Gluten Free Travel Blog

Gluten Free Ice Cream Cones and More from Goldbaums

With Memorial Day weekend -- and the unofficial start of Summer just days away -- we're all beginning to think of cool treats like popsicles and ice cream to cool us down as the mercury rises. 

Until recently, gluten free folks had to forgo ice cream cones -- settling for ice cream in a bowl. Now that isn't much fun, is it?! 

But here again, a gluten free friendly company has come to the rescue! Goldbaums, "the name in tasty gluten free food," introduced their five types of gluten free ice cream cones a while back, but I saw it fitting to remind everyone of this great find now that we're officially in ice-cream season! Goldbaums makes several varieties of the traditional Sugar Cones as well as an Ice Cream "Cup" style cone. They even have Cocoa Sugar Cones (our family's favorite) and Jumbo Cones (like the large "waffle cones" you find in many ice cream stores). You can make them even more like these gourmet waffle cones you find elsewhere by dipping them in chocolate and then coating with other confections like coconut, sprinkles, or nuts! 

No one would ever guess these cones are gluten free! 

Goldbaums has other fantastic gluten free products, too, that are all made in a facility free of soy, gluten, dairy, and nuts. The other thing I love about Goldbaums is that their products are GMO-free, which is something I'm increasingly screening for in the foods I buy for our family. 

We've tried their Brown Rice Pasta, which is made in Canada, and their gluten free Crispy Crunchy Chow Mein Noodles (what a treat -- I'm not aware of ANY other company that makes these!). Another unique product we recently tried is their gluten free Mini Croutons (or "Soup Mandel"). These are for sprinkling in soup and are Kosher Pareve and made in Israel. Again, all these products are not only gluten free, but GMO-free!

And have you seen POP Potato low fat snacks made by Goldbaums? They're tasty, too...essentially a potato chip, but healthier.  They come in Original, Onion & Garlic, and BBQ. 

Unfortunately for us, their products are hard to find in our area. Our local Food Lion (formerly Bloom) used to carry them, but I haven't seen them lately. Fortunately, you can order their products online. Check out their online sources -- as well as their Store Locator to see if their products are available in your area. I hope Goldbaums is able to gain wider distribution -- and in more mainstream grocery stores -- soon. Goldbaums' products are not only gluten free, but unique, tasty, and healthy -- a home run in this mom's book! And I look foward to any new product introductions from this company. They seem to have found a few product niches other gluten free companies aren't focusing on. Can't wait to see what's next!

 

 

Recipe for Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

My older son (not the gluten free one) came home from middle school a couple weeks ago telling me about a chocolate chip cookie recipe his friend got from the Mrs. Fields website. He said we HAD to try it...and my son wanted to adapt the recipe to make it gluten free.  

We've made many gluten free chocolate chip cookies over the years, some "from scratch" recipes and others from mixes or ready-made dough. They've all been a bit different -- but for the most part, they've all been good. 

We were excited to try this new recipe, since it was from the Mrs. Fields site. Here it is, with just ONE substitution -- using gluten free flour instead of regular flour. We (or should I say MY SON, since he did most of the work) used the King Arthur gluten free flour, which has been our "go-to" flour recently. We substitute it cup-for-cup both in baking and for savory cooking uses, like breading.  We really liked these cookies -- perhaps our favorite, at least in recent memory. (Compliments to my husband for the photo -- all too often I forget to take photos of our GF creations!)

Mrs. Fields Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups gluten free flour (we used King Arthur brand)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt. Mix well with wire whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend sugars at medium speed. Add butter and mix to form a grainy paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and mix at medium speed until just blended. Do not overmix. Add the flour mixture and chocolate chips, and blend at low speed until just mixed. (Again, do not overmix.)

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoon onto an un-greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake low and slow for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer cookies immediately to a baking rack or cool surface. 

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Now, we found the cookies needed a bit more bake time (at least with our oven), but I'd recommend setting your timer for 20 minutes and then continuously monitoring them. You don't want to overcook them, so be careful. And I always recommend using parchment paper to prevent the cookies from burning. 

We've now made these cookies twice -- once a couple weeks ago and again this past weekend when my son wanted to make them for our Mother's Day get-together with extended family. They were a big hit with no cookies remaining at the end of our luncheon! And I'm sure no one even guessed they were gluten free!

