Gluten Free Gourmet
Gluten Free Gourmet
Gluten Free in San Luis Obispo, California
We recently visited San Luis Obispo, CA for a college graduation. This event was planned months in advance with the hotel and restaurant chosen by the family of the college grad. I was a bit skeptical about what the options would be for my husband and I who are both gluten free. We were pleasantly surprised.
We checked in to the Apple Farm where the entire family was staying. The receptionist proceeded to tell us about the fresh pressed apple cider (delicious), lemonade, coffee, tea and cookies offered in the lobby every afternoon. We of course told her that we were gluten free. To our surprise, she said, no problem and gave us coupons for the bakery. They had gluten free chocolate walnut cookies, what a treat!
From there we headed to the free wine tasting from a local winery. The wine was delicious and we had a pleasant afternoon sitting outside on the patio with the family.
Apple Farm
www.applefarm.com
For dinner that night we decided to get pizza and enjoy the fireplace in our room. We went to Woodstock's Pizza. They have a huge selection of pizza including appetizer and dessert pizza. The pizza was really great and compare's to BJ's Pizza which is my favorite in our area. Woodstock's red pizza sauce is exceptional. If you are highly sensitive to gluten, exercise caution when eating here as the pizza is not made in a dedicated area.
Woodstock's Pizza
www.woodstocksslo.com
The graduation dinner was held at Palazzo Giuseppe's. The restaurant was so busy on the Saturday night of graduation and they still managed to serve thirteen of us successfully. My husband started with the Roasted Beet Carpacio: Golden & Red Beets with Goat Cheese, Candied Walnuts & Finished with Arugula in Strawberry Vinaigrette. I had a taste and I would recommend this if you like arugula. He finished with the Risotto di Pollo: Range Chicken, Porcini Mushroom Risotto & Shaved Grana Padano. This dish was good but needed salt and parmesan cheese to add flavor. I had the Butternut Squash Gnocchi: Slow Braised Pork, Cippolini Onions, Pecans, Local Apples and Wild Boar Bacon but with a gluten free rice gnocchi. This dish was amazing and not like anything I have had before.
Palazzo Giuseppe's
www.palazzogiuseppe.com
For dessert, we walked down the alley to Powell's Sweet Shoppe. For those of us who are older, this is a wonderful trip back in time to remember all of the candy you ate as a kid. They have every type of candy you can imagine as well as a great selection of Jelly Belly's and Gelato. They keep a book of the Gelato flavors behind the counter and each description lists the major allergens. There is also a list of gluten free products on their website but I had trouble trying to open it.
Powell's Sweet Shoppe
www.powellsss.com
We finished our trip with a walk around downtown and late breakfast at the Apple Farm. I really enjoyed the weekend in this charming college town. I would recommend stopping if you are ever in the area. I believe that Oprah named San Luis Obispo "one of the happiest places on earth" and I can see why. With cute local shops, great restaurants who are gluten aware, local wineries and college kids with a bright future ahead, why wouldn't you be happy in SLO?
Thank you to the Central Coast Celiacs for the restaurant list on their website:
Central Coast Celiacs
The Counter
www.thecounterburger.com
My family and I ate at The Counter in Santana Row for the first time this weekend. The concept of being able to build your own gourmet burger is a really great idea. I love that they use hormone and antibiotic free Angus beef. They also provide the option of a turkey burger that is gluten free as well. Everyone in our family got exactly what they wanted and all allergens are listed on their website. I was so excited about the 50/50 fries because you get sweet potato and regular fries together. Both are cooked in a dedicated fryer so there is no cross contamination with gluten.
The only drawbacks are that they don't have a gluten free bun. Your burger is served in a bowl over lettuce. Also, if you order the toppings seperately, you can end up with a pretty expensive burger. I am okay with this since I don't eat a hamburger very often. These gourmet burgers are a special treat and worth the cost.
Gluten Free in Ohau, Hawaii
I just got back from a trip to Ohau, Hawaii. Thank you to my wonderful husband who worked so hard last year and won this free trip for us. We started our trip in Waikiki. We stayed at the beautiful Sheraton Waikiki which is walking distance to the stores and restaurants. The Sheraton provided daily gluten free meals for us including having gluten free bread for us at breakfast.
http://www.sheraton-waikiki.com/
On the first day, we had lunch at PF Chang's in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. It was so relaxing to sit in the open air restaurant with the Hawaiian breeze blowing through and the birds walking around the tables. We ordered from the gluten free menu which was so convenient. We started with the Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which are my favorite. We went on to share the Singapore Street Noodles and the Shrimp with Lobster Sauce. Of course after that meal, we had to do some shopping to work off our lunch!
