In 2018, gluten-related disorders (GRDs) had an estimated global prevalence of 5%. GRDs include the autoimmune disorder known as celiac disease, in which the body attacks itself in the presence of the gliadin proteins in gluten, as well as wheat allergy and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). People with GRDs must avoid consuming gluten, which means eliminating wheat-based products and gluten-contaminated products from their diets. Until recently, finding places to dine out was a challenge for Lehigh Valley residents with GRDs.

When he moved to Easton from Staten Island months ago, Jeff Vilson, who has celiac disease, started a Facebook group called Gluten-Free Easton PA with the help of like-minded friends. One major draw of joining the group is access to the Facebook page’s pinned memo, updated at least monthly, that provides a list of member-submitted gluten-free dining options in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

Vilson cautions group members he does not independently verify the safety of any eating establishment for people with GRDs; however, he encourages those who submit eatery information to provide details and advises his fellow diners to call restaurants ahead of time to verify food preparation is safe for their particular health concern.

Gluten Free Easton PA invites restaurant owners and gluten-free diners to join and add to the community’s awareness of gluten-free dining options and other issues of importance to the GRD community. Information on switching to a gluten-free diet is available at celiac.org, the home of the Celiac Disease Foundation.

Vilson notes food prep procedures at Moe’s Southwest Grill, 3509 Nazareth Road, Easton, put his mind at ease. Most of the ingredients at Moe’s are either fresh produce or non-breaded meats, which are naturally gluten free, although the chain does sell wheat flour tortillas in addition to its gluten-free corn tortillas.

“They prep everything on wax paper,” Vilson said. “They always wear gloves, and you can ask them to change their gloves.”

He also applauds Moe’s use of a dedicated fryer for its corn tortillas.

“Moe’s is budget friendly for most,” he added, noting gluten-free equivalents of wheat-based foods like bread and pizza are generally more costly in grocery stores and restaurants alike. For cooking at home, he appreciates the gluten-free spices available at Apna Punjab Indian Grocery Store, 3650 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem.

Stonefield Farm Bakery, 2093 Leithsville Road, Hellertown, specializes in gluten-free baked goods. Owner Nichole Malone spoke with The Press about her bakery and the life events that led to opening it.

“I started this journey over 10 years ago (from) baking and cooking gluten free for my husband, who was diagnosed with celiac disease, so a lot of my practices and initial costs to setting up my kitchen were put in place when we built our home, and owning my own bakery wasn’t even a thought.”

Recognizing many Lehigh Valley residents who needed to avoid gluten were having trouble finding much beyond a few supermarket basics, Malone started baking commercially in October 2021, offering both gluten-free and traditional recipe baked goods.

Living with a person who has celiac disease means Malone takes cross-contamination risks seriously.

“I do not have a separate working area in my kitchen for preparation,” she explains. “What I do have is years of practice and the ability to plan my days for baking gluten free and baking with traditional ingredients. For instance, if I have an order for gluten free, that gets made in the morning before any other traditional dessert is made. Then if a traditional dessert is made, nothing gluten free gets made for 24 hours and a thorough cleaning of all surfaces in the kitchen.”

Malone does use separate equipment for her gluten free and traditional baking. This includes separate mixers, utensils, rolling pins, baking pans and stainless steel bowls. She has a double oven and uses the top oven for gluten-free baking only and the bottom oven for everything else. Other precautions involve ingredient storage and food safety practices.

“I have two pantries in my home. One is to store all traditional ingredients in airtight containers and the equipment for traditional baking, and the other is for all gluten-free ingredients in airtight containers and the equipment for gluten-free baking.

“(And) gloves, lots and lots of gloves - that’s a given in any food industry and part of ServSafe certification.”

Bergey’s General Store, 3540 Lower Saucon Road, Hellertown, carries a limited supply of baked goods from Stonefield.

The Easton Wine Project, located in the Simon Silk Mill at 1247 Simon Blvd., Ste. N103, serves gluten-free items on its Better Than Bar Food menu, as well as offering gluten-free buns and crusts for its sandwiches and flatbreads. Bowls and salads on the current menu are gluten free, as well as one of the three desserts presently on offer.

Owners Justin and Sharon Fretz designed their menu to include gluten-free foods because Sharon Fretz, whose autoimmune disease necessitates adherence to a gluten-free diet, had trouble finding places to eat. General manager Amanda Thatcher spoke with The Press about the wine bar’s allergy protocols.

“We don’t have a separate gluten-free area,” she explained. “What we have is an allergy protocol.”

Patrons are asked to inform their servers of any allergies or dietary preferences. When servers are told about an allergy, they click an allergy alert button on the order tablet, which notifies the entire kitchen.

As soon as the kitchen receives an allergy alert, a space is cleared and sanitized to prevent cross contamination. Fresh tools and utensils are brought out to prepare the allergen-free order.

“Everyone on the line is alerted,” Thatcher explained, so appropriate procedures are followed for plating and serving.

The Easton Wine Project is one of the original commercial tenants at the repurposed silk mill buildings and has been in business for about four years.

The Flying V, which operates a restaurant at 201 E. Third St., Bethlehem, a catering service and food truck, specializes in poutine, a Canadian fry-based entree. Ali Transue, one of the managers, has celiac disease and spoke about the cross-contamination prevention protocols in place.

“While we do offer sandwiches that contain gluten, we have a separate preparation area, cutting board and griddle,” Transue said. “We also have designated towels to use around gluten, and we change gloves while moving from gluten to anywhere else.”

She further explained gluten never touches the fryers.

“All fryers in our poutinerie are designated gluten free,” she said.

Most menu items are safe for people with GRDs.

