Saturday, April 30, 2011

Bombay Cafe


I have been craving Indian food for a while now. I know that a lot of Indian food is naturally gluten free (Yay!), but I have been nervous, and haven't eaten at an Indian restaurant since my diagnosis. Also aiding my apprehension was a noticeable lack in reference to gluten free Indian restaurants in Orlando. At a work day for my husband's school, some of the parents and Aaron and I started discussing Indian food and where we like to eat. We mentioned a place we use to like to go on Orange Blossom Trail, and the parents said there was a great place across the street called the Bombay Cafe that was less expensive and, in their opinion, tastier. So, we decided to give it a shot tonight. It's not really hard to find, but it is tucked away in a smaller shopping center, so you do stay alert. We walked in and liked the atmosphere. We looked at the menu, and it looked very promising. My favorite dish (so far) was on it! Now, all we had to do was ask about the presence of gluten in the food. They were quite knowledgeable, and went through the menu, telling me exactly which items had gluten in them, and which ones did not. I started to get excited when many of the starters were gluten free, but then I asked if they were fried in the same fryer as the other food. They were. Drat! Luckily, though, my favorite, aloo gobi (pictured), was gluten free, so I was happy. Aaron ordered the bhindi masala, which was also gluten free, and also another one of my favorites. He also ordered a starter which was, unfortunately, not safe. Waiting for our food, we were tempted by all sorts of wonderful smells coming from the food on nearby tables. Luckily, our food came quickly! I first tried some of Aaron's bhindi masala, which was great, and then went on to try my aloo gobi. It was delicious! We ate until we were quite full, and left with tons of leftovers. I would still like to give my old place a try, but we will definitely be back. Definitely. Did I say we'd be back? Because we will be!

Knowledge - 4.5 stars
Accommodation - 3 stars
Taste - 5 stars

Glutino Penne Alfredo



Tonight I review the Penne Alfredo microwave meal from Glutino. Yes, I promise I cook, but I was tired and wanted something easy, so I decided to try something new! I've been looking at this meal for a while. I am, however, always a bit nervous when trying new food (or at least worried about losing money on food I can't eat). So, it took me a while to get up the nerve to try the penne alfredo. I brought it home, and cooked it right away. I decided that I needed some vegetable in my dinner, so I also steamed some broccoli to put in the pasta. I was very excited to see that the pasta looked decent. When I stirred it, I found it to have a nice texture, but the pasta fell apart very easily. I added my broccoli and some red pepper, because I put it on everything, and sat down for dinner. The first thing I noticed was that the sauce had absolutely no flavor whatsoever. It was like eating creamy, plain noodles. I added salt, and it helped, but it only raised the meal to a mediocre level. To be fair, though, the noodles were a good texture, and the meal was quite filling. Also, I enjoyed my broccoli very much. However, I think next time I have a hankering for alfredo, I'll make it myself. Classico is gluten free and quite nice!

