Gluten-free pastries are displayed in a specialized patisserie on March 8, 2012 in Paris. The intolerance to glutena protein found in cereals such as wheatcan cause chronic diarrhea and vomiting. AFP PHOTO/Marina Helli

No-allergen pasta, vegan croissants, meatless hamburgers"free-from" food is one of the leading trends at this week's SIAL international food fair outside Paris, where companies say Europeans are starting to care as much about what is left out of their food as what goes in.

"Consumers have changed," said Elisabeth Leitner, export manager for Probios, an Italian company specialising in organic products and creator of vegan croissants, pointing to growing concerns about allergies and the environmental and health impacts of meat.

"There are more people leading alternative lifestyles. And people are talking about food and health on sites like Facebook and Twitter."

In France, four percent of people say they follow a diet free from gluten -- a protein found in wheat, rye and barleyalong with eight percent in Italy, seven percent in Germany and six percent in Spain, according to Mintel, a London based market research company.

Anti-gluten fever

Gluten-free foods are essential for people who suffer from celiac disease, an auto-immune condition characterised by diarrhoea, vomiting and bloating after the ingestion of gluten.

However many consumers buy them simply because they perceive the products as healthier.

This anti-gluten fever has swept the United States in recent years and has earned increasing criticism for being a money-spinning fad.

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Vegan croissants, gluten-free pasta: Europe wakes up to fussy eating

Balsamic-roasted kale, white bean meatballs, garlic scampi and dairy-free chocolate pudding filled the Terrace Room at Claudia Cohen Hall last night. These dishes were served as part of Penn Vegan Society's kickoff party the latest event in a series for this year's Penn Food Week co-sponsored by Bon Appetit at Penn, the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative (AUNI) and Penn Environmental Group.

Members of the group shared their experiences of being vegan at Penn. Co-President of the Penn Vegan Society and College sophomoreBrianna Krejci was a vegetarian when she came to Penn, but decided to go vegan after being exposed to the wide variety of vegan food options at Penn.Though Krejci was initially interested in the health benefits of a vegan diet, she quickly came to appreciate the role of veganism in promoting ethical and sustainable living.

College freshman Christina Zhou echoed this sentiment. She attributed her vegan lifestyle to her Buddhist upbringing, which emphasized showing compassion to all living things. As a dining liaison for the Penn Vegan Society, Zhou works closely with Penn chefs to develop vegan options for Penn dining halls.Nicole Tocco, fellow for the Bon Appetit Management Company, said that they are collaborating with the VeganSociety in hopes ofintroducing avegetarian eateryin the spring.

Like the Vegan Society, Tocco added,Bon Appetit also keeps ethical concerns in mind when catering to Penn dining halls.

Bon Appetit chefs always make vegan and vegetarian options available to our guests, whether or not they are full time vegans or vegetarians, she said. Making vegan and vegetarian options an attractive choice to our guests is one way to reduce our environmental impact and help our guests make the healthy choices.

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Penn Vegan Society celebrates Food Week with ethical and sustainable eating

Food

OPB | Oct. 23, 2014 midnight

Pizzas always been a crowd pleaser, and the cheesy, meaty pie is more popular than ever these days from thepizza cakes andpizza-inspired fashions that dominate the Internet to thespecialty pizza restaurants that dominate Portlands local dining scene. For those with dietary restrictions though, a good pizza can be hard to comeby.

So whats a vegan, gluten-free pizza lover todo?

Making tasty pizza at home does not always require preparing yeast-risen dough. I have created ways to make pizza with a twist, including gluten-free versions that are sure to satisfy your familys craving for a pizzadinner.

First, mypolenta pizza has a big bonus in that it is gluten free!Polenta as a pizza crust? Yep, its fabulous! Thispizza develops nice crispy edges as it bakes, and the polenta provides a great base for the fresh tomatoes, artichokes and fragrant basil leaves. You can use any additional or optional toppings you like to make this version yourown.

But what if you want your healthy pizza in ahurry?

My best quick pizza secret is whole grain tortillas! I keep them in the refrigerator and freezer to use for so many different recipes like tarts, burritos, casseroles, wraps, quesadillas, cookies and homemade tortilla chips, but one of my favorite ways to use them is to provide a crisp base for a pizza thats ready to eat in 20 minutes!Simply add your favorite pizza toppings and bake for 20 minutes or so and youre good to go! Bonus: You can make your pizza gluten free by using a brown rice tortilla or any gluten-free tortilla of your choice. MyTortilla Salad Pizza is fabulous for a lunch treat or lightsupper.

