Gluten Free Travel Blog

Dining Out on Gluten Free Italian Food

For many Celiacs and others following gluten-free diets, dining out on Italian food may be a distant memory. On the surface, your reaction might be, "Anyplace with pasta as a staple food is NOT a place for me!" However, it pays to do a little research to find the growing number of Italian restaurants -- both chains and independent restaurants -- that are now either willing to tailor items on their regular menu to make them gluten-free...or better yet, offering extensive gluten-free menus. 

While you'll probably need to avoid the Chicken or Veal Parmesan, almost any Italian restaurant has a handful of things that may qualify as being "naturally" gluten free (i.e. steaks, roasted chicken, grilled fish or seafood). The key is to make sure you question everything before ordering. Here are some examples of the questions to ask to uncover "hidden" gluten in Italian dishes: 

• Do the meatballs have breadcrumbs in them? 
• Are the steaks or other meats marinated?
• Are the meats dusted with flour before sautéing? 
• Is the salad dressing gluten-free?
• Is flour used as a thickener in any of the sauces?
• Is there bouillon or broth in a sauce (they often contain gluten)?

Of course, you'll also need to have a detailed conversation with the manager, or preferably the chef, about exactly how to prepare the food to avoid cross-contamination with gluten that is prevalent in the kitchen. 

The next "step up" are restaurants that will tailor Italian favorites to make them gluten-free for you. Examples of this would be restaurants that are willing to do a gluten-free breading -- or breadless version -- of things like Chicken Parmesan or make Veal Piccata that's not dusted in flour. Maggiano's can tailor items on their menu and, like some other Italian restaurants, even stocks gluten-free pasta. (My question for those Italian restaurants that don't offer gluten-free pasta is...WHY NOT?). It's so easy to find a good gluten-free pasta to offer to your guests. And with so many sauces being naturally gluten-free anyway, this gives people a good number of gluten-free choices that are simple for restaurants to prepare, so long as they are sure to boil the pasta in a separate pot of water and avoid other cross-contamination pitfalls. 

Ultimately, what Celiacs are looking for, however, is an Italian restaurant that has shown the interest and taken the time to develop a true gluten-free menu, no matter how simple or extensive. Restaurants that come to mind include Biaggi's (based out West and my personal favorite!), Carrabbas, and even family-friendly chain Old Spaghetti Factory. Our family recently dined at Sambuca restaurant in NYC. This independent (non-chain) restaurant on West 72nd Street just off Central Park West had a great gluten-free menu with plenty of pasta and meat, and seafood choices. If you have a favorite local Italian restaurant that serves up delicious and safe gluten-free food, PLEASE let all of us know about it by submitting a quick review to GlutenFreeTravelSite.com.

One more bit of advice: It's always a help to travel with a dining card, like those from Triumph Dining (they are offered for Italian cuisine as well as 10 or more other global cuisines). These can help you succinctly articulate your needs to a server, manager,or chef. And because they're bilingual, they also help cut across language barriers, which are often present with kitchen staff preparing your meal. 

One final word to the wise...as I've stated in past Blog entries, VIGILANCE is always necessary, even when eating at a "safe" restaurant with a gluten-free menu where you've dined dozens of times before. There may be someone new in the kitchen who may not be aware of all the intricacies of cross contamination, or a server who doesn't know anything about the gluten-free diet -- or even the g-f menu the restaurant offers. But trust me, it IS worth a bit of research, because when you find good gluten-free Italian food, it is a sublime experience! (Be sure to periodically check our growing list of restaurants with gluten-free menus on our Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page AND also Search Reviews for new ideas of great places to dine both in your area and places you travel).

Happy Gluten-Free Italian Dining, and Happy Holidays!

Sambuca Restaurant in New York City Is Indeed a Great Bet for Gluten-Free Dining

At GlutenFreeTravelSite, we've received several reviews of Sambuca Restaurant on the West Side of New York City, so I thought it was only fitting we give it a try while in town for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. As those of you who live in or travel to New York City know, there's a large and growing number of independent neighborhood restaurants (as well as large chains) that offer gluten-free menu options. (You can Search our Reviews of New York establishments or our list of national and regional chains with gluten-free menus at GlutenFreeTravelSite.) 

