Happy hour ideas

Happy hour ideas

Happy Hour. A time of day renowned the world over for relaxing just before dinner with small bites and small pours. To create your own happy hour at home for family and friends, try a bite-sized menu that pairs light, flavorful dishes with food-friendly wines. Recipes, including one for Sweet Potato Fries with Spiced Aioli (above) on C2.

Gluten-free offerings

It’s getting easier to “go gluten-free” when dining out because more restaurants are offering dishes designed for customers with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity.

According to Mintel, a marketing research company, mentions of gluten-free options on restaurant menus increased by 275 percent between 2009 and 2012.

Whether it’s a menu listing for alternatives such as gluten-free bread and gluten-free beer, or a notation that dishes can be made without breadcrumbs, restaurants are helping to make it easier for diners.

Celiac disease affects an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. and 18 million Americans are classified as having non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Add to that folks who may not be diagnosed with a gluten intolerance but just want to avoid it, and the number of Americans who want to reduce gluten in their diets in 2013 swells to one in three, according to a consumer market research company.

Combined dispatches