DavidKaplan

Ingredients (Makes 4servings)

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Jazzy Vegetarian Recipes: Pizza With A Vegan, Gluten-Free Twist

What happens when you tell people they're eating organic food when, in fact, they're actually eating from one of the biggest fast food chains in the world? You'd be surprised.

Two charming lads from Lifehunters, Sacha and Cedrique, did exactly that during an organic food fair in the Netherlands.

The guys went in with the goal to see if foodies could tell the difference, or tell what they were eating at all, when presented with different items off of the McDonald's menu.

Trays of the chain's most popular breakfast items, along with a heaping helping of Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets, were tried by the event goerswho seemed to have no clue what they were eating.

Not only was did all the food receive rave reviews, but some people even went as far as to say that it tasted better than anything at McDonald's.

NEWS: 14 Fast food items you should never, ever eat

Many taste-testers claimed that the food they tried was "tasty" and "rich," and one fine fellow even declared that the fish sandwich "rolls around the tongue nicely, if it were wine I'd say it's fine." How delightful!

"It definitely tastes a lot better [than McDonald's] and the fact that it's organic is definitely a good thing," another foodie explained. "It's just better for you."

Many echoed the previous sentiment, with someone else adding that "you can just tell this is a lot more pure."

All in all, the men learned "that if you tell people that something is organic, they'll automatically believe it's organic."

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This Is What Happens When You Secretly Feed McDonald's to a Bunch of Health NutsWatch Now!

Farm-to-table surely is an au courant restaurant buzz phrase, but knowing how to combine andshow off seasonal, local and organic ingredients is truly an art. For environmentally sound food that packs a wallop in the flavor department, pencil in a visit to any of these local spots that make organic elements high priority.

Local Root601 North McClurg Court Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 643-1145www.localrootchicago.comThe zero waste restaurant is as strict as a nun when it comes to sustainability, organic ingredients and being a good steward of the planet. That Local Roots passion forreal food comes in at an affordable price in such a tonyneighborhoodadds to its magic. Get lunch here (handcrafted soup du jour made with seasonal ingredients, pulled pork poutine, grass fed burger among the many options) and youll soon return for dinner and even brunch that has become quite the popular weekend event. Note that the names and distances of partner farms are at the top of the menu and go for any item thats marked hyper seasonal selectionandyou cant miss.

Prasino93 S. La Grange Road La Grange, IL 60525 (708) 469-7058 http://www.prasino.com

Prasino (translation green in Greek) is not just eco-friendly its eco-in-love from the food to kitchen facilities and the entire restaurant design. Diners, farmers, ranchers, vintners and brewers all win at prasino (yes, lower case p).The Contemporary American menu is all about farm-to-table ingredients whether you want breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. One would expect indulgent selections like lamb spaghetti and short rib tacos to be full of flavor, but even guiltless items are super satisfying try steel cut oatmeal, healthy French toast (multigrain bread, egg whites, cinnamon, nutmeg, berries), kale and spinach salad, quinoa tacos and grilled salmon.

Lula Cafe 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd. Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 489-9554 http://www.facebook.com/lulacafe

Winning organic items at this Logan Square restaurant include a classic breakfast burrito, flavorful Rushing Waters smoked trout scramble, cornmeal griddle cakes and the very popular Royale breakfast sandwich made withmaple braised bacon, heirloom tomato, arugula, Fontina, a sunny side egg and celery leaf pesto on house-made focaccia. The international organic menu also offers fantastic cafe selections from Gunthorp Farm pan-roasted chicken and smoked quail to a turkey sandwich regulars cannot get enough of. The six-course vegetarian tasting menu is a treat for flesh abstainers.

Related:Chicagos Best Mobile Food

Uncommon Ground 1401 W. Devon Ave. Chicago, IL 60660 (773)465-9801 http://www.uncommonground.com

With a four-star certification from the Green Restaurant Association, Uncommon Grounds newer location in Edgewater features the same high-quality, organic fare as its original outpost in Lakeview. Boasting the countrysfirst certified organic rooftop farm, the eatery grows herbs that find their way sprinkled on hand-cut frites as well as veggie-like organic greens, heirloom tomatoes, peppers and sweet corn peeking undercilantro-lime flank steak. Organic can be psychologically comforting knowing that youre putting healthy stuff in the pie hole, however, the belly wins as well with dishes likemacaroni and cheesemade withorganic shell pasta, Cedar Grove cheddar and Swiss and Prairie Pure butterkse, bread crumbs.

