A visit to The Raisin Rack in Canton

After several stops, I headed over to the Raisin Rack in Canton today. The road in front of the store is closed, but they have a good path marked through the back and the store remains open. Except for Labor Day, of course.

I'm attending that midwest favorite, the bonfire on Sunday. So I grabbed some smorables, and some Udi's bread. Also got some hot dog buns (they were recommended by Denise, the GIG leader in this area)and some Katz parbaked rolls. I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out - I've heard great things about the brand, and have never had the chance to try any of their products.

I'll give a full review after the bonfire... I'm having hot dogs and s'mores, just like everybody else!

Who's the Celiac?

This is a question I'm hearing more and more lately. I got it again on Saturday night while at my high school reunion. The minute I mentioned gluten-free, one of my classmates that I would never have imagined having any information whatsoever brought up that a softball buddy of his has celiac disease, and was in terrible pain prior to going gluten-free about two and a half years ago.

I was amazed. But then, maybe I shouldn't have been. Two of my girlfriends from way back when spoke up immediately when I got the diagnosis - one to offer support, and the other to let me know where to find both gf foods and a support group! And we live in the tiniest of small towns.

So far (and I know I haven't been doing this very long at all) I have had no attempts to entice me to eat something I shouldn't, I've had plenty of people offer to help me find things that I can eat, and I while I have had a couple of less than happy restaurant visits, I'm usually able to get what I need.

Still... I have to wonder what the reaction would be if I didn't have that word "disease" to fall back on. If I wasn't the celiac in the group. What if it was a different form of gluten intolerance? Would the perception of my friends and family be different? Would I get the same service when I go out? I hope so, but I suppose I'll never be really sure.

I have resorted to the "wheat allergy" excuse once or twice while eating out - especially when on the road and starving after driving all day. But the strange thing is... most of the time when I say that, they drag out a menu that plainly says "Gluten Free" on the front.

I'm glad to have been diagnosed this year, as I know things are far easier today than they were even a few years ago. And I'm glad to have the family and friends that I do... they are amazing.

Raisin Rack, Canton, OH

I visited this store yesterday after the doctor made it *very* clear that yes, even a tiny bit of gluten would start the whole process all over again. Not a good thing, I don't think.

And I stood there for over an hour, just staring at things. They have it all, mixes, flours, baked goods, snacks, even pizza/pizza shells and frozen dinners for both kids and adults. Oh, and cheesecake.

But I wound up just getting a few things - some flour, a loaf of bread and some english muffins. I figure if the things I put with them are flavorful enough, I won't notice anything but the texture, right? And if I'm paying six dollars for four english muffins, they had damned well better have the texture right.

One piece of good news, though. He says that the stupid patch on my elbow should be gone within a few weeks. No more cracking and bleeding and being embarrassed at the fuzzy looking shards of dry skin that stick up from it and hurt whenever anything brushes against them. Yay for that, anyway.