Domino's Pizza Gluten Free

Domino's Pizza Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Pizza is certainly a dish best served with wheat. Or that's what the food industry would have most people believe as the "crusts" available for gluten free pizza options really do taste quite different from the original tried-and-true wheat-filled versions. But now it would seem that the major pizza companies are either getting into the gluten-free craze or are at least investigating whether offering a gluten free pizza might make sense.

One of the most recent gluten-free creations in the nationwide pizza industry comes from Domino's and after a few years of doing their best to convince customers that their pizza boasted a whole new recipe, they've decided to try their hand at gluten free. They are not the first pizza chain to do so, but they are probably the first major, nationwide pizza chain to attempt this feat.

Domino's Pizza Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

For a number of years Domino's suffered from the perception that its pizza was a distant second to rival Pizza Hut as far as taste was concerned, but individuals who have been able to try the newer versions of the company's regular pizza have told this author that efforts at improvement to the general product from the company have been positive.

And regarding the gluten free pizza option, the biggest positive of this pizza is that it can be delivered to the door just like a regular pizza and that there's no requirement that a person get their own crust, search for their own cheese and sauce and make the pie on their own. While it's certainly a rewarding experience to see one's own homemade pizza come out of the oven, let's face it: having pizza show up at your door is much more appealing.

What is going to be very obvious about this pizza to anyone who orders it is the fact that it's rather small. Like many gluten free pizza options, Domino's has bought into the idea that for a pizza to be sturdy enough to be gluten free, it needs to be small. Southern California pizza chain Fresh Brothers has proven this to be completely wrong. Domino's should experiment with a larger pie.

Domino's Pizza Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But beyond minor complaints about the size of the pizza, the pie certainly looks like a normal pizza when it's opened up, even if its price tag as it relates to the size of the pizza is a little steep. Cheese, crust and sauce. It's all there. Of course, one thing to remember is the fact that this pizza will go stone cold in seconds. The minute you crack open that box, that pizza is going to start infusing itself with the cold winds of the north.

It's like a harsh storm off Lake Michigan just blasts its way into the room when one of these things is delivered. And if your pizza delivery guy (or gal) decides to obey the speed limit, you might even open up that pizza to find that it's already on the cold side. Experience has taught this author that there's no reason for any type of pizza to be cold just seconds after the box is opened. This is an area where Domino's needs to improve.

If one is able to deal with the petite size and doesn't mind the general temperature inconsistencies, the most important part of this pizza - the taste - is going to vary depending on what type of pizza is chosen and whether there are toppings. The pizza itself is rather thin and loading it up with a bunch of meats would probably break it in half (and who's to say that the toppings would be gluten-free anyway).

A good way to enjoy this pizza is to get the "white" pizza. I tried it and the herbs that seemed to be mixed in with that version were pretty tasty. It's also recommended that if you try the pizza with just the simple marinara and Mozzarella option, that you DO NOT try the spicy sauce. Get the traditional Marinara. Just trust me on this.

Domino's Pizza Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Domino's Pizza Gluten Free Report Card:

The Good Stuff

This pizza comes to your door in thirty minutes or less (well, in Los Angeles it's more like fifty minutes or less...) and you don't have to do anything but throw out the pizza box when you're done. It's nice to be able to order a pizza like a regular wheat-eating citizen and not have to prepare something just to have some pizza.

In addition, the actual taste of the pizza is on the positive side. Size and temperature aside, there's nothing wrong with the taste and while it might take a few deliveries to choose the right pizza (there are different sauce and cheese options available and some might appeal to individuals more than others), the taste is good and Domino's has done well in this area.

What Could Improve

The size of this pie does leave one wanting more. It really is an individual pie. Yet it costs as much as a medium or a large that's on sale. If you have about fifteen bucks to toss into an investment in one of these things, it's worth the convenience and fun-factor of having pizza delivered to your door.

The biggest complaint though (since anyone who eats gluten-free on a regular basis is probably already used to draining their wallet for such delicacies) is the temperature of the pie. I have had this pizza (and variants of it) delivered at least three or four times and every single time the pizza has either been on the cold side when it was delivered or it's become a little ice cube just minutes after opening it. Not a fun activity to have to nuke a pizza that you just got delivered.

Van's Gluten Free Wheat Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles

Van's Gluten Free Wheat Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

There is a waffle lover inside each of us that just begs to be let out when we pass a local Waffle House or any place that specializes in breakfast food, but in the grand tradition of bready type foods, waffles haven't been first on the list of things to do for many gluten-free bakeries and food manufacturers. But that seems to be changing as there are at least four major suppliers of wheat-free or gluten-free entrees that have started to provide various types of waffles in the freezer section.

One such provider is Van's and they have a number of different types of waffles which can be thrown in the toaster for a few minutes and then drenched with butter (because why would anyone eat a waffle without a stick of butter on top, right?). One of the neat things about this particular manufacturer of gluten free items is that they make a point of maintaining facilities that offer people who have Celiac Disease an easy way to make sure that their meal isn't hiding some gluten somewhere in the ingredient list. 

Van's Gluten Free Wheat Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Which is a valuable thing for anyone who doesn't want to have to crawl over every inch of text on a box to determine whether there's something that's unintentionally related to gluten inside a particular type of food. It's not uncommon for a food that might not have wheat gluten in it to have some other sort of gluten - or even oats, which can be a problem for people with various allergies.

