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Gluten Free Only Restaurant
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It’s not often that we find a place that has gluten-free options. There are certainly restaurants out there that are trying more and more, as gluten intolerance becomes a more significant concern. When there is a true intolerance or Celiacs, it makes eating out like a painful version of Russian Roulette with food. Not that I’m sure Russian Roulette is pain-free, but that those with gluten-intolerance seem to pay for their version a lot longer.
Cross contamination is a huge concern. What if the food is prepared on the same grill, for example?
A great friend of ours has a terrible reactions to gluten. A recent hospital stay came from applying sun-screen that had an ingredient based on gluten. Sun-screen! The poor woman was punished for trying to not get a tan.
So, when she’s in town we are very careful of the food we make and can almost never go out to restaurants to eat. The results are just not worth the risk for her.
However, that being said, I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have stumble upon a place that features gluten-free on the menu, as the only menu. While traveling through our hometown, we stumbled upon one such restaurant. Unfortunately, it’s not a chain, but to any one passing through that region, I recommend it.
Seeing my girlfriend’s eyes light up as she realized she could have everything on the six page menu was outstanding. Bread, Pizza, cheesecake...you name it.
My favorite part was the front door has a well-placed sign saying that no outside food is allowed inside for fear of contamination. I applaud them and hope they stay in business for a very long time.
Is anyone else aware of any local restaurants across the USA that are totally gluten free? We travel a lot, and any city that has a place like this will likely make its way onto our list.
Hi Lucas!
It's been great reading your posts. It's great to see that you care so much for your girlfriend's needs and understand what it takes to be gluten free.
I connect with your girlfriend's look of amazement and absolute delight when seeing "gluten free" on the menu... and to see an entire menu of gluten free???? Ahhh! A dream come true! Forget jewelry and fancy trips to Europe. We want gluten free.
What a coincidence that you started this thread because in Lawrenceville, NJ they just opened up a 100% gluten free bakery and cafe called Wildflour. I am so excited and cannot wait to check this place out. I have some reservations because, as you might have read in my introduction, I have severe nut allergies, and this place does use all kinds of nuts in the bakery. I'm still going to go check it out-- the owners might be very careful with their ingredients, as they understand the need for a separate bakery for gluten free foods! They even have vegetarian and dairy free options... so they are all As in my book!!
I also travel a great deal, so I'd love to see if there are other 100% gluten free restaurants/cafes/bakeries out there! Nut free is a plus for me!
I wish we had such a restaurant here. I know there are a few places like that out in the Northwest, but no such luck here in the south.
I haven't had much luck finding a great source for eating out. Both my boyfriend and I are gluten-free, and like Lucas said about the game of Russian Roulette, it's not one we like to play. We have been successfully glutened by Mellow Mushroom and Chipotle, and after that we've pretty much given up on eating out.
The problem really is the cross-contamination. How familiar are the cooks with gluten-free allergies? It's fairly serious for some if they are glutened on accident and I don't think a lot of restaurants have picked up on that. It's not like a low-carb or vegetarian option, being gluten free for most is not a choice. We have to be this way or we become sick. It's unrealistic to think that you can get a completely gluten-free pizza in a facility that is surrounded everywhere you turn with gluten whether it's made in a separate kitchen or not. Does the cook change their gloves? Do they change their apron? What about their hair, is it covered with a hair net? Oh, some of the ingredients aren't back here, let me just go grab some from the other bar (where their gluten dusted hands have been). It's not fair for us to expect them to be able to make a completely 100 percent guaranteed gluten-free pizza.
The only real option that I would feel comfortable going for is from a restaurant that only serves gluten-free. No gluten containing ingredients ever make it in, so there is no risk for contamination, just like my kitchen.
It’s so true, Katrina and Andrea! I’m glad, Andrea, that you were able to find a place and hope that the bakery has worked out for you. Katrina, I’m sure you’ll find something.
What’s impressed me about the disease is the growing public perception of it. We’re seeing it more and more in the States. Unfortunately, as you both mentioned, it’s not a given that when it says “gluten free”, it really is.
What’s surprised me, though, are the places that you have expected to be more gluten conscious aren’t.
We’re really big fans of NYC, and travel there frequently. In this urban landscape, where you can get so much organic and local - despite farms not being in close proximity - it’s surprising to not find more gluten free options. We have found a few, but mostly it’s at the specialty shops (which are are our favorites)
One place I’d really recommend is Saratia’s Mac and Cheese in the East Village. They create every order to order, and have a great skillet Mac and Cheese option that is gluten free.
However, finding that one place that has gluten free as the only option becomes a mecca. The place that I mentioned in our hometown has become our place. We bring friends there to show them that gluten-free doesn’t mean fun free and taste free. We go there when out on a date. We go there just for a little desert.
The best part is, talking with the owner this past visit, neither proprietors are gluten intolerant. They simply saw a need for their friends and have been going ever since.
Bravo to them and anyone else that tries that sort of offering! They certainly make people very happy!
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