Appearance - 3.5 stars
Texture - 3.5 stars
Taste - 2 stars

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Lots of Praise for Chipotle

If you are lucky enough to live in a city that has a Chipotle, you are probably aware of how awesome they are. Before my diagnosis, I went there all the time because they were delicious and economical. I frequent them now because they are very gluten friendly. If you're not familiar with the restaurant, it's a fast food burrito place that only uses fresh, organic, free-range foods. The have salads, burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and chips. For protein, they have chicken, steak, carnitas, barbacoa, and beans. They also have a delicious cilantro lime rice that I love. And the best part? Most of their menu is gluten free! Obviously, the burritos and soft tacos are out, but most everything else is fine. I get a vegetarian burrito bowl with corn salsa, pico de gallo, salsa verde, sour cream, and guacamole. The guac is free with mine, but costs extra if you get meat. The hot salsa is not guaranteed gluten free (the other ones are), and while lettuce and cheese are fine on their own, there is cross-contamination issues because they pick them up with their hands. This makes me sad a little, because I love cheese and lettuce on my burrito bowl. On the upside, they're one of the only restaurants with gluten free chips and hard taco shells! Before I order, I explain that I have food allergies and ask them to change their gloves. They always do this happily! Chipotle uses an assembly line format, so a different person usually adds the toppings. Instead, I ask if the first person who changed their gloves will finish my bowl, and most locations also do this without issue. Most locations even recognize me and have started learning my requests and my order. Like I said, though, some locations are better than others about my allergy. The Chipotle on Colonial drive near the Fashion Square Mall is by far the best location. They are always willing to help me and the food is always of high quality. The one on Orange Ave in SODO is consistently good as well, except that when the first person tries to finish my burrito bowl, the second person usually gives some grief about it. I thank the adamant people who refuse to hand the bowl over. The locations on Semoran and Sand Lake have been nice so far, but I don't go to those much, so I can't really say definitively how I'd rank them. The location to avoid is the one in Winter Park on the corner of Orange and Fairbanks. The portions are small, the food is not as good as the other locations, and they are unbelievably unhelpful about my allergy. They refuse to make the whole bowl with one person. The last time I went, I explained that I had a gluten allergy, and asked the girl working to change her gloves. She brought back the gloves and as she put on one, she laid the other on top of the flour tortillas. When I asked her to get a different glove, she gave me a nasty look. She then refused to complete my bowl, and told the second person to change her gloves in a snippy tone of voice. I was not impressed. Go to Chipotle! Just not the one in Winter Park.

Knowledge - 4 stars
Accommodation - 4 stars
Taste - 5 stars

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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Amy's Asian Noodle Stirfry

In general, I'm a big fan of Amy's products and I try to sample different items. I already knew I liked some of the Asian dishes, but had not ever tried this one. I took it to work today and had it for lunch. As it cooked, it smelled quite good, and when it was finished, I was impressed to see that it looked more or less like the picture on the box. The vegetables looked bright, colorful and fresh. They also had a nice texture as did the noodles. I took a bite and was immediately assaulted by ginger. I like ginger, but in this case it overwhelmed the other tastes. Upon further investigation, I noticed a pineapple taste as well. Other than the abundance of ginger, the flavor was pretty watered down. I ate it, because I had no other food, and it was ok. It served its purpose nutritionally, but the taste was lackluster at best. I probably won't get this meal again.

Appearance - 3.5 stars
Texture - 4 stars
Taste - 1.5 stars
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My Fried Green Tomatoes!

With all of the wonderful food in Savannah, I've been on a Southern cooking kick back here in Orlando. I've been trying to remaster my favorite recipes in a GF way. Last night's adventure was fried green tomatoes. I used King Arthur GF all-purpose flour, which I seasoned with Vegetable Magic, salt, and red pepper. I dipped the tomato slices in an egg wash, then coated them with the flour. I then fried the slices at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until the were golden brown. I tried some with a double coating of egg wash and flour, some with one coating. I preferred the single coating best. Since I was out of peppered vinegar (what is wrong with me!), I used Tobasco green pepper sauce instead. It was Heavenly! Hoping to master the fried pickle next!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

So What Happens?

When sharing about my diet with friends and family (and sometimes total strangers), one of the first questions I am asked is, "So, what happens when you eat [gluten]?" So, I thought I'd take a minute and answer that question. The symptoms are different for everyone, and some people don't even feel anything. The internal damage is still there, though. I'm actually quite glad that my body reacts; having no symptoms can be quite dangerous!

When gluten (from wheat, barley, or rye) enters the GI system, a Celiac's body will view it as an intruder and attack the body. The small intestine has several finger-like villi which produce digestive enzymes. Our immune system will attack these villi making them short, stubby, or even totally flat; they produce fewer enzymes in this state, which can result in fewer nutrients being absorbed. The inflammation and malnutrition, if not corrected, can lead to diabetes, bowel cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis. It's serious stuff! Often when children are not diagnosed with Celiac, they are unable to grow to their full height because they lack the nutrients to do so (says the woman who is 4'10''). All Celiacs are at risk of these health issues when exposed to gluten.

