Gluten-Free Party in 5 Minutes

Okay, more than five actual minutes. But isn’t that catchy? In reality, however, it was “gluten-free party that I should have prepared for, but had no time during the week, and was getting back from a kid birthday party, and had to also rely on the rest of the family to prep a spread.” But that is just not snappy.

The point is, if you have people coming over, and you don’t have time to cook a shit ton, and you’re also gluten-free, here are some quick tips. Not just quick tips, flipping delicious tips, because these snacks are amazing, even the ones that only require you open up a gluten-free bag of yum. You can do this. You can. Let me just lay out what’s on this counter:

Gluten-Free Los Angeles: Scott Baio Loves Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill

Something awesome, yet bizarro is happening in my neighborhood you guys. Or rather, my adjacent neighborhood. Not one, but two restaurants opened this week that serve gluten-free pizza. That’s right, gluten-free pizza within walking (if-we-still-lived-in-Brooklyn-but-we-live-in-LA-so-driving) distance!!! It’s like all of my complaining is finally paying off and now I can enjoy pizza every night of the week without looking like that person that comes into your restaurant every night of the week. Because of trading off, that’s how.

Thank goodness someone made the Sophie’s choice for me as to which pizzeria to try first, as the lovely people of Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and Grill extended an invitation to me to check out their new digs earlier this week. I obliged. So did Scott Baio, as the hubs and I totally star-sighted that guy chowing down at Sammy’s. (Apparently his wife loves the joint.) But back to the food. The food that Chachi loves more than Joanie.

While the pizza is certainly a super delicious treat (we had the BBQ chicken pizza, because why not?), there are a variety of items on the Sammy’s menu that are gluten-free. And all kinds of cues on the menu about how to order up some gluten-free grub. See —

Gluten-Free Pizza in Austin: Southside Flying Pizza + Potential

Here’s the thing about gluten-free pizza. It’s hard to get it right. It’s also one of those things that when you crave it, you kind of need to have it RIGHT NOW. I’ve been lucky here in Los Angeles in that I enjoy Lucifer’s gluten-free pizza in Los Feliz. And when I went to San Francisco I was totally stoked about Amici’s, but I have to say I’ve eaten more crappy gluten-free pizza than good. So when I was in Austin, Texas, home of two of my absolute favorite full-on gluten-filled pizza places (can I get a hell yeah for Mangia and Conan’s?) I thought I could get a great pie since I was also in the gluten-free capital of the world. Turns out, it was more challenging than that.

Another great pizza spot, conveniently located down the street from where my brother lives and where we were all staying, is Home Slice. So I called them with my fingers crossed and they said they were working on finding a gluten-free crust. However, they had not found one they loved yet, but to check back. Right on, Home Slice. As I said on the phone, “Keep on keepin’ on,” and the dude responded in kind. I was in Austin, anyway.

Then I called up Southside Flying Pizza, and this is the place where gluten-free magic happens –

Easy & Awesome Gluten-Free Pizza I Made Myself

You know ordering out is really the best part of having pizza for dinner. Which is why I have done just a tiny bit of experimenting in making my own, and was so stoked about the whole California Pizza Kitchen g-free news. That, and I’m also too lazy to make my own bread, especially since I dissed it so badly.

But sometimes you’ve just got to see what you can do by your own self. So I made some gluten-free pizza! You know what? It wasn’t half-bad. In fact, my daughter who is suddenly refusing to eat anything gluten-free, declared it “awesome.”

California Pizza Kitchen Goes Gluten-Free, Baby

Hooray!

I’ve only eaten at California Pizza Kitchen a few times, so it’s odd how excited I am that they are now serving gluten-free crust for their pizza. But you know, as CPK goes, so goes . . . In ‘N’ Out? I know, it’s a stretch. But in the meantime — I’m eating pizza this weekend. I dare anyone to stand in my way.