After the shopping, the lines and all the neck-tightening stress that IS the holiday season – wouldn’t it be nice to escape? Thanks to AML and Joseph Anthony Spa, two lucky fans will have the luxury to do just that!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!

After the shopping, the lines and all the neck-tightening stress that IS the holiday season – wouldn’t it be nice to escape? Slip away to a place where exotic is the norm, tranquility is a constant state of mind and relaxation is unavoidable?

Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon in Glen Mills is your true retreat from the holiday rush! Don’t miss your chance to enjoy the gift of relaxation this holiday season!

Two lucky AroundMainLine.com duos will win this holiday escape for two, which includes the following sumptuous treatments. Choose from a facial, specifically designed for your skin type or a Swedish Massage. You will also pick from a Peppermint Scrub or Peppermint Float in the specially designed Soft Pack Suite. Each of you will also enjoy Alpine Hay Treatments, Brine Light Therapy Treatments, a wash and blow dry, complimentary beverages and a special gift!

Sponsored by the talented AML photography team of Weld Photography, this giveaway is AML’s grand prize holiday thank you for all your incredible support throughout this year. It’s a luxurious retreat from the everyday with the wonderful team at Joseph Anthony—so definitely be prepared to be pampered and spoiled! This prize is valued at approximately $500.

Surprise someone special in your life this holiday season by commenting below for a chance to win.

Please note this prize is non-transferable, meaning it cannot be used for any promotional, charity or marketing purposes by the winning party.

How to Enter

Leave us a comment below by noon Monday, December 19th, 2011. One winner will be drawn randomly after the close of the giveaway with the help of random.org.

Good luck AML fans!

About Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon

Website: josephanthony.com
Facebook: Join Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon on Facebook.
Twitter: Follow Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon on Twitter.

1. PROMOTION PERIOD. Promotion begins on announced time EST (“Promotion Period”). All entries must be received by the announced time (EST) to be eligible for that day’s drawing.
2. ELIGIBILITY. This giveaway is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except officers, directors, members, and employees of the Sponsor, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.
3. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. The sole winner will be drawn from all entries received during the announced Promotional Period using a randomized computer numerical system, random.org.
4. TAXES. All federal, state and/or local income and other taxes, if any, are the winner’s sole responsibility.
5. ODDS OF WINNING. The odds of winning this Promotion depend on the number of eligible entries received.
6. Winner(s) will be announced on aroundmainline.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/aroundmainline) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/aroundmainline).
7. If a winner cannot be reached within five (5) days after the close of the giveaway that individual will forfeit all rights to the prize and a new winner will be selected and notified.

“Buy a Bar, Give a Bar”
For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate a bar to save a child's life. Hand washing alone can reduce water-related deaths by as much as 45%.

For Philadelphia couple and AML friends Courtney and Bill, deciding to develop a business based on sustainable giving started with a very simple concept-a bar of soap.

Understanding the difficulty that most non-profits face trying to obtain funding, Hand in Hand Soap launched earlier this year. By directly tying charitable donations to the sale of an everyday product, Hand in Hand is able to give soap to those in needs and save lives without depending on a single donation. For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate the same bar to a child to help prevent water related illnesses and death.

The luxurious shea butter soap environmentally friendly, made in Vermont, shipped using eco-friendly packaging, comes with a free carbon offset, and a portion of all proceeds is used to save 50 square feet of rainforest for every bar sold. Hand in Hand Soap is certified by both the Natural Products Association and Fair Trade USA.

Hand in Hand Soap - Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade

“The response we are getting from people already is that there is no other soap out there like this. Its eco friendly, luxurious, beautifully packaged and serves a very important purpose,” said Courtney.

Their debut scent is Orange Blossom and the duo is in the works for two additional scents. You can learn more about Hand in Hand by visiting their website, handinhandsoap.com.

How did the concept of Hand in Hand come about?

Billy: For years, Courtney and I have been trying to figure out a way of starting a business based on sustainable giving. We wanted to build our business around something everyone needs, but at the same time has the ability to save lives. And as simple as that sounds, soap has that power.

Courtney: The entire goal was to start something that would make a huge difference, without depending on a single donation.

Explain how this works.

Billy: For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate the same bar of soap to a child in need. We work directly with non-profits who specialize in soap distribution to children worldwide. Hand in Hand is able to utilize the existing infrastructure of these non-profits for our soap drops, so we can get the soap directly to the children who need it.

