My Gluten-Free Pizza Story... Oy!

[Monklady123]

So one of our favorite places to get take-out is Vocelli's. It's a chain, Italian obviously. SO I looked on the website and didn't see any mention of gluten-free. But I thought I'd call just in case:

Me: Hi. Could you tell me please if you sell gluten-free pizza?

Vocelli guy: [pause] "Huh?"

Me: Gluten-free pizza [although I figured I already knew the answer.]

Vocelli guy: "gelatin free?"

Me: Thank you. Bye.

Contrast that with my call to zPizza (no idea if this is a local place or a chain). My ds had told me they have gluten-free pizza but I wanted to check.

Me: Hi. I was told that you sell gluten-free pizza.

zPizza guy: Yes, we do. However we don't make our own crust. We use crust from the [company I can't remember the name of] because we feel that there's no way we could make a gluten-free crust here with all the flour that's around.

Me: wonderful!

zPizza guy: We put the toppings on in a separate section of the kitchen. However, you should be aware that while we do our best there could be the possibility of cross-contamination due to all the wheat flour in the kitchen.

Me: I'll be right over!

Um... zPizza ten stars. Vocelli... clueless.

[glutenfr3309]

Zpizza is great! it is a chain. definitely worth it!

(although i have to say, it bugs me that they charge an extra $4 and it's only available in the small size.)

[GlutenFreeManna]

So was it good? Do you happen to know the ingredients of the crusts they use? We have a zPizza with gluten free crusts in our city, but I haven't tried them yet. It's a chain offering gourmet pizzas. I haven't tried it because it's on the other side of town from me and they said it was Twenty-something dollars for a small gluten free pizza. I can buy plenty of mixes and flours cheaper, so I have been playing with making my own crust first. But I may have to pick one up next time I'm over that way.

[Monklady123]

So was it good? Do you happen to know the ingredients of the crusts they use? We have a zPizza with gluten free crusts in our city, but I haven't tried them yet. It's a chain offering gourmet pizzas. I haven't tried it because it's on the other side of town from me and they said it was Twenty-something dollars for a small gluten free pizza. I can buy plenty of mixes and flours cheaper, so I have been playing with making my own crust first. But I may have to pick one up next time I'm over that way.

I don't know the ingredients of the crust because I can't remember the name of the company that he told me. I thought it was great! Not quite the same as regular gluten crust but definitely I'd buy it again. And it was NOT $20! oy... I just went to the website and the one I ordered was $12.00. Still pricey but definitely worth it once in awhile.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I don't know the ingredients of the crust because I can't remember the name of the company that he told me. I thought it was great! Not quite the same as regular gluten crust but definitely I'd buy it again. And it was NOT $20! oy... I just went to the website and the one I ordered was $12.00. Still pricey but definitely worth it once in awhile.

Interesting, perhaps the person I spoke with was looking at the wrong price. I'll have to check again. I ate at a Mellow Mushroom while traveling and a medium was about $12 plus 1.75 for each additional topping. I didn't think that was bad and it was best gluten free pizza I have had yet. It was really filling too for a thin crust, lasted me for 3 meals (would have been 4 but my husband had a few pieces).

[lizard00]

I was always a fan of Z Pizza, until the last time I ate there. I have been making my own pizza for quite some time now, but I just didn't feel like it this particular night. Long story short, I found the pizza to be pretty tasteless AND it make me sick for about a week. There is always a risk when you eat out, so I took the sickness for what it was. But I was super disappointed in the way it tasted.

[sandsurfgirl]

I don't know that I would blow off a restaurant because of one employee that didn't understand you. That being said, I think Italian in general is pretty gluten heavy and tough to do in a restaurant. I go to Bucca Di Beppo and they have some great gluten free food, but no pasta or pizza.

When I call to ask about gluten free options at a restaurant I always go straight to the manager. Then I explain what gluten is, because even if they say they know, sometimes they don't. I never just say "gluten free." Too scary. I had a manager at Bucca tell me "Wheat is okay right?" I said absolutely not. Wheat is bad. But they have a special gluten free menu, so I knew the chef was trained in it. I still reiterated exactly what I could not have and asked to her double check with the chef.