http://www.pfchangshawaii.com/
The next day we drove to Kailua on the other side of the island. I highly recommend this drive because you get to see beautiful ocean views along with lush, green mountains stretching above you. We walked on the beach and ate at Z Pizza for lunch. This was my first time at Z Pizza even though we have one near our home. I love that they use organic ingredients. I had the Tuscan pizza with homemade roasted garlic sauce, mozzarella, cremini, shittaki, and button mushrooms, carmelized onions, feta, truffle oil and fresh thyme. My husband had the Curry Chicken and Yam pizza with mozzarella, curry chicken mix, yams, mango chutney, & cilantro. Both pizzas were delicious but the curry chicken and yam was a bit spicy for me. I look forward to my next trip to Z Pizza here at home!
http://www.zpizza.com/
After three wonderful days in Waikiki, we moved to the JW Marriott in Ihilani, Ko Olina. This area of the island is a huge contrast from the people, shops and restaurants of Waikiki. There are beautiful rolling hills with golf courses and resorts. The JW Marriott makes you feel like you are in another world. In our room, there was a whole wall of windows that opened up to the patio. The patio overlooked a beautiful, blue, circular pool that leads to the private beach and lagoon. Disney is building a huge resort next to the JW Marriott so I can't wait to bring my son here for his first trip to Hawaii. Disney and Hawaii together, what could be better than that for a child?
http://www.ihilani.com/
We had dinner at Roy's for our first night in Ko Olina. The service was excellant and our waitress was very knowledgable about what items on the menu were gluten free. We had many choices and had trouble deciding what to order. We ended our meal with the flourless chocolate souflee that was warm, creamy and heavenly to eat.
http://www.roysrestaurant.com/
The next day we drove to Haleiwa. This is a very cute beach town with lots of little shops and places to eat. I bought Hawaiian Red Salt in one of the markets after tasting it on one of the dishes at Roy's. We went to Luibueno's Mexican and Seafood Restaurant for really great drinks and chips, Guacamole and Queso Fundido. I would like to go back to this restaurant for a full meal.
http://luibueno.com/
Our last night we had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants with ten of my husband's coworkers and spouses. It was a great way to end the trip and celebrate their success one last time. I was sad to be leaving such a beautiful place but I missed my son and our home. This was a memorable trip for many reasons including the food.
Cascal Restaurant
400 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA
650-940-9500
www.cascalrestaurant.com
This restaurant is one of my favorites in the Bay Area. The food is tapas style with latin flavors and the restaurant has a casual, festive atmosphere. I have eaten there with my husband on date night, with girlfriends for "girls night out" and with a party of fifteen for my birthday. This restaurant is perfect for any occasion.
Cascal's has offered gluten free options since I have been eating there. Now ordering is even easier with a new version of the gluten free menu. It looks just like the regular menu but with G, D, & N listed by each dish that contains Gluten, Dairy, & Nuts. Some of my favorite dishes are:
Queso Fundido – Oaxacan cheese and smoked mushroom fondue, grilled poblano chiles, warm corn tortillas
Eggplant Tian – Layered grilled eggplant, piquillo peppers, Manchego cheese, smoked tomato-paprika sauce
Vegetable Paella – Seasonal fresh vegetables grilled, herb green rice, baked in a vegetable and herb stock, Romesco sauce
Beef Short Rib Adobo – Mexico City style braised beef short rib, red onion-cilantro salad, fresh corn arepa
Warm Chocolate Soufflé Cake – With cinnamon and orange essence, served with coffee ice cream and topped with hazelnuts
Erik's Delicafe
www.eriksdelicafe.com
Last weekend I was in Watsonville, CA visiting family. We were out and about so when it was time for lunch I knew they would want sandwiches. For those of us who are gluten free, going to a sandwich shop is one of the most challenging places to eat. I had heard that Erik's was offering gluten free bread, so I suggested we go there.
I was a little bit nervous about making that suggestion because I didn't know if the particular location we were going to had the bread. If they didn't, I knew there would be the usual fuss about what I would be able to eat from my family.
When we arrived at the cafe, I was relieved to see a chalk board sign outside advertising the gluten free bread. Words cannot express how nice it was to walk into a cafe and order a sandwich like the rest of the family! I have not had a sandwich in a restaurant in over ten years.
Erik's uses Rudi's multigrain gluten free bread. I recommend having it toasted so it stays together while you eat the sandwich. I had the Abbott's Habit which used to be and still is one of my favorite sandwiches. I have since been back to have the Erik's Rueben. Both sandwiches are delicious! A huge thanks to Erik's Delicafe for supporting the gluten free community and spending the time and money to train their staff at 27 locations in the bay area.
