Gluten-free at Tropicana Field

I made my first visit in three years to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg last night, and I was glad to see the the gluten-free concession stand is still there.

The Tampa Bay Rays offer gluten-free hot dogs, Redbridge beer, salads, and some other gluten-free snacks at the stand.

I looked up what I wrote three years ago, when the gluten-free stand was new, and I complained about the "predictably awful" gluten-free hot dog bun, but I was so happy to be able to have a hot dog and a beer at the ballpark that I wasn't so upset. That was the first time after being diagnosed with celiac that I was able to have a dog and a beer at the ballpark.

So three years later....the bun was again predictably awful. Actually, I was hoping for better because they've had three years to go find a better bun. Maybe there just isn't a decent gluten-free hot dog bun out there anywhere, because I sure haven't found it.

What really bugged me was that the hot dog, which cost $5 three years ago, now costs $8. I noticed that a neighboring regular concession stand was selling the same hot dog for $5, so they're charging us $3 extra for the awful gluten-free bun.

The Redbridge was $8, which may sound high but it's in line with other ballpark prices, and it's the same as it was in 2011.

One interesting thing is that the gluten-free stand is located behind center field and was a long way from my seat in the second deck behind third base. At least it kept me sober because it was way too far to walk for more beers, at least after I finished my second beer. I asked the guy at the gluten-free stand if they sold Redbridge anywhere else in the ballpark and he said no.

But I'm not upset about having one dedicated gluten-free stand. After my horrible experience at a Jaguars game last year, I'm convinced that having a single dedicated gluten-free stand is the way for sports teams to go. I'm going to be talking to the Jaguars soon to see what they're doing to make their gluten-free concessions safer this year, and I'm interested to hear what they have to say.

Gluten-free pancakes can be easier

If you read my column in The Florida Times-Union today, you may have noticed a recipe for gluten-free pancakes at the bottom of the page (in the printed newspaper of course, not the online version).

My mother pointed out to me that this recipe (which is obviously not mine) has 12 ingredients. She has made very good tasting pancakes for me with gluten-free Bisquick that only requires 4 ingredients.

Speaking of easy pancakes, I recently tried Van's frozen gluten-free pancakes when they were available in a buy one-get one free sale at Publix. They were mediocre, at best. I won't be buying them again.

Hard to go 'Way Back' with gluten-free pizza

I got an e-mail from Mellow Mushroom yesterday wanting me to write about its "Way Back Wednesday" celebration next Wednesday, Aug. 20.

The pizza chain is celebrating its 40th anniversary by offering prices from 1974. Unfortunately, Mellow Mushroom, or anywhere else for that matter, wasn't offering any gluten-free menu items 40 years ago so there's no Way Back pricing available for that. At least I'm pretty sure there was nowhere to go for gluten-free pizza in 1974.

Anyway, these are the specials Mellow Mushroom is offering:

Small Cheese Pizza- $2.50
PBR, Michelob and Budweiser- 75 cents
Coca-Cola Products- 30 cents

So, maybe your friends can go and enjoy the cheap pizza and beer. And you and I can go and order an expensive gluten-free pizza which a 30-cent Coke.

A simple gluten-free quiz

Here's a simple quiz from the author of an upcoming book called "The Complete Guide to Living Well Gluten-Free."

I got a 100% on the quiz and those of you who have been living with the gluten-free diet for any length of time will probably get a perfect score as well.

But it's a short quiz, so try it just for fun:

app.snapapp.com/glutenfreeiqquiz

The book by author Beth Hillson is due out next month.

A look at gluten-free air travel

I've pretty much given up on the idea of eating on an airplane, even on the rare flight where a meal would be served. What are the chances you can find a gluten-free meal?

Fortunately, I found this great summary of gluten-free options on airlines from the web site Gluten-Free Jet Set. This is the most comprehensive list I've ever seen on the topic:

www.glutenfreejetset.com/gluten-free-airlines

I've found that my best bet is to eat before I travel, or bring my own food. Even when you have a layover, it's difficult to find gluten-free options in airport terminals.

Smart Flour pizza products can be found in Jacksonville

I recently got an email from a representative of Smart Flour foods asking if I would like samples of their gluten-free products. I was expecting to receive bread, so I was surprised to find a box of frozen pizzas packed in dry ice at my door.

Smart Flour sent me both their classic cheese and uncured pepperoni pizzas. They were both pretty good, as frozen pizzas go.

I haven't been able to find these pizzas in stores, but Smart Flour tells me the pizzas should be available in the two Native Sun stores in Jacksonville.

Another interesting thing about Smart Flour is that the company is providing its gluten-free pizza crusts to Mellow Mushroom restaurants. As I've written before, the crust at Mellow Mushroom seems to have definitely improved, and this seems to be the reason why.

Smart Flour does sell the crusts retail, so I'm really hoping to find the crusts available for sale. Although, as I've said many times, I'm not much of a cook, I really do enjoy making my own pizza at home with ready-made crusts.

Happy FDA Day!

In case you weren't aware, today is the day that the FDA's gluten-free labeling regulations officially take effect.

This means, basically, that if a food product you buy is labeled as "gluten free," it had better actually be gluten free, or the FDA can take action against the manufacturer.

The definition says a food can be labeled as gluten free if it contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten.

If you have questions about the safety about that definition for celiacs, you may want to read the column I did on this in the Times-Union last year. I am absolutely confident that food is safe if it falls below 20 ppm.

I'll have more on the labeling rules in a Times-Union column next Thursday, the 14th.