When I called to make a reservation at Sambuca, which was fortunately open on Thanksgiving, they confirmed that they did indeed have an extensive gluten-free menu and asked me if we'd be ordering a traditional Thanksgiving meal, which they'd be serving that day, or if we'd like to order from the Italian (regular or gluten-free) menus. Our family decided that we'd might as well try their Italian fare...after all, turkey is turkey, but only really good restaurants can pull off gluten-free Italian! So we decided to have our traditional Thanksgiving meal the next day at home. 

Our reservation at Sambuca was at 2 pm, when the restaurant opened, and by that time, we were all starving! The restaurant was moderately crowded and continued to fill up during our time there. The gluten-free Italian menu was extensive, with probably 50% of the items from the regular menu appearing on it. Sambuca is "family style" Italian, so we ordered our dishes to share. We chose the Chopped Salad with arugula, romaine, cannelini beans, gorgonzola cheese, roasted red peppers, black olives, basil and tomatoes to start with. It was delicious. Apparently, they typically have gluten-free bread but were out of it that day. Too bad...but we were not at a loss for food! For our main courses we chose the Chicken Paillard, Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Broccoli, and Mixed Seafood Pasta with Marinara Sauce (with calamari, shrimp, clams, and mussels). All were excellent...each of us had a "favorite"...mine was the veal, although the two pasta dishes were excellent as well. They use the elbow-shaped Tinkyada pasta, which I occasionally make at home, but without as much success as they seem to have at Sambuca. (We like Schar gluten-free pasta the best.) There's something about the gluten-free pastas we have at restaurants...ironically, they are always better than they turn out at home. I think the key is not overcooking it and perhaps running cold water over the pasta when it's done to prevent further cooking even after it's drained. Regardless, Sambuca did it perfectly.

Needless to say, we were too full for dessert but look forward to visiting Sambuca again next time we're in "The City." (As a side note, New York was the winner of our first annual contest last year to find the "World's Most Celiac-Friendly Destination." We are hosting the contest again RIGHT NOW and will be choosing the geographic location with the most review submissions by December 31 as this year's winner. So PLEASE submit a review or two of YOUR favorite restaurants, resorts, cruise ships, or grocery stores to GlutenFreeTravelSite.com today!

Traveling? Try New Gluten-Free Restaurants En Route...

Traveling over the Holidays this year? If so, it's a great excuse to try a new restaurant outside your area. That's what our family did today. We were driving through Pennsylvania, and when it came time for lunch, I pulled out my iPhone and Searched Reviews of area restaurants on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com. Then I checked the Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page to view the chain restaurants in the area with gluten-free menus.  I was reminded of the Charlie Brown's Steakhouse chain, which we'd never tried. There happened to be one just minutes from where we we'd be passing through at lunchtime. Let's just say it was nice to know we would be taking the kids to someplace other than the old standby...McD's! 

Charlie Brown's offered a lunch menu with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other heartier entrees. I ordered tilapia from the gluten-free menu, and our boys split the filet mignon. The mashed potatoes were gluten-free, although the fries were not. There's a nice range of gluten-free options...ribs, fish, chicken, and lots of steaks (what they're known for). So don't forget to utilize all the resources on GlutenFreeTravelSite this Holiday season...whether you're traveling or just looking for something new in your area. We just added 6 new restaurant chains to our Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page: Old Spaghetti Factory, Z'Tejas, Ruby Tuesday, Ted's Montana Grill, Stonewood Grill and Tavern, and of course the old standby and gold-standard of gluten-free menus: Outback Steakhouse.  

If you dine at these or any other restaurants this Holiday season -- or if you're lucky enough to be traveling to a resort or on a cruise, please don't forget to share your experience by submitting a review to GlutenFreeTravelSite. Happy Holidays!

Dining Gluten-Free at Disney World's Theme Parks

Our family just got back from four nights/four days at Disney World in Orlando,  Florida. It was the second time taking our boys there -- the first was 3 1/2 years ago. It was a whirlwind trip, and yes, it was once again "majukl," as our son Ryan (the one with Celiac) wrote in a first-grade writing assignment the day he got back! 

I have to confess...I had never been fanatical about "the mouse," as so many people are. I went to Disney once or twice as a child -- and then a few more times as a teenager and young adult. While I always had a great time, there were other places I'd choose to travel instead, if given a choice. 

