As I continue to expand the reach and breadth of this website I am constantly looking for new ways to connect, inform, enlighten, educate, and engage the gluten free and celiac community. There was once a time when the gluten free chef blog was a tiny little space for me to vent and ramble (I still ramble) about my life as celiac, a foodie, and a person living with chronic illness. This site still covers those topics, but has blossomed into something more. Something greater. Something bigger than myself. A safe place. A shared space. A space that provides content tailored to you, for you. This space is local, domestic, and international.

I’ve had the pleasure to connect with so many A+mazing, awesome, inspiring, kind, and truly great people right here in my hometown of Rochester, NY. People who, like me, are concerned about their food, where it comes from, how it is prepared, and how it is sourced. People looking to heal themselves through food. People looking to buy delicious, reasonably priced, processed, homemade, local, and sometimes not local; whole, real, and clean food. I’ve heard your voices, read your questions, and listened to your concerns. It’s for this reason that I am launching the newest blog feature: The Rochester Gluten Free Food Guide.

The Rochester Gluten Free Guide will be a space dedicated to featuring, highlighting, and listing the best of the best, gluten free friendly and gluten free dedicated food hubs in Rochester and the greater Rochester region. Since my return to Rochester in 2013, I have scoured the area and asked dozens of gluten free individuals for recommendations on the best gluten free eats this city has to offer. From national chains, mom and pops, take in, takeout, food trucks, grocery stores and everything in between, this space will be dedicated to telling you where to find and how to find gluten free and celiac safe food.

Of course, my standards are high. As a celiac I am equally as concerned about what’s in the food as I am in how it is prepared. Restaurants, eateries, and stores have to have personally demonstrated to myself and my celiac warrior team that they truly care about preparation standards and methods. So, establishments that have trained staff and dedicated kitchens and spaces will be given priority. This feature will be a team effort. It will revolve and evolve as more eateries become celiac literate, and begin to take measures to cook gluten free food in a way and in areas that will allow no contamination. I’ll need you to help me keep this standard high and weed out and omit any places that might lower that standard.

Naturally this is a food blog where food is loved. So, it’s the taste, preparation, and dedication that will make placement in this feature golden. Additionally, I believe that food is just one part of a healthy gluten free lifestyle. Therefore, non-food health and wellness  products, businesses, and treatments will potentially be featured if they are complimentary to a successful, happy, and positive gluten free lifestyle. However, food will always take precedent.

I’m so excited to finally share this feature with you. This post and subsequent page is just the tip of the iceberg for The Rochester Gluten Free Food Guide. I have a few other wonderful surprises in store for this feature. You will have to stay tuned. In the meantime, send me your recommendations for where we can get safe and delicious gluten free food throughout the region.

(Preview) Click category for more selections