Pam MacD’s, Burbank

3516 .W Magnolia Blvd · Burbank, CA · 91505 · 818-843-5800

A couple of months ago, I discovered a great little health food store in Burbank that features completely gluten free products.

The owner, and the grocery store’s namesake, Pam MacDonald was born with Celiac disease and wanted to provide a place for people like her to purchase gluten free foods in one easy one-stop-shop.

A truly inspirational story, she has no professional business background, but just knew there was gluten-free void that needed to be filled. Her website states that in her 14 years of living with the disease, Pam has “tried virtually every gluten free product that exists, and has sorted through it all to bring only the best food together in one convenient location.” Thus Pam MacD’s was born.

The market provides mostly dry, shelved products and frozen goods. Everything from gluten free dough mixes, cereals, ice cream and TV dinners.

When I spoke with her, Pam told me that ironically “it’s easier to be Gluten free in Montana than in Southern California.” There just hasn’t really been a go-to place for this sort of thing in LA. There are now various gluten free options in grocery stores and special dishes on restaurant menus for those who are sensitive. Everything from cakes, puddings, pastries, pastas can all have gluten in them (all of which you can get at Pam MacD’s – without the gluten!) My favorite discovery is a soy and gluten free protein water!

In case you were wondering, gluten exists in grains like wheat, barley, rye, kamut or spelt. It provides elasticity and acts like glue to help hold flour products together and provide them with a chewy texture. It’s used as a thickener in most commercial products. This can make any dinner, not to mention one during the holidays, a difficult meal to procure with all the heavy flour use, baking and carb-laden sides.

On my hunt for Thanksgiving and Christmas dish ideas at Pam MacD’s, I discovered Gluten Free Gravy, an Organic and Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes mix from Edward and Sons, a Gluten Free Flour and Pie Crust Mix from Arnel’s Originals, and Brown Rice Bread Crumbs from Hol Grains.

They indeed have everything here; gluten-free stuffing, marshmallows, biscuits, vegetable broth and more. While I haven’t been diagnosed as being gluten intolerant, I do find that I enjoy products here simply because they are GOOD! Popular brands like Bob’s Red Mill, Divine Dips Vegan Ice Cream (which tastes like regular ice cream!), and independent family vendors like Nana’s, which was started by health conscious moms, and Livia’s Kitchen, which make the most delicious vegan cookies around. You can shop here even if you just want to add some healthy variety to your family’s menu.

With it’s opening this past April, Pam MacD’s is the largest market of its kind in Southern California and as awareness grows they hope to be able to expand with more locations. Since they aren’t a large chain grocery store, you may find some of the same products you’d find at name markets, for slightly less here. Whole Foods and Erewhon offer many gluten free options on the shelves, however, this all-in-one market is definitely a godsend for suffers of celiac disease and those sensitive to gluten.

You don’t have to sacrifice taste – or even your health to make a delicious gluten free meal this holiday – check out Pam MacD’s and start creating new traditional homemade dishes that work for you.

BYB Tip: Just an FYI, I’m no doctor… The symptom list is long and varied, so do your research and visit Web MD or your doctor if you think you have gluten intolerance.