GoPicnic's Gluten Free Meals Are Perfect for Travel, Kids Lunch Boxes

Every so often a gluten free product comes along that fills a much-needed void. Take for example, the line of ready-to-eat snacks/meals from GoPicnic. Available in 10 different Gluten Free varieties, they're perfect for kids' lunch boxes, your own lunch box, field trips, road trips, and as a take-along snack for the plane. They're also great for gluten free college students who need to pack a safe, gluten free snack to eat between classes. Whenever and wherever you need a "grab and go" gluten free snack, this is a great option!

Similar to Oscar Mayer Lunchables in size and concept, they're much healthier and require no refrigeration. Each box is filled with 5 individually wrapped items -- usually a cracker or healthy chip with some sort of protein or spread, a fruit or nut mix and other snack, and a "treat" like a gluten free cookie. Many of the varieties are not only gluten free, but vegan as well. Just be sure to look closely when selecting a GoPicnic product, because they also have a non-GF line of products. Fortunately, the "Gluten Free" phrase is prominent on the packaging. Here are the Gluten Free varieties available now: 

 

• Turkey Stick and Crunch
• Tuna and Crackers
• Salmon and Crackers
• Three Bean Dip and Rice Chips
• Turkey Pepperoni and Cheese
• Hummus and Crackers
• Black Bean Dip and Plantain Chips
• Sunbutter and Crackers
• Edamame Kale Dip and Plantain Chips
• Almond Butter and Crackers

Admittedly, I've had a bit of a hard time finding GoPicnic products in stores. There's a Store Locator on their site which says they should be available in Target stores near my home, but they aren't. I've asked at several. Maybe they just haven't started stocking them yet. They're also supposedly available at Wegmans as well as on Amazon.com and Drugstore.com. But I think the best way to get them -- because they have ALL the varieties -- is on GoPicnic's own site. There you can order them individually or in 6-count variety packs. 

Gluten-Free Saver occasionally offers a special deal on GoPicnic products as well, and they happen to have a deal going on for the next four days. For $20, you'll get a voucher code worth $40 to spend on GoPicnic's own site.

You can choose any combination of individual products or variety packs! This is a great way to sample many of their products to see which you like best. You can read about the details of this great offer here. 

Have you had an opportunity to try any GoPicnic products? Which is your favorite? Where have you found them? I've liked all the ones I've sampled so far. I just hope they gain wider distribution -- especially in grocery stores and airport concessions. But until then, I welcome the convenience or ordering them online, especially when I can save with a Gluten-Free Saver deal!

Special Serving Spoons Keep Family Members with Allergies and Celiac Disease Safe

Recently I had the good fortune to be put in touch with Wendy Krakower, a friend of a friend who launched a much-needed allergy-friendly business. It's called The Food Allergy Kitchenware Company, and they sell stainless steel SERVING SPOONS with the words "Gluten Free" or "Peanut Free" stamped on the end of the handle. 

What a great idea! It makes things abundantly clear to anyone making -- or serving -- multiple meals, some of which may contain an allergen. For example, use them to stir gluten free pasta as you're preparing it -- or to serve items in a buffet setting. Even other family members, visiting relatives, or guests will be able to plainly see which utensil should be used for the Gluten Free or Peanut Free food. 

Wendy came up with the idea after way too many meals "ruined" (cross-contaminated) by a simple spoon mix-up. Has that ever happened to you? 

Wendy is planning to expand her line of allergy-friendly cookware, but for right now, the spoons are a great addition to your kitchen -- or a great gift for anyone you know who deals with Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity, or a peanut allergy in their family. 

These are very high-quality, durable stainless steel spoons that are dishwasher safe and will last a good long time! They're available online or in a few stores in the DC Metro area market: Roots Market with locations in Olney, Maryland and Clarksville, Maryland. 

Please help Wendy spread the word by sharing this post with any friends or family members that deal with peanut allergies or gluten sensitivity/Celiac in their home. 

Top 10 Tips for Dining Gluten Free in College

This month, our college blogger Julie Bourne, from University of Denver, shares with us her Top 10 Tips for making your gluten free experience in college a good one...right from the start. 

1. Do your research well before starting classes.

The sooner you learn about the gluten free awareness at your school of choice, the more at ease you will feel when you’re an official student on campus. I always recommend calling the dining hall directly to ask questions about their gluten free friendliness. You can also do a simple Google search and even read reviews of many colleges’ gluten free programs on GlutenFreeTravelSite. Once you do your research, you’ll greatly benefit from being familiar with your school’s GF offerings well before you even get on campus for the first time.

