Ina's - Not Just My Mom's Name

Ina, aka the Breakfast Queen, in Chicago, Illinois knows all about being gluten-free accommodating.  Yes, my mom's name is also Ina, so I was doubly intrigued to find out if Ina's was all I heard it was cracked up to be. Ina, a leader in the effort to ban artificial trans fats, opened up Ina's Kitchen in 1991.  Ina understands and teaches cross contamination and is a hands on owner.  Her menu has GF all over it to signify those options that are gluten free accommodating.  

Rent or Nobu 57?

 

Nobu has 24 locations world wide.  I was fortunate to dine at Nobu 57, in NYC.  If I had to summarize the experience (and yes, Nobu is an experience) into one word, it'd be WOAH!! Expensive, oh yeah (but, what isn't in New York?)!! Worth it?  Read on!

Cafe Abbracci - AMAZING Gluten Free Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

Cafe Abbracci, in Coral Gables, a popular Italian restaurant, that will always have my business -- because they have the BEST gluten free pasta in the Gables.  I've actually become an addict and have to have my Cafe Abracci gluten free pasta with old School bolognese meat sauce regularly.  For $18, it's not the least expensive pasta - but, it's worth every penny.  Cafe Abbracci carries gluten free pasta on site, and you get to choose your sauce.  There are many pasta options, but I'm hooked on the meat sauce and can't even think of not having it.  I'm always ecstatic when local restaurants step up to the plate and accommodate us Celiac's - I'm thrilled to have Cafe Abbracci as a scrumptious lunch and dinner choice. 

Most Romantic Gluten Free Pizza & Gelato in the WORLD

In Florence, Italy, of course!  Le Botteghe di Donatello is a godsend. While on a Mediterranean cruise, we had a day stop in Florence - and I had to have Gluten Free Pizza in Italy!!  I am ecstatic to have found this delicious magical place.  They have indoor and outdoor seating - outdoor is more scenic and fun so we sat outside.  What's amazing is on their outside gigantic menu, is a BIG MENU GLUTEN FREE sign!!

Trapiche Room at JW Marriott - Sensory Overload

The Trapiche Room is an intimate fine dining Mediterranean restaurant at the JW Marriott in Miami.  Luckily, it also participates in Miami Spice from August 1 to September 30, giving diners an appetizer, entree and desert for $19 for lunch and $33 for dinner.  Lunch is offered fro Mon-Fri and dinner is offered from Tues-Sat.  This is not a quick meal - don't expect to be in an out in an hour, not that kinda place.

I was there for lunch. Service is unbelievable.  I advised my server I was gluten-free and recalled JW Marriott being very accommodating.  I asked if there was gluten-free bread.  He immediately checked and brought back warm gluten-free goodness.  It's a rarity to have gluten-free bread at a restaurant, I cherish these moments!!

Gluten Free Spanish Style Tapas on South Beach

Barceloneta, a Spanish tapas restaurant on South Beach is incredibly gluten free friendly and brings a whole new flavor to the Beach.  You'll get a real flavor for Spanish tapas, and lucky you, they are delicious!!  You'll have to get a closer glimpse of the menu.  So many options - many of which I never tried before.

Yardbird, Southern Dining at its Finest!

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, South Beach's new haven for southern comfort cooking, is a new hot spot on the Beach.  For us gluten free folk, most of the menu is off limits, but, for those few items we are able to have, the ambiance may just be worth the trip.

Yardbird is on 16th and Lenox, just a block off of the well known Lincoln Road. 

Outside, the Yardbird sign illuminates and you can typically see a packed house inside.

Mama Fu's asian house - Gluten Free Friendly

Mama Fu's, specializes in Asian inspired, made to order cuisine. The menu is diverse and, most importantly to me, they have an extensive gluten free menu! Mama Fu's is not a strictly gluten free restaurant, but, does advise that it takes precautions to deter cross contamination, and once you advise you are requesting a gluten free meal, your order is notated as such, and in my case, the chef was specifically advised to make extra sure all would be well for me.

Mama Fu's is a great lunch place, order at the front, grab a number and your meal is brought to your table.  For dinner, its a little more formal, you can grab a seat and get table service. It's a great location for a quick, made to order Asian meal.

Morton's, the Steakhouse - NO LONGER Gluten Free Goodness!