Many people are not aware of the difference a single bar of soap can make to a child in a third world country.

Courtney: Over five million children a year around the world are dying from easily preventable diseases. 50% of these deaths can be prevented by basic hygienic practices-like hand washing. For many of these people, soap is simply unattainable. By donating a bar of soap for every bar purchased, we are essentially saving the lives children who may have otherwise died of a water related illness.

Can local boutiques and businesses carry Hand in Hand?

Courtney: We are open to anyone who may want to carry our soap, and support our cause. We have gotten great interest from local boutiques and a few larger retail stores alike.

Be Social with Hand in Hand Soap

Support Hand in Hand, and place your order here!

Become a fan of their Facebook page

Follow Hand in Hand on Twitter

Survive the holiday season gluten-free thanks to Paoli Hospital’s upcoming November 3rd event! Dr. Keith Laskin is the medical director of Paoli’s Celiac Center.

The holidays are right around the corner and that means family, friends, festivities, and plenty of food. But for those with food intolerances, such as celiac disease, the holidays can be quite a challenge.

It’s hard to imagine that something as seemingly harmless as a piece of bread at a holiday dinner or party could make someone sick. Yet for people with celiac disease, consuming foods containing a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley, can be very harmful, damaging the small intestine and interfering with the absorption of vital nutrients from food.

“The good news is for people with celiac disease, they can still safely enjoy many of their favorite holiday recipes and traditional holiday foods—it just takes some planning, creativity and communication,” says Nancy Falini, MA, RD, LDN, nationally recognized celiac nutrition specialist and consultant to the Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital.

To learn how to create your own gluten-free holiday celebration, the Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital is hosting “Gluten Free Holiday Entertaining” on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 from 6pm to 8:15pm in the Hospital’s Potter Room. The event features Nancy as a guest speaker and samples of gluten-free delicacies from local caterers. Guests are encouraged to bring their own gluten-free favorite holiday recipe to be posted on the Center’s website and for a chance to win a prize.

The Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital is Chester County’s first resource created to raise awareness, educate the community, and provide support for patients unable to digest gluten, a common ingredient found in many foods, including bread and pasta. The Center consists of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nutritionists, nurses, pharmacists, and community educators, who campaign to increase community and physician awareness, expand knowledge, and provide support and disease management for patients and their families. The Center has already inspired a variety of gluten-free items to be included on the hospital’s menu and in the cafeteria.

Dr. Keith Laskin is the medical director of the Celiac Center. He is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. He earned his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and completed a residency and fellowship at Temple University Hospital.

Attendees are welcome to bring a friend or relative along to the November 3rd event. Registration is required. Call 1-866-CALL-MLH or visit mainlinehealth.org/events. Seating is very limited so be sure to RSVP today.

For more information about celiac disease or the Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital, call 1-866-CELIAC-1 (866-235-4221).

Ambler’s popular Deterra Restaurant offers a ‘A Tasting of Beets’ with goat cheese spuma and toasted walnuts.

We recently celebrated National ‘Eat Your Veggies Day’ across America—a fun excuse to load up on vegetables and acknowledge a healthier diet. One of our favorite veggies is the beet, which is commonly featured in a variety of local restaurants and markets across the Main Line. And, of course, a staple at the dozens of Farmer’s Markets our region has to offer.

Beets have been around for quite some time—dating back to the second millenium B.C. Raw beets are absolutely loaded with folate, a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction, as well as potassium. And, they are exceptionally low in calories and fat! Beets are super rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. They also contain a significant amount of Vitamin C, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants and cancer fighters.

For moms looking to encourage their kids to incorporate more veggies in their diet they should know kids are more likely to eat vegetables that they have grown themselves as opposed to those that are store bought!

Some of our favorite suburban chefs have delicious beet salads as part of their seasonal repertoire, including Wayne’s Chef Zach Grainda of White Dog and Chef Jeffrey Power of Ambler’s Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar.

‘Eat Your Veggies Day’ is a great reminder to load up on beets and all veggies for a healthier approach to our diets now and moving forward. In addition, if you are dining out around the Main Line, look for healthy choices from local chefs using beets!

Have a favorite way to prepare or serve beets—or a beet recipe that cannot be beat, LOL? We would love to hear from you on our comment form below.