“All of our fries, poutines and vegan poutines are gluten free,” Transue said. “Even our fried popcorn chicken is gluten free. Some specials contain gluten, but we take precautions in preparation and label accordingly.”

Indigo 52 opened Feb. 8 at 52 S. Main St., Nazareth, and is completely gluten and dairy free.

Menu items include chickpea-crust pizza for kids, stuffed French toast for brunch and a ginger chicken entree with spinach, red peppers and toasted almonds. The cafe’s website advises reservations because the dining area is small.

Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St., has several vendors with gluten-free items available. The Press spoke with Chocodiem, Modern Crumb and Green Vida.

Chocodiem offers certified gluten-free macaroons. Some of the Belgian chocolatier’s other products, such as truffles and packaged grab-and-go nuts and espresso beans, are also made without gluten; however, owner J.P. Hepp said cross contamination cannot be ruled out.

Regarding other special diets, Hepp highlights the vegan molded dark chocolate pieces and vegan hot chocolate mix, which is suitable for preparation with plant-based “milk” products.

The Modern Crumb Bakeshop offers several gluten-free items, including the very popular oatmeal sandwich cookies with cream cheese filling and the fudge brownie. Professionally trained pastry chef Kathryn Gaffney, who owns the bakery, said to prevent cross contamination, all gluten-free items are baked on their own baking trays, without any gluten-containing items in the oven at that time. The bakery uses certified gluten-free oatmeal from Bob’s Red Mill, a favorite brand among people with celiac disease. Along with Shawnee Baking Co., Modern Crumb provides gluten-free bakery treats to the Forks Township location of Green Vida.

Green Vida, which has both a storefront at 1800 Sullivan Trail and a stall inside the Easton Public Market, specializes in raw, organic, cold-pressed juices. Owner Jackie Rueda reported 75% of the items on the food menu are gluten free and that the sandwiches, wraps, toasts and Caesar salad can be prepared without gluten. Although Green Vida uses locally baked wheat products, its gluten-free bread is prepackaged and certified gluten free. Like many proprietors, Rueda has a personal reason to offer gluten-free foods.

“It is important to us to have these options for all of our guests in addition to organic and locally sourced food,” she said. “I have a son with autism who was GF and dairy free for many years. A gluten-free, casein-free and organic diet helped with his behavioral health and development and put us on a path to healing.”

Just around the corner from the public market is Third and Ferry Fish Market, 56 S. Third St., with many options for people with special diets, including gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian. General manager Danya Kinsman said patrons are asked when they make a reservation and when they place their order whether they have any allergies or dietary restrictions, and the kitchen is informed accordingly.

Although there is not a dedicated gluten-free area in the kitchen, all items are made to order, and tools and utensils are sanitized before each change of entree. French fries, which are gluten free, are prepared in their own dedicated fryer.

Starting with the list of restaurants recommended by members of Gluten Free Easton PA, The Press attempted to verify gluten-free offerings and cross-contamination prevention protocols at local eateries. Information listed below was current at press time. Readers should be aware restaurant practices and suppliers can change. People with dietary restrictions are advised to call any eating establishment in advance to verify menu items and cross-contamination practices suit their individual needs.

Aman’s Artisan Indian Cuisine, 336 Northampton St., Easton, lists several gluten-free items on its menu, including vegetable pakora, chili paneer and malai kofta. Patrons are asked to notify the restaurant of any dietary restrictions and allergies when placing an order.

Daddy’s Place, 650 Northampton St., Easton, offers a wide variety of Middle Eastern foods, most of which are naturally gluten free. Menu items include several types of hummus, Daddy’s mixed grill with beef, chicken, kafta and lamb and a vegetarian platter with eggplant, peppers, zucchini, artichokes and onions.

Forks Mediterranean Deli, 1530 Sullivan Trail, Easton, sells gluten-free cashew cookies.

La Kang Thai-French Cuisine, 190 S. Greenwood Ave., Easton, offers several naturally gluten-free menu items, such as pad thai.

La Perla Tapatia, 308 Old Mill Road, Easton, has a wide variety of gluten-free options on its menu, from pico de gallo tacos served in corn tortillas to three different varieties of flautas.

Lehigh Valley BBQ, 154 Northampton St., Easton, offers gluten-free substitutions for its pasta dishes and serves many gluten-free-friendly menu items, including Texas cowboy baked beans and smoked chicken wings.

Naz-O-Nut, 64 E. Lawn St., Nazareth, is a coffee shop with a variety of freshly baked wheat-based doughnuts, plus three flavors of gluten-free mini doughnuts.

“We always felt that, at times, there could be family members or friends that cannot eat our doughnuts, and we wanted to have the option for them to be able to enjoy their sweet doughnuts together with our doughnuts,” Helena Lazzarini said.

The gluten-free doughnuts are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility and stored in individual plastic packaging. The varieties currently available are glazed, apple cider and devil’s food chocolate.

Picasso Pizza II, 271 Town Center Blvd., Easton, offers a wide variety of specialty gluten-free pizzas.

Rios Brazilian Steakhouse, 127 S. Broad St., Nazareth, has several gluten-free meats, as well as naturally gluten-free cheesy bread.

Saylors & Co., a butcher shop with locations at 1105 Main St., Hellertown, and the Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St., offers a range of gluten-free meats, smoked meats and sausages. Although Saylors is not a gluten-free facility, all meats are cut on a dedicated gluten-free butcher block that is frequently sanitized.

SURV Restaurant, 1800 Sullivan Trail, Easton, allows diners to request gluten-free crust for its seven varieties of wood-fired pizza, as well as offering its sausage and chicken rigatoni with gluten-free pasta.

Wegmans, 3791 Easton Nazareth Highway, Easton, offers a wide variety of salads, entrees and other menu items made without gluten.