Eastside Mexican Food Just Got Easier: Don Tequila

I've lived around the corner from Don Tequila for about a near now, and still hadn't eaten there. Sure I like Mexican food, but being a vegetarian celiac in the land of cheese, rice, tortillas, and well, more cheese is not only calorie crazy version of dinner but decidedly heart unhealthy one. Plus, like so many of you, I have a fragile tummy and there's only so much sour cream or guacamole I can eat before I can eat no more (it's about five bites, if you're keeping count).

Sure, authentic Mexican is great, veggie laden, full of protein rich beans, but authentic Mexican food is harder to find than it's Americanized, cheese covered cousin. But this isn't about bad Mexican food, it's about good Mexican food, it's about Don Tequila on Green Road in University Heights.

Taking over Jack's Deli's old space, this unassuming Mexican restaurant has thrived where once a Jewish deli reigned supreme. Their menu is extensive and options plentiful (so you can your dinner, and smoother it in cheese too, should you wish). Best of all, though there is certainly a language barrier, they very clearly understood me when I said "I have a serious allergy to flour. Corn is okay but no flour. Can I eat this?"

Sometimes, when I get the head nod or when waiter assures me something "will be fine", I just don't feel so secure. You've had similar experiences, no? You want to believe them that those corn chips really are just corn, but your gluten-free paranoia takes over and suddenly your sipping water and pushing food around your plate to make it look like you've eaten something. We've all been there. Sure, I was worried, too, but when I ordered spinach enchiladas (actually filled with spinach, not gobs of cheese with a bit of spinach mixed in), I double checked to make sure the sauce didn't have flour in it, too.

"Oh. Yeah, enchilada sauce is made with flour," the waiter with a sudden wash of understanding of just how pervasive the whole wheat allergy thing is. I bit my lip trying to figure out how to navigate the menu, not being sure what was safe."Don't worry. We'll just put another sauce on it. One with no flour." With that, he took my menu. Problem solved!

When my food arrived - smothered in a delicious green sauce - it was not only gluten-free goodness, but one great meal. Actually two great meals, considering I took my leftovers home and had 'em for lunch! Not bad a bad deal for $6.75, not a bad deal at all.

My Pal, Joey's

Okay, for starters. I eat more than pasta, really I do. 

A firm gluten-free veggie burger, a fluffy quiche, a crunchy peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a baked potato loaded with veggies, the perfect poached egg, or even simple oatmeal. These are great meals that I love and eat often, Scout's honor. Yet, of the last 8 posts, a full forth have been on pasta. 

But be honest, you love pasta, too. 

There are times though, times you don't feel like standing over a stove, times you loathe watching your pot with hawk-like attention, burning your tongue and your finger tips as you hastily test those blasted rice noodles that so easily over cook. On those day, your not pasta's biggest fan. But what's a celiac to do? If your craving pasta (and you've gone to Maggiano's so many times the wait staff notices when you get a new haircut), you've got not choice but to make it yourself. 

That is, unless you've forgotten about Joey's. 

Nestled away in quaint Chagrin Falls, Joey's doesn't look like the sort of place that would accommodate to your gluten-free needs, much less, know what gluten is. The place is small, made smaller by it's perennially darkened interior. In the summer, the outdoor tables that line the sidewalk in front of Joey's seem more like the little restaurant has spilt out onto Main Street, rather than purposefully set out for al fresco dining. If that sounds chaotic, then I've described it right. Reminiscent of tiny places with an occupancy max of 100, yet favorited by some 20,000 New Yorkers, so too is Joey's a Chagrin Falls eating icon. 

Of course, if they give you that dreaded hour wait, it's not like you'll be bored. You're in beautiful Chagrin Falls after all, and if staring at the majesty of Northeastern Ohio's best known waterfall doesn't do it for you, you'll absolutely want to browse someone the shops that sell everything from absurd old clocks to gorgeous vintage furniture.  There the kind of shops I for one want to live in and absolutely can't step into without my wallet held by someone else.

When you do get your table at Joey's, the menu itself can be deceiving, as it doesn't advertise it's ability to suit your gluten-free needs. The fact is, they don't have gluten-free pasta every night. It is (as it always is!) best to call ahead, to alert them that your coming, to ask for them to set a serving of GF pasta aside for you.  (I, myself, ended up with the last serving of the night. Getting gluten-free pasta is serious business and I don't mess round. ) Of course, if your a meat eater, then eating at Joey's will be all the more easier for you - your waitress can get great information from the kitchen on which sauces are safe and which had trace amounts of gluten - but for the vegetarians among you, well, you're going to want that pasta. 

I enjoyed a dish of pasta Aglio e Olio (kinda funny, since I'd just made some myself) and asked for mushrooms to be added. It was really very good, very garlicky, not too oily, and beautiful, as fresh parsley clung brightly to nearly every noodle. Accompanied by as salad, it was the kind of meal you'd never know was gluten-free. And that's what it's all about, isn't it? Absolutely delicious, completely normal dining?