Thanks to our awesome friends at Wegmans for sharing two great beet recipes below! They both sound delicious and nutritious!

Wegmans Glazed Beet and Orange Salad

3 pkgs (8 oz each) Melissa’s Baby Red Beets
1 cup Wegmans Organic Orange Juice
1 Tbsp Italian Classics Chianti Red Wine Vinegar
3 Tbsp light brown sugar
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp cornstarch
3 large navel oranges, peeled, separated into segments
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp finely chopped mint, divided

Wegmans Red Flannel Hash

3 cloves Food You Feel Good About Peeled Garlic, minced
1 sweet onion, peeled, 1/4-inch dice (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 lb parsnips, trimmed, peeled,1/4-inch dice (1 1/2 cups)
1 pkg (8 oz) Melissa’s Baby Red Beets, 1/4-inch dice
1 pkg (8 oz) Food You Feel Good About Cleaned & Cut Brussels Sprouts, sliced thinly into rounds
2 Food You Feel Good About Organic Carrots, trimmed, peeled, 1/4-inch dice (1 cup)
12 oz Wegmans Fingerling Potatoes, 1/4-inch dice
1 pkg (0.25 oz) Food You Feel Good About Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Following the presentation, guests will receive a gluten-free product tour of Wegmans extensive gluten-free inventory.

May is Celiac Awareness Month. And for the thousands of celiacs diagnosed monthly across the Delaware Valley, Wegmans supermarket, in conjunction with The Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital, is hosting special in-store events (Downingtown & Malvern locales) as part of their vested community outreach programs.

‘Understanding Celiac Disease’ will be held starting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, May 11th at their Downingtown location. On Tuesday, May 17th, the Malvern store will have the same seminar, same time, for their customers.

Nearly one out of every 133 Americans suffer from celiac disease, a digestive disease that damages the small intestine because of sensitivity to gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. This hereditary disorder interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food.

The Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital provides a local resource to help people manage and embrace the gluten-free lifestyle. Whether you believe you or a loved one may have celiac disease, are newly diagnosed or have lived gluten—free for years, their team is committed to helping you through it all. From screening and nutritional counseling to consultations with our specialists, Paoli Hospital has a team of medical professionals ready to work with you.

Click here for more information on Paoli Hospital’s Celiac Center.

‘Understanding Celiac Disease’ at Wegmans

When: Wednesday, May 11th 6:30pm, Downingtown
Tuesday, May 17th 6:30pm, Malvern

Where: Downingtown Wegmans, Malvern Wegmans

Details: Click here to view the information on MainLineHealth.org

Registration: Required-call 1-866-CALL-MLH (866-225-5654)

Why: In recognition of May as National Celiac Awareness Month

Event Itinerary:

• 6:30-7:00 p.m. Gluten-Free Cooking Class with the Wegmans Chef
• 7:00-7:45 p.m. ‘Celiac Disease 2011: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.’ Presentation and Q & A with Keith J. Laskin, M.D. Gastroenterologist and Medical Director, Celiac Center at Paoli Hospital
• Gluten-Free Product Tour immediately following presentation

A lucky local mother and daughter will win a day of rest, relaxation and pampering at Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon. Comment by 9pm Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 for a chance to win!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. A great treat for mom? A mother-daughter day at the renowned Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon in Glen Mills that will be an experience to cherish together forever!

One lucky AroundMainLine.com mom and daughter duo will win this special Mother’s Day Escape package which includes the following:

Choose from a facial, specifically designed for your skin type or a Swedish Massage. Each of you will also enjoy Alpine Hay Treatments, Brine Light Therapy Treatments, wash and blow dry, make up application, complimentary beverages and a special gift! This Mother’s Day, surprise your wife, girlfriend, mom or daughter with this incredible prize.

It’s a true retreat from the everyday with the wonderful team at Joseph Anthony—be prepared to be pampered! This prize is valued at approximately $500.

Anyone can comment here to enter to win this giveaway-but the spa experience/day is for a mother and daughter only.

Surprise the favorite mother and daughter duo in your life or your own mother, or daughter, by commenting for a chance to win!

(Please note this prize is non-transferable, meaning it cannot be used for any promotional, charity or marketing purposes by the winning party.)

How to enter. Leave us a comment below by 9pm Saturday, April 23rd, 2011. A winner will be drawn randomly after the close of the giveaway with the help of random.org!