 2. First things first: Schedule a meeting with the dining hall manager.

Within the first week of being on campus, you should schedule a one-on-one meeting with the dining hall advisor. This will not only establish your face as one that recognizably belongs to a gluten free diner, but it will make you feel more comfortable eating in the dining hall. If you run into any issues, questions, or concerns surrounding your food options, you will have established a relationship with someone that you can speak to directly.

3. When in doubt, opt out.

Many universities require all students to purchase a meal plan for a certain amount of time. These meal plans are usually expensive and can be a bit hard to justify paying for when you hardly have any options and/or do not feel safe eating in the dining halls. In the unfortunate case that you do feel this way about your dining experience, you have every right to speak with your school’s housing services to opt out of the meal plan.

4. Have a back-up plan in case you get glutened at school.

Celiac Disease is a severe enough disorder that your university’s Health Services or Disabilities Services will acknowledge the risk that is posed on your overall health if you accidentally get glutened. If you become a registered student protected under one of these services, you will be able to prove the legitimacy of absence from class or other school requirements. Many professors require a doctor’s note for an absence, but in the case of getting glutened (where all you can really do is ride it out), you will be able to express your situation quickly through a reliable on campus program.

5. Have a microwave, fridge, and your own toaster in your room.

If you are living in the dorms at some point during college (likely), be sure to furnish your room with a microwave, mini-fridge, and a toaster that will be designated only for your gluten free bread (see my huge "GF" sign on the photo?!). If you go to dining hall and find that you can only eat a plain spinach salad for dinner, you will be able to do a bit of your own cooking in your room.

6. Establish your dietary restrictions early on with roommates.

Don’t wait until breadcrumbs are all over your kitchen counter to bring up the severity of your gluten sensitivities. Bring it up early on in a non-confrontational but serious matter.  Your roommates will likely be relatively accommodating if you are clear about its severity.

7. Label, label, label.

Put a label on your toaster, your cooking pans, your silverware, everything. (I've just put a bit of colored tape on this black spatula -- that reminds my roommates it's my GF one.) Especially in the case of severe Celiac Disease, you can guarantee your health only by keeping your things separate. This can also apply to your actual food purchases; gluten free food is notoriously expensive so let it be known (in a polite manner) that your $7 loaf of GF bread is not “free for all” food.

8. Request specific items for the dining hall

The dining hall may not always be able to carry out requests, but if you want gluten free bread or some other GF food item to be made available, it certainly never hurts to ask the manager. Ask with a specific brand in mind as well, or else they could end up ordering that type of bread that crumbles at first touch.

9. Have nearby GF friendly restaurants and bars in mind.

Chances are, you will occasionally go out to lunch or dinner with friends during your time at college. If your friends are familiar with your gluten restrictions, they will probably want you to help make the decision regarding where to eat. For this reason, be familiar with plenty of local GF friendly eateries that you can suggest. 

10. Don’t let your restrictions get in the way of your experience.

Being unable to eat gluten is only one part of your life, so treat it as such. It does not have to define your identity, and it certainly does not have to define how your live your life. I am not saying that you should just ignore your food restrictions when pizza and beer night comes along, but keep in mind that it is possible to have fun without partaking in foods containing gluten. College has all the potential in the world to be one of the best times of your life. Respect your body by minding what you consume, but don’t forget to take in the experience that is college.  

You can follow Julie here each month as she discusses topics relevant to gluten free college students. She also blogs at The Campus Celiac. 

Use a Travel Agent to Get the Most Out of Your Next Gluten Free Trip

So many things are do-it-yourself in today's world. Nowhere has that become more prevalent than planning a trip. Whether you're booking a flight, reserving a rental car, or making reservations at a hotel or resort, chances are you do it yourself.

Wouldn't you love some help? Wouldn't you love to be able to delegate this one thing to someone else -- someone who actually has decades of experience planning trips...and can therefore do it more efficiently? I know it's one area of my life that I appreciate the extra assistance -- especially since the research into the gluten free aspect of wherever we're traveling can really add to the complexity of planning the trip. But fortunately I've had the priviledge of working with one particular travel agent, Lesley Hayden of Travel Leaders, to help plan and book many of our family's trips over the past 4 years. 

