Posts tagged ‘phillies’
Healthy Times Ahead
[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experiences as she follows the Phillies year-round.]
Healthy Times Ahead
A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog
There are many reasons to love February, but Phillies Spring Training definitely tops the list. While the excitement of team changes, athlete updates and ticket sales resonate for fans, the Phillies pitchers, catchers and position players are preparing for Clearwater, Florida in one week. If healthy teammates translate into prospective wins, it is imperative the lineup stay off the injured list this season. Be-Lee-ve it, healthy times are ahead for Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and the rest of the Phightin’ Phils.
For those of us Phightin’ to be gluten-free, the food we eat determines how healthy our season will be. When it came to our wedding menu, my husband and I made no exception.
Criteria: Kosher, gluten-free and lactose-free menu that incorporates our favorite foods and fresh ingredients.
Vision: Beautiful presentation, delicious flavor and variety that is reflective of us and our enjoyment of healthy, delectable dishes.
Experience: Romantic, festive, memorable and a gourmet gluten-free culinary experience for our friends and family.
Our lineup for the big day included Jannette Axlerod of Food Designs and her chefs. They had prior experience safely cooking gluten-free for affairs and were a great addition to our Fraimow-Bronstein all-star team. Practices were rigorous with menu tastings, ingredient changes and creative food pairings.

Tuna rumaki with wasabi on pineapple and lox on gluten-free rice cracker. (We paired the tuna with a gluten-free rice cracker for our wedding day.)
Outcome: Grand slam! With the support of our strong, loving management team, we pulled-off a perfect win. Our playbook now includes new dishes that we can replicate for healthy, fun times ahead. Read below for a taste of our wedding bliss and ideas for your next party.
A sampling of Butlered Hors D’oeuvres:
- Tuna rumaki with wasabi on a gluten-free cracker
- Lox on a gluten-free cracker
- Cherry tomatoes stuffed with quinoa
- Sushi rolls
A sampling of Stations:
- Portabella bar
- Carving station, including oven roasted turkey and prime rib
First Course:
- Spring vegetable soup with rice noodles
Intermezzo:
- Alternating strawberry kiwi and lemon sorbet
Entrees:
- Herb crusted baby lamp chops
- Grilled sea bass with mango salsa
- Vegetarian Napoleon
Accompaniments:
- Baby carrots and green asparagus
- Roasted russet potatoes

Herb crusted baby lamp chops, accompanied with baby carrots, green asparagus and roasted russet potatoes – Jennifer Childress Photography

Grilled sea bass with mango salsa, accompanied by baby carrots, green asparagus and roasted russet potatoes – Jennifer Childress Photography
About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011. In January 2013, Nadina was conclusively diagnosed with celiac disease by one of the nation’s leading gastroenterologists. Prior to her diagnosis, Nadina was living gluten-free for over three years due to what was originally thought to be non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Nadina enjoys having fun in the kitchen and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy with her husband. She is a Communications and Marketing professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies. She will be happy to answer messages sent to her attention at info@celiaccentral.org.
Take Me Out to the Gluten-Free Ballgame: Celiac Awareness Night with the Philadelphia Phillies
Citizens Bank Park (home of my beloved Philadelphia Phillies) is my happy place; there is nothing better than hanging out at the ballpark, rooting for my team and trying to catch hot dogs from the Phillie Phanatic’s surprisingly powerful hot dog launcher. So you can imagine my excitement when I joined the NFCA team and was told to grab a ticket for Celiac Awareness Night at the Phillies game. Raising celiac awareness and watching the Phils? Count me in!
Fun Fact! The Phillie Phanatic was voted #1 mascot in the country by Forbes Magazine in 2008 and 2011.
On the day of the game, Cheryl, Suzanne, Nancy and I made our way to the ballpark to set up our display tables. We were fully equipped with brochures, flyers, and giveaways and ready to talk to people about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. We set up near the gluten-free concession stand and were joined by two enthusiastic NFCA volunteers, Cecilia Bonaduce and Rebecca Urbano. Despite gusty winds and the strong possibility of rain, we managed to stay dry and keep our flyers on the table…well, mostly. It was an unseasonably cold night (everyone was wearing jackets in July!), but over 600 NFCA supporters still came out to celebrate Celiac Awareness Night.
