Gluten Free Travel Blog

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.