As of February 7, 2011 I was thrilled with Morton's.  I wrote this stunning review below, and spent many a lunch and dinner enjoying Morton's.  Until yesterday.  I am still so incredibly ill from my meal at Morton's.  To be honest I am pissed, disappointed, in incredible pain, and disgusted.  I was at Morton's for a business lunch, had a caesar salad - no croutons, rib eye (specifically asked to verify the sauce and assure it was gluten free) with a baked potato (plain), and berries.  Sounds harmless... But, no.  One hour after leaving Morton's and me and the restroom bonded like I never want to bond with a restroom.  Did I advise the server I needed a gluten free meal? Yes.  Did I ask the server to confirm 100 times over that my meal would be gluten free? Yes.  Was I served a gluten free meal? Who knows?  Was I served food that gave me food poisoning? Who knows.  All I do know is that my meal at Morton's is the cause of my severe pain. I understand Morton's is recently under new management.  But, I still expect great service, including server's exceptionally trained in dealing with guests that have food allergies (which Morton's had in the past) and I expect quality food (when paying a decent price for a meal, you don't expect to be sick afterwards). I expected more from you, Morton's!  I hope Morton's new management steps up and takes a hard look at proper training, the importance of understanding the severity of guests with food allergies and the importance of quality ingredients. Until Morton's shapes up, I don't plan on returning.

THUMBS DOWN!!!

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Morton's, the Steakhouse is a great place for Celiacs! Good salad, good steak and great berries = a wonderful meal! Morton's has a great gluten free selection. Best of all, Morton's has a special $109 steak and seafood for TWO menu! We chose this menu and enjoyed it, see our images below. For $109 for two people, you can enjoy a salad, steak, seafood, side and dessert. A lot of food! (I'm also allergic to seafood, so I just had the steak). Makes for a great place to celebrate a special occasion.

I enjoyed my meal at Morton's, see the images here:

Caesar salad, sans croutons

Delicious filet!

Perfectly baked, baked potato!

Fresh berries, a perfect ending

THUMBS UP for Morton's!

Brennan's - My Favorite New Orleans Restaurant

I love Lazone!

New Orleans is a blast.  The French Quarter's Bourbon street is as dirty as can be, garbage cans are on the street in plain site, yet, you still LOVE the place.  It's warm, very friendly, parades happen on random Tuesday's, it's a great place.  For someone like me that's gluten free, with a shellfish allergy and a distaste for seafood - me and New Orleans are not a great culinary combination.

Hands down, Brennan's, off of Royal Street, was my favorite restaurant. Lazone, the chef pictured to your right actually came out and discussed my gluten free options with me after hearing my specific allergies and needs, and created perfection for me.

Well, in full disclosure, perfection for me is chocolate + steak, with the chocolate first.

Chow Down - Gluten Free Accommodating on Miami Beach!

...NOW CLOSED... =(

Brewhouse has taken over Chow Down! 

Another reminder to support those restaurants that accommodate us gluten free folk!

Chow Down Grill on 9th and Alton Road on South Beach is one of my new favorite gluten free friendly spots. During my first visit, I brought my favorite gluten free soy sauce with me and the chef was kind enough to use it, and explain how they would treat my gluten free meal differently to assure it stayed that way.  The chef then advised that Chow Down would carry my gluten free soy sauce, and welcome me back.  Their full menu is here. Since then, I've gone back to Chow Down at least 4 more times, and the promise was kept.

Need Gluten Free in Washington DC?

Chef Geoff's is know for its contemporary American Cuisine, casual sophistication, and generous hospitality, after one trip, you'll know why. I was in DC on a work trip, actually, a pretty cool one.  The Department of Commerce asked me to go to DC to teach a delegation about importing medical devices into the U.S., in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Alright, this may only be cool to me, but, it was a success nonetheless.  When the seminar was over, I was hungry, of course, and wanted wine and steak! I asked locals for a great spot, and Chef Geoff's was the hands down recommendation. 

I was there right around happy hour, and was pre-advised that the happy hour specials are great.  This was definitely public knoweledge as the bar was packed, not even one empty seat for lil' ol' me!  The hostess was a doll and sat me close to the bar, and advised I could still order the happy hour specials, as long as I also ordered from the menu.  Not hard to do!  Check out the dinner menu here, and guess what? They have a special gluten free menu (with prices) and it's below (although if you want to see it clearly, just click on the gluten free menu above).  I was so impressed that they had a gluten free menu, all knew what gluten free was and took it seriously, so I ordered away!

