The Gluten-Free Life is Good in Colorado!

You may have noticed that the blog has been pretty quiet lately. That’s because we were enjoying a wonderful vacation in Denver, Colorado! Here are some highlights from our trip.

• A hike through the mountains at Vail, powered by granola bars from Annie’s and Kind (sadly, neither of which are available here yet)
• An amazing time at the Great American Beer Festival, where I sampled brews from Omission, New Planet, Rickoli, Sprecher, Lakefront, and more
• A visit to New Planet Brewing, which makes gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers
• Delicious gluten-free sandwiches at the Olive & Finch eatery
• Gluten-free fried chicken at The BSide
• An amazing shared-plates meal at Root Down, where 90% of the menu is or can be gluten-free
• Plenty of fabulous Mexican food!
• A late-night gluten-free ice cream cone at Little Man Ice Cream
• Amazing gluten-free pizza from Tony P’s (probably the best I have ever had, in fact!)
• Tons of varieties of cider from Woodchuck Cider, the Colorado Cider Company, and Stem

Now, all of this didn’t happen by accident. My very thoughtful brother-in-law did a ton of research and checked out the Denver Celiac Support Group before our visit. It certainly paid off, and in the future I’ll be sure to check out local Celiac associations for dining ideas!

Vinland Offers a Great Getaway

Several months ago, I read an article about Vinland, a small restaurant in Portland, Maine that uses all-organic ingredients sourced locally. We had a chance to visit it on the long weekend, just as ferry service from Yarmouth was starting back up again. (Vinland is just a few blocks from the ferry terminal, making it an easy choice for Nova Scotian visitors!)

Reservations are highly recommended at Vinland, and I understood why when we got there. It is quite a small space, seating less than 50 people. The atmosphere is upscale yet casual, making it a comfortable spot to hang out and enjoy a good meal. That was our first surprise. The second surprise came when we asked our server about gluten-free options. She informed me that the kitchen does not use gluten at all. The only item that may not be safe for Celiacs is the oats, as they cannot guarantee that cross-contamination doesn’t happen during its growing and processing. (That being said, always ask your server about gluten-free options and make sure they’re aware of your needs.)

With that in mind, we ordered some drinks to start. I chose the Queen James, which featured a local cider with blackcurrant liqueur. Michael had a local, organic beer from Peak Brewing Company. We also decided to have the appetizer on special: charred ramp with duck egg and truffle salt.

Read more…

A Gluten-Free Getaway!

Recently, Michael and I took a weekend trip to White Point Beach Resort, a lovely spot on Nova Scotia’s southern shore. We were excited to see that their full-service dining room had a gluten-free menu that covered breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu at the resort was slightly different than the one currently on the website, but they still have about half a dozen options for each mealtime.

• Breakfast options range from smoothies to a full country breakfast, with bacon (or ham), eggs, beans and gluten-free toast.
• For lunch, you can choose from a burger (with gluten-free bun), salad, fish cakes, and seafood.
• Supper options include pasta, steak, chicken, salmon, and salads.
• They also have a gluten-free maple creme brulée for dessert (although they were unfortunately out of it when we were there).

The menu does come with the standard disclaimer that although they will do everything possible to ensure a safe meal for you, their kitchen is not 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is possible. I emphasized that I have Celiac disease to the server and had no problems at all.

I tried their Meadow Brook pork chop ($22) and the striploin steak with mashed potatoes ($25) while we were there. The steak was just OK, but the pork chop was fantastic! I also got to try their homemade gluten-free bread, which was very good. However, to make sure you get some, you should mention that you are gluten-free when making a reservation. (The bread is frozen and thawed upon request, so I missed out the second night since the kitchen was so busy.)

We did not try eating in Founder’s Lounge (the small pub outside the dining room), but the mussels and burger do appear on the lunchtime gluten-free menu, so I am sure they would be able to accommodate gluten-free requests. (They also share the same kitchen as the main dining room.) As well, all rooms come with mini-fridges and microwaves, making it easy to bring and prepare your own meals. (We brought our own breakfast and lunch supplies.)

Overall, we found that our White Point getaway was very gluten-free friendly. We’re looking forward to going back for another visit!

Gluten-Free Finds On the Road!

Last week, Michael and I went on a road trip to Toronto, and we stopped at a ton of cool places on the way! Although the language barrier was a bit of a challenge in Québec, I didn’t get sick at all and actually enjoyed the opportunity to try some different places.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the places we visited and what I ate.

Pump House Brewery (Moncton, New Brunswick)
Not a ton of gluten-free options, but they have the most amazing locally-made gluten-free pizza crust. The $4 upcharge is totally worth it.

La Captive (Amqui, Québec)
We had an amazing spread of local cheeses for about $12. Just ask for no bread!

Saint-Alexandre Pub (Québec City, Québec)
Their sole gluten-free option (Toulouse-style sausage with salad) is incredible, and they have Glutenberg Blonde by the bottle (although it is pricey).

Les Salons d’Edgar (Québec City, Québec)
We loved the old-style French feel of this restaurant, and the spontaneous ballroom dancing by guests! Although we didn’t eat here, the menu looked quite gluten-friendly, with items like grilled steak and quinoa salad.

Le Saint Bock (Montréal, Québec)
This pub has Glutenberg Red, American Pale Ale, and Blonde by the bottle. Extremely cool spot, especially during a Canadiens game!

Zero8 (Montréal, Québec)
This place is a must-visit for anyone with Celiac disease or food allergens. Their restaurant is 100% free of the eight major allergens: gluten, fish and seafood, all nuts, sesame, soya, dairy, and eggs. They also mark items with mustard and sulphites on their menu, and are happy to accomodate any other allergens. Watch for a review coming soon!

Shoeless Joe’s (Toronto, Ontario)
We were surprised by how gluten-friendly this sports bar chain is, with gluten-free pizza and burgers. There is a small upcharge for gluten-free pizza ($1.99) and no upcharge for burgers.

Il Fornello (Toronto, Ontario)
This Italian restaurant serves gluten-free pasta, pizza, and the most amazing chocolate souffle I’ve ever had.

Road Tripping in Search of Gluten-Free Beer!

Michael and I just got back from a short road trip down through Maine. I love outlet shopping and seeing what kind of gluten-free goodies I can find at grocery and liquor stores. I tried three new gluten-free beers in four days! Unfortunately, none of these are currently available in Canada, so I think it’s time to do some lobbying.

Read more…

At Sandals, Luxury is Included… Even for Celiacs!

You may have noticed that the blog has been a bit quiet recently. That’s because we were fortunate enough to spend some time at Sandals Grande Riviera in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica! Normally, when we go South, my plan is to pack lots of snacks, eat grilled chicken and rice, and (of course) consume as many pina coladas as humanly possible.

At Sandals, I ate just as good (if not better) than I do here at home. My gluten-free questions and requests were always answered kindly and helpfully. I came home with my entire stash of snacks still intact!

Here are a few of the highlights from our trip.

Read more…