Gluten-Free Travel Site

A couple of weeks ago my mother-in-law posted about GlutenFreeTravelSite.com. This website aims to be a one-stop-shop for your gluten-free traveling needs. You can search for reviews by state or select another country if you are planning on traveling internationally. Reviews are written by GlutenFreeTravelSite users so be sure to recommend your favorite restaurants so others can enjoy them as well. I know I'll be adding some reviews soon.

Gluten-Free Dining in Chicago

Pizza: I figure I better blog about our gluten-free experiences in Chicago before I forget. After our visit with Gary and Jonelle we stayed in Chicago for a couple of days. We wanted to try some pizza and I've heard that Lou Malnati's Pizzerias offer a pizza that is gluten-free. The Crustless Sausage Pizza is not really your typical pizza. They use ground sausage pressed into a deep dish pan for the crust. I would recommend ordering lots of veggies on it with all of the sausage and cheese. :) It was definitely worth the 40-45 minute wait.

Chinese: The next night we decided to try Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant. When we arrived we asked the hostess for a Gluten-Free Menu. As we were seated our waitress quickly acknowledged that we had a Gluten-Free Menu and informed us that they serve family style. Nate and I decided to split the Sesame Chicken and the Chicken Fried Rice. I enjoyed how light and fresh the fried rice was. Unfortunately we were too full for dessert because I thought their Mango Creme Brulee sounded really good, maybe next time.

Cupcakes: On our way out of Chicago we stopped at Swirlz Cupcakes. They specialize in cupcakes. Swirlz offers "regular", gluten-free and reduced sugar cupcakes. We brought a few of each to Thanksgiving and in the excitement of sampling them I forgot to get a picture which was unfortunate with all of the cute frosting designs. It was definitely a fun treat and I was impressed with all the flavor options. Nate had to take over and decide because I was a little overwhelmed.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Recently we went to visit Gary and Jonelle in Indiana. Before we left I wanted to see if there were any gluten-free restaurants. I found my new friend Marcie through the Celiac Sprue Association and I really lucked out. Marcie emailed me an extensive list of restaurants in the area. Nate and I were seriously overwhelmed with all of the suggestions.
When Gary was done with work the four of us decided to grab a bite to eat at Five Guys. Their menu is pretty simple - burgers, dogs and fries. The fun part is you pick your burger, a regular one is 2 patties a little one is 1 patty and then you get to choose from their 15 toppings with no upcharge. To keep the meal gluten-free order without the bun, but with all of the topping choices I don't think you'll mind. You could also ask them if they could wrap it in lettuce instead. The french fries are made from fresh cut potatoes and are made in dedicated fryers. We were all very pleased with the quality and quantity of the meal. Unfortunately the closest location to us is in St. Cloud or we could always visit Gary and Jonelle again.

Bed and Breakfasts

Are you looking for a Bed and Breakfast that offers gluten free meals? The InnSeekers website lets you search for Bed and Breakfasts by state and then on the lefthand side you can filter your search by those that offer gluten free meals.

October - Celiac Awareness Month

October is Celiac Awareness Month. To help promoting getting the word out I have created a list of GF restaurants outside of Minnesota so those traveling or who live out of state can support these businesses. These restaurants realize there is a growing demand for GF options and want all of their customers to have a great experience.
Please note some of these restaurants have a separate GF menu while others accommodate special dietary requests. For example, at Maggiano's they will bring the chef out to discuss what you would like. While Nate likes that the chef comes out and will make whatever he requests some people do not like the special attention and being singled out. Some restaurants do not offer much of a selection but post their allergen list online to make things a little easier. If you have any questions it is always a good idea to call ahead first.
Let me know if you discover any other restaurants we can add to the lists.