GREAT Kitchens™ 10-City Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour Launches in New York

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 30 percent of Americans reducing or eliminating gluten from their diet, the demand for gluten-free food items in restaurants and schools has never been higher.  In order to educate foodservice providers on offering safe, high-quality, gluten-free foods to diners, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) has partnered with New York City chef and restaurateur, Jehangir Mehta, to announce the launch of the GREAT Kitchens ^™ Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour on October 22-23 in New York City.

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"Dietary restrictions shouldn't limit access to restaurant dining," says Chef Jehangir Mehta, NFCA chef ambassador and Next Iron Chef finalist.  "For diners with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, having access to safe gluten-free food is a necessity and not a luxury.  Through the GREAT Kitchens ^™ Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour, we hope to educate chefs across the country about the need for gluten-free menu items and the knowledge required to prepare gluten-free foods safely."

The GREAT Kitchens ^™ Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour will debut in New York with a series of exclusive chef's table events held at Chef Mehta's Tribeca restaurant Mehtaphor. Mehtaphor will also feature a gluten-free prix fixe menu for the public on Wednesday, October 23. 

Aimed at educating restaurants, caterers and universities on preparing gluten-free foods with front- and back-of-house skills and strategies, the GREAT Kitchens ^™ Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour will also partner with New York University (NYU) to increase awareness of the needs of gluten-free college students. Chef Mehta will join NYU Resident District Executive Chef Edward Nagy to prepare a gluten-free tasting menu for students to empower them to advocate for safe food on campus so that gluten-free students can eat without fear.

Follow NFCA's Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour and join the gluten-free conversation on Twitter through @CeliacAwareness and @jehangir_mehta or by tweeting #GFChefsTable or #GREATKitchens.  Photo updates can also be found through NFCA's Instagram account.  To partake in Graffiti Food and Wine Bar's gluten-free menu night, please make reservations at www.graffitinyc.com.

About the GREAT Kitchens^™ Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour
Through GREAT Kitchens^™, an educational initiative of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), the Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour seeks to educate the food industry on the importance of attentive food handling and preparation in gluten-free dining.  Together with "Next Iron Chef" contestant, executive chef and restaurateur, Chef Jehangir Mehta, GREAT Kitchens^™ arms restaurants, universities and foodservice providers with the tools needed to offer safe gluten-free options for individuals with gluten-free dietary needs.  The Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour will span 10 cities in the U.S. through fall 2013 and spring 2014.

About Chef Jehangir Mehta
As executive chef and owner of New York City restaurants Graffiti, Mehtaphor and soon to open third restaurant, Graffiti Me & You, Chef Jehangir Mehta seeks to bring eclectic, healthful dining to the masses.  Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Mehta polished his culinary skill set at acclaimed New York City restaurants including Aix, Compass, and Jean-Georges.  Following the success of his cookbook entitled, "Mantra: The Rules of Indulgence," Mehta appeared on "Iron Chef America" and was the runner-up on the second season of "The Next Iron Chef."

About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. NFCA owns and operates GREAT Kitchens^™, a web-based gluten-free training program for foodservice professionals.  Learn more at www.CeliacCentral.org/GREAT.

SOURCE National Foundation for Celiac Awareness