GOOD LUCK AROUNDMAINLINE.COM FANS!

About Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon

Website: josephanthony.com

Address: Joseph Anthony Spa is located at 243 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, PA.

To purchase Joseph Anthony gift cards for Mom for Mother’s Day call: 610-459-4663 or click here.

1. PROMOTION PERIOD. Promotion begins on announced time EST (“Promotion Period”). All entries must be received by the announced time (EST) to be eligible for that day’s drawing.
2. ELIGIBILITY. This giveaway is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except officers, directors, members, and employees of the Sponsor, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.
3. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. The sole winner will be drawn from all entries received during the announced Promotional Period using a randomized computer numerical system, random.org.
4. TAXES. All federal, state and/or local income and other taxes, if any, are the winner’s sole responsibility.
5. ODDS OF WINNING. The odds of winning this Promotion depend on the number of eligible entries received.
6. Winner will be announced on aroundmainline.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/aroundmainline) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/aroundmainline).

Best friends and business owners Heather Esposito and Allison Lubert opened Sweet Freedom this past January.

Let freedom ring for local celiacs and vegans as Philadelphia now has a successful bakery that caters to a myriad of food allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions. This past January, friends Allison Lubert and Heather Esposito opened Sweet Freedom (1424 South Street, 215-545-1899), one of the country’s only vegan and gluten-, soy-, egg-, dairy- and refined sugar-free bakery, the first of its kind in Philadelphia.

Sweet Freedom was conceived as a destination for those struggling with dietary restrictions that typically prevent them from enjoying baked goods, but the bakery’s commitment to top-quality, all-natural ingredients makes it a hit among even those without allergies and intolerances. “Both Heather and I have struggled with our eating habits and with troubling food allergies,” said Lubert, “and we both found ourselves striving to prepare our favorite treats in ways that were both delicious and appropriate for our diets. It’s a challenge to omit animal products, soy, gluten and corn and still create flavorful, crave-able baked goods, but we love to rise to that challenge every day.”

Lubert is the owner of a private nutritional counseling practice, where she combines her deep understanding of nutrition with her several masters’ degrees in counseling and psychology. She is an avid cook and baker who was always looking to find new ways to satisfy her cravings while being mindful of her allergies to dairy and wheat. Esposito, a masters level counselor and chef, worked as a private chef, cooking instructor and nutritional counselor. In culinary school, she decided she wanted to open a gluten-free bakery.

Let Freedom Ring!

In May 2009, the two connected via family friends and decided to move forward with the concept of opening Sweet Freedom. Nine months later, they launched the bakery. “Within ten days of opening this winter, we received an email from (actress) Alicia Silverstone’s assistant who was interested in trying our product line. She is a vegan and was working on a play on Broadway. That was really exciting for us-so I jumped in the car and drove up to New York to drop off samples. The business has been great and really taken off,” said Esposito.

According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and their website, celiaccentral.org, Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. What does this mean? Essentially the body is attacking itself every time a person with celiac consumes gluten. Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.

Birthday cakes and wedding cakes are part of a growing area of the dual’s booming bakery business-customer favorites include a chocolate chip cookie sandwich and a banana chocolate chip loaf. A local bride recently enthused on Sweet Freedom’s Facebook fan page—that boasts over 2,000 followers-about her gluten-free wedding cake: “Thanks for the awesome wedding cake!! It was a huge success! Not only were our vegan friends and our super allergic nephew extremely happy, but all the “normal” people loved it too.”

Sweet Freedom relies heavily on coconut milk, in lieu of dairy, and coconut sugar, in addition to agave nectar and pure maple syrup, for sweetening.

Sweet Freedom offers a host of tasty sweet treats, personally tested, prepared and baked by both Lubert and Esposito. The menu includes an assortment of cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, loafs, cakes and pies. And, besides serving the Philadelphia region, they can ship their baked goods nationwide.

Sweet Freedom relies heavily on coconut milk, in lieu of dairy, and coconut sugar, in addition to agave nectar and pure maple syrup, for sweetening. Flours vary from brown and white rice flour to those manufactured from sorghum, garbanzo beans and even fava beans. All products are peanut-free, as well, and no corn products are used. “We really want Sweet Freedom Bakery to be a safe haven for people who suffer from celiac disease, people who suffer from food allergies or intolerances, or people who follow a vegan lifestyle. We are excited to be catering to a bunch of different populations and we believe in the nutritional quality of what we are offering,” enthused Lubert.