While your not charged more for your gluten-free pasta (always another nice way to feel normal eating out) the plate was somewhat smaller than the monster-sized bowls of pasta set in front of gluten-eating patrons. Trust me though, what you get is enough, more than enough, and well worth your money.  And the next time you feel like treating yourself with a night out, a great meal is waiting for you at Joey's. 

Gluten Free PSA #10: April Celiac Events, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bob's Red Mill GF Pizza Crust...And News Thrown In For Good Measure

If there ever were a time for indecision, it's April. 

Not quite spring, yet not quite winter, April is a month brimming with ambiguity. If you need further proof, look only to the fact that temperatures soared to nearly 60 degrees earlier in the week, later there was a nose dive in temperature and an accompanying unexpectedly picturesque blanket of snow covering my lawn, and then today rain, so much so, opening day at Jacob's Field (or what "progressive field? are we really supposed to call it that?) was rained out.

Oh April. You do enjoy playing rough, don't you? 

And speaking of rough, I don't talk about it much, but for me, celiac disease has always been my "fun" autoimmune disease. Those five other autoimmune conditions that have constant turf wars in my body? Yeah, they don't really lend themselves to clever blogging or excuses for baking, and as such, they rarely have any reason to be written about here. (At least not yet, and when there's a way to treat connective tissue disease with muffins, believe you me, my blog will be the very first place in the world to report it!) 

I guess I bring these other illnesses to say, I apologize for the slow down in posts. All this screwy weather has screwed with my rheumatism and when I don't feel well, all of my cooking senses melt away faster than the snow we had last week. While I continue to make attempts at greatness in the kitchen, I'm sorry to say that the brownies and muffins I made left something to be desired, good, but not great, and so aren't quite reading for generally blogging consumption. 

Till my cooking karma returns, I give you April Celiac Updates and a few yummy things that have been taking up space on my digital camera: 

Gluten-Free Things to Do This April

April 13 - Gluten Free Pasta Class at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking (click here for registration information) 

Mid April - The Greater Cleveland Celiac Association meets at the Solon Public Library, please contact Cindy Koller-Kass for details

April 26 - Celiac Disease Conference and Vendor Fair! Perhaps the most exciting gluten-free event of the spring season, this event will have programs for all ages, speakers, doctors, and of course, a sampling of delicious gluten free food from many great vendors. Click the link for registration information and mark your calenders! 

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Carrabba's gluten-free menu is pretty much common knowledge around celiac circles, and well, if you're savvy enough to use the Internet to find my little piece of gluten-free Internetland, you've probably heard of their GF menu or even made use of it yourself. 

But in case you haven't....

Carrabba's Italian Grill is one of those prefabbed chain restaurants that's about one indoor gondola ride away from being a theme restaurants. Pictures of large Italian families on the wall, fake trellises with faker vines and grapes hanging over head, wine glasses standard on every table - it's like Italy, if Italy came at $15.00 a plate. 

All that said, there's a reason Carrabba's dot the Midwestern countryside. The food is good. The menu is good. The ambiance, though fabricated, is good. (Though I've always thought the shrubbery atop the roof was more than just a little silly.) And they have a gluten free menu, a good one. 

Of course, the only vegetarian celiac thing on are a few salads. But still, they're good salads. I'm really partial to the grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers, artichokes, and hazelnut encrusted goat cheese atop mixed greens salad. Oh, it's a good as it sounds. Drizzled in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, it's the kind of salad that actually is a great GF dinner salad, not just some lettuce on a plate. 

Now sure, it's a bummer you can't have pastas (but if you're not vegetarian, you can have your choice of some 10 beef, fish, or chicken dishes), but this salad really wont make you feel like you're going without. 

Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust

I like pizza. I like it's smell. I like it's texture. I like the sauce, the cheese, and boy to a like a good chewy - but not too chewy - crunchy - but not too crunchy - crust. Yyyyyum. 

But finding a great GF crust is as much of an art as making a perfect topping to cheese to sauce ratio (for the record, I like spinach, garlic, and eggplant, you know, in case anyone is planning some GF pizza fan mail...). I've done the whole foods pizza crust mix (great for thick french bread pizzas, but not quite an every day crust), I've made use of the little 6" glutino crusts (they puffy up beautifully and are wonderfully crunchy, but really don't yield that perfect pizza slice), and I've even recently tried Joan's GF pizza crust (good, pre formed and rolled out makes for incredibly easy use, but the middle took forever to cook, and considering you have to special order it's not something I'd do again). 

But what mix really gets my pizza needs going? Bob's Red Mill. Oh Bobby - or Roberto i guess if we're going to be Italian - you do make a great crust. It doesn't taste like rice, or potatoes, or weird tapioca pudding. It tastes like pizza. It bakes like pizza. It chews like pizza. 

Because the bag comes with it's own package of yeast, when you decide it's pizza night, be aware you're going to have left over dough for another night. Ah well, pizza twice in one week -- yeah, I don't hear any complaining either. 

And finally...

