This weekend I discovered the wonderful gluten free pizza served by the Mississippi Pizza Pub in Portland, Oregon. I learned that they also serve gluten free beer, provide pizza crusts to take home, and even sell complete bake-it-yourself pizzas. I wish I could describe the taste of the pizza — I know that I would have loved it even in the “good old days” when I had more options.

 Even more exciting news is that the Garlic Jim’s pizza chain has completed its initial testing and is now committed to providing celiac pizza throughout the nation. I actually saw the gluten free menu for the Portland Oregon) area  where gluten free pizza will debut on May 27. What happens after that: it depends on the logistics of preparing the number of pizza crusts that will be needed and how much profit the company makes from selling celiac friendly pizza. Even if you are not a pizza fan, the fact that a national chain like Garlic Jim’s is acknowledging our existence is great news! 

 One terribly minor criticism: neither web site uses the words “gluten free”. Why do firms go to great lengths to provide gluten free opportunity and then not advertise the fact ibn every possible way? Can’t restaurant operators and website operators communicate? Apparently, it is up to us. I originally learned about both Garlic Jim’s and The Mississippi Pub from comments that people like you have left at my site. I was finally able to confirm the information week at a gluten free food fair. If you have information that I should publish, leave a comment at the bottom of this article (or any other article for that matter) or use the button in the middle column to send me an e-mail.

Disclaimer: This gluten free website could not exist without revenue from advertising. In most cases, the ads are placed by a computer that is not sophisticated enough to differentiate. for example, between “gluten free pizza” and pizza. Therefore, celiacs must read every word carefully and defensively, just as they do every day.  I apologize for this; this site should be totally safe But that is not possible at this time. I have the power to remove inappropriate ads, but only after they have been posted and after I become aware of their existence. Please e-mail me at gfceliac@gmail.com if you see any ads that do not belong on this site. Since articles involving pizza and soy sauce attract “unsafe ads”, I am placing this disclaimer on any page that mentions either topic.

 (Information confirmed by sampling The Mississippi Pub’s gluten free pizza and by chatting with the supplier of Garlic Jim’s pizza crusts at a gluten free food fair on 05/17/08)