The external symptoms vary greatly from person to person and even exposure to exposure. Symptoms can include:
  • Weight loss or weight gain
  • Nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorbtion including. low iron levels
  • Gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea)
  • Fat in the stools (due to poor digestion)
  • Aching joints
  • Depression (deficiencies often cause this symptom)
  • Eczema
  • Headaches
  • Exhaustion
  • Irritability and behavioral changes
  • Infertility, irregular menstrual cycle and miscarriage
  • Cramps, tingling and numbness
  • Slowed growth in children.
  • Decline in dental health
  • Anemia
  • Fatigue
  • Burning, tingling, numbness in hands and feet
  • Loss of feeling in hands and feet
  • Numbness, tingling or reduced sensation in face and body.
I have, at one point or another in my life, experienced all of these symptoms except anemia and full-scale eczema (though I frequently have patches of drier, itchier skin), and sometimes several symptoms combined.

Some people get severe stomach pain once gluten has been ingested. This is not usually the case for me, though my stomach does feel definitively different. Just a few moments after I ingest gluten, the taste in my mouth changes to a putrid one. Since I'm actually allergic to wheat as well, my chest will feel tight and breathing feels uncomfortable, though my airways are still open. I feel heavy and toxic, and my stomach starts feeling irritated and inflamed. It sort of feels like having a stomach bug for me. A few minutes later, a knot of pain appears between my shoulder blades. The pain then shoots up my spine, into my shoulders, then my neck, then my head. My head feels like it is being squeezed to the point of popping, I become sensitive to light and sound, and, overstimulated, I can no longer process information. The next day, my nerve endings are usually on fire and my body is swollen. Everything hurts - even my fingernails. I feel lethargic but cannot rest. I feel clammy and feverish, though my temperature doesn't change much. Either the second or third day following the incident, I will finally crash, unable to keep myself awake any longer. It is a very uncomfortable sleep with dizzy spells, disorientation, and near-hallucinations, a lot like trying to sleep while drugged after a surgery or big accident. Other than the day of excruciating pain, the physical symptoms, while frustrating, aren't nearly as bothersome for me as the emotional and mental symptoms that occur.

When I ingest gluten, my brain becomes foggy. I cannot think logically, cannot process information, and cannot prioritize things. My mind jumps around from thought to thought, activity to activity, and I can't focus on a single one. Huge gaps of information escape my attention, and realize too late that I forgot to do something or go somewhere. It is quite scary, and it hurts me on a personal level when it results in leaving someone I care about in the lurch. My vocabulary is also cut considerably, and I find it difficult to engage in any sort of conversation or other linear experience. I spiral into a severe depression, aggravated by the awareness that my lack of concentration is hurting those I love, and my emotions are a giant roller coaster. At times, I am cold and calculating, shrewd and blunt. At other times, I am overly sensitive, reacting way too personally to the slightest (non)offenses. Yet other times, I am suspicious and fearful. I fly off the handle in anger and then cry. Tiny details or stimuli bother me until I blow up or shut down. These symptoms usually emerge the day after I'm exposed, and they can continue for a week or longer. I hate these times the most. I can stand outside of myself and see my erratic behaviour and see the wake of destruction it causes, yet I cannot do anything to help it. I just have to ride it out and wait for the gluten to leave my system. Any attempt to reign myself in causes greater destruction. I feel helpless, frightened, and frustrated.

So, there it is. I've answered the question. This is what happens when I come in contact with gluten. It is no fun at all; a truly miserable experience. I am grateful that God has provided me with a husband who is patient enough to endure the roller coaster with me, even if he doesn't always understand. What happens to you?