There's another added benefit beyond Lesley's expertise: She can save you money. She can leverage her contacts that she's developed over decades to help you find deals you wouldn't be able to find on your own. She just saved our family hundreds of dollars on last-minute lift tickets at Whistler Ski Resort in British Columbia (even though I'd originally let an opportunity for advance tickets at a great savings pass me by). 

And although Lesley is not gluten free herself, she has educated herself and developed quite a niche serving gluten free clients over the past four years (her experience as a travel agent spans 43 years!). She LOVES working on behalf of gluten free clients, because they tend to be so appreciative of her efforts. 

Lesley has turned clients into fans, due to her attention to detail and work on their behalf in planning a safe, relaxing vacation. Her clients can take a true "vacation from worry," because she talks with the chefs at the hotel, resort, or cruise ship to ensure her clients' needs are met. She'll find out what gluten free products are typically offered at resorts or on various cruise ships, and she'll even help you find -- and make reservations at -- gluten free friendly restaurants in your destination. In doing all of this, she saves her clients time and frustration from having to do a lot of advance research and planning themselves. Imagine how many hours you'd save!

There are many resorts she's discovered over the years -- both in the U.S. and outside the U.S. -- that deliver a fantastic gluten free experience for their Celiac and gluten sensitive guests. Here's one recent review a client of Lesley's shared on our website, GlutenFreeTravelSite, after her memorable trip to a resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (There are more testimonials about Lesley's high level of service on a page on Travel Leaders' website as well.)

Lesley can and will plan a trip for you to virtually any destination -- and it costs you nothing. Her expertise includes the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, spas, and cruises. However, she prides herself on finding the perfect vacation for each client. She's even won many awards for her expertise and level of client service. 

So give Lesley a call at 800-487-6110 or email her at lhayden@travelleaders.com and mention the Gluten Free Travel Blog to ensure you get the attention you deserve. We'd love to hear from you if you do book a trip with Lesley -- and better yet, submit a review to GlutenFreeTravelSite to share your travel experience with others who might benefit from it. Happy gluten free travels!

KIND Snack Bars and Granola "Clusters" -- Perfectly Delicious Gluten Free Snacks

I've been a fan of KIND bars since I first tried them a couple years ago. My favorite varieties have always been from their "original" Fruit and Nut line: the moist and chewy Almond Coconut and Almond and Apricot bars. These "whole food" fruit and nut bars are amazingly tasty and also give you plenty of protein, fiber, healthy fats, calcium, and iron. They''re non-GMO and ALL varieties are gluten free. 

And now they've launched several new lines of bars -- as well as a line of six gluten free granola "clusters." 

First, a run-down of the various varieites of KIND snack bars...

KIND NUTS AND SPICES includes tasty varieites such as Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan, Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt (both my favorites), Cashew Ginger and Spice, and Madagascar Vanilla Almond (good, but not much vanilla flavor, in my opinion). There's also a line of KIND PLUS bars, which are packed with an extra "nutritional boost" of things like flax, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and in some cases...extra protein. Flavors include Almond Walnut Macadamia + Protein (10 g of it and loaded with 50% of your daily value of vitamins A, C, and E, too!), Almond Cashew + Flax (with 50% of your daily value of many B vitamins), Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants, Blueberry Pecan + Fiber, Pomegranate Blueberry Pistacio, Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew, and Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate. Their Peanut Butter and Strawberry variety -- from the original line of Fruit and Nut bars -- contains 7 g of protein and 4 g of fiber and is what KIND describes as a PB&J without the bread (perfect whether you're gluten free or grain free!). 

Over the years, I've found KIND snack bars to be super-convenient, whether tucked in the pockets of our ski jackets when our family goes skiing -- or thrown in my purse or tote bag for eating on-the-run. With a son who's gluten free, I always like to have a "back up" snack handy -- and one that's healthy as well as tasty. Ryan loves the KIND bars, and I love that he's getting protein, fiber, healthy fats -- without any excess sugar, artificial ingredients, or GMOs. 

Another great thing about KIND bars is that they don't melt the way some other gluten free snack bars start to do when they get warm. So you can pretty much take them anywhere -- from the slopes to the beach. 

