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. 

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. 

Uno's Gluten Free Pizza

We finally had a chance to try Uno's new gluten-free pizza last night, which they rolled out nationwide ahead of schedule few months ago after a successful test period in the Northeast region. I'm happy to report that the pizza is great tasting -- and perfect for one very hungry person -- or two with lighter appetites to share. It's a thin crust, but not as thin as their regular flatbread pizza. We ordered the regular cheese, but it's also available in pepperoni and veggie. There was a generous portion of cheese, and the crust was very good (reminded me of one of the make-your-own g-f pizza crusts we've made at home). I would have preferred if the crust had been crisper. It was hard to tell if it's always like that or if maybe it was just pulled out of the oven a minute or two early. Our server didn't really know...and frankly, our son seemed pleased and ate most of the pizza, parting only with a small slice for mom and dad to taste! I would definitely recommend trying it, and any leftovers would probably be good warmed in a toaster oven at home. You can see their complete gluten-free menu on their site (just click on gluten-free info in the right hand column). Find other restaurants that have gluten-free menus, along with links to those menus on GlutenFreeTravelSite's new Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page. 

Restaurants With Gluten Free Menus Abound -- And Are Easy on Your Pocketbook in this Tough Economy

Gluten free diners have two things to be thankful for right now...the fact that so many more restaurants are jumping on the gluten free bandwagon (finally!) and that many of these restaurants provide affordable options when we're all watching our spending a bit more closely. We recently added a listing of some national and regional restaurants with gluten free menus to our website, GlutenFreeTravelSite.com. We realize this list is not exhaustive, and we will be adding to it constantly. But already, it's a great resource for getting ideas of new and exciting (and safe!) places to dine -- no matter where you live (right now the list is limited primarily to U.S.-based chains, although many also have some international locations). What's great about this list is that not only does it offer geographic reach, but culinary reach as well. Whether you're in the mood for Asian, Italian, Seafood, Burgers, or Gluten-Free Pizza (yes, there are several chains now offering it!), you'll find plenty of options -- some perhaps that you've never heard about. And the majority of these multi-location restaurants offer great values to boot! So take a break from cooking in and try something new. Or search the list before your next trip...it's a great excuse to try a restaurant you may not have in your state. When you visit the Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page on our site, clicking on any one of the restaurants will take you to a page that offers a description of the restaurant, along with links to their gluten free menu and list of locations. If you try a new restaurant -- either in your area or while traveling -- be sure to share your feedback by taking a moment to submit a review to GlutenFreeTravelSite. Bon Apetit!

Two More Restaurant Chains Embrace Gluten-Free Pizza

My intention in starting this Blog last Fall wasn't to focus on chains offering gluten-free pizza, but it's funny to look back at all the entries covering this topic! I guess that's a good thing, since GOOD PIZZA is one of the things most Celiacs miss. As some of you may know by now, Uno Chicago Grill just rolled out gluten-free pizza to all their locations nationwide, after testing in their Northeast locations. Apparently, they sped up the nationwide rollout after the tremendous response from customers in the Northeast. One reviewer on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com had great things to report in her review of the g-f pizza at a Boston area Uno's. 

Then there's Z Pizza, founded in Laguna Beach in 1986 and now with locations throughout most of the East Coast, West Coast, and a smattering of other states in between. We're lucky enough to have had a Z Pizza open up in our neighborhood about two years ago, and I have to confess that this is probably my favorite pizza ever. (Keep in mind, I eat their regular pizza...it's my son that has Celiac.) So you can imagine how thrilled our family was to hear that Z Pizza was planning to offer gluten-free crust. This, too, is a very recent development...just launched last month. All locations should have the crust, but check before going (or when ordering), since they were out of it just a few nights ago at the location near our house. But last night we ordered one (it only comes in the 10-inch size), and I was finally able to try it. Never one to disappoint, Z Pizza has nailed it again...the gluten-free crust was amazing...providing you like thin crust. 