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Jazzy Dog Cafe

I went to this cafe, which is located off of Orange Ave. near the Amtrak station and the hospital, when I first got diagnosed with Celiac, and was really excited to see potatoes and sweet potatoes on their menu with a wide array of toppings available. I ate a potato, and I felt kind of weird after, but it was during a time when I had a lot of problems with my stomach, so I thought nothing of it. Yesterday, I wanted a potato, so I asked Aaron if we could go. He loves the place for its specialty hot dogs, so he said yes right away. Before ordering, I informed them of my gluten allergy, and they checked on several ingredients for me. I asked about the toppings and found out that there aren't utensils for the different toppings, they just grab them with their hand. This made me uncomfortable about cross-contamination, so I decided to pass on a potato. SAD! I knew, however, that their fries were cooked in a grease-less fryer, so there were no cross-contamination issues there. After more inquiries about the ingredients, I found that the cheese fries were gluten free. The chili, however, is not, so I chose to include salsa on my fries. The man who made my order was very careful and washed his hands several times. The fries were very good, though I'm not used to eating food as oily as the cheese sauce. I took upon myself to mention to him that if he got separate utensils (or at least one) for his toppings, that he would get a lot of customers with gluten concerns, because we can eat potatoes. This was a bold thing to do (very out of character for me), and he was sort of insulted (oops!). He said that they were actually very careful and had very little issue with cross-contamination there. He said they wash their hands and use hand sanitizer frequently and recently got inspected for cross-contamination. I might go back and try a potato, especially because I accidentally insulted them. They seemed to be careful but not as knowledgeable as I would like them to be for my comfort. The food's delicious, though, so I recommend it on that level. If nothing else, stop by for some cheese fries. They're pretty amazing!


Knowledge - 3 stars
Accommodation - 3 stars
Taste - 4 stars

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Jason's Deli ROCKS!

Hey! Did you know that Jason's Deli has an extensive GF menu, including sandwiches on Udi gluten free bread? Somehow that slipped my attention until yesterday! I had heard that they were good about accommodating gluten allergies, but I hadn't asked how yet. Then yesterday I read online that they had gluten free bread! I looked up their menu, and it is really big. It has salads, items from the salad bar, build your own sandwiches, baked potatoes, and of course, their free soft-serve ice cream (without cone)! I wanted to try it out as soon as possible! Last night Aaron asked me to meet him for dinner somewhere, and I said, "Let's go to Jason's deli!" I ordered a sandwich, and talked to the person making them to ensure that he changed his gloves and made my sandwich far away from the other sandwiches. He asked if I was really allergic, and when I said yes, assured me that he would make it "really special" for me. While I was waiting for my food, I checked out the condition of the salad bar, because several places will list items as gluten free when they are contaminated because they don't realize that danger exists for us. The salad bar was very clean and well laid out for those of us with gluten issues. All of the bread products were on one end of the bar, then there was a buffer zone of various pasta and potato salads and fruit (so I would avoid these). The salad dressings next on the bar, and I think they are all gluten free, but just in case I might request dressing straight from the kitchen. On the far side of the bar was the lettuce and all the toppings, so I think that, within reason, these should be good to go! The sandwich came on Udi bread (my favorite!) with chips and a pickle. On the plate was a sticker with a disclaimer saying that the GF ingredients may come in contact with contaminated items because Jason's Deli is not trained to know the nuances of gluten intolerance (or something similar to that statement - will take picture of it next time). I ate it anyway and had no problems. It was really good! I was too full for ice cream, which I know some people (Aaron included) finds a bit sacrilege. But, I'm not upset. I'll just get it next time, because I'm definitely going back! So glad to know that an old favorite can be new again!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Dexter's

Sorry I haven't been on in a few days. Had to catch up on stuff (like sleep) after my studio recital! After the recital, I was quite hungry, and I wanted to go to a favorite spot of ours, Dexter's. There are three locations, but the one that is closest to me is the one in Thornton Park, right next to downtown Orlando. The atmosphere is an upscale, trendy, relaxed sports bar. I love the space, the location, and the food! One of the best things on the menu is their sweet potato chips, but they are off-limits to Celiacs, so I cannot eat those anymore. :( My husband still gets these all the time, though. I had eaten here only once before since my diagnosis, and had ordered a delicious salad. I had forgotten that I could eat safely at Dexter's, and after a conversation with a friend, I remembered this salad. Since then I'd been craving it, so we had to go! The salad comes with grilled asparagus, roasted potatoes, artichokes, mixed greens, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a lemon dill dijon dressing. The potatoes normally have rosemary on them, but since I'm allergic to that, too, they cook the potatoes without the herb for me. The blend of flavors is really delicious, and the contrast of the cold lettuce with the warm potatoes and asparagus is lovely. I couldn't remember whether the salad was completely gluten free or if they needed to make adjustments. I mentioned this to the waitress, and she told me that she would ask the kitchen. Everything ended up being gluten free, and I got the salad with no other substitutions than the potatoes. Just like my previous trip to Dexter's, the staff was quite knowledgeable about gluten, and they took very good care of me. The waitress was kind and attentive, and the food was amazing as always. I can't believe I forgot about Dexter's. To complete our experience, Aaron and I met some players from Orlando City Soccer. Go Lions! I will definitely dine there more often!

