Monthly Archives: November 2009

A Happy — and Gluten-Free — Thanksgiving

Posted on by
Reply

This Thanksgiving, my husband and I are doing what we usually do: taking the train down to Philadelphia to celebrate the holiday with family. While I won’t have the chance to sample any of Philly’s many celiac-friendly restaurants, I’ve got a special event to attend. My husband’s cousin Joanna and her husband, Seth, host a family party that spans four generations. They are always careful and considerate hosts, and while I can’t eat every dish at Thanksgiving dinner, most items are gluten-free.

I also have to tell you that Joanna is an expert cook and an entrepreneur who opened Yo Dogs in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, earlier this year. Yo Dogs is a gourmet hot dog, burger, and salad place, which also caters events. If you’ve got a craving for a dog and you want it on a gluten-free roll (and maybe dressed with cheddar, avocado, and mushrooms), check it out. Yo Dogs [address] 1014 E. Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor, PA 19038 [tel] 215-233-DOGS (3647) [web] www.eatyodogs.com.

Thanksgiving can be a stressful time for those on the gluten-free diet, and for people with food allergies. Shauna James Ahern, the Gluten-Free Girl, shares some wonderful advice — and recipes — on her blog. Sure Foods Living provides great tips about what celiacs and food-allergic people should watch out for. Nancy Lapid, About.com’s guide to celiac disease, has a terrific roundup of Thanksgiving-related links. (Until I saw Nancy’s list, I had no idea that NPR had covered the subject of a gluten-free Thanksgiving this year.)

Lately, I’ve been seeing some great gluten-free recipes from sources that don’t specifically serve the celiac market. Janet Rudolph, the woman behind the wonderful Dying for Chocolate blog, has published some of my favorites. Another great source is Canadian House and Home magazine, which has an archive of recipes available for free on its website. The website has a special Thanksgiving section for its many American readers. While you can’t search by “gluten-free,” take a browse to see what’s available. Finally, Canadian Living magazine’s online recipe archive does let you search by the term “gluten-free,” and you’ll find everything from a mouth-watering cardamom shortbread to egg crepes with smoked salmon.

Wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving!

Vegas, Baby, Vegas — for the Gluten-Free

Posted on by
5

HD_in_LV

I just got back from Las Vegas, my first trip there since my celiac diagnosis. The city is just as crazy as I remembered it, but also more glamorous and grown-up. It still feels like an amusement park for adults when you stroll along the Strip, complete with roller coasters and other rides (at New York New York, the Sahara, and the Stratosphere), high-powered shows (Cirque du Soleil now has five productions playing there, with a new one — “Viva Elvis” opening soon), and a party-till-you drop atmosphere.

It’s also got a startlingly good food scene. I say startlingly because when I last visited Vegas, more than seven years ago, it seemed to be all about all-you-can-eat buffets. I remember towering portions of fried food, which were served up everywhere. There were upscale restaurants run by well-known chefs, but the few I tried seemed stuck on fried food, too (not that I was complaining about gourmet crab cakes back then, but they wouldn’t suit my diet now).

My memories of my first trip to Vegas made me trepidatious about what I’d find on the food front this time around. I was aware that it’s possible to dine gluten-free in Las Vegas, thanks to the terrific report that Gluten-Free Guidebook reader Elena wrote for this site last year. (Elena is a member of the Bi-State Celiac Support Group, which serves St. Louis, Missouri, and Belleville, Illinois.) But I was torn between wanting to dine safely at some of the great spots Elena identified, and a desire to find new and different places to write about.

Mostly, I chose unfamiliar spots, and over the next few weeks, you’ll read about them (and overall, they get rave reviews). But first, let me tell you about the one Elena suggested. She mentioned hearing that the French bistro Mon Ami Gabi, located in the Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino, was food-allergy-friendly, though she hadn’t eaten there. When I called to make a reservation, I mentioned that I was on a gluten-free diet, and asked if that would be a problem. They assured me that it wouldn’t be at all.

What I didn’t realize, until I was seated at a table there, was that Mon Ami Gabi now has a separate gluten-free menu. The one that I was given in Vegas is different from the one that is online for the restaurant’s other locations (there was no gluten-free bread, and the list of desserts was limited to one flavor of ice cream that particular night), but the list of appetizers and entrees was impressive. I had the savory-sweet endive, roasted pear and blue cheese salad to start and a satisfying plate of seared sea scallops with spinach and whipped cauliflower to follow. I also enjoyed the restaurant’s French Martini, a mix of vodka and champagne with chambord and pineapple. It seemed only fitting to toast a restaurant that takes such good care of its gluten-free guests — and a city that now offers them plenty of options.

Mon Ami Gabi [address] Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109 [tel] 702-944-4224 [web] www.monamigabi.com; there are also locations in Chicago, Oakbrook IL, Bethesda MD, and Reston VA.

Reader Reports on Gluten-Free Cruising

Posted on by
1

DSCN3013

Ironically, after I researched several possible cruises and cruise lines for my vacation, I ended up picking a desert location instead. But my research wasn’t wasted: I heard from several readers who had considered taking a cruise but had been worried about doing so because of their gluten intolerance and, in a couple of cases, their food allergies. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that many cruise lines are sensitive to these issues.

Others responded to the post by sharing their own experiences with cruising. Janet Rinehart, the Chairman of the Houston Celiac Support Group, had terrific things to say about the cruise lines she’d traveled with, and also some good advice for anyone taking a cruise:

I have found from years of experience that Holland America also does gluten-free very well. Holland America has tours from Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, New Zealand/Australia, and more. Also, Vantage and Viking Tours in Europe are excellent. We have traveled on the rivers from Amsterdam to the Black Sea on various legs of river boat trips with Vantage. The sightseeing (all included) is excellent and they do gluten-free very well. It helps to have translated restaurant cards (laminate several to have with you) in English and the country’s language in which you are traveling for both the ship’s chef and off-shore restaurants.

For language cards, I recommend one of my favorite sites, Celiac Travel. For some guidelines about dealing with celiac disease in a foreign language, check out this post.

Another reader, Alice, had a particularly terrific experience to share:

I went on a cruise with the Norwegian Cruise Line last March & experienced first class service.  I was presented with the menu a day in advance & the Assistant Maitre D’ would assist me with choosing items that could be made gluten free by the chef.  If he had any doubts about anything he would communicate with the chief chef.  The Assistant Maitre D’ would serve me personally; he would make sure that no one would make a mistake with my meals.  I was astounded by the degree of care & attention my meals received.  People were jealous of the personal service that I received.  I was treated like some royalty.  It was the most relaxing holiday I ever had since being diagnosed with celiac disease. The only restriction was that we had to eat in the 2 main dining rooms in order to obtain the meals I had ordered the previous day. Otherwise, it was like going to any other restaurant — studying the menu & discussing the different items with the waiters & deciding on a safe meal.  The Norwegian Cruise Line has several restaurants on board & one can eat at any of them.  There are no restrictions as to sitting times, etc.  I’m going on another cruise this winter with the Norwegian Cruise Line.  I would highly recommend it.  I hope this is of help to your readers.

Thanks so much to Janet and to Alice for sharing their reports. As for me, I’m hoping to have some new restaurants to share — when I get back from Las Vegas!