Nana 3267 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 929-2486 http://www.nanaorganic.com

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Best Restaurants With Organic Food In Chicago

(credit: Marina S./Yelp)

(credit: Eli G./Yelp)

Vegan sushi? Who would have thought. Located on the third floor of a Little Tokyo marketplace practically hidden by a black curtain, finding Shojin may take you a few attempts, but its very much worth the effort. True to the movement, Shojin has a menu filled with amazing organic and natural Japanese vegan and macrobiotic dishes. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu but the dynamite rolls and the pumpkin croquette are the customer favorites. Other than the pumpkin croquette, customers rave about the dynamite roll, the spicy shitake tempura as well as the Pirates of the Crunchy, which comes with avocado, cucumber and tempura flakes.

(credit: Sequoia C./Yelp)

Help yourself to vegan and gluten-free Brazilian food for brunch, lunch and dinner. At Sage Organic Vegan, their spinach basil ravioli pomodoro with cashew, almond cheese filling as well as their mushroom steak with whole portabella with shallot and red wine reduction definitely stand out among the favorites. Other great dishes include the gluten-free mac n cheese with Daiya on sauteed kale, or the legendary Jackfruit nachos with cashew cheese, black beans, guacamole, jalapenos, pickled cabbage and pico de gallo, served on organic tortilla chips. And if you visit their location in Culver City, it serves pizza.

Related: Best Juice Bars in Los Angeles

(credit: Bottega Louie)

Bottega Louie Italian bakery/cafe/restaurant seats 255 people and it is pretty much at capacity all day. So, while a quiet meal is not likely, you can be certain it will be delicious. Organic, fresh ingredients is what keeps Bottega Louie on the map, that and some incredible dishes like the portobello mushroom fries, lasagna, smoked salmon Benedict and the countless desserts like macaroons, eclairs and tiramisu.

(credit: Rachel S./Yelp)

For all you juicers out there, you can get your cold-pressed liquid fix of organic fruits and veggies too at The Punchbowl in Los Feliz. Offering juices, shakes, shots and tonics made with organic and body-healing ingredients, The Punchbowl is delicious. Whether youre looking for some internal damage control with Zeus juice or Jaipur, or simply want to feed your sweet tooth with a honey bee or chocolate frost, the friendly staff will help you rid whats ailing you.

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Best Restaurants With Organic Food In Los Angeles

If youre trying to eat healthier, organic food is a great place to start. Check this list for the best restaurants in the Metro Detroit area that are serving up delicious, organic meals.

Grange is located in downtown Ann Arbor, at the corner of W. Liberty and and S. Ashley, and was created with the motto that the freshest ingredients, grown sustainably and sourced from people [they] know, are the basis for the best food. Chef Brandon Johns strives to serve only farm-fresh ingredients and dishes, and the restaurant has seasonal menus, as well. Entrees range from $21 to $32, and the menu online is usually changing. Make sure to click on the Events tab on the site for special evenings that the restaurant takes part in, too.

Mudgies is one of the more well-known delis in Detroit, and theres a reason for that: its been voted best deli four years in a row (2010-2014). Located in Corktown, it roasts its own meats in the restaurant, and uses local products whenever possible; the restaurant also recycles and composts. You can even get Mudgies food delivered to you if youre in the downtown proper, Wayne State, Medical Center or New Center area of Detroit. Mudgies serves a brunch, lunch and dinner menu, as is most known for its deli sandwiches.

Cacao Tree Cafe specializes in gourmet raw foods and uses only local and organic ingredients. Its located in downtown Royal Oak and also specializes in detox cuisine, vegan foods, raw handmade chocolates and desserts, gluten-free foods and juices/smoothies. Sandwiches range from $10 to $14, and juices/smoothies from $5.99 to $11, based on size and selection. Organic salads are also offered on the menu.

Related:Best Health Food Stores in Detroit

The Little Mustard Seed Cafe and Shoppe is located about 40 minutes from Detroit, in New Baltimore, and serves food with all organic ingredients. The cafe also uses locally sourced ingredients when possible, and offers a gluten-free menu, with dairy-free and vegan choices too. The restaurants prices are also very reasonable: sandwiches range from $6.95 to $9.95 and pizzas from $11.95 to $18.95. The cafe has a dessert menu, as well. The Little Mustard Seed Cafe is family-run and supports Fair Trade products.

Brooklyn Street Local can be found in the Corktown area of Detroit and serves up organic ingredients and whole foods. In fact, many of its toppings and ingredients are made in-house, such as scones, pastry crusts, fries (cut in-house), veggie/chicken soup stocks, salad dressings and others. Breakfast and lunch is served, as well as brunch (weekends only, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and there are many vegan and vegetarian dishes on BSLs menu. Be aware, too, that the restaurant is not open on Mondays breakfast is served 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesdays through Fridays, and lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Related:Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Metro Detroit

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Best Restaurants With Organic Food In Metro Detroit