Because we love KIND bars so much, we were particularly excited to try their new granola "Clusters." We've only tried one variety so far...the Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds. This -- and the other 5 varieties -- are loaded with all the healthy gluten free whole grains you'd expect from KIND: a mix of GF oats, brown rice, chia, quinoa, amaranth, millet, and buckwheat. You also benefit from the addition of omega 3 fatty acids and lots of fiber. What don't you get? Well, there are no saturated fats, no chlesterol, no trans fats, no GMOs, no refined sugars, and nothing artificial. The granola clusters are very low in soldium and low glycemic, too. 

The "Cluters" are versatile enough to eat with milk, over yogurt, plain, or mixed as a trail mix (my kids like to add a few chocolate chips or dried fruit!). We're looking forward to trying some of the other 5 varieties like Oats and Honey Clusters with Toasted Coconut and the Dark Chocolate and Cranberry Clusters (no need to add chocolate chips to that one, I'll bet!)

The KIND company got its name from its motto of being KIND to your body, your taste buds, and the world. Well, they've certainly been KIND to the gluten free community as well, giving us so many healthy, delicious, gluten free products to enjoy! Keep it up, KIND...we look forward to many more product introductions in the future! 

Gluten Free Garlic Chicken Recipe -- An Easy Family Favorite!

I just have to share one of our family's long-time favorite recipes -- Gluten Free Garlic Chicken. It was originally passed on 15+ years ago by my husband's aunt. Of course, the recipe isn't intended to be gluten free, but back when our younger son was diagnosed with Celiac exactly 8 years ago, it was one of the easiest recipes to adapt...it merely required substituting regular breadcrumbs with gluten free breadcrumbs. Here it is, served with gluten free angel hair and stir fried kale, carrots and tomatoes.

I hadn't made the recipe for a while -- I've been trying a lot of new recipes lately. But I made the Garlic Chicken again last night and was reminded how easy -- and delicious it is. I will be reminding myself to make this more often! You can vary the dose of garlic, depending on your family's tastes! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 package chicken cutlets (1 -1 1/4 lbs. or 5-6 pieces). 

1/2 stick of butter or equivalent amount of margarine (1/4 cup)

3-4 cloves of crushed or chopped garlic

3/4 cup gluten free Italian breadcrumbs (I typically use Aleia's, but there are many other brands, and you can even make your own)

1/3 rounded cup parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Pound chicken breasts with meat mallet (this makes them thinner, more tender, and easier to roll up)

Melt butter with garlic

Dip both sides of chicken into garlic butter

Mix breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese

Dip both sides of chicken into crumb/cheese mixture

Roll chicken and place into lightly greased baking dish

Cook 30 minutes at 350 degrees for small pieces of chicken or 40 minutes for larger pieces

ENJOY!

Gluten Free Travel: Gluten Free in Whistler, BC -- By Way of Seattle and Vancouver

Our family had the good fortune to travel to Whistler, British Columbia last month for our kids' Spring Break. It had been four years since Easter had fallen early enough to make a ski trip possible. Since their vacation was the last week in March this year, we knew that skiing out West -- especially as far north as British Columbia -- would be reliable. 

What a surprise it was to encounter temperatures in the 50's most of the week -- and in the 60's the last couple days! "No worries," as the many Aussies and Kiwis that work in and travel to Whistler would say...the skiing was still great. At least on the top two-thirds of the mountain (admittedly, the snow got a bit slushy at the base by the  time the afternoon rolled around). 

Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, adjacent to each other and surrounding the quaint, European style Whistler Village, provide the largest amount of skiable terrain in North America. Several friends had recommended we try it out, and we were glad we did. We're big fans of Park City/Deer Valley, but it was nice to try skiing "north of the border" in Canada. The locals, seasonal workers, and tourists are all very friendly, and dining gluten free in Whistler turned out to be quite a good experience.

Months before the trip, I began researching "gluten free friendly" restaurants in Whistler -- places that had been reviewed on our website, GlutenFreeTravelSite, and elsewhere. I found some places plotted on a map on the Celiac Scene, a Canadian website, although they don't include reviews...just addresses. After investigating many options, we decided to make reservations for four nights -- and cook dinner in our condo the other three nights. Frankly, even without a special diet to work around, sometimes it's just night to relax in your condo after a long day skiing -- and not be in a rush to get ready for a dinner out. With kids, this is even more true! 

I wanted to experience a variety of dining in Whistler, from fancy to casual, sophisticated to family-oriented, Japanese to Italian. I made reservations at Earl's, Old Spaghetti Factory, Teppan Village, and Quattro at Whistler. 