After I had one piece, our five-year old son proceeded to devour the 5 other pieces with reckless abandon. I have never seen him eat so much or so enthusiastically! He has always enjoyed one of the frozen g-f pizzas we buy (the individual-sized pizza from By George), but he liked Z Pizza even better (no big surprise!). It was just so nice to be able to ALL enjoy pizza together, all at the same place. It is that emotional aspect of being able to follow a gluten-free while dining with your friends and family that I think is as important to many Celiacs as the taste of the food itself. To read more about what makes Z Pizza's regular and g-f pizza so special (and so much healthier than most pizzas), read my complete review at GlutenFreeTravelSite.com. Kudos to Uno's and Z Pizza!

Two More Pizza Chains Offer Gluten-Free Crust!

For all you fans of pizza who agree that the gluten-free variety is hard to come by -- and mediocre at best -- I wanted to make sure you knew about two mid-sized chains who've recently taken on the commendable task of offering a gluten-free crust to patrons of their restaurants. Disclaimer: Neither chain is located in our area, so I have not personally tried either! A neighbor in the food service/franchising industry recently brought to my attention an Everett, Washington-based chain called Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet Pizza. They currently have 48 locations across 10 states, with expansion planned to another 15 states (including my own state of Virginia, so I can't wait to take my son there!). Garlic Jim's CEO Dwayne Northrop was motivated to take on the development of a gluten-free crust based on the volume of requests they received on their website. Since the launch of the gluten-free pizza across the entire chain on July 31, sales and feedback have exceeded his expectations.

And for all you Canadians out there -- or for anyone visiting Canada -- you may already know about Pizza Pizza and its new gluten-free crust. This Toronto-based chain introduced its gluten-free pizza in 380 of its 600+ locations earlier this year, and it already accounts for a significant percentage of its sales.

I'm sure you would agree that this is a wonderful trend -- and just goes to show the power of effective lobbying by Celiacs. It pays to talk to store managers and lobby your favorite restaurants, be they chains or small independent family-run entities. In this challenging economic climate, it's also in restaurants' interest to broaden their market and court the Celiac community, which is still way too under-served. And because we are so under-served, we tend to be extremely loyal to those companies who make the effort to serve us. It's a smart business move and great outreach to a growing population all in one. Now that's what I call a win-win all around!

Don't forget to share reviews of your favorite pizza place that serves gluten-free crust -- or any of your favorite restaurants, resorts, or grocery stores -- on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com, our sister website. Don't assume others know about all the restaurants in your area that have gluten-free menus...they may not. And, of course, there are always countless travelers looking for good advice on dining gluten-free when visiting your city. Let's help them out. Why not Submit a Review now...it just takes five minutes!

Chain Restaurants Serving Gluten-Free Food

Welcome to the Gluten Free Travel Blog, an offshoot of GlutenFreeTravelSite.com, the first website focused exclusively on user-submitted gluten-free travel reviews. Whether you're looking for a restaurant, hotel, resort, cruise ship or grocery store that accommodates your gluten-free diet, you can do a search by geographic region to find the information that's relevant to you.

But what about the ever-increasing list of wonderful "chain" restaurants -- many with locations in many states or even many different countries -- that are so graciously taking the time and making the effort to develop gluten-free menus? That's what I wanted to focus on today.

Most of you are probably well aware of some of the first restaurants to embrace Celiacs and others following gluten-free diets: Legal Seafoods, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Uno Chicago Grill, P.F. Changs China Bistro...

But recently I learned from a family member in the food service industry that a 75-restaurant chain called Pizza Fusion, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, has a new CEO with Celiac Disease. He became interested in the chain after learning that they offer a full range of pizzas on gluten-free (and dairy-free) crusts. They also have gluten-free salad, dessert, and beer offerings. Their menu can be found on their website. Apparently, their plan is to open 500 franchised restaurants throughout the U.S. over the next five years. Visit their website for locations...even if there isn't yet a location near you, seek them out while traveling. And then please post a review for that particular location at GlutenFreeTravelSite.com so others living or traveling to the area can read all about your experience!