Gluten Free Travel Blog

Gluten Free Ocean City, Bethany, and Rehoboth

Each year, our family takes a one-week beach vacation to Ocean City, Maryland. And each year, we are a little disappointed that more restaurants aren't aware of Celiac Disease and gluten-free food preparation. It's not too surprising, given the seasonal nature of the resort...and the seasonal help that often staffs the kitchens and dining rooms. So we typically cook in most meals -- or get food from some of our favorite places as take-out so we can also fix something at home for our kids (one with Celiac and one who's a bit of a picky eater anyway!). But this year we were determined to find at least one new restaurant that could prepare a safe, gluten-free meal (and not just a basic grilled chicken breast, hamburger patty, or steak -- almost anyone can do that). Our quest took us to two restaurants -- one a national chain (Carrabbas) and one an independent local steakhouse (Steakhouse 26). Both meals were outstanding. 

Of course, most people with Celiac know about Carrabba's gluten-free menu. We've been there several times in the past, but not very recently and not to the Ocean City location. It is in West Ocean City, on Route 50 just before crossing over the Bay into Ocean City itself. There is also an Outback restaurant (also with a g-f menu) right across the street where we typically dine on our way into town, but this year we wanted to do something different. The Carrabba's menu has plenty of g-f entrees, and we encouraged our six-year-old to try one of their chicken specialties, Pollo Rosa Maria. It was a big hit, and it was so nice to see him enjoy something other than a standard plain grilled chicken breast! (For more on our experience at Carrabbas, read the review posted on GlutenFreeTravelSite's Maryland page.)

The other restaurant we tried, Steakhouse 26 (on Route 26 in Milville, Delaware, between Bethany and Rehoboth) is owned by Jerry Richard, a chef whose three daughters and wife are all on gluten-free diets. While he does not have a printed gluten-free menu, per se, most items can be made g-f if they aren't naturally gluten-free already, and he even can make fried shrimp, calamari, etc. using gluten-free breadcrumbs. (For the details, read my review on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com's Delaware page.)

If you've had a good gluten-free dining experience in Ocean City, Bethany, or Rehoboth -- or any other seaside vacation spot, for that matter -- please let others know by posting a quick review at GlutenFreeTravelSite.com!

 

Let a Travel Agent Help You With Your Gluten Free Travel Planning

In this age of do-it-yourself online travel booking, many people have forgotten about the benefits of using a travel agent. With their immense resources, level of personal service, and wealth of knowledge, they can help with some of the research and legwork involved in planning the ideal gluten-free trip. Keep in mind, it doesn't cost any more to use a travel agent than booking direct with a travel provider, and nine times out of ten, they can save you money by accessing deals you may not be aware of. 

I've personally used a travel agent that a family member referred me to almost five years ago, and I'd recommend her as a valuable resource if you want to save yourself some time (and money) planning an upcoming trip. Her name is Doreen Costa, and she's with Travel Leaders' Boston office (not to worry if you're not a Bostonian...neither am I. All my contact with her has been via phone or email over the years.) Their number is 800-487-6110. 

Best of all, Doreen's specialties include Caribbean travel, cruises, and Disney vacations, which we all know are popular and safe options if you're traveling gluten-free. Doreen has a working knowledge of gluten-free diets from dealing with our family and can help you find the best options for lodging and dining. Just be sure to mention you heard about her through GlutenFreeTravelSite so she takes extra special care of you!

So why not investigate some Summer and Fall travel deals (there are so many right now!)...or get a head-start on your Holiday or Winter plans? Get some ideas on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com by reading gluten-free reviews of hotels/resorts, cruises, and restaurants in the destinations that beckon you. Once you find some options that seem Celiac-friendly, give Doreen or another travel agent you might know a call to see what deals they can find for you. 

And this summer, whether you're traveling near or far, don't forget to periodically visit our Gluten Free Restaurant Menus list to remind you of all the national and regional chain restaurants with gluten-free menus (check out Rosa Mexicano, the latest addition to our list). And please...take a few minutes to share your thoughts about anywhere you've dined gluten-free by submitting a review to GlutenFreeTravelSite.com! 

New Starbucks Valencia Orange Cake is a Gluten-Free Hit!

Well, it's finally happened...Starbucks has introduced a gluten-free treat in its stores, and they've hit a home run! The Valencia Orange Cake -- really more like a muffin -- is super-moist, fresh-tasting, and has just the right amount or orange flavor (subtle, not too sweet or overly orange-y). It's individually "wrapped for gluten-free goodness" (i.e. pre-packaged in plastic to avoid cross-contamination by the other gluten-filled items in their bakery case). All ingredients are listed on the packaging, eggs and valencia orange pulp being the first two, followed by almonds (slivered on top), sugar, orange peel, gluten-free baking powder, and rice flour. After buying one for my son two days ago and taking a bite, I suggested to the baristas that they should talk it up to all their customers -- not just those eating gluten-free. It's seriously that good...better than most other baked goods they sell. Hear how the cakes are made from Chris Charles, lead product developer of the Valencia Orange Cake on Starbuck's site.

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. 