Of course, there aren't a lot of people who are going to assume that waffles don't have wheat anyway, since they are so directly associated with a delicious batter before they're put into the waffle maker (or in this case, the toaster). And how does one create a batter without having some gluten (or "glue") on hand to ensure the mixture doesn't fall apart?

Additionally beneficial regarding the recipe offered by Van's is the fact that they don't seem to have added worthless fillers into their waffles so as to approximate the general consistency and feel of a regular waffle. They suggest on the front of the box that their waffles are "all natural," and they even go so far as to sweeten their waffles with fruit juice instead of plain old sugar. Pretty cool from the standpoint of someone trying to gluten-free and healthily.

Van's Gluten Free Wheat Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

On that note, the nutritional content of the waffles, regarding the calories and fat content, shouldn't be completely ignored. Just because something contains healthy ingredients doesn't necessarily mean that it's low calorie. These waffles do have some fat in them and their calories are indeed noticeable, so it's best to stick to the "recommended" serving size of just a few waffles.

Which might be a little difficult as Van's recipes are quite good. The general flavoring for the waffles doesn't seem to overwhelm the product (in this case it's an apple cinnamon flavor, but the company makes lots of other flavors of waffles as well). The flavor is just subtle enough to improve the waffle while also offering a nice crunchy consistency with some melted butter on top.

Note that since these waffles come from the freezer and very few people are going to be willing to allow them to defrost or sit in the microwave, you'll probably have to toast these little discs a few times before they're completely toasted. They might look as though they're done after one round, but unless this writer's toaster is especially weak, they do need a few rounds in your average double-slot toaster. Making them browned on the outside means that the inside will be fully warmed and cooked as well.

Van's Gluten Free Wheat Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Van's Gluten Free Wheat Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles Report Card:

The Good Stuff:

For anyone who has been pining for waffles ever since getting a diagnosis of Celiac Disease or a gluten allergy, Van's various varieties of waffles certainly hit the mark. Good taste, great consistency (won't fall apart when cooked) and easy to make. Doesn't taste like something that's gluten free, either. 

Just tastes like a an easy frozen-waffle entree, which is perfect for a quick morning breakfast.  The heightened nutritional content (whole grains, natural ingredients) is simply a bonus.

What Could be Better:

Nobody will complain about the taste or consistency of these waffles. They're easy to make and they have nice nutritional advantages. But it's also worth pointing out that they do have some fat and the sodium content might be noticeable if you do decide to eat more than one serving of waffles (which is quite easy to do if you need your waffle fix!). Don't let this stop you from trying these waffles though. They're a great, toasted treat.

Monte Bene Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

Monte Bene Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Sauce isn't one of those things that you'd immediately imagine was full of wheat, but given there are some varieties of gluten-free sauce on the market today, that must mean that the general bottle of marinara that you might find off the shelf at the grocery store could indeed have some wheat or gluten in it, even if the label doesn't seem to include anything glutenous in its description.

As a fairly versatile heavy condiment, sauce in all its variations can have many different herbs, spices and small additions (like vegetables or meat) added for flavor and often it's the source of a lot of the flavor that might appear in a simple bowl of spaghetti or a plate of baked mostaccioli. 

Often, the sauce is going to be the element of swiftly made pasta that will give it a little kick and it's pretty simple to serve up an interesting dish made of nothing more than pasta, Parmesan and sauce if there's some fun herbs or vegetables in the sauce.

Monte Bene Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And because sauce can be made in so many different ways with so many variable ingredients, it's likely that a fair portion of those sauces are going to include some elements of gluten, so it's nice that Monte Bene has come out with a tomato sauce that's specifically labeled as gluten-free so that individuals who have a severe allergy will have an option.

Of course, whether a pasta sauce is made with gluten or not, there are a number of things about it that need to be right with the overall recipe otherwise its gluten-free status isn't going to matter much. And regarding pasta, usually one of the most important elements of that taste scale is going to be the overall consistency or thickness along with the general aroma and taste provided by the herbs or spices.

This particular type of pasta sauce is such that it would be appropriate for a number of different sauce-covered meals such as pizza and various types of pasta. The sauce isn't too smooth and watery, but nor is it too thick where it might cause unnecessary bumps on a pizza. The herbs are also well planned out and offer a nice aroma with a nice combination of basil and pepper and the company's tomato selection seems solid as well.

So far this author has tried the pasta sauce on spaghetti, pizza and . While the nutritional content seems a little sketchy (it does have some fat in it, so beware of overloading on it), the taste is everything you'd expect from a jar of pasta sauce.

Monte Bene Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Monte Bene Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce Report Card

The Good Stuff:

Tastes like pasta sauce and has a nice aroma. A pleasing consistency that's not too thin yet not too overloaded with chunks of vegetables either. Overall a nice choice for anyone interested in making sure that their pasta sauce is indeed gluten free.

What Could be Better:

This pasta sauce is just pasta sauce. The fact that it tastes just like pasta sauce should and is also gluten free is a nice bonus. It won't win the Nobel Prize, but it does its job well as a gluten free pasta sauce. Definitely worth a try, especially when paired with a gluten-free pizza crust.