Dr. David Lepp, DC, CSCS
Janzen Health Center
256 E. Hamilton Avenue, Suite F
Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 379-0133
Center for Cranial Integration
2560 Ninth Street, Suite 313
Berkeley, CA 94710
(408) 421-5134
www.DrLepp.com
Dr. Lepp received his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic West. He is a specialist in clinical craniopathy, functional neurology and Neuro-Emotional Technique. Dr. Lepp lectures in the fields of health, fitness, and nutrition. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has been a personal trainer at exclusive health clubs for over a decade.
Dr. Lepp provides a creative approach to healing that involves looking at the body as a complex yet understandable matrix of systems. He evaluates neurological pathways, musculo-skeletal structures, functional laboratory results, neuro-emotional triggers, and cranial-dental issues. He looks at the body across the spectrum of systems to discover the root cause of your disease.
Jake's Del Mar
On the Sand in Del Mar
1660 Coast Boulevard
Del Mar, CA 92014
Phone: (858) 755-2002
Fax: (858) 755-3240
www.jakesdelmar.com
My husband and I ate at this restaurant while we visited San Diego. I cannot say enough good things about Jake's. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable. We sat watching the waves wash up on the beach as we ate. Our server was very knowledgable about which items were gluten free on the menu and we had so many choices, we had a hard time ordering. Even the cocktails were delicious including one of the best mojitos I have ever had. Our starters were prosciutto wrapped prawns with basil and dijon vinigrette & cream of mushroom soup. I had the main lobster bake with garlic chips, corn and potato hash. My husband had Brandt Farms Filet Mignon wrapped with applewood smoked bacon, maytag blue cheese butter, onion jam & potato au gratin. The portions were very generous so we did not have dessert which is unusual for both of us. I would not miss this restaurant if you are in the area.
Other TS Restaurants:
Cliffhouse | Duke's Beach House Maui | Duke's Huntington Beach | Duke's Kauai
Duke's Malibu | Duke's Waikiki | Hula Grill Kaanapali | Hula Grill Waikiki
Jake's Del Mar | Keoki's Paradise | Kimo's | Leilani's
Sandy's Beach Grill | Sunnyside Lodge
Low Carb Deep Dish Pizza Quiche
4 Large Eggs
1/3 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp Minced Chives or Scallions (I omitted this)
1/2 Tsp Minced Garlic (I used roasted garlic from the jar)
1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano
1 Cup Shredded Asiago Cheese
2 Cups Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Tomato Sauce (I used 1 cup)
1 Cup Sliced Mushrooms, Sauteed in Olive Oil (I used 1 box)
1 12 oz Package Frozen Organic Spinach, Drained & Sauteed with the Mushrooms
2 Turkey Italian Sausages, Casings Removed, Crumbled, Cooked & Drained
(I used Taverrite's Mild Italian Sausage)
Preheat the oven to 350F. Oil a 13 X 9 inch baking dish with olive oil. In a food processor, blend together the Neufchatel and eggs until smooth. Add the milk, parmesan, chives or scallions, garlic and oregano. Blend until smooth. Scatter the Asiago and 1 cup of the mozzarella in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg mixture over the cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the baking dish from the oven. Spread the tomato sauce over the cooked egg mixture. Scatter the mushrooms, spinach and sausage over the top. Cover with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Turn the oven to broil and heat about 6 inches from the heat until browned and bubbly. Let sit for 5 minutes to cool before cutting into squares. Serves 8.
Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
(I used four organic chicken breasts from Costco)
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
8 Cloves Garlic, Smashed
(I used roasted garlic from the jar to taste)
1 Cup Wild Rice Blend
(I used Organic Harvest Medley from Costco)
1/4 Cup Freshed Squeezed Lemon Juice
2 1/4 Cups Water
(I used about half Pacific Organic Chicken Broth and half water)
Optional Garnish: Fresh Parsley Sprigs
Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper.
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Add the garlic and rice. Add the lemon juice to the water (and chicken broth) and stir.
Pour this mixture over the rice and chicken.
Stir once to coat. Place the lid on the slow cooker and set on low for 8 hours.
To plate, place a serving of rice on each plate and top with one chicken breast.
Option to garnish with fresh parsley sprigs.
BJ's Restautant & Brewhouse
CUPERTINO
10690 N. De Anza Blvd.
408.865.6970 TEL
925 Blossom Hill Rd.
408.284.4260 TEL
http://www.bjsrestaurants.com
This is my new favorite for gluten free restaurant pizza. The 10" pizza crust is thin and crispy. Bj's offers many premade pizza flavors that are gluten free with the exception of the meatball pizza. Or, you can choose your own pizza toppings, all for a reasonable price. They have a seperate gluten free menu with other options besides pizza and they have gluten free beer. The restaurant has a family friendly atmosphere with flat screen tv's broadcasting sports continually and sports related coloring pages for kids.