According to celiaccentral.org, the gluten-free marketplace is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2010 thanks to new vendors manufacturing better tasting and more affordable products.

CELIAC DISEASE FACTS AND FIGURES COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR CELIAC AWARENESS (NFCA)

• One in 133 Americans has celiac disease.
• Three million Americans across all races, ages and genders suffer from celiac
• 95% of celiacs are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
• 10 years is the average time a person waits to be correctly diagnosed.
• A 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac today.
• 500,000 new celiac diagnoses are expected to occur in the next 5 years thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of celiac disease.
• The gluten-free marketplace is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2010 thanks to new vendors manufacturing better tasting and more affordable products.

Sweet Freedom is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information about Sweet Freedom, or to place an order, please visit www.sweetfreedombakery.com, email: sweetfreedombakery@gmail.com or call (215) 545-1899.
Join Sweet Freedom on Facebook and on Twitter: sfbakery

Dr. Catherine Foote, a Lower Merion high school grad who boasts an undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, is a third generation dentist.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. So, there is no better time to catch up with one of the Main Line’s most beloved orthodontists—Bryn Mawr’s Dr. Catherine Foote. Foote, an Ardmore native, Lower Merion grad and third generation dentist holds an undergraduate degree from The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Foote dedicated ten years to higher education at the University of Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology followed by a DMD degree and Certificate of Orthodontics. In her state of the art, newly renovated office across from Bryn Mawr Hospital, Dr. Foote treats both children and adults, offering traditional braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, and take-home whitening.

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country. According to the ADA, developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.

Foote Orthodontics’ mission is to provide the highest quality orthodontic care in a comfortable and welcoming environment where patients are treated with excellence personally and clinically. Dr. Foote deals with some of the most common issues parents and prepubescent children face and she advises that the earlier a patient is seen, the better a plan can be put in place for proper care. “Interceptive orthodontics helps to take advantage of growth. By evaluating the bite when there are still baby teeth, we can deal with any issues and plan accordingly from there.”

AroundMainLine.com: What is the common age or scenario where a parent would bring a child into your practice for the first time?

Dr. Foote: The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children be screened at the age of seven to evaluate for issues such as thumb sucking, cross bites, spacing, or crowding. Generally, between the ages of 8-10 years old is an ideal time to begin interceptive orthodontics, if necessary. This is often referred to as Phase I treatment.

AML: Thumb sucking with an older child, I would assume, is a sensitive issue. How do you approach the parent and child to deal with the habit?

Dr. Foote with her friendly staff at their renovated, state-of-the-art Bryn Mawr office. You can follow Dr. Foote on Twitter: FooteOrtho

DF: I find that thumb sucking is a very pacifying behavior for young children. I don’t think parents have to be too worried about it until it starts to affect permanent dental structure. With time, consistent thumb sucking will affect the shape of the palate and can flare the upper teeth. School age children should not be sucking their thumb all day. If that is the case, there should be an evaluation for some type of orthodontic intervention, which is typically around 7-8 years old.

AML: You are a female in a medical field primarily dominated by men. But, considering your background it’s not so surprising since you come from a big dental family and are the oldest of seven!

DF: My grandfather was a dentist, my father is an oral surgeon, as is my uncle, and two other uncles are orthodontists. That is all on my mother’s side of the family. My father’s brother is a general dentist. I was lucky enough to attend dental school at Penn with two of my cousins, and one of my brothers is in dental school now. Dentistry is a great profession, especially for women, and I am beyond lucky and blessed to be fortunate enough to do what I do!

AML: I’ve mentioned you to a few people lately, and it was evident to me you have a stellar reputation across the Main Line. What makes your practice such a success?

DF: I treat my patients as I would want to be treated. I feel like we are a very comfortable, caring office that is genuinely concerned with the best interests of the patient and giving them the attention that they need.

Dr. Foote’s office is located in the heart of Bryn Mawr on South Bryn Mawr Avenue between Lancaster Avenue and Haverford Avenue across from Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Address: 101 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 320, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

For office hours and additional information, call 610-525-6142. Visit their website at www.footeorthodontics.com or follow them on Twitter. Dr. Foote can also be reached via email at: footeorthodontics@yahoo.com.

