GREAT Kitchens™ 10-City Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour Collaborates with Local Chefs for Gluten-Free Events in Seattle

SEATTLE, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in conjunction with nationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Jehangir Mehta, announces Seattle as the third stop of its 10-city national gluten-free initiative, the GREAT Kitchens™ Gluten-Free Chef's Table Tour.   Through the GREAT Kitchens Chef's Table Tour, Chef Mehta will educate food service providers on how to provide safe, gluten-free foods to diners and promote gluten-free awareness in Seattle via a series of gluten-free events from October 31-November 1, 2013.

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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 open up a new culinary world for those who must avoid gluten."

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 co-host a series of exclusive events with two nationally recognized Seattle chefs, Chef John Howie and Chef Holly Smith.  Chef Howie will host Chef Mehta at his landmark restaurant Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar in Seattle on Thursday, October 31 for an exclusive gluten-free luncheon.  On Friday, November 1, Chef Mehta will join Chef Smith at Cafe Juanita to celebrate the best in gluten-free, sustainable and locally-sourced dining.

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. 

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