Knowledge - 5 stars
Accommodation - 5 stars
Taste - 5 stars

Monday, April 11, 2011

A GF Reception

Yesterday, I held a studio recital for my voice and piano students, and we had a reception after the recital. When I host anything now, I make sure that it is gluten free, and I wanted to do the same for the reception. (I figure if I'm going through the trouble of organizing it, I should be able to freely enjoy it!) I also asked the students if they or any family members had food allergies, and found that we also needed to avoid peanuts and tree nuts. I was nervous about asking parents to bring food to the reception with all of these restrictions, but I trusted that they would understand that I wanted the food to be safe for everybody to eat. The parents really shocked me! They really took the idea and ran with it, and with a few brand suggestions, they came with tons of delicious food. We had chips, salsa, dip, vegetable trays, fruit trays, cupcakes, cookies, and brownies, and drinks. There was enough for everyone to have seconds and thirds, and people had them! The baked goods were delicious, and the parents were surprised that gluten free food could be that good or taste just the same as food containing gluten. The star of the reception menu, though, was the brownies. They were Betty Crocker GF brownies. They are amazing and so simple to make! Everyone wanted some, and everyone wanted to know who made them. People wanted to know how to make them at home, even though they didn't need to be gluten free! Even one of my best friends (and brownie experts) thought they were great. I was happy to have educated so many people. :)

Fried Green Tomatoes!

Fried green tomatoes at Belford's Savannah. Yum!

Gluten Free in Savannah

My best friend finally moved from across the country to within driving distance, so excited, I made plans to visit her in Savannah, Georgia. While the trip was an exciting prospect, the thought of eating in Savannah was a bit scary. Eating out with Celiac is always tricky, especially in a new city. Researching Savannah, I found some pretty bad reviews. I even read that it was the one of the worst cities to visit if you have a gluten allergy, so I was pretty nervous. After a lot of digging around on the internet, I found some restaurants that looked promising. After enjoying a lot of gluten free food, I have to say that Savannah is more gluten friendly that their reputation implies. Here's a rundown of our trip:

Kasey's Gourmet Grille
I read about Kasey's on a Celiac forum, and after perusing the menu online, my friend and our husbands decided to try it on our first night in Savannah. They had a strange location in a rough-looking shopping strip across from a hospital, but the inside had a cozy, pleasant atmosphere. The restaurant was very accommodating, and the kitchen was very knowledgeable about gluten-containing ingredients. They did not, however, understand about cross-contamination. Our group appetizer was fried goat cheese, which is normally coated in a mixture of flour and cornmeal. They omitted the flour for our order. The chese came with a fruit chutney and a roasted garlic spread, both gluten free and very tasty. It was, however, served on the same platter as the toast provided for dipping. Luckily, there was a section that had not touched the bread, and I managed to cut a portion of cheese for myself and get the toppings I wanted before everyone else dug in. I took a gamble doing this, but it seemed to work, because there were no resulting stomach problems. The cheese was good, but the garlic spread was the table's favorite. Before my entree, I also had the Kasey's Salad, which is comprised of baby spinach, tomatoes, fried shallots (omitted because of the gluten), goat cheese, black pepper croutons (omitted because of the gluten), and blueberry champagne dressing. The salad was amazing, and probably my favorite part of the whole meal, but about halfway through, I tasted a very small part of a crouton. I decided to continue eating the salad, because the damage was done (and I paid for this decision), but I was a little upset that the salad was not entirely safe. My entree was a crispy grouper with mango glaze served with swiss chard and potatoes (substituted for Jasmine rice, which contained gluten). Again, they used only cornmeal to coat the fish. The whole meal was good, the bitter chard being a nice contrast to the sweet mango, except that I was expecting a grouper fillet, and instead, I received an entire grouper! That was a bit of a shock! For desert, I had a mocha creme brulet with chocolate and whipped cream on top. I could only eat half of it, because I had eaten so much food already, but it was fantastic. As soon as I put my spoon down, my friend grabbed it and finished it!