The area’s top culinary talent will be on hand at the Wachovia Center for Appetite for Awareness on September 30th.

You’ve probably heard the term ‘gluten-free’ by now, or, most likely know someone who is not able to include gluten in their daily diet. Celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that involves intolerance for the protein found in wheat (known as gluten), affects 1 in 133 Americans. And through their annual event, an Ambler-based nonprofit is working to make Philadelphia one of the top cities in America dedicated to raising awareness and education about celiac disease.

Tonight, September 30th, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness will hold its annual Appetite for Awareness: A Gluten-Free Cooking Spree. Top chefs and doctors will be assembled into teams at the Wachovia Center in a challenge to create the best gluten-free dish. Guests will enjoy sampling gluten-free creations from over twenty-five of the area’s preeminent restaurants, gluten-free beer, wine, and products from over fifty of the nation’s finest gluten-free vendors.

Now in its sixth year, Appetite for Awareness is the largest and most innovative educational program dedicated to the topic of celiac disease. Comcast Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider, who is a member of the NFCA Board of Directors, generously donated the use of the Wachovia Center for the event last year. Alice Bast, a celiac herself and the Executive Director and founder of NFCA, met with Snider six years ago after a personal connection led her to find out he had been hospitalized and diagnosed with celiac disease. “Ed saw the passion and energy we had with NFCA; he saw that the NIH had given us a grant. That is how the relationship started and we were off and running-we brought Jefferson and CHOP right on board with the organization. I promised Ed that we were going to change the face of this disease nationwide-right here in Philadelphia,” explained Bast.

Spearheaded by Comcast Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider, pictured center, Philadelphia’s top medical professionals and premier chefs will unite to increase awareness of celiac disease and the gluten-free lifestyle.

Last year, NFCA anticipated that they would have about 750 attendees for their first Appetite at The Wachovia Center. Over 1500 attendees enjoyed the event. Bast emphasized that Appetite is a night for foodies across the Philadelphia region to appreciate that learning about celiac disease, a serious medical and sometimes life-threatening condition, can be an enlightening experience. “We always joke with the event and say Appetite answers one of the country’s most pressing questions ‘Who has bigger egos, the chefs or the doctors?’ It always makes people stop in their tracks and think-of course we are joking! This is one competitive atmosphere. Tapping into competition is our strategy for spreading the word and making our lives better, creating collaborations, developing new relationships and educating Philadelphia and the country that we can live and thrive with celiac disease. For the chefs, they get to cook and experiment with gluten-free grains that they maybe never considered using before in their repertoire. We want everyone to walk away from the night knowing gluten-free can be delicious!”

Cooking challenges are part of the festive atmosphere expected to draw 3,000 attendees.

In conjunction with Appetite for Awareness, all participating restaurants receive training in gluten-free kitchen protocol through NFCA’s Gluten-Free Resource Education Awareness Training (GREAT) program. Philadelphia’s fabulous restaurants participating include Vetri, Osteria, Distrito, Chifa, and Little Fish. Christina Pirello, Emmy Award-winning host of the national public television series ‘Christina Cooks’, will emcee the event.

Chef Marshall Green of Café Estelle, in South Philly, is one dozens of local restaurants who will be participating this year. At Appetite for Awareness, Green will be serving a delicious potato latke bound with rice flour, a crispy potato pancake, complimented by a sliced brisket and accented with a dollop apple sauce in honor of the upcoming Hanukkah season. His current menu at Café Estelle has numerous gluten-free options for his customers. “When you are serving the public you have to take into account everyone’s different tastes, needs and dietary restrictions. We do all of our baking here in house at Café Estelle, so we are very cognizant of what our ingredients are in our dishes. Besides customers with celiac disease, we cater to any specific allergy or restriction. It’s really not difficult as a restaurant if you are using the highest quality ingredients and, as a chef, you are educated about the importance of truly serving a gluten-free menu item,” explained Green.

Due to the efforts of the NFCA, Philadelphia is now the first recognized gluten-free, celiac friendly city in the U.S.

Appetite for Awareness 2009: Wachovia Center Sept. 30th

WHEN: Wednesday, September 30th 2009, 7:00pm. – 9:30pm, VIP reception from 5:30pm-7:00pm.

WHERE: The Wachovia Center, 3601 Broad Street, Philadelphia.