One of our Favorite Gluten Free Snacks for On-The-Go

Several months ago, I discovered a new brand of snack bar popping up in most of the stores where we shop. The bars are called KIND Fruit and Nut, and they're made in Australia. Yes, they are kind to Celiacs, and kind to the tastebuds! Thank you to whomever started importing them! They are a breath of fresh air compared to many other gluten-free (and even gluten-containing) snack bars. They are mainly fruit and nut, but quite different from LaraBars. The nuts are whole, and they are "held together" by things like chewy apricot paste, honey, and coconut. My personal favorites are the Macadamia and Apricot and the Almond and Coconut varieties. These aren't your "low fat" bars, however. For example, the Macadamia and Apricot variety contains 22% of a day's supply of fat (and 27% of your daily allowed saturated fat intake). But they have a low glycemic value, are a good source of fiber, are all natural, are also dairy free, and are low in sodium and contain no trans fat. A home run in my book -- and my son's. They're great for keeping in a purse or backpack and perfect for travel since they don't melt and don't get easily squashed like other "breakfast bars."  Buy them online or look for them where you shop...

Gluten Free Salt Lake City

Our family got back from a great ski trip to Park City, Utah just a couple weeks ago. Typically the snow in early-mid April is slushy at best. And after a very dry March with little snow, we were not optimistic as the date of our departure to Utah approached. But lo and behold, luck was on our side. They got several snowstorms in the 10 days leading up to our arrival, and we got an additional 7 inches of fresh powder mid-week during our stay. What could be better than Spring skiing with fresh powder? Good gluten-free dining, of course! While the Park City, Utah area wasn't the best destination we've ever been to for dining out gluten-free, we did okay. I posted a handful of reviews from both Park City and Salt Lake City on GlutenFreeTravelSite. We dined out 4 nights and cooked in our condo the rest (ordering ready-to-prepare food from GF Meals to be delivered in advance of our arrival). Park City doesn't really have any of the national chains with gluten-free menus, but we found a great steakhouse (always a safe bet) and a good restaurant on Main Street called Zoom which had a printed gluten-free menu. On one of our last nights, we visited an area of downtown Salt Lake City that was a gluten-free paradise. The area is called The Gateway, and it's an outdoor shopping/dining/entertainment complex near the Energy Solutions Arena. We had a choice of no less than THREE restaurants with printed gluten-free menus: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, and Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill. We would have liked to have done a progressive dinner, stopping at all three, but ultimately we decided on Biaggi's (featured in the new Gluten Free Restaurant Menus listing on GlutenFreeTavelSite). As you'll read in my gluten-free mother-in-law's review, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was one of the best gluten-free experiences to date! Too bad we don't have Biaggi's out on the East coast (with the exception of Cary, North Carolina, their locations are concentrated in the Midwest and West). If you're lucky enough to live near one, go! You will NOT be disappointed!

Gluten Free Dining and Travel Articles Published

Have you heard of the new Gluten Free Search Engine, Gluten Free Fox? In addition to being a search engine for all things gluten free, they feature a range of new gluten-free articles each week. They recently published  Part I and Part II of an article I wrote for them entitled, "Is Gluten Free Dining and Travel Getting Any Easier?" 

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!

The Best Gluten-Free Pasta

Tonight our family got to try a new gluten-free pasta which had been recommended to me by a friend. It is called DePuma's Gluten Free Pasta, and WOW...was it amazing! They are made by John DePuma, who is also the Executive Chef at Dolci restaurant in New Haven, CT, where his gluten-free pastas are served. The frozen pasta (tortellini, ravioli, cavatelli) is also sold by grocers throughout Connecticut, including at his own shop in New Haven and numerous Whole Foods stores. For those of us not lucky enough to pick up a container or two in our local grocery store, they will ship on dry ice anywhere in the contiguous U.S. 

We all tried both the Wild Mushroom Ravioli and the Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli (the Three Cheese Tortellini is still in our freezer waiting for another night...). It was the first time since our son Ryan has been on a gluten-free diet (almost four years now) that we've had such good gluten-free pasta. Granted, we've found several good gluten-free brands of plain pasta, our favorite of which is probably Schar's (made in Italy and just recently more widely distributed in the U.S.). However, we have never had such good filled pasta like these raviolis. We tried ordering one or two varieties online right after Ryan was diagnosed, thinking we should try to replace all of our gluten-filled staples with gluten-free substitutes. We quickly found that was a tough task. Not that any frozen gluten-free ravioli we tried was bad...it just wasn't good enough to order again. But DePuma's...well that's a different story. We cooked each of the two 12-oz packages as instructed -- for 7-9 minutes. They weren't quite done...a little too al dente...so we cooked them for just a couple more minutes, making sure not to overcook and ruin this wonderful treat! We seasoned them only with a little extra virgin olive oil and fresh grated parmesan cheese since we wanted to experience the full flavor of the pasta without masking the taste with a strong-flavored sauce. 

The verdict? Perfect pasta...so fresh tasting and with such good, true flavor. You honestly can't even tell it's gluten-free, and remember...that's even without any sauce! I'd recommend enjoying them the way we did, in fact...with just a bit of olive oil and parmesan, because you'll want to savor the wonderful mushroom filling especially. Yum! Our boys prefer plain pasta, of course, but for now, we'll chalk that up to their still-somewhat-unsophisticated palettes (and it's not for Mom's lack of trying!) My husband and I loved it and would gladly opt for it any day over any gluten-filled pasta we've had. Congratulations, John DePuma, you've got some winning recipes!  

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!