That all changed a bit after Ryan's diagnosis with Celiac 4 1/2 years ago. Suddenly, planning trips revolved around places that could understand and accommodate a gluten-free diet. Enter Disney. We'd heard a bit about how well they worked with all sorts of special diets, so when our boys were 3 and 5, we decided they were old enough (just barely!) to appreciate a trip to Disney World. Getting detailed information through their Special Dining Department was a great experience. (Call 407-938-3288 for Animal Kingdom, 407-560-6395 for EPCOT, 407-824-5967 for Magic Kingdom, and 407-560-3551 for Hollywood Studios.) We did indeed have a "magical" vacation, with friendly chefs coming to the table to consult with us before each meal. I literally almost cried after that first trip...it was the first time in the year since Ryan's diagnosis that we were able to travel somewhere without having to bring our own food -- and were able to rest easy knowing he'd get a fun, safe, and delicious meal, just like all the other kids. Now THAT's a vacation from worry! 

So, here it was 3 1/2 years later, and we found ourselves back at Disney World, in large part due to the great deals they were marketing back in the summer. And again, it was "majukl," as Ryan would say. I can't help but think that, for him, it's partly due to the fact, beyond the rides and characters and excitement of it all, he can enjoy fun "kid" things like gluten-free Mickey-shaped waffles and the Mickey ice cream bars throughout the four parks. In fact, in our experience, there are very few Disney restaurants (either quick counter-service OR sit-down table-service) where you CAN'T get a gluten-free meal. And all in all, the food is pretty good quality. They also offer healthier side dishes for kids (like carrots, grapes, and yogurt) as alternatives to the ever-ubiquitous fries, and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and brownies are available at many of the quick-service restaurants. 

Our family traversed all four parks in four days and had the Dining Plan as part of our package, so all our meals were on the Disney property. You can find detailed reviews of restaurants like Le Cellier Steakhouse in EPCOT's Canada and T Rex Restaurant in Downtown Disney...character breakfasts at The Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and Hollywood and Vine...and various "quick service" meals -- all on our sister site GlutenFreeTravelSite (just select Florida under the United States pull-down menu when you Search Reviews). Others have posted many Disney restaurant reviews here as well.

If you have your own Disney stories to share -- good OR bad -- please add to our reviews by submitting one of your own. It's easy and helps so many others planning trips to this "majukl" place! And be sure to stay on top of other great places to dine and travel by signing up for our free monthly e-letter from GlutenFreeTravelSite.com and by following us on Twitter. 

Vigilance necessary when dining out gluten-free

I recently came across two great articles to help Celiacs safely dine out gluten-free. The theme of the articles, found on the website Gluten-Free Simplicity, was VIGILANCE. While both the author of the articles and I applaud restaurants that offer gluten-free menus (and want to encourage more restaurants to do so!), we agree that Celiacs have to be careful not to get lulled into a false sense of security just because a restaurant has a "gluten-free menu." 

The articles, How to Tell if a GF Menu is Truly Gluten Free and Tonight's GF Menu Item Choice: Is It Celiac SAFE or Is It Simply Gluten?, address the issues surrounding dining out, even when a printed gluten-free menu is available. Have the staff -- both in the kitchen and serving your food -- been properly trained? Do they understand Celiac Disease and the seriousness of ingesting gluten? Are specific gluten-free brands of ingredients ever substituted (i.e. one brand of sour cream for another that might not be gluten-free)? When developing the menus, were chefs aware of and careful about checking ingredients like ketchup, tomato paste, and vinegar, etc. that might go into making a marinade, for example? 

These are the types of questions we need to be asking. If you're ever in doubt about something you're ordering, make sure to ask the chef or manager, and be sure they're confident in their answer. Again, we've come a long way by having so many great restaurants offer gluten-free restaurants. Just be sure to always be on alert when dining out -- whether at a chain restaurant or independent neighborhood restaurant. 

Gluten Free Fast Food Choices

Ever get tired of relying on McDonald's for your gluten-free fast food needs? Us too! Don't get me wrong...the "Golden Arches" have saved our family on many road trips. At least we know we'll be able to get our son something "safe" that he -- like any American 6-year-old -- enjoys: a plain burger, fries, apple dippers (and the occasional hot fudge sundae or M&M McFlurry). But oh how I love having other OPTIONS.