WHY: Appetite for Awareness is one of the leading educational events dedicated to celiac disease. By uniting foodservice and healthcare professionals, this innovative event integrates the medical and lifestyle aspects of the disease and increases understanding of the autoimmunedisorder among these critical populations. Together, the participating doctors and chefs will expand Philadelphia’s Gluten-Free Neighborhood, first in the US, while serving as exemplary models for promoting awareness of celiac and the health of those who suffer nationwide.

HOW: Register online at www.celiaccentral.org. Admission fees are $250 VIP reception, $75 Early Bird Registration ($100 General Admission after September 1st), and $35 for students (with valid ID).

HONOREE: The NFCA will be honoring John Binswanger and his family for their leadership and support in building NFCA over the last five years.

BACKGROUND: The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a non- profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding for celiac disease that will advance research, education and screening amongst medical professionals, children and adults. Visit celiaccentral.org for more information.

Grand Opening: A Capacity Crowd Filled the Bakery Anxious to Test the Gluten-Free Treats.

Christine Ruggio had suffered for twenty-five years with debilitating stomach ailments, making hundreds of visits to her doctor complaining of severe pain and digestive issues. And, for twenty-five years, Ruggio was given the same diagnosis. “’You are hyper, you are in high school, so it’s stress-related. You are about to get married, you need to calm down, it is all about stress. You have IBS, you need to calm down and relax, look what you are doing to yourself! You have children now, you are getting too wound up,’” Ruggio explains. So, Ruggio’s doctor placed her on medication for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and strictly advised her to take it easy—ensuring her the symptoms would eventually subside if she followed her prescriptions and cut back on her busy lifestyle.

But Ruggio felt that there was something more to her body’s rejection of some of the food she consumed – and finally she confronted her doctor again. “I said to him, ‘Let’s get real here. Aren’t we masking the problem and not trying to solve it? This is not going away and I’m getting worse,’” she said.

But the doctor visits continued and Ruggio’s health continued to worsen. Then, a few years ago she took a family trip to Italy, where her Italian cousin happened to be on a gluten-free diet. Everywhere they went the whole family dined on gluten-free meals, and educated Ruggio about the intolerance to wheat that had made her cousin very ill. This was the first time she had heard about a medical condition called Celiac Disease, an autoimmune intestinal disorder that affects people for life.

Yes We Can!
At Sweet Christine’s, Celiacs can elect to choose from a variety of decadent desserts.

According to a local Ambler-based company, Gluten Free Works (www.glutenfreeworks.com), Celiac Disease is an inherited, lifelong sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in the grains of wheat, barley, rye and oats. When activated by gluten, Celiac Disease becomes a digestive disorder that results in poor absorption of food nutrients, with or without digestive symptoms like pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

In 2005, Ruggio hit a physical rock bottom. She even started to have neurological issues and one physician suggested it might be the early stages of Multiple Sclerosis. Then 46, Ruggio made a new appointment with a wellness doctor who had knowledge of Celiac Disease, suspecting that this might be the answer to her years of illness. “I said, ‘While we are at it, throw in a test for this condition I just learned about where your body rejects the protein in wheat–and see what happens.’” Her test came back positive. And, ever since that day, Ruggio has not touched a product containing wheat.

As a newly diagnosed celiac, Ruggio was relieved that her years of suffering with severe medical symptoms were now over, but as a food lover and cook, she found herself frustrated by the lack of great-tasting gluten-free food items on the market. Ruggio heard that most celiacs end up baking their own bread and preparing their own food at home. So, she went to work in her kitchen–experimenting with her family’s favorite recipes while attempting to keep the cookies, pizzelles and cupcakes delicious. After 110 attempts at a chocolate chip cookie recipe and hundreds of hours of taste-testing to perfect her desserts, Christine Ruggio had baked herself a business.

Fast forward three years later to the fall of 2008, and Christine Ruggio, mom to three, and a healthy and vibrant 39-year-old, is the proud owner of one of the Philadelphia region’s first gluten-free bakeries. Appropiately named Sweet Christine’s, it’s charming, quaint space is located in the heart of historic downtown Kennett Square. For the past year and a half, Ruggio had been a successful wholesaler of several gluten-free bakery items and decided that with her products gaining in popularity, it was time to open up her own retail location near her home in Bucks County.