Fun Fact! A portion of ticket sales for the game benefitted NFCA and will be used to help continue our programs and services.
While the tables were getting set up and the gluten-free hot dogs were cooking on the grill, Cheryl had the chance to take a tour of Citizens Bank Park with Michael Savett of Gluten Free Philly and his family. With “Celiac Awareness Night” lighting up the scoreboards and NFCA Board Member Joe Jacovini gearing up to throw out the first pitch, Cheryl and the Savetts hung out on the field and watched the Phillies’ batting practice. Michael’s son even got to meet the Phillies’ center fielder, Shane Victorino!
Fun Fact! While on the tour, Cheryl learned that the baseballs that line the walls of the Hall of Fame Club are screwed in the wrong way so they say “Rawlings,” not “Major League Baseball.”
After Joe tossed a great first pitch to the Phillie Phanatic, the park played a public service announcement on the jumbo-tron featuring pro-golfer Sarah Jane Smith talking about celiac disease. The PSA wasn’t the only gluten-free action on the jumbo-tron; check out these kids who hoped to get their fifteen minutes of fame on the big screen.
Fun Fact! Weighing in a 84,420 pounds and7,372 square feet , the jumbo-tron is so big you can see it from the highway!
Not surprisingly, the gluten-free concession stand was a major hot spot throughout the game. Unfortunately, some fan favorite foods were missing this year, so we are working with Aramark and Citizen’s Bank Park to improve gluten-free options for next year’s Celiac Awareness Night and throughout the season.
Although so many exciting things were going on at the ballpark, my favorite part was getting to meet the people who came out to show their support for NFCA. Every day, I get the opportunity to talk to the celiac community through social media, but this was the first time I had the chance to physically meet the people on the other side of the computer.
I was particularly struck by a woman who came up to the table just as we were about to leave. She started talking to me and Suzanne and told us her story of diagnosis. It turns out she had only been diagnosed with celiac about a week before the game. She was still unsure of what the gluten-free diet entailed and was barely eating for fear of becoming sick. We talked to her for a little while and loaded her up with brochures, information and other free resources. She was so grateful for the information. Meeting her was such a strong reminder of why NFCA is here, doing what we’re doing. To know that we were able to help her on the path to learning the gluten-free diet was an amazing feeling. Ironically, she bought tickets to the game before she was diagnosed, not knowing that it was Celiac Awareness Night. I guess sometimes, you’re just in the right place at the right time.
– Alicia
Dream Team
[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experiences as she follows the Phillies year-round.]
Dream Team
A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog
Off-season for the Phillies players means strictly business for the team’s management. The spotlight is on Ruben Amaro Jr. and his colleagues, as they invest in talent and, consequently, the team’s future. If the destination for a 2012 Phillies Dream Team is the World Series, then the journey begins now.
November is an exciting time of the year for my dream team, as we celebrate special milestones. Birthdays, anniversaries, an engagement and Thanksgiving festivities call for delicious gluten-free sweets. One memorable dessert is chocolate-covered pumpkin donuts from Sweet Freedom Bakery located in Philadelphia, just minutes from Citizens Bank Park.
Below is a new restaurant dish review on the following baseball-inspired scale:
Single– Fair
Double– Good
Triple– Very good
Home Run– Must try
Grand Slam– Sublime
Grilled Lamb Chops with Seasonal Fruit Chutney at Steve and Cookie’s- Grand Slam
Overview: A sublime foodpairing of grilled lamb chops and seasonal fruit chutney completed the perfect meal.
The Scene: It was a special occasion at Steve and Cookie’s in Margate, NJ. As the Phillies management continued negotiations, we enjoyed an off-season dinner at the shore. The desirable, relaxed ambience included candles in the fireplace and live piano music.