If you're in the mood for chicken (none of McDonald's chicken is gluten-free), Chick Fil-A is a good bet.They have a downloadable menu on their website listing menu items that "may fit a gluten-free diet." And they've obtained information from the supplier's of each of the items on their menu. Options include the chargrilled chicken filet -- with no bun or atop the garden salad -- other salads and coleslaw, and even their addictive waffle fries, which ARE cooked in a separate fryer from the fried chicken. Breakfast options are plentiful, too, with the eggs, bacon, sausage, and hashbrowns all "on the list." 

And Hardee's also has (recently, I think) addressed the needs of the growing gluten-free population by posting some safe options on their website. OK...maybe "safe" was a poor choice of words. One particular choice they showcase may be gluten-free but it certainly isn't FAT-free! Good Lord...their "low-carb" Breakfast Bowl (neat concept) is described as "egg, sausage, and Swiss cheese piled with a loaded omelet, finished with cheddar and bacon bits." Ouch! Maybe your arteries would thank you if you shared it with a friend! Lunch/dinner options include a 1/3 lb. "low-carb" Thickburger, a charbroiled 100% Black Angus beef patty with cheese and all the fixings "wrapped in lettuce." You can also get a side salad (ALL their salad dressings are safe). The nice thing is that these three items showcased on their website's gluten-free page can all be ordered as-is "straight off the menu," although I'd probably articulate your needs to a manager in order to assure there's no cross-contamination from worker's who've handled bread with their gloves, etc. After all, there is a difference between desiring something that's low-carb and needing something that's gluten-free, even if it is the same menu item. Visit Hardees g-f page for downloadable coupons for gluten-free menu items. 

One final -- and disappointing note: I just went on to McDonald's website and was dismayed to see that they no longer have "gluten" broken out as an allergen on their allergy information page. They just list "wheat," which, as we all know, is not the same as gluten! Perhaps I've missed it...if anyone has seen where they might specifically address GLUTEN on their website, please respond. 

Luxury Vacation Home Rentals in Orlando area make traveling on a gluten-free diet easy

Let's face it...even with the increasing number of restaurants adding gluten-free choices to their menus, sometimes you want to cook your own meals while traveling, especially if you're going to be gone for more than a few days and are looking to save money. But you can't do that while staying at your typical hotel.

That's where luxury vacation home rental communities like the brand-new Paradise Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida (less than 10 minutes from Disney World), find their niche. You can rent a three, four, or five bedroom private vacation pool home, professionally furnished and decorated and complete with a gourmet kitchen for all your gluten-free cooking needs! To put it plainly, for the cost of a moderately-priced, cramped hotel room, you can rent your very own spacious luxury home where your family can spread out, relax, and cook many of your own meals, reducing your dependence on eating out. All town homes at Paradise Palms even have covered lanais and private courtyards with splash pools. You have all the advantages of a private villa accompanied by all the amenities of a luxury resort, including their Tropical Oasis swimming pool, game room, fitness center, concierge, business center, movie theater, and more!

Centrally located in the heart of the Orlando area with quick access to Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and dozens of other attractions, this is a resort you'll want to return to year after year with your family and friends. (Be sure to check out all the great special events and festivals coming up at Disney World over the coming year.) 

Best of all, we have arranged a 10% discount on Paradise Palm Resort's published rates for visitors of GlutenFreeTravelSite. For more information, visit Paradise Palms website or call 800-963-1379. Be sure to mention GlutenFreeTravelSite Discount Code "GFT" when booking to receive your 10% discount. You can also email Christa with any questions about Paradise Palms Resort and traveling gluten-free to the Orlando area. 

Helpful Tips for Dining Gluten-Free on Your Trip

If You Choose to Dine In: You don't have to spend your entire vacation cooking, even if you do want to eat in.There's a company our family likes called GF Meals that delivers ready-to-cook gluten-free meals that you can arrange to arrive at the resort at the beginning of your stay. All you have to do is pop the items in the oven for a quick, easy, and healthy gluten-free meal. You can also find a wide assortment of wonderful gluten-free groceries at the Whole Foods in Orlando.

