I have to admit, Trader Joe’s was a complete mystery to me before I went gluten-free. Having never stepped foot in one, the best I could surmise from the outside was that Joe evidently traded something, but I had no idea it was groceries.

Then came Celiac, and my new brethren informed me Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods would be my new best friends. Each has their pros and cons, but I will say two grocery bags cost a lot less when they have a TJ’s logo on the side.

So, during my recent shopping spree, I was happy to hear from a helpful Joe (?) that Trader Joe’s recently updated their gluten-free list. I haven’t done a line-by-line comparison between this new list and the one on my fridge door, and to be honest this may or may not imply new products. It’s possible they just fine-tuned their previous list, but it does clearly state that the list was updated in December, 2008. Either way, it’s worth printing out a new copy for your next trade trip.

Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free List

[PDF]

My friend and editor of Centerstage Chicago, Ben Rubenstein, let me know that they recently covered some GF eateries in their city guide. In the article, writer Stacy Warden covers some of the usual suspects like Adobo Grill and Deerfields Bakery, but there are a couple hidden gems in there that I hadn’t heard of.

Take a look, and be sure to let them know if you like what you see!

Gluten-Free Goodies on CenterstageChicago.com