Knowledge - 2.5 stars
Accommodation - 4 stars
Taste - 4 stars


Moon River Brewing Company
I heard about Moon River in a Savannah online travel guide. I called ahead, and assured that they could accommodate a gluten free diet. They can also accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets, too. It is a lovely pub located near River Street with nice decorations (including prints of paintings by my favorite artist, Van Gogh). Our waitress was polite, but she was very slow, being absent for long periods of time. The restaurant was out of several items like sausage, nacho, cheese, and butter, which was a bit off-putting as well. The staff knew what gluten was but were uncertain how to determine whether food was safe, so they took an overly cautious approach, for which I was grateful. They were wary to put any seasoning at all on my food, and brought labels from the kitchen so I could determine whether or not the items were safe. After perusing a few labels, I made my choice. I ordered a barbecue pork sandwich without the bun. The fries that normally come with the sandwich were not safe (cross contamination), so they happily substituted broccoli for my side item. The barbecue was very good, and had a sweet, spicy flavor. The broccoli was served plain, and after learning that they were out of butter (honestly, how does a restaurant run out of BUTTER‽), I decided to season it with salt and lemon juice, which was sufficient. While the food was good, it was a little disappointing to have a plate of plain broccoli and a small pile of barbecued pork. I felt like for the price I paid, I should have had more food. After dinner, I went next door to 5 Guys and got some french fries.

Knowledge - 2 stars
Accommodation - 3.5 stars
Taste - 3 stars


The Cotton Exchange
Walking down River Street around lunchtime, my friend, Aaron, and I decided we were hungry, thought this place looked good, and took a chance. We asked the hostess if they accommodated gluten allergies, and she brought the manager to us who assured us that the kitchen was very good about handling food allergies. The decor was charming, with an old tavern feel created by showing the original stone structure, wooden beams, and beautiful wooden booths that, while new, kept in line with the era. While the kitchen was knowledgeable, my gluten allergy seemed very new to our waiter. He was sweet, but he looked scared! I decided not to overwhelm him, and tried to order a salad, which seemed to be the easiest thing on the menu (most everything else was fried). I was between the Greek salad and the Cobb salad, depending on which one could be gluten free. I asked about the ingredients, and the only thing he wasn't sure about was the salad dressing. After several trips to the kitchen to confer with the chef, he brought the salad dressings in question so I could read the labels. I was very impressed with how willing he was to ensure that everything was right. The Greek dressing was definitely gluten free. The Cobb salad normally comes with a ranch dressing that is not gluten free (Hidden Valley), so I asked about the honey mustard. After looking over the honey mustard ingredients, I was not sure that it was gluten free, so I chose the Greek salad. Even with the special gluten request, our food came very quickly. I don't care for cucumbers, and I forgot to ask for them to be omitted, so my first few minutes were spent picking through my salad for the offending items. After that, I was free to dig into my salad, and I was very pleased. The ingredients were very fresh, and the salad tasted great!