I wanted to take an opportunity to thank wellsphere.com for naming me one of their top health bloggers and adding me to their ranks of featured bloggers. (Look for the new badge, with my picture, on the side bar.) Wellsphere has a wealth of information on a variety of wellness, health preservation, and disease related topics, so it's an honor to be counted among some of the truly great blogs (many of them in the celiac disease community!) who are featured there.

If you still haven't had enough of me and my gluten-free writings, look for my article on Celiac Disease and the Jewish Community in an upcoming issue of the Cleveland Jewish News (it should appear by then end of April) and check out my recipe for gluten-free mandel bread. ...Though you might not want to try it out 'till the end of passover. And let's forget that I posted about pizza during pesach. Oy. 

And finally, finally, if you've had enough of all things celiac disease and gluten free related for one sitting, I invite you to check out my friend Kali's site and her quest to raise enough money to bring her service dog home to her. Kali, a young lady with elhers-danlos syndrome, is a brilliant and determined future lawyer (look only to how forcefully she pushes her way through law school despite her condition) and her love for the dog she has never met is quite touching.  Hers is a great story, an inspiring read, and a worthy cause. Should she be able to raise enough money to bring Hudson, the adorable service dog paired up with her, home, her quality of life will improve dramatically. Best of luck to you, Kali! 

Lopez Bar and Grill

Dearest gluten-free friends, sometimes life gets busy. My to-do list was filled with projects I felt I could safely push off 'till spring and, idling in my free time I baked, I slept, I lazily did laundry, and I aimlessly sipped coffee at Caribou, reading up on how to use Flash Animation. Sleeping when I liked, writing when I liked, catching up on the entire cannon of Desperate Housewives, I'm not going to lie, it was a mighty nice existence. 

Thing is though, I happened to gaze at the day and month time stamp on my computer and was shocked to discovered that time has in fact slipped into mid-March! Suddenly, "recently graduating from college this past May", doesn't seem all that recent and it's high time I get myself back into high gear. 

With that in mind, I present to you (a rather quick review of) a way for us gluten-freers to get dinner fast: take out. 

Or, okay, eat there if you've got the time - but either way, Lopez Bar and Grill (on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights) provides a mighty nice dinner for the gluten-free and gluten eating among you. A menu of Southwestern delights made from fresh ingredients, from what I gathered from the menu and my waiter, there were few places for gluten to hide on my plate. 

I enjoyed the fajitas  - which basically meant a lovely plate of grilled zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, tomatoes, onions, and red and green peppers accompanied by corn tortillas - very happily and was thankful for such a plain, yet delicious, meal. (It came with a side of re-fried beans that I can't say I ate - due both to not knowing how they were prepared, and because I could smell the hot spice from a full foot away. A true horror for my acid reflux-y stomach, though a god-send for some, I know.)

I got the impression that the Lopez staff were more than willing to accommodate their customers and convey their food concerns to the kitchen. It was also nice to get a plate of Southwestern food that wasn't piled high with questionable sour cream or guacamole (delicious as they are when you're safe in the knowledge that the one you're about to enjoy is gluten free, but treacherous when they appear on your plate without an ingredient list to accompany them). 

On the whole, Lopez is a nice alternative to cooking at home, or another dinner at Cafe Tandoor, Tommy's, Sun Luck Garden, or Maggiano's -- all of which are great food allergy friendly dining establishments, but variety is the spice of life, right? Of course it is, and at Lopez you can have it, mild, medium, or super hot. 

La Dolce Vita / The Chop House - an Ann Arbor Dessert Destination

This is a Chocolate Melt Cake. Drizzled with chocolate syrup. Covered in house made Almond Ice Cream. Topped with slice almonds. Accompanied by a stick of dark and white chocolate. 

And this is the only picture I have of it.

This luscious, moist cake comes to you straight from Ann Arbor's La Dolce Vita - the dessert and wine bar situated in between upscale American restaurant The Chop House and Italian restaurant Gratzi - all three of which are owned by the same group, and all three of which have gluten free menus and celiac knowledgeable staff. 

As is imperative when you're talking safe gluten free fare, all of La Dolce Vita's gourmet desserts are made on site. Not only was the pastry chef on hand, not only can deserts be tailored to your gluten free needs (without that pesky wafer so many pastry chefs love to gluten up otherwise safe mouses and puddings with), but when you have a knowledge person in the kitchen, you can put your money on a safe, cross contamination free dining experience. 

Even though we arrived near 10pm on a week night, we were pleased to find the pastry chef was still there. She and our waitress pow-wowed on my gluten free needs, and were able to offer me several of the naturally gluten free confections on the menu, including approximately eight types of homemade sorbets and ice creams, a fruit and cheese plate, a sumptuous rice pudding with blood oranges, and, of course, the chocolate melt cake. 

Obviously, we went with the cake. 

This thick, deeply chocolate confection would've been enough on it's own, but pared with almond ice cream? I'm amazed I managed even one picture before we lapped it up. 

If you didn't know already, I love anything almond, anything dark chocolate, and any time I can safely dine out without worrying about being glutened. But a dessert bar in the Midwest that actually bats a 3 out of 3? Well I'd say that place pretty much offers a perfect dining experience. My boyfriend heartily agrees, giving La Dolce Vita's Chocolate Melt Cake a 9.9 out of 10, explaining the dessert only missed the mark because he could've done with another serving (or six) of it. 