First up was Earl's. It's a restaurant with locations all over Canada, as well as in Bellevue, Washington and Denver, Colorado. Cool atmosphere, great bar area, and good food, including a somewhat limited but workable Gluten Free Menu. Next up, a couple nights later, was Old Spaghetti Factory, a U.S.-based chain with locations all over -- but none near where we live. Thus, we wanted to try their Gluten Free Menu. Again, it's limited, but the range of offerings is nice (chicken, pasta with a choice of several wonderful sauces, a baked pasta, an Indian-inspired dish, and steak). The place was packed with groups large and small. We had to wait, even with a reservations -- probably because it's one of the more affordable family-oriented restaurants in Whistler. 

Later in the week we dined at Teppan Village, a traditional Japanese steak house that uses gluten free tamari instead of traditional soy sauce for their gluten free guests. The atmosphere was fun, with the chefs putting on their show while they cook the meal in front of you. Always a big hit for the kids. The food was great -- and quick. We were in and out of the restaurant within an hour. 

We certainly saved the best for last, however, with a visit to Quattro at Whistler on our last evening. This is perhaps the best -- or at least one of the best -- gluten free meals we've ever enjoyed.

Their Gluten Free Menu different little from the "regular" menu. Imported Italian gluten free pasta made you feel like you were eating the real thing, and there were at least 6 different preparations for it -- unique sauces that literally made you want to lick your plate clean. I swear it's worth another trip to Whistler just to dine there again!

Dining on the mountain was somewhat workable as well, if you know where to go. Fortunately, we'd researched this ahead of time, too, and I had my list of slopeside lodges that had gluten free options. It was a bit hit or miss, however, wtih some places having gluten free buns when even the burgers weren't gluten free! (We ordered a grilled chicken, cheese, and bacon sandwich on a gluten free bun for our son in this case.) We had the best luck at Dusty's Bar & BBQ at the Creekside base of Whistler mountain and at Glacier Creek Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain. Several lodges also stock gluten free grab-and-go items like chips, muffins, and cookies. I'd advise checkng out the Whistler Blackcomb dining page for available options or you may end up making a meal out of chips and an apple like our son had to do one day (supplemented with a high-protein KIND snack bar, which we'd brought ourselves). In fact, we all typically stashed snack bars in our ski jacket pockets to eat throughout the day. 

Since Whistler is about a 2+ hour drive north of Vancouver, you can either fly into Vancouver or fly to Seattle. We chose to fly in and out of Seattle for several reasons: 1.) We could fly direct from the DC area, whereas flying to Vancouver involved a connection, 2.) Either way we had to rent a car, and the longer drive from Seattle didn't make much of a difference considering we saved time with a direct flight, and 3.) We were looking for an excuse to see friends and family in Seattle. 

Seattle is such a great city, and on the day we arrived, we strolled around various neighborhoods with our cousin and enjoyed gluten free burgers and onion rings at Blue Moon Burger for lunch. We ended the day with the perfect dinner at Sky City restaurant atop Seattle's Space Needle. We lucked out with a clear, SUNNY, and warm day (rare for March!) and enjoyed magnificent views from atop the Space Needle both before and after sunset. Their menu, including their gluten free offerings, was varied and sophisticated. Pricey, but worth it for the experience (although my opinion may have been different had we had a cloudy day with limited visibility!). The next morning we made our pilgrimage to the original Starbucks at Pike's Place Market, where we also discovered a gluten free pasta vendor. 

Then it was time for a shopping trip to a local Seattle Whole Foods Market to stock up on groceries for the week, followed a few hours later with lunch at the very gluten-free friendly Wallflower Modern Diner in Vancouver en route to Whistler. If you've never done the drive from Vancouver to Whistler on the breathtaking Sea to Sky Highway, that in itself is worth the trip! 

All in all, our experience in the Pacific Northwest was wonderful: fresh air, incredible views, top-notch skiing, and delicious and varied gluten free dining. Be sure to read my more detailed reviews on GlutenFreeTravelSite, linked above. 