Knowledge - 3.5 stars
Accommodation - 4 stars
Taste - 4 stars


Belford's Savannah
Aaron and I were investigating the Savannah City Marketplace, and we decided we needed lunch. We looked at the various menus, and the last restaurant on the street caught my eye. In the list of appetizers, there were fried green tomatoes that were pan fried in cornmeal. I had been hoping for some fried green tomatoes, a delicious Southern staple, and this looked promising! We poked our head inside, and were immediately impressed by the charming interior. The floor was a beautiful wood, and the walls were exposed brick. Contrasting the raw materials, the tables and chairs were very chic and upscale. We asked our waiter if the could accommodate a gluten free diet, and after saying yes, he shared that a woman had just dined there, and told us what she ordered and how they adjusted it for her. For an appetizer, I got the fried green tomatoes (of course)! They usually come breaded in cornmeal and flour, but they took the flour out. Since they were pan fried, there were no cross-contamination worries. They were served with a corn salsa that provided a nice cool contrast to the warm tomatoes, and a remoulade sauce, which I requested on the side, as I do not like like remoulade. They were fantastic! Just what I was hoping to find! For my entree, I ordered a Mediterranean salad, which had several vegetables and feta cheese. The only substitution I had to make was the salad dressing. I had balsamic dressing instead of their Greek dressing, which contains gluten. Though pricey, the meal was absolutely wonderful, and I could not have asked for more.

Knowledge - 5 stars
Accommodation - 5 stars
Taste - 5 stars


Johnny Harris Barbecue

I am very impressed with Johnny Harris. I had heard about them on a Celiac forum, and e-mailed them to request allergen information. I knew that their fried chicken was gluten free (no breading), and I wondered about their Brunswick stew. They promptly replied, asking me to call and go over the ingredient list, as there were so many in the stew. During the phone call, I discovered that the stew was gluten free (yay!), and that if I brought my own flour, they could fry whatever items I would like in a dedicated fryer (the one they sue for their fried chicken). I was excited about this place a week before I even arrived in Savannah! We finally decided to go on the 4th night of our trip. The restaurant, which opened in 1924, has a very unique decor, and was a very fun experience. In the middle of the round room stands a lighted post, and the walls have a continuous mural around the top. The tables are in individual booths that line the edge of the room. The booths have service call buttons, and had a bar where curtains used to hang, making the booths private. Flour in hand, I explained to our waitress that I had a gluten allergy, and that I had made arrangements with the manager to have food fried with my own flour. the manager came to our table, and talked with us for a while about my dining needs. For my appetizer, I had fried green tomatoes for the second time that day. I was in Heaven! I liked the seasonings on these tomatoes bettern than at Belford's, and was very pleased to have peppered vinegar available. For dinner, I had a bowl of Brunswick stew and a side of turnip greens. The Brunswick stew was very good, but quite strong. I had to eat it in small doses. The turnip greens, which my friend also ordered, were too salty for either one of us to eat. Overall, though, the meal was superb, as was the service. The food was reasonably priced, and it was fun to hear the restaurant's history. I will definitely be back!

Knowledge - 5 stars
Accommodation - 5 stars
Taste - 4.5 stars


Lady and Sons
Paula Deen's restaurant was eagerly anticipated by both Aaron and me, and we had heard from a Celiac forum that her restaurant staff was knowledgeable and accommodating. After waiting in a short line a 9:3o am for lunch reservations, we spent the morning enjoying Savannah. We returned for our reservations around noon, and it was very crowded. We got called for our table about 30 minutes after our reservation time, and were sent past food that looked and smelled delicious. My mouth was watering. Once seated at our table, we were given a cornmeal cake and cheddar biscuit, which smelled amazing, but were not gluten free. Aaron happily ate both our portions, reporting that they were as good as they smelled. After informing our waitress of my gluten allergy, I discovered that they had a gluten free menu. I was excited and hopeful at this news, but was immediately disappointed when I saw that the lunch menu only had four items on it (the dinner menu had more choices). Upon inquiry, I found out that the lunch buffet had several gluten free items (baked chicken, potatoes, candied yams, and salad), but the vegetables I had been eying were not safe. Because of this, I decided to order from the GF menu. I got a baked tilapia served with vegetables and rice. Aaron ordered the buffet and was able to get his food immediately, but mine took a very long time. Feeling bad for me, he brought back some yams on a separate plate so I could try them. They were good, but they were so rich and sweet that I had trouble finishing them. Aaron loved all of the food he ate, especially the fried chicken. When my food came, though, I was sorely disappointed. The fish was seasoned only with an overabundance of salt, and it had that lakey taste of a fish that is just a little bit too old. The rice was buttered, making it the best thing on my plate. The vegetables included sauteed squash and zuchinni, which were almost as salty as the fish, plain grilled portabello mushrooms, and plain steamed asparagus. It was a pitiful showing, especially for a restaurant with such a big name behind it. I felt like the allergen friendly food was an afterthought. The highlight of my experience was a flourless chocolate torte. The torte had a good taste and consistency, but it did not make up for the pathetic showing that was my lunch.