I do love to make my boyfriend happy, so I'll just have to placate him and make sure we spend an evening at La Dolce Vita next time I'm in town. And if my arm gets twisted into tasting that tempting blood orange rice pudding? Well, that's just something me and my taste buds will have to deal with. 

Gluten Free PSA #8: Whole Foods GF Tour....and More Pizza in Ann Arbor

Doesn't that look amazing? But business before pizza pleasure. Just a little, I swear. 

I'm apparently on the email list from the good people at my local Whole Foods. I'm not sure how that happened, but I'm not complaining. Especially when I get to pass information like this on to you: 

You are cordially invited to attend our upcoming FREE Gluten-Free Tour at Whole Foods Market in University Heights,  for an opportunity to learn about our store and enjoy delightful gluten-free samples!

Wednesday, January 14th, 7:00-8:00 p.m. (Free - registration is required)

Learn about the extensive array of gluten-free products that Whole Foods Market offers, from meals and menus to snacking and desserts! Let us guide you through the many options for gluten-free cooking and entertaining, as well as yummy sides and desserts to accent your meal. Attendees are invited to sample gluten-free nibbles, and will even be sent home with a free goodie bag! Space is limited - please visit customer service or call 216-932-3918 before January 13th to reserve your spot. Gluten-Free Tours are conducted on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. (Tour departs from Café)

For more information, please visit: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cleveland/storecalendar.php

Be honest, they had you at goodie bag.

A final note of PSA business. I certainly hope anyone who made it out through the snow thoroughly enjoyed this months Greater Cleveland Celiac Association's meeting - especially since the theme was bread. Oh how jealous I am that I missed out on a fresh baked bread competition - but between the snow and my bum ankle (yes, a new injury - I seem to collect them like gluten free recipes it seems), it just wasn't feasible.  

But injuries and snow aside, I recently revisited Ann Arbor. Going gluten free on the road is journey often fraught with great failures and moderate successes. Yes gluten free traveling is difficult, but on my past trip I experienced the near unbelievable; I was actually lied to by the restaurant with whom I booked my New Years Eve reservations. I spoke to the chef on the phone and he personally told me he had a roommate with Celiac, that it would be no problem. ...But when I arrived, I found complete lack of understanding about the issues Celiacs have to deal with, from cross contamination disasters to providing one of the 5 promised courses - a soggy portabello mushroom top as an entree - and was actually charged $50.00 for the "meal". 

Yes, it's amazing what people will do when it comes to providing - or not providing - for the gluten free. 

Take Stadium Market for example.... 

I'd heard about this place online and even had some nice Ann Arborite email me about it. Great gluten free pizza? Deli style sandwiches on gluten free bread? I absolutely had to try it. 

Located in a strip mall of sorts, Stadium Market is beyond unassuming. A warehouse of imported liquors, wines, beers, and jarred foods, I had to wonder if we were in the right place. All the way in the back sat a deli counter, display filled with sandwiches sitting abandoned for lack of buyers, and we approached it, hoping for the best but me a little wary of expecting it. 

But, the best is what we got. While we had to wait about 30 minutes, my pizza was made to order specifically for me. And I mean the crust itself was prepared while we waited. And while I had options to add a myriad of toppings, I stuck with plain cheese this time and was glad I did. I got real, pure, perfect pizza - pizza with herbed crust, pizza covered in a cheese blend, pizza in a box, pizza that tasted like pizza. 

Don't believe me? Think I'm just a pizza crazy girl? Well maybe I am, but besides the fact that my gluten-loving boyfriend ate multiple pieces himself, Stadium Market has thank you letters from their loyal pizza loving patrons - children no less, because who knows good pizza better than kids? - tacked upon their wall. 

This pizza is good. Great. I've said it before, Ann Arbor is just 3 hours from Cleveland - two and a half if you're a Westsider - and really, if you're going to take a day trip, its great to know you can go somewhere to get something to eat. (Of course, you can actually eat in Stadium Market, but there's no reason you can't eat it in your car. I certainly wanted to.) While you're there, you can check out the pizza at Silvio's Organic Pizza and indulge in your own gluten free pizza taste-off. 

...And if you're really just going up North for a gluten free pizza tour? Ann Arbor has enough points of interest to fake your gluten-eating friends - the ones who just don't get the allure of a fresh baked pizza pie - into taking a road trip with you. 

I La La Love Luchita's

(I know it's been a long while since I updated - I have an excuse! I've been sick! And I wrote it all up plus a long discussion of latkes and kugel only to find all of my pictures of my delicious Jewish potato goodness were on my boyfriend's camera, left in Michigan. So until I can get them, my explanation, and my latkes, will have to wait. Till then, please enjoy this offering...)

Do you remember the first time you went to a restaurant after your diagnosis? 