I used a terrific travel agent to help me plan this trip back in September 2012. Her name is Lesley Hayden, and she's with Travel Leaders agency in Boston. No need to worry if you're not located in Boston. She works with clients all over the country and has developed quite a specialty serving gluten free travelers. She loves working with her gluten free clients to find appropriate accommodations and dining options and will handle all your bookings and even call ahead to speak with the chefs wherever you will be dining. She also works with resorts and cruise lines known for their attention to gluten free guests. Her services cost you nothing, and through her relationships and connections, she can typically find you deals you wouldn't be able to find on your own. If you'd like to give Lesley a call, she can be reached at 800-487-6110 or via email at lhayden@travelleaders.com

Gluten Free Dining at Restaurants in Dallas, Texas

Our Celiac college blogger Julie Bourne, a student at University of Denver, goes "on the road" this month and shares her experience dining gluten free in Dallas, Texas, where she was pleasantly surprised by the range of gluten free dining options. 

I grew up visiting my extended family in Kentucky where my memories are flooded with biscuits fresh out of the oven, warm pies offered at every home, and the best fried chicken you could imagine. I haven’t been over to visit since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2010, but these memories surrounding nothing but glutenous foods of the United States' southern region would make any Celiac weary. While I cannot speak on behalf of Kentucky, I have been visiting my sister in Dallas, Texas for the last week or so and I have found this southern state to be significantly more gluten free friendly than I would have expected. As with any experience, dining out for two to three meals a day, there were some meals that were better than others (and some that sat with me better than others) but overall, I was very pleased to see such great variety of gluten free diners.

It is true, of course, that Dallas offers some of the best chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, and deep-fried funnel cakes. However, with Texas being the grand state that it is, options are plentiful, and gluten free eaters will find themselves with great options that are both satisfying and delicious. In other words, you can order something off of many a menu that is not a salad!

If there is something that I have noticed about Texans, it is that they really like brunch and they take it seriously. My first brunch in Dallas was at the Garden Café (side note: my sister, Katherine, works at the espresso stand there, so say “hi”!). It is an adorable neighborhood spot with a big garden in the back complete with fresh veggies growing and chickens cooling their heels. I ordered an omelet with spinach, tomato, and mushrooms and I could really taste the freshness of the eggs that they use straight out of the backyard garden. They offer gluten free toast here but I opted out since I was unsure of cross contamination risks; it’s a nice option though for those with less severe gluten sensitivities.

My second brunch was at Company Café, which is a classy spot with loads of outdoor seating next to a great running trail. The gluten free offerings here are far and wide - you can even get gluten free chicken fried steak here! I ordered the pancakes with strawberries and blueberries, which unfortunately came out quite burnt. The server quickly compensated for the mistake by removing the charge for the pancakes and giving me some fabulous gluten free lemon cake that I highly recommend to anyone, gluten free or not.

For a midday pick-me-up, I would recommend the Yogurtland in Downtown Fort Worth for some frozen yogurt or Avoca Coffee, also in Fort Worth, for the coffee drinkers. Yogurtland, which can be found in most large cities, is a great go-to spot for gluten free eaters and the location in Fort Worth is situated in a gorgeous outdoor promenade with loads of people to see and be seen by. (All flavors are gluten free, with the exception of those that contain cookies.) Avoca Coffee is a relaxed coffee shop with lots of seating room, energetic baristas, and a great cappuccino. I found myself needing some quiet time with coffee and WiFi, and Avoka fit the bill perfectly.

My sister was performing in a play at a theater in Fort Worth, which is about thirty minutes outside of Dallas so, my parents and I ate all of our dinners there. Spiral Diner, an all-vegan diner, was the first dinner spot we went to. This place is a heaven for vegans, who can order anything and everything from the extensive menu. As a gluten free diner, I had plenty of options but felt a little nervous about the strong possibility for cross contamination. I had chips and guacamole as an appetizer and then a hearty Mexican quinoa salad for my meal, both of which were delicious, and I felt fine afterwards so no gluten!

My favorite meal by far was also in Fort Worth, at a restaurant (right next door to Spiral Diner) called Lili’s Bistro. This restaurant is for a slightly upscale crowd with entrees costing between $15-$30, but the food and service is well worth it. I felt comfortable ordering my food, especially when the waiter knew exactly which ingredients were used in every menu item. In need of protein, I ordered the “Fresh-Off-the-Farm”, which is a plate filled with a variety of grilled seasonal vegetables and juicy grilled chicken. It was perfectly satisfying and finished off my culinary journey through Dallas and Fort Worth on a great note. 

You can read Julie's past posts, plus her gluten free dining reviews from Denver and also from Rome, where she recently studied abroad, on GlutenFreeTravelSite. She also writes for her own Blog, The Campus Celiac.