Beyond Gluten Free & Why?

Celiac is an auto-immune disease that is estimated to affect 1 in 125 people in the US. My journey and education began in 1998 when, at age 38, my joints suddenly began to age at an incredible rate. Thus began the doctors visits. The first two years, my only symptoms were my joint problems and a constant low grade fever. I was told by different doctors things like,” it’s all in your head” and my personal favorite, that I “swam”,” played too much volleyball and softball as a child”. By 2000, my intestinal tract had gone into revolt and twenty visits a day to the restroom did not support either of the wonderful diagnoses to date. My symptoms were similar to Lyme disease and I was tested on four different occasions with negative results. I researched the web and knew I had either Celiac or its sister auto-immune Colitis. Still, it was another four years before I was formerly diagnosed with Colitis.                                                                                                                 
In January 2007, Kelly Clark and I decided to open a restaurant combining three favorite foods we had grown up with in Brunswick. Two days after opening, our first Celiac customer walked through the door and inquired as to what was safe to eat. It is an overwhelming task to open a regular restaurant, let alone a specialty one. Although I did have a couple of gluten free offerings, he brought to the forefront the need to greatly expand what could be offered. So the quest for gluten free fried products began. One week later, I had gotten nowhere. I even had a major manufacturer tell me not only did they not have a breading product they had no intention of developing one. My half Italian, half Irish, Taurean nature kicked in and I developed my own breading. Two weeks later, my first Dairy free customer walked in, followed by Soy, then Egg and of course Nut free. I learned that the National Autism Association highly recommends the GF/CF (gluten-casein free) diet for children on the autism spectrum. In addition to that, the CDC cites an increase of 18% of diagnosed food allergies in children in the last ten years.                      
     In my quest to satisfy customers needs, I have been shocked by the cost of products and the lack of availability, especially in the Dairy/Soy free arena. I have also heard horror stories from customers dining out experiences( cross contamination, the lack of knowledge,and/or awareness). I myself was served a piece of flourless chocolate cake that had an OREO cookie crust, HELLO! I search high and low for safe products at the best possible price and I pass those savings on to my customers. Every item on my Food Allergy menu for the Fish Fry is the same price as the regular diet menu. We have dedicated fryers and equipment to prevent cross contamination.  
             
(& why? ) the answer is very simple. I can not say no to people. Eating safe, tasty, nutritious food should be a norm not the proverbial quest for the holy grail. I also have genuine sympathy for those of us that HAVE to read every label and know what that ingredient you can’t pronounce is.                                                                                                      
By February 2008, my symptoms escalated and I am now a full blown Celiac. I am known as the Kitchen Witch because what I do is Alchemy. Gluten free is difficult enough but taking Dairy, Egg and Soy ( found in everything) out of the equation and coming up with products that are delicious is a fete of magic. My joy is attained in seeing the expressions on peoples faces when eating something they thought they would never be able to and it’s tasty to boot. I added DAFFI (Dawn’s Allergy Free Foods, I is Hungry) in August 2008 after spending a year trying to get a manufacturer to make a dairy/soy free butter alternative. I now have a patent pending on that product.I also offer many baked goods and global menu fare that is safe and free of the various food allergens. I invite you to visit us and once again enjoy those foods you have been missing!