You scanned the menu, mentally ticking off the items, Can't eat that. Can't eat that.  Can't eat that. And the few menu items that may have been a possibility? Well, you were pretty sure they either had hidden gluten in them or that the restaurant staff would probably screw up and put croutons in your salad or lie to you about thickening their soup with flour. You told the waiter about your food allergy 500 times before ordering, asked to speak to the manager, double checked that the kitchen knew how very serious your gluten intolerance was when the now annoyed waiter placed your iceberg lettuce salad and boiled potato in front of you ...and then didn't eat any of it because you saw a speck of "might be gluten, might be pepper" on your plate. 

While that might be an extreme example, the first few times you eat out, it's like walking into a gluten minefield. 

I guess that's why I was so surprised when I went to Luchita's last week and almost forgot to tell them about my gluten issue. That's right, I've become so comfortable eating there, I practically assumed I was going to be safe. Of course, I double checked with the waitress if my favorite dish - the vegetarian enchiladas, stuffed with potatoes, spinach, and cheese and covered in a green sauce - was still made with gluten free, all corn tortillas (and yes, it was), but its a good feeling to be so secure at a restaurant that I knew I'd be as safe as if I'd ordered that iceberg lettuce standby. 

Luchita's has a pretty sizable menu, with three or four dishes they're happy to provide vegetarian versions of. Of course, if you eat meat, the menu opens up a great deal more to you as it does at most any restaurant. But if you steer clear of typical gluten strong holds - the floury tortillas of quesadillas come to mind - you're pretty sure to be safe with almost any dish you choose. As you should before ordering anything, you should always ask your server just what is in the food - and on that note, I've always food the waiters and waitresses at Luchita's more than happy to double check with the cooks on anything they weren't sure about. 

Luchita's has four locations - three on the Westside and one in Cleveland. Us Eastsiders used to have a Luchita's at Shaker Square, but it closed its doors earlier this year (as did most places at Shaker Square, but that's a whole other topic for another time). While it might be a bit of a hike (or a schlep, depending on just what part of the Eastside your on), it's well worth it. Authentic Mexican food at it's best, that is, the kind that's naturally gluten free. 

Mi Pueblo - Good Mexican Food Near University Circle

It has been 17 long days since I've reported on a gluten free place for Clevelanders. To be fair, some of those days included multiple trips out of state (restaurant reviews included), some included unwritten about trips to already reviewed favorites like Cafe Tandoor and Pearl of the Orient, and some included the prep for and the actual day of Thanksgiving. So, I deserve a little eensy-teensy break on this, right? 

Yeah, I didn't think so either. 

So, in order to get back into your good graces, gluten free Clevelanders, I bring you dinner from the delicious and surprisingly fun Mi Pueblo. 

From beans to rice to corn tortillas and tacos, Mexican cuisine offers a wide array of naturally gluten free food. It's kind of freeing to open a menu and labor over it in a positive way - deciding what to get rather than trying to find the least offensive offering. Despite my usual good luck with Mexican food, I called ahead see if they could accommodate my gluten free

 needs, as it is always best to do. I was assured corn tortillas would find their way on my plate and, though still a little leery of the language barrier, off to dinner I went. 

Before we continue, let me just take a moment to re-point out that Mi Pueblo is not a gluten free establishment. Cross contamination can and probably is an issue here so you will need to have a conversation with your server and place your order according to your comfort level. 

It didn't take long for me to settle on the quesadillas. Normally made with flour tortillas, I thought it would be a nice treat to get something I usually couldn't. While I sat back and munched on the corn tortilla chips, we were unexpectedly served a small cup of soup - chicken for my brother and father, vegetable for me . (I must say, my soup looked suspiciously like theirs so I didn't dare try it, guessing it would be chicken broth. The family gave it positive reviews, though.) Not bad for about seven dollars a dinner, not bad at all. 

My cheese filled corn tortillas arrived with a side of Spanish rice, refried beans, ...and Mariachi musical accompaniment. Yes, really! Two elderly gentleman (perhaps, Senior Seniors? ba-dump!) played their way through the restaurant, strumming out intricate melodies on their guitars and serenading the diners in Spanish. It was quite an experience. 

The food was good, ooey, gooey, cheesy, and just what I wanted. It would've been nice if there were vegetables somewhere on my plate, but I suppose I could've ordered a side (the prices are definitely right for adding on sides, or appetizers, or desserts, or some of their famous margaritas...) 

All in all, I have no complaints about my dinner at Mi Pueblo. It was great to get out, to get away from some of my Thanksgiving leftovers, to have someone else cook for a change, and to experience more of Cleveland! 

Silvio's Organic Pizza - Ann Arbor, Michigan

As long as I'm being unfaithful, I might as well come clean. I had pizza in Ann Arbor, too. 

In a land of Domino's, Pizza Huts, and Cottage Inns, Silvio's Organic Pizza offers it's clientele a "slice of health". As their name suggests, Silvio's sauce and toppings are all organic.

And what toppings! The Silvio's menu boats 35 different kinds of pizza. Who even knew there were so many things to put on a pizza? From your average margarita pizza, to asparagus and cream cheese sauce, to a vegan offering, to pesto seafood, to pumpkin, to...frankly, the choices can make your head spin. If you've poured over the 35 options and still can't find what you're looking for, Silvio's offers you the chance to "create your own masterpiece". 

