JUST 4U: Peet's Coffee & Tea on Gluten-Free

Patricia Crosstown at Public Domain Pictures.net. 

I appreciate this guest post - which originally appeared on Musing by Moonlight - from Lindsey at Peet's HQ.  There are more things on their coffee-and-tea menu for those of us who have to go gluten-free than I thought. Thanks, Lindsey!

I too have to avoid gluten, and I am glad that I can share the following information with [Brooklyn in Translation] readers. Our teas, and herbals (black, green Oolong, white, and herbals) are made without gluten ingredients. The only exception would be our Genmai Cha that contains roasted rice kernels, so this tea would contain rice gluten, which is generally considered "safe gluten". In addition I would like to share that all of our coffees themselves are gluten-free. Our Dutch Cocoa powder and syrup are both made without gluten ingredients. Our syrup is a mixture of sweeteners and Dutch Cocoa(which is ground cocoa) as well. The additional ingredients used in our various bar beverages (milk, Freddo powder, cocoa powder, and all of our other syrups) are all made without gluten ingredients. Our Pacific Soy Milk is made with organic soybeans, is both gluten-free, and casein free.

Jamie's Spanish-Coffee Recipe: Sugar a mug by dipping the rim in orange juice and then granulated sugar.  Blend six oz. of hot, freshly made Peet's Espresso Forté with 1 teaspoon sugar, a 1/2 oz. Tia Maria, and a 1/2 oz. rum. Pour coffee mixture into the mug. Top with freshly whipped, unsweetened cream and a gluten-free maraschino cherry.


Actual product ingredients may differ from than that which is shown or suggested on this blog. Please remember that you should not rely solely on the information presented here or anywhere online and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before purchasing and consuming a product. 

GF CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS, Truly Good

As I write this, these donuts - delicious - are on sale for a dollar off at Whole Foods. They usually run about six dollars. There are six to a package. This might then be the time to try them if you never have before.


Kinnikinnick Foods' Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are probably as close to a cake-like wheat donut as we're likely to get.  They're addictive. I even take one in a plastic bag when I meet friends for coffee. (None of our local cafes offer gluten-free baked goods yet. One does continue to hope... ) You'll find these GF donuts in the frozen food case at select groceries. Link here to find a store in your area.

Kinnikinnick also manufactures chocolate and vanilla iced donuts. I didn't eat iced donuts before I was diagnosed, so I'm not inclined to try them now. However, I suspect that if you liked iced donuts before your dietary restrictions, you might very well enjoy these.


The donuts are wheat-and-gluten, soy, and dairy free.  There is an allergy warning for nuts and sesame.  They are manufactured in a dedicated facility*.


Dedicated facility: one that produces only wheat-and-gluten free products, thus eliminating the potential for cross contamination.


Actual product ingredients may differ from than that which is shown or suggested on this blog. Please remember that you should not rely solely on the information presented here or anywhere online and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before purchasing and consuming a product. 

GREAT AMERICAN DINE OUT

From September 19 -25, Share Our Strength in concert with restaurants across the country, will implement the first-ever Great American Dine Out. Learn how you can help beat childhood hunger in America.

THE SHAME OF OUR COUNTRY: One-in-four children are hungry today. Over fourteen million children live in poverty. Almost half the children in our country will receive food stamps at some point during their lives. Our currently weak economy has put families which were formerly stable at risk. Learn more about how you can help by spreading the word, making donations, involving your restaurant, and/or initiating or participating in a neighborhood bake sale for The Great American Bakesale by visiting Share Our Strength's site.

The percentage of Americans struggling below the poverty line in 2009 was the highest it has been in 15 years, the Census Bureaure ported Thursday, and interviews with poverty experts and aid groups said the increase appeared to be continuing this year.

With the country in its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, four million additional Americans found themselves in poverty in 2009, with the total reaching 44 million, or one in seven residents. Millions more were surviving only because of expanded unemployment insurance and other assistance. MORE [New York Times, September 16, 2010.

The Mission Statement:

Share Our Strength® is the leading national organization working to make sure that no kid grows up hungry in America. We use the funds raised through programs like Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out® to support No Kid Hungry™, our national campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

Through No Kid Hungry, we fund the most effective anti-hunger organizations across the country, connect needy children and their families with nutritious food, teach families how to cook healthy on a budget,and provide leadership that brings together public and private decision-makers to end childhood hunger, state by state. Through all these means, we are working to ensure that all of America’s children have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Get involved with the Great American Dine Out and make a difference.

ROMAN EGG DROP SOUP, La Straciatella

Yet another luxurious farmers’ market haul with a few veggies from a friend’s garden, providing a wealth of vegetables to flavor the soup and nourish the body.

Picture it:  Brooklyn, New York, early 50s and my first intro to Roman Egg Drop Soup (La Stracciatella, i.e., torn or ragged, which is the way the eggs look) came courtesy of my Aunt Mildred, a world-class cook and a world-class lady.  Though she made all the usual Brooklyn Italian dishes from scratch and the best-ever meat sauce, for this particular recipe she actually used Lipton soup. It made an ersatz but quick and kid-friendly version.  The recipe that follows, though, is the real deal.

Note: If the broth is purchased not homemade, be sure that it’s gluten free.

Roman Egg  Drop Soup

Serves six

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large white onion, chopped
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 6 cups of rich wheat-and-gluten free broth, vegetable or chicken, homemade or packaged
• 2 celery stalks including leaves, minced
• 2 small hot (mince) or sweet peppers (rough chop)
• 2 green squash, shredded
• 6 cups of baby spinach
• 1 cup of fresh parsley, minced
• 2 omega-3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon of water
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, best quality you can find and afford
• Sea salt and freshly grated black pepper to taste

Put the oil into the stock pot and then sauté the onion.  When it begins to get golden add the garlic.  Sauté both to golden brown, being careful not to burn the garlic or it will be bitter.  Add broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and add the celery, simmering for two or three minutes. Add the rest of vegetables, except the spinach and parsley. They can be added after about five minutes. Continue to simmer until the vegetables are almost tender, about ten minutes. Meanwhile, whip the two eggs with the tablespoon of water, the nutmeg, and the Parmesan cheese. When the vegetables are almost tender, bring the soup to a boil and slowly poor in the egg mixture while stirring the soup with a fork.  This will break up the egg mixture so that it cooks in pieces (i.e., little rags).

The finished product, La Stracciatella (Roman Egg Drop Soup), wheat-and-gluten free and chock full of vegetables.

This is a very free-form, very forgiving soup.  You can be quite creative with it.  You can use any combination of vegetables that appeals to you or added cooked diced, chicken or turkey or tofu. You can top each serving with a basil chiffonade or some pesto or pistou or even a dollop of top-quality extra virgin olive oil.

Actual product ingredients may differ from than that which is shown or suggested on this blog. Please remember that you should not rely solely on the information presented here or anywhere online and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before purchasing and consuming a product.