Introducing The News-Record's Karen Ingraham's column on gluten-free living

Karen Ingraham
·3 min read
Karen Ingraham
Karen Ingraham

MARS HILL - While I was working for a community weekly newspaper in Rhode Island, I pitched my editor the idea of writing a column on gluten-free living entitled “Against the Grain.” She loved the suggestion and knew I had many local connections, so she gave me the green light on the project.

I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008 and have avoided gluten ever since. My aim in writing a column was not only to educate people on what celiac disease and gluten intolerance were, but to also share information on new products, cookbooks, recipes and local resources. I had the honor of growing gluten-free community support for four years before moving to North Carolina.

My “Against the Grain” (ATG) column covered:

  • Methods used by local hospitals, assisted living and retirement facilities to accommodate this specialized diet.

  • My personal journey to diagnosis.

  • Procedures that restaurants followed to avoid cross-contamination with wheat-based products when offering options to gluten-free (GF) diners.

  • Local grocery stores and the GF products they stocked.

  • Information on new products and cookbooks.

  • Low-gluten communion wafers and where they were offered locally.

  • Schools and universities that offered GF options.

  • Local support groups for people with celiac disease.

  • Interviewed chefs and bloggers who shared their knowledge on gluten-free baking.

  • Highlighted my favorite GF cookbooks and product.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve endeavored to be a gluten-free advocate and educator.

I had the pleasure of testing recipes for America’s Test Kitchen’s first gluten-free cookbook, “The How Can It Be Gluten-Free Cookbook, Volume I,” and interviewed Emeril Lagasse’s daughter Jillian about the GF cookbook “The Lagasse Girls: Big Flavor Bold Taste and No Gluten” that she co-wrote with her sister. I also met Mark Ladin, chef from the now-shuttered Del Posto Restaurant in New York City, and chatted about his Pasta Flyer food truck project and tried his GF pasta – and ate way too many delicious cupcakes prepared by EvaRuth’s GF Bakery (now closed) in Middletown, Rhode Island.

In this new endeavor, I’d like to include a recipe each month from an author, chef or blogger, as well as to share stories and highlight products, cookbooks and restaurants that I feel deserve support from the community.

But most of all, I’d like this column to provide local community support for people who eat gluten-free – whether by choice or by necessity – and to be a resource where people feel free to ask questions, to share information and participate.

I’m also working on relaunching my personal website with resources and recipes, as well as links to my published GF columns, past and present. I’ve purchased the domain name CeliacGirlNC, and I’m hoping to have the site launched soon.

Posana will offer a special Valentine's Day Prix Fixe meal, which will be a three course prix fixe with amuse bouche and optional wine pairings. You can make reservations at https://posanarestaurant.com/valentines-menu/.

If you are a market or restaurant that provides GF food, a chef, cookbook author or have a new GF product you would like to share, please email admin@celiacgirlnc.com.

If you want to share feedback or have a subject you’d like explored, email admin@celiacgirlnc.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Introducing Karen Ingraham's column on gluten-free living