Appealing to the growing number of children being diagnosed with food allergies was important to Ruggio as well. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a new study entitled “Food Allergy Among U.S. Children.” This national study of 9,500 children revealed the following:

• In 2007, approximately 3 million children under 18 (3.9%) had a food allergy
• From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of food allergies among children under 18 increased +18%
• Boys and girls have similar rates of food allergies–3.8% for boys and 4.1% for girls
• 4.7% of children under 5 reported a food allergy, versus 3.7% of children aged 5-18
• Children with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma and other allergies, compared with children without food allergies

That’s Amore
Owner Christine Ruggio prepares a delicious gluten-free pizza for her bakery.

The new corner bakery is kid-friendly, with a giant chalk board, tables, and a window seat to encourage families to stop by and hang out. Sweet Christine’s is in talks with Philadelphia and Delaware school districts to supply their cafeterias with gluten-free products for the children. “I came into this business because of my diagnosis, but the needs of the kids being diagnosed with allergies is increasing every day — so that is honestly where I think Sweet Christine’s can make a difference. I’m not just trying to turn a dime in a new retail location. This is an important health issue, obviously to me personally, and I think we can really make a difference.”

Ruggio, 39, is a Delaware native, University of Delaware grad and devoted mom to three young children—Giovanna,10, Sophia, 8 and Nicholas 4. “I always knew I wanted to do something to help children and I chose this spot in downtown Kennett Square because it’s a great area and I am honestly right around the corner from my kids’ school, so I can balance the work and the home life,” she said.

The bakery opened about a month ago in late October and hosted a grand opening, supported by an incredible crowd of hundreds, on November 7th. Guests noshed on cupcakes, cookies, pizza, pita wraps and bread—all gluten-free. Ruggio buzzed about the bakery, accepting high-fives and hugs, glowing with pride in her successful, creative business venture. Far behind her is the quarter century mystery about her deteriorating health. “I feel so much better it is incredible. My body was robbed of vitamins—wheat was poison to my body. I was facing a devastating diagnosis of MS, with fifteen MRI’s in just a couple of months in 2005 and a medical folder stuffed with files. And, yet, all along it was a pretty simple problem and diagnosis – if I had just been speaking with the right physician,” she lamented.

Sweet Christine’s Gluten-Free Bakery
Kennett Square, PA
www.sweetchristinesglutenfree.com

Over the next few weeks Ruggio will be busy filling and keeping up with her online business, making gluten-free breads and pumpkin pies for the busy holiday season (that can be shipped anywhere in the United States). After the New Year, Sweet Christine’s plans on expanding their menu and developing key gluten-free resources connected with the store. There seems no end in site for a small company on the gluten-free rise.

“The response has been overwhelming, it really has been. I just wanted to stick to wholesale but we couldn’t turn down the requests and the demand and so this has just evolved very rapidly. And, I think that’s because we make good, delicious, healthy products that most people who come here don’t even realize are gluten-free. It always makes me chuckle to myself when someone buys a bunch of cupcakes and breads and raves about them without even seeing our gluten-free signs in the store. And, they seem to come back just as much, if not more than the clients who have Celiac Disease. Maybe one of these days I’ll gently break it to them that they are devouring a ton of delicious gluten-free products!”

Sweet Christine’s Bakery is located at 132 West State Street in Kennett Square, PA. Christine Ruggio can be reached at: 610-444-5542 or email: cruggio@sweetchristinesglutenfree.com

Try this great Gluten-Free Recipe courtesy of Sweet Christine’s:

Pizzelles (Italian Cookie) 2 cups of Tapioca Flour
2 cups of Potato Flour
1 1/2 cups White Rice Flour
1 Cup Sorghum Flour
2 Cups of Organic Evaporated Cane Juice
2 Sticks of Organic Salted Butter
2 teaspoons of xanthan gum
2 tablespoons baking powder
6 Organic Eggs
4 tablespoons Organic Anise Oil

This can all be done by mixing with hand.

Melt butter and cool
Mix sugar with butter and eggs
Add anise oil
Gradually add dry ingredients
Mix completely

Spray Pizzelle Iron with cooking spray
Place a tablespoon size on each iron grill for about 30 sec.
Take out and sprinkle with powder sugar or roll up while still hot and dip in melted chocolate.

Bon Appetit!
Christine Ruggio
Owner, Sweet Christine’s Gluten-Free Bakery