The coolest part? They delivered. That's right, I got steaming hot gluten free pizza - in a pizza box - delivered to my (well, my boyfriend's) front door. Since leaving New York, where it's commonplace for overburdened bike messengers to peddle bags of take-out at any hour of the day or night, delivery has become something of a novelty for me. After all, here in the great American Midwest, pizza is pretty much the only thing anyone is willing to drive to your door. So it was really exciting to get dinner that I didn't have to cook from the comfort of my own home. 

Being the creature of habit that I am, I couldn't resist the eggplant pizza. I had an inkling that something funny might be going on when I saw that gluten free pizzas were only offered in 6" size, but I figured pizza was pizza and ordered anyway. When my pizza arrived, I couldn't help but laugh: my roasted eggplant, mozzarella cheese, and sun dried tomatoes were sitting atop a Glutino crust! I'd recognize that taste anywhere. Towards the end of senior year, when I was so busy working on my thesis I barely had time to breathe, I lived on those crusts, smothered in garlic humus and baked within an inch of their life. 

I was miffed for a moment - after all, why was I paying $8.59 for something I could've  - and had! - made myself? But as I ate my pizza, my pizza that I didn't have to make, my pizza that came from the same place that satisfied my gluten eating guy, my pizza that had really great toppings on it, I realized the deal wasn't so bad after all. And while I think using the Glutino crusts are a little silly, I'm glad Silvio's makes itself available to the gluten free community. How could I complain about a thing like that?

Clevelanders, Ann Arbor is only a hop, skip, and a 3 and a half hour jump away. It's one tank of gas, max. If you find yourself wanting to take a day trip somewhere, consider the destination possibilities of that quaint Michigan town and its gluten free pizza goodness. 

On a completely unrelated note...Nick over at Peanut Butter Boy is celebrating Peanut Butter Lovers Month in a big way. He's asking you to submit your favorite peanut butter recipe and will be showcasing his favorites at the end of the month. Why not use it as an opportunity to do some peanut butter food science-ing of your own? I offered up those oh-so yummy peanut butter pumpkin cookies, what are you going to send? 

Mr. Miceli - Long Island, New York

I've been cheating on Cleveland.

To be fair, the relationship has been strained for years. We've even gone through a trial separation.

While Cleveland will always be home, New York will always by my love - even if my latest visit there reminded me of the pleasures of the great American Midwest, with it's cars and lack of trash on the street. But oh, New York. Seeing the skyline makes my heart ache, and as I gazed at the art deco geometrics of the George Washington Bridge sweep across the Hudson River and into the clear blue sky, I longed to be a part of the city again. 

I could fill volumes on celiac eating in New York. It's successes - the quaint gluten free speciality restaurants - as well as it's drawbacks - the language barriers for one, and the fast pacedness of some suspect places that makes you hope they took you're gluten free request seriously, and then there are the prices. Yes, being gluten free in New York City is a story unto itself. But it's a story for another day. Right now, it's all about my new find, Mr. Miceli in Rockville Centre, Long Island. 

Of all the wonders of finding a great pizza place in the middle of a busy town, the thing that surprised me the most was that Mr. Miceli is a regular, no frills, pizza joint. From it's basic table and chairs, to ordering at the counter, to the tongue in cheek paintings on the wall that depict scenes from classic movies with a pizza twist, it doesn't strike you as a place that would cater to a celiac population. 

Originally, they didn't. It wasn't until the owner found out he had a wheat allergy that Mr. Miceli became an equal opportunity eatery. And while I wouldn't wish such an abdominal restriction on anybody, I'm sure glad I was able to get such a great meal there. 

They have gluten free pasta - good, white rice, tastes pretty darn similar to the real thing gluten free pasta - and can make any of their pasta dishes with it. The pizza takes 35 minutes to make, and honestly we were too hungry to wait. But having an 8 hour car trip to look forward to the next day, we easily justified getting a pizza for lunch on the road (and oh, it was such a welcome alternative to Perkins' potatoes or whatever it is I try to scrape together as food on the highway). 

My huge plate of angel hair pasta arrived full of chopped garlic, fresh broccoli florets, and enough just olive oil to coat the noodles without making my dish needlessly greasy. (Picture not included, as though my camera made it to New York, my memory card sat lonely at home. Had I been able to, I would've snapped a picture of the kind and helpful people working there, too). The pasta was...pretty great. And enough for two meals. 

But, the pizza. Real gluten free New York pizza. Yum. My parents are native New Yorkers and so New York Pizza has always been a big deal in my house (note the capital letters to punctuate the importance). Midwestern pizza, with it's thick bready crust, is simply a paunchy, bloated imitation of it's far superior thin crusted cousin. 

I stowed away a few pieces of Mr. Miceli's pizza in my freezer for a rainy day, and I'm sorry to say it will probably be some time until I go back again. But your fate doesn't have to be mine. If you get a chance, if you're in Long Island, or if you're willing to travel a bit for good gluten-free food (and service!), make sure you stop by Mr. Miceli; I know I will the next time I'm in town. 

