I am back. Almost completely recovered from a wicked sinus infection and bronchitis and ready to get back to covering Atlanta’s gluten-free shopping and dining scene. Lots to cover, so lets just jump right in!

Stop by 2B Whole European Gluten Free Bakery from 4-5 p.m. every day for  Happy Hour when all items are 15%. What a great end to the work day – gluten-free sweet and savory treats made in a dedicated environment!

ToneToATL reports that Bantam & Biddy at 1010 Midtown on Crescent Avenue in midtown has closed.  Chef Shaun Doty, the restaurant’s co-founder and owner, plans to open a new restaurant, “The Federal,” in place of the shuttered eatery. Other Bantam & Biddy locations in Ansley Mall, Lenox Square and Avalon will remain open as will Chick-A-Biddy at Atlantic Station.

Black Walnut Cafe in Alpharetta has a separate gluten-free menu that includes Udi’s Gluten Free bread and buns for sandwiches and burgers, corn tortillas for quesadillas, appetizers, salads, entrees, and pancakes. Safe handling procedures are followed for order preparation, but it is important to know that the pancakes are cooked on the same grill (opposite side) as gluten ones. Breads are run through the belt oven on a clean sheet pan to heat.

Create Your Own Cupcake now offers a portable cupcake station for parties. Their hollow cupcakes, toppings, fillings and frostings are sold either individually or by the pound. Choose from five gluten-free flavors of cupcakes and pair them with a selection of toppings, fillings and frostings and let guests create their own edible masterpiece!

Gluten Free Cutie will reopen for business on October 8th at their new location: 1066 Alpharetta St, Roswell, GA 30075. Stop by to stock up on your favorite flavors of cupcakes, cookies, whoopie pies and more all made in a dedicated bakery with no artificial dyes, eggs, soy, peanuts and tree nuts. Dairy-free options are available too. The grand reopening celebration is scheduled for October from 2-4 p.m.

Harvest Soul Organic Juices can now be found in select Sprouts Farmers Markets and other natural/organic retailers in Georgia. Recently signed distribution agreements with KeHE and UNFI enabled Atlanta-based, family owned and operated Harvest Soul to achieve its largest distribution gains to date. Harvest Soul’s Blended, Probiotic and Chewable juices are organic, high fiber, non-GMO and made from whole fruits and vegetables.

Maggiano’s Little Italy has been spending time in their test kitchen formulating new gluten-free menu items. I attended a luncheon where a few of these new items were debuted and I am truly hopeful they will become permanent menu additions. They are serving xx gluten-free bread as table bread and it can be served as bruschetta with advance notice. The really cool news is the new dessert option of cheesecake made with American Gra-Frutti’s graham cracker crumbs. They make the creamiest cheesecake I have ever had with just a touch of tartness from the lemon juice and a lovely graham cracker crust that is undetectable as gluten free.

Nicobella Organics just started selling Chocolate Chip Energy Bites at the Piedmont Farmers Market. They are made with: almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, maple, 70% dark chocolate (cacao, organic cane sugar). They are working on a pumpkin pecan flavor that will be for sale at the Urban Air Market Saturday in East Atlanta.

Noble Fin in Peachtree Corners Oyster Happy Hour in now every Monday and Friday from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the bar area only. Oysters are a ‘buck a shuck’ and pair nicely with a cocktail from their full bar. As of 9/29, they have added Peel & Eat Shrimp Happy hour every Thursday and Saturday from 5-7 p.m. in the bar area only. Shrimp are ‘a buck a peel’. Get there early because the bar fills up quickly.

Peachtree Corners Marketplace, the large center that sits near the intersection of Holcomb Bridge Road and Peachtree Parkway, will soon welcome a host of new tenants.  In addition to the previously announced Aldi, Buffalo Wild Wings will also take up residence this year. There is a lot of ongoing construction mainly for the build-out of Aldi and I am left wondering if the parking lot can handle all of this new business. It is pretty full most days with the Chick-fil-A and IHop crowds. Aldi is expected to open in November and offers its own liveGfree line of products in addition to a number of Aldi brand gluten-free products.

According to ToneToATL, Ruby Tuesday has closed its Duluth location at 3580 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.  The restaurant was one of about 95 units the Maryville, Tennessee-based chain planned to close for “underperformance.” The restaurant is located near the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

Simple Mills reformulated their Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix to include tapioca and created a vegan mix that can be prepared without an egg. Now the instructions call for milk; however, you can still use an egg in place of milk. Their mixes are made with simple , clean ingredients and contain less than half the sugar and carbohydrates of leading baking mix brands. You won’t find gluten, grains, soy, corn, dairy, or gums/emulsifiers in their line of mixes. Whole Foods carry their mixes, which can also be purchased on Amazon.com.

The Souper Jenny at The Atlanta History Center will begin serving (beer not gluten free and) wine on 10/10. The addition of alcohol is a first for this local company and one that I am sure will be welcomed with open arms by the community. Many of the soups and salads are gluten free and they are all homemade.

Treehorn Cider is popping up at many restaurants in and around Atlanta. Here is a list of the locations that have added their cider to their offerings in the last two weeks. Check out the website for a full listing of where to buy and drink their locally made and refreshing cider:
Midtown/West Midtown Miller Union, The Vortex
Decatur Makan Restaurant & Bar, Farm Burger Decatur
Buckhead Farm Burger Buckhead
Edgewood/L5P/OFW Ammazza Edgewood, Torched Hop
Brookhaven Copper Coin Coffeeshop
Savannah Soho South Cafe, World of Beer Savannah
Rome River Dog Outpost

Venkman’s turns one on October 8th and is celebrating with a full day of Yacht Rock with two live shows from Yacht Rock Revue. Frontmen Nick Niespodziani and Pete Olson, partners at Venkman’s, will take the stage with Yacht Rock Revue at 7:00 p.m. for an intimate unplugged show, then they’ll turn up the volume at 9:30 p.m. and pack a full year’s worth of rocking into one unforgettable night. Classic Yacht Rock tunes will play all day, and food and drink specials are plentiful.

Stay safe and dry this weekend!