Gluten Free Water View Dining in Destin

I was with colleagues traveling to Fort Walton Beach, and of course, am always looking for a good gluten free meal.  Marina Cafe was recommended, and I am oh so glad it was!  It is a very warm restaurant and has terrific water views.

Now, for the food...  As you know, I'm a steak lover and will never turn down a filet (unless I'm ill).  I was thrilled to hear the sauce was gluten free and they would happily substitute lyonnaise potatoes for gluten free potatoes.  Check out the full menu. 

The Grill on the Alley, Aventura Mall

The Grill on the Alley, has 6 locations.  I went to the latest location, in Aventura, Florida, which to my pleasant surprise, has a special gluten free menu to cater to us Celiacs!  Check out the lunch menu here:

Long Island, New York, A Great Place for Celiac's

For Celiac's traveling is daunting. You always wonder if you'll be able to go out to eat, how accommodating and knowledgeable the restaurants will be, and we're always scared of cross contamination - as we should be! Doing research in advance of travel is always important. I personally like the http://glutenfreeregistry.com/ and who doesn't just google?! What was really refreshing when I traveled to Long Island, was the complete awareness and pleasure to accommodate. It seemed commonplace that all Italian restaurants had gluten free pasta, knew to cook it separately, and knew which of the sauces they used were gluten free. I was in heaven!

Islamorada, A Slice of Heaven

There's nothing like getting away and heading to Islamorada.  Its a slice of heaven, the ocean and bay is gorgeous to stare at, the people are wonderful and warm, everything is pet friendly (I love traveling with Chuckie - the best dog ever!), and best of all the restaurants are SO gluten free accommodating (must be because the people are so nice)!!

I always think were spoiled on Miami Beach to have Lincoln Road, with blocks and blocks of restaurants and the ability to eat outside (under umbrellas of course) year round (with either fans or heaters, should it be 90 or below 60 degrees).  Yes, were spoiled!  But, Islamorada has a whole new degree of spoiled, here, the restaurants are unassuming, until you go to the back, many are on the water, and this particular restaurant, Lorelei Cabana Bar, had beach front service.  There was sand on the floor and gorgeous bay views, and such a low key atmosphere.

Gaylord Palms Orlando - A Whole Gluten Free Meal - BREAD Included!!

If you've never been to Gaylord Palms in Orlando, prepare yourself, it's an experience!! I was lucky enough to be there for a work conference. Wandering around the hotel you realize just how amazing the hotel is. You literally feel like your outside in the atrium - almost like a Vegas feel.

Gluten Free CREPES (yes Crepes!!) in Coral Gables!!!

The Crepe Maker, a restaurant inspired by the delicious crepes in France can now be found in 6 states throughout the U.S. See all locations here.

I was fortunate enough to meet Doreen, who owns the Coral Gables franchise of the Crepe Maker at a Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce networking event. She handed me her card and I said I wish I could partake in a delicious crepe, but, I'd have to go all the way to the keys to have a gluten free crepe. Doreen immediately said her and her Husband, Robert, the crepe master would happily accommodate Celiac's, and they regularly do!! I hugged Doreen, I think she may have thought I was nuts, but, HOW EXCITED are you to think of REGULARLY having gluten free crepes?!?!

Gluten Free Spanish Food in Ybor City & Celebration

Columbia Restaurant, a family owned business, started in 1905 in Ybor City, Tampa, now the world's largest Spanish restaurant. On a side note, I had a great tour of the MANY rooms at this restaurant, they are amazing.

Now, Columbia has 7 locations across Florida. Thus far, I've been to two locations, Ybor City (Tampa) and Celebration (Orlando). The reason I love Columbia? That's easy, I was showed around the kitchen in Ybor, its a clean detail oriented kitchen, with chefs and owners that know the importance of "gluten free"!!!

Paquitos - Tasty Gluten Free Mexican Food in North Miami Beach

Paquitos, authentic Mexican food exists in North Miami Beach.  I've been craving delicious nachos for some time, and have no time or energy to make anything myself lately... hence the reason for this blog - and the many gluten free accommodating restaurants I've found and love to share with you.