Maggiano's Little Italy

I'd been hearing good things about Maggiano's Little Italy for months. 

These days, more and more chain restaurants are making an effort to connect customers with their gluten-free fair. From Carrabba's to Qdoba, national chains are making an allergy-friendly splash in a big way, providing on line and in person annotated gluten free menus. 

These menus isolate the already gluten free offerings - steak, fish, chicken, without a glutenous sauce, or a salad without croutons and the like. And though such a service is great, as it ensures the waitstaff and kitchen takes us celiacs seriously rather than brushing us off as finicky customers, few and far between is chain restaurant goes out of it's way to provide gluten free option. 

Maggiano's Little Italy offers gluten free pasta. Now that's celiac service.

 

After some careful deliberations between the options, I settled on the Chicken Pesto Linguine - though I substituted broccoli for the chicken, and gluten free penne for linguine - and a salad with gluten free salad dressing. 

The truly cool and exceptional thing about Maggiano's is that the sous chef - Chef Chuck - took the time to talk to me. He arrived holding a special, bright yellow, gluten free ordering pad and retook my order, assuring me of a gluten-free meal; something he could assure me of, as he'd be making my dinner personally. It's great to eat out pretty much fear-free. 

And another note about the pasta dinners. They're huge. I mean huge. After eating my fill, I had enough left overs for two, yes two, dinners afterwards. I'm pretty sure one "serving" is a full box of pasta. And I'm only talking about the half order here. 

Yes, Maggiano's provides excellent food allergy friendly dining (I've heard they're just as accommodating with any food allergy you can throw at them), but I can't give it an absolutely glowing review. In the end, Maggiano's is a chain restaurant, and as such serves chain restaurant food. My pesto was good, not great, not bad, but just kind of average. Blandish. Food that's not offending, but nothing to write home about either. 

That said, I'll be dining at Maggiano's again. It's nice to go somewhere that my family likes and with plenty of options, I'm sure to find something more enticing than bland pesto. I like having nearly the whole menu open to me, and its great to have "safe Italian food" in your gluten free restaurant roster. All in all, Maggiano's is no five star restaurant, but they do offer five star service. 

Eat'n Park

Hope is a fragile thing. 

Call me cynical, but hope always comes with a healthy does of skepticism and superstition, if not full on fear. The fear of our hopes being dashed surrounds us; we grow up with it, being told nonsense like if you say your birthday wish out loud, it won't come true - as if there's some kind of malevolent cosmic eavesdropper just waiting for you to mess up. 

But such superstition is understandable, given how much it hurts when things don't work out. There's been a lot of that these days. But then there are some days....

November 4th was no ordinary Tuesday. In a month when we're accustomed to freezing temperatures and snow days, us Clevelanders enjoyed a balmy, sunny, 68 degrees. In a time when gas prices have reached into the $2.50s, I happily filled up my tank for only $1.99 / gallon. And in a country whose citizens has been divided, subjugated, and lied to the people rose up with a resounding "yes we can", a call to arms for action and change. 

Yes, on November 4th, I saw a lot of things I really wasn't sure I'd ever see, despite how much I wished I would. Maybe that's part of the reason I didn't even carry my camera with my that day, superstition. As if any attempt to document the day might've landed me in the cross-hairs of that malevolent eavesdropper in the sky. In any event, it's a real shame I didn't have my camera, for I came across something truly remarkable, something I really never thought I'd see: a menu at a normal - everyday, white-bread type, near fast food joint - restaurant with a gluten free menu printed on the back cover of every menu handed out to every patron.  Seriously. And where does such a place exist? Eat'n Park. 

No, really.  Eat'n Park. Imagine my surprise when I flipped to the back cover to read "For our celiac customers...." and in addition to a brief description of the grains that endanger celiacs and an invitation to ask your server that your meal be prepared gluten free was a listing of 15 or so options. 

I happily enjoyed two poached eggs, a baked potato, and a fruit cup, but there were far more interesting options on their celiac menu - omelets, fish fillets, burgers, fajita salads, and the like. I'm not saying that Eat'n Park is great food, but sometimes good food will do. And good safe food? You can't go wrong. As any roadtrippin' Midwestern/Mid-Atlantic state-ers know, Eat'n Park practically lines the highways from the far boarder of Pennsylvania straight through Indiana - and isn't it nice to know you can stop in at any one of them and get a celiac safe meal? 

I sure think it is. And if Eat'n Park can offer a gluten free meal, maybe change really has come. Now, if only they could gluten-free-ize those famous smiley face cookies...

Cafe Tandoor

Sometimes menus speak louder than words. From type face, to clip art, to price, what a restaurateur prints on a menu tells you a lot about what kind of restaurant you've walked into. I like menus with inventive dishes. I like menus kitchy sandwich names. I love menus that star the gluten free options. 

But sadly, here in Cleveland, the menus that provide such food allergy friendly service are few and far between. Even mentioning special requests to a waiter can be met with some kind of make-you-feel-small gesture, the kind that makes you wish you hadn't bothered to try to be normal and eat out at all. 