If You Choose to Dine Out: Disney makes dining gluten-free in its parks very easy, but there are loads of other Celiac-friendly restaurants outside the Disney property as well.  Check the listing of restaurants with gluten-free menus on our Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page. Most of the national and regional restaurant chains listed have locations in the Orlando area. You can access their gluten-free menus and list of locations directly from our site. Be sure to also visit GlutenFreeTravelSite to read personal reviews of other Celiac-friendly restaurants in the Orlando area. (Just choose Florida under the United States pull-down menu on the Search Reviews page.) 

**Note: In exchange for our help in promoting Paradise Palms Resort, Gluten Free Travel, LLC receives a small commission on all bookings from visitors to our site/Blog. 

Gluten Free Options at Vail Ski Resorts

It recently came to our attention (via theskichannel.com) that Vail Resorts, which owns Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Heavenly ski resorts, will be identifying their gluten-free menu items with special "GF" designations beginning this season. Thank you, Vail Resorts! 

Our family went to one of the top ski resorts in the country last year -- Deer Valley. Even though it was just rated #1 Overall (well-deserved!) and #1 for "On Mountain Food" in October's issue of SKI magazine, we still found ourselves chasing down chefs before lunch to try to find suitable gluten-free choices for our son. How wonderful it would have been to be able to glance at a menu and see right away what was safe for him to eat. 

It appears that is how things will work at Vail Resorts as they try to meet not only gluten-free diners' needs, but other dietary needs as well. Let's hope other resorts follow suit!

Gluten Free Dining in Mendocino, California

If you're lucky enough to live in Northern California -- or if you're considering a trip there -- don't miss GlutenFreeTravelSite.com's Featured Review of dining gluten-free in Mendocino. Amy, a visitor to the site, recently submitted three reviews from this gorgeous area of the California coastline...one of a restaurant, one of an inn, and one of a local market selling all sorts of gluten-free goodies. We've combined them into October's Featured Review. 

Coincidentally, my husband and I actually spent a Thanksgiving weekend at The Little River Inn that Amy reviewed. However, it was years ago when we lived in San Francisco and when our older son was just a baby -- and our younger son (the one with Celiac) wasn't born yet. So we didn't have any special dietary needs to work around. Regardless, staying at the Little River Inn was certainly a nice experience...great location, beautiful views, wonderful food, and lots to do in the area. We stayed in the original Victorian house built in 1853. There are also newer buildings on the property, many with jacuzzis, decks, and other luxury amenities. 

Read the specifics of Amy's review of the Little River Inn, Ledford House Restaurant, and Harvest Market, and please post some of your own reviews on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com -- of anyplace where you've had a good gluten-free dining or travel experience. 

Ruby Tuesday Has List of Their Menu's Allergens, Including Menu Items that are Gluten Free

Our family has dined at the Ruby Tuesday in our neighborhood several times. It's been on our gluten-free "radar" for a while, based on things I'd discovered in my research. They don't yet have a gluten-free menu, per se, but Corporate Headquarters had emailed me a list of items on the menu that don't contain gluten. The list was pretty limited, and many of the entrees had to be tailored so much (leaving off sauces, substituting sides) that the choices haven't been the greatest. That said, they've always been eager to please and our son is always happy with a steak, hamburger or chicken with baked potato and veggies. 

On a recent trip there, however, we were thrilled to hear they have a new manual, updated monthly, that lists all allergens (including gluten) in their menu items. The manager was also much more knowledgeable about issues surrounding safe preparation of gluten-free meals, something that was somewhat hit-or-miss in the past. Needless to say, this made us a lot more comfortable. 

Our son ordered the Chicken Fresco, without the lemon-butter sauce (still good with the splash of balsamic vinaigrette and some sliced tomatoes on top) and substituted the mashed potatoes (NOT gluten-free) with a baked potato. I had a taste, of course, and it was delicious. 

Hopefully the next step will be the addition of a true gluten-free menu. It is also worth mentioning that this is NOT the Ruby Tuesday you remember from the 90's! You''ll no longer find the bar-fare and mediocre family-dining options. They've revamped their menu -- and their decor -- with a great range of updated and healthier choices (of course, they still have the great burgers!). It's a nice, more upscale atmosphere but a place where you can still get a really good value, no matter what you decide to order.