Safe Dining: At Steve and Cookie’s, the chefs in the kitchen are educated in gluten-free and allergy friendly dining. The Weekly Specials Menu on Monday and Wednesday evening feature a 3 course gluten-free meal. Also, Steve and Cookie’s website includes gluten-free recipes from an October Celiac Awareness dinner the restaurant hosted.
Presentation: The three juicy, grilled lamb chops were plated in a stackable formation. The shine and char conveyed freshness from the grill. In addition, seasonal fruit chutney and green garnish accompanied the lamb chops. The cranberry, raisin and apple chutney resembled comfort food and offered a holiday-style element to the dish (Note: Seasonal fruit chutney was the chef’s gluten-free alternative to the pomegranate demi-glace on the appetizer menu. Also, I ordered with an additional potato side to replace the risotto and mushroom cake on the menu.)
Taste: The lamb chops were crisp and succulent – cooked to precision! The cranberries, raisins and apples in the chutney added a delicious playfulness and texture to the dish. Ginger, lemon, cider and cinnamon accompanied each tender bite.
Result: The Dream Team combination of grilled lamb chops and seasonal fruit chutney are “out of the ballpark” delicious. (Tip: I ordered two memorable gluten-free appetizers from the dinner menu in place of an entrée. Be creative when dining out and inquire about tasty, gluten-free recommendations from the chefs).
Everyone have a happy, healthy gluten-free Thanksgiving! Stay tuned for new restaurant and product reviews to enjoy during the baseball off-season. Be-Lee-ve it—spring training is just a few months away!
– Nadina
About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to the info@celiaccentral.org email account. Nadina learned that she has gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.
Eagles Fly and Phillies Phight
[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our newest volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experience throughout the 2011 Phillies season.]
Eagles Fly and Phillies Phight
A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog
Congratulations to the Phillies for clinching the National League East Division with an outstanding regular season record, including Cliff Lee’s nine straight victory starts. The post clinched games for the Phillies have been quite challenging. With injuries, changes in the line-up and lack of offensive support, the Phillies have lost eight games in a row.
For Philadelphia sports fans, we Be-LEE-ve Eagles will never stop flying and Phillies will never stop Phighting. With effervescent talent, heart and resilience, the Phightin’ Phillies will start fresh and land on top in the playoffs. If Lee has taught us Phillies fans anything, it’s about throwing curveballs right back at the curveballs life throws at us.
Below is a new restaurant dish review on the following baseball-inspired scale:
Single– Fair
Double– Good
Triple– Very good
Home Run– Must try
Grand Slam– Sublime
Grilled Mediterranean Herb Sea Bass with roasted potatoes at Melograno- Grand Slam
Overview: A sublime dish of perfectly cooked fish in traditional Mediterranean flavors.
The Scene: Saturday date night at Melograno. As the Phillies were losing their eighth game in a row, we were enjoying the lively and cozy BYOB on 20th and Samson Street in Philadelphia.
Safe Dining: Melograno has completed gluten-free training through NFCA’s Gluten Free Resource Education and Awareness Training (GREAT) Kitchen program. [See more GREAT Kitchens.]
Presentation: Simple, but refined, with roughly two ¼ pound fillets served skin side up with roasted potatoes. The plated sea bass showcased technique with a clean, crisp skin with flavors from the grill and a glistening top fillet of Mediterranean herbs and oil. The lightly golden brown color of the grilled skin with specks of dark green herbs nicely complemented the golden yellow of the roasted potatoes.
Taste: Cooked to perfection, a Grand Slam balance from both the initial crisp of the fish and potato to the soft, savory eruption of Mediterranean seasoning and oil. The thin layers of the fillet peeled away from each other and slid off the skin with the soft touch of a fork. For an extra burst of flavor, try grilled sea bass with the skin.
Result: Reminiscent of comfort food with a Melograno twist. The grilled sea bass is the All-Star on the plate; however, the roasted potatoes are “out of the ballpark” delicious.
Tune in tonight and cheer for Cliff Lee and the Phillies at 7:10 p.m. as they play the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
– Nadina
About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to the info@celiaccentral.org email account. Nadina learned that she has gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.