, www.theconlincompany.com
If you’ve got skills in the kitchen and a thick skin, you’ve got a chance to be on “Hell’s Kitchen” with Gordon Ramsay. The show’s casting directors are hosting an open call in Atlanta on June 2. They will be casting for both Seasons 11 and 12 of this famous trial-by-fire cooking competition show. A total of 50 people will be selected from across the country to fill the spots. 2-6 p.m. June 2.