Knowledge - 5 stars
Accommodation - 4 stars
Taste - 1 star


Corleone's Trattoria
We found this restaurant on a gluten free registry. I was intrigued, since most Italian restaurants (at least in America) are off limits to Celiacs. I called the restaurant, and found out that they had gluten free pasta! The decision was a pretty quick one! My friend and our husbands headed over to Corleone's immediately, and were impressed right away. The chef came to our table and verified that the pasta was gluten free, as were all of the sauces. He also went over the salad dressings with me to make sure I made a safe choice. During our chat, we found out that his wife had Celiac, too. After talking with us, he left to cook my pasta, and our food came out pretty quickly. My salad was a nice, fresh start to the meal. I ordered penna a la vodka, my favorite, and was very excited! When our food came, the smell was incredible, and the taste did not disappoint. It is the best penna a la vodka I have ever eaten in my life. The noodles were so good that I was worried for a minute that they weren't gluten free! The meal was, however, perfectly safe. This was easily my favorite meal of the trip!

Knowledge - 5 stars
Accommodation - 5 stars
Taste - 5 stars


Lulu's Chocolate Bar
My friend enjoys this cute desert bar and wanted to share it, because she knew they served creme brulet. I thought the atmosphere was very nice. It was a mix between stylish and laid back, and had classic rock playing softly in the background unless the jukebox was being employed. I had three choices of creme brulet flavors, and after checking that all were gluten free, I chose vanilla bean. It was great! The staff there was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the ingredients.

Knowledge - 5 stars
Accommodation - 3 stars
Taste - 4 stars


Savannah's Candy Kitchen
We found two locations in Savannah, but the one to visit in on River Street. When we walked into the store, I was immediately drawn to the smell of caramel and pralines being prepared. They have homemade gelato and ice cream and taffy and pralines made fresh in the store. It is a candy paradise (a kid in the store even said so!). I immediately asked if the caramel was gluten free, and they assured me that it was. I asked about the marshmallows, but they couldn't be certain, since they get those from a different manufacturer and advised me to avoid them. I asked about the pralines, and was given a list of ingredients and was assured that they were gluten free as well. As if this wasn't exciting enough, they had free samples of the fresh, warm pralines that were just made. AMAZING! Best pralines I've ever had. They had a deal where you could get a free half pound of pralines if you purchased a pound, and we did! We of course, shared them with friends, as we could not possibly eat a pound an a half of pralines before they went bad. Not that we didn't try! While waiting for the pralines, we enjoyed glass-bottled Coke and watched the taffy being made. The taffy started as a huge ball and after being threaded through a machine where it was cut and wrapped, it was sent in buckets up to a chute that sent the taffy to a bin where you could purchase it. It's a really fun experience!


Knowledge - 4.5 stars
Accommodation - 3 stars
Taste - 5 stars

What am I Doing?

Welcome to the Gluten Free Review! I was diagnosed with Celiac about 9 months ago, after 26 years of pain and suffering. Since then, my health has returned, I have lost weight, and I feel great. My husband, Aaron, has been very supportive, though he does not follow a gluten free lifestyle himself. We started this journey with no clue what gluten even was, and now, through trial and error, manage to keep me pretty safe. Being diagnosed can be scary, frustrating, and confusing at first. I want to spare people some of the guesswork that I had! On this site I will review the restaurants, recipes, and products I encounter on my gluten free journey.