Gluten Free Travel Blog

I don't usually blog about gluten-free food, per se, unless the focus is on dining out or traveling gluten-free. But recently I was sent some great gluten-free mixes from a company based in Amarillo, Texas, called Mixes From the Heartland. So far my family and I have sampled the Chicken and Rice Soup, Cajun Pastalaya Soup Mix, gluten-free flour mix, strawberry dip, and "Impossible Coconut Pie" mix. We've thoroughly enjoyed them all and still have a few more to try: Texas Sausage and Bean soup, the Spinach and Chives dip mix, and the Green Chili Veggie Dip Mix. The mixes are so easy to make (you usually only need to add 1-3 ingredients to the prepared "dry mix"). For example, tonight I made the Cajun Pastalaya Soup mix which came packaged with gluten-free pasta and a large spice packet. You simply add chicken or sausage (I made it with a little of both), crushed tomatoes, and water. It took less than 30 minutes to make -- start to finish -- and was delicious...a hearty, satisfying, and healthy dish. The Chicken and Rice soup was equally as good (it just needed more water than what the recipe called for). But my... Read more →

We just got word that NIght and Day Travel and Cruises in Portland (an affiliate of Sun Connections Travel and Cruises) is organizing a Gluten-Free Alaskan cruise on Holland American's Zaandam. This one-week cruise, departing Seattle on August 27, stops in Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria. It's a fundraiser to benefit GIG of the Portland Metro area. While the entire cruise is not "gluten free," they are holding 20 cabins for this organized gluten-free group. (And it goes without saying that you may travel with non-GF family and friends.) Each gluten-free cruiser will receive a questionnaire in advance of the trip in order to communicate menu requests (gluten-free waffles, muffins, pancakes, etc.). That way, the chef on board will be sure he has adequate supplies for the week. Gluten-free meals will be offered in the main dining room (buffet dining will have gluten-free options as well, but there is always the potential for cross contamination). For more info, call travel agent Barbara Pugh at 971-255-1420/888-655-4850 or email her at [email protected] Read more →

I'm excited to announce that our website, GlutenFreeTravelSite, has added enhanced search and mapping features. Previously, users had been able to select a geographic region (i.e. a U.S. state or European country) when searching gluten-free dining and travel reviews. However, as the site has grown, many locations now have so many reviews that scrolling through the search results to find places in a more targeted area became cumbersome. So we've now added the ability for users to narrow their search to the city/town or zip code level. And best of all, the list of results appears with all the Celiac-friendly restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and resorts marked on an adjacent MAP. Just click on any of the markers on the map to read the detailed user-submitted dining or travel review. Of course, you can still search "the old way," by going to Search Reviews and choosing your geographic region. Then you can either scroll through the summary list of establishments OR narrow your search further by clicking on the link at the top of the page. With over 800 places reviewed on our website, these new features should help you find the reviews most relevant to you...in the most efficient... Read more →