I think that's why one of my new favorite menus is from Cafe Tandoor. Not just because it's full of delicious Indian fare. Not just because the price is right. But because at the bottom of every page of the menu, written in bold, capital letters is written the following invitation: WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDERS, PLEASE INFORM US OF ANY FOOD ALLERGIES. 

It's the yummiest looking thing I've seen on a menu in months. 

But do they come through? I've been to Cafe Tandoor several times and the wait staff is fairly knowledgeable about which dishes have wheat in them. As is the adage "when in doubt, go without", but even if your first choice is questionable, this menu gives you a variety of backups.  (I can't bring myself to say second choice; no dish really comes in second to another.) A word to the wise though, in order to be sure that your waiter or waitress is really listening to your food allergy needs, you ought to avoid Saturday nights, their busiest evening, 

There's lots to try here, but as for my personal favorite? Navaratana Curry with Saffron Rice. A colorful, delicious dish, with it's vibrant green peas, fresh mushrooms, and crisp red and green peppers smothered in a pink tomato sauce served up next to dandellion yellow rice, I keep coming back to Navaratana Curry, time and again. But hey, don't let me stop you from finding your own go-to dish. Experiment. Explore. 

With three Cleveland area locations - one in Westlake, one in Aurora, and one in Cleveland Heights - Cafe Tandoor makes sure a good Indian meal is never far off. 

Taj India Palace Restaurant

Living the celiac lifestyle includes a lot of reflecting on what you used to eat. These thoughts can generally be divided into two subsections: 1) grumbling over things you can't eat anymore or 2) puzzling over how - or if - you can recreate these foods in your kitchen. 

But what about foods you've discovered since your diagnosis? 

For me, it's been Indian Food. Yes, I discovered the food of an entire culture. Had it not been for celiac disease, I doubt I would know of the spicy offerings of the near east. As for the reason it took me over twenty years to eat saffron flavored things? Embarrassing as it is, I've got to come clean. It was fear. 

That's right, I was afraid of Indian food. 

Like most fears, this one is deeply rooted in childhood. I was about seven when I was dragged to one of my dad's mediation meetings. This one was some kind of party, held in Beaumont Catholic School for Girls, of all religiously ill fitting places, and I remember a long buffet of foreign foods I'd never encountered before. As I sat down with a plate of suspiciously neon yellow potatoes, equally bright rice, and vegetables smothered in salmon colored sauce, my nose wrinkled. 

Ugh. What IS this? 

"It's just vegetables. Besides, you're a vegetarian. This is vegetarian. You're supposed to like it."

Here's the thing about seven-year-old vegetarians: they're still seven-year-olds. Like most kids, they pretty much only like pizza and peanut butter. And what they don't like is super spicy Indian food. One bite and I was done.

The memory of that day glow food stuck with me for years. And years. It wasn't until I read books on celiac disease where authors touted the nearly completely open menu of Indian restaurants that I even thought about trying Indian food again. I dismissed the notion a few times, but a girl can only live on Tinkyada pasta and scrambled eggs for so long...

I'm glad I gave Indian food a try, since as it turns out, it's really good. 

I recently had dinner at Taj India Palace on Wilson Mills Road, across from Richmond mall. It's a small, unassuming place in a strip mall and you might miss it if you didn't know it was there. But that would be a mistake. Good food and good service, Taj India Palace offers a variety of options at reasonable prices. 

I settled on the Baingan Bharta - mashed roasted eggplant with peas and onions. While I had a hard time communicating with my waitress, she brought another waitress over to help talk over the whole gluten free thing. I felt confident that my food would come to me safely. And it did, both spicy and cinnamon-y, I really enjoyed my Baingan Bharata - and definitely had enough for left overs the next day. Dishes are served with complementary basmati rice, and if you're a real carbohydrate hound, you might like to know that they refill your rice at no extra charge. 

On Saturday and Sunday, Taj India Palace has a grand buffet brunch from 11:00 - 3:oo, and while buffets offer up the chance of cross contamination, it also affords you the chance to try a lot of things at once - and with the exception of Naan (bread), most Indian food doesn't have wheat in it anyway. As always, the choice is yours on how much risk you're willing to assume. 

I love to experiment in my kitchen, but I have yet to attempt Indian food. It seems like a pretty big undertaking and I'm not sure I have the experience or the palate to know how to spice the food right yet. I'm not one to shy away from a challenge, so I'm working on it, but until then, I'll have to settle on going to restaurants like Taj India Palace. Oh darn. 

So how about you? What foods have you discovered since your diagnosis? 

Gluten Free PSA # 3 - Planning Your Fall Celiac Activities: Information from the Gluten Free Taste Fair

Holy Moly. 

If you've ever wondered why you had to be the one with celiac, then you've certainly never been to a gluten free event. Yes, I got handouts, yes I got great information, and yes I got great food - but what I really got out of the Mustard Seed's Gluten Free Taste Fair was the realization that there are SO MANY people with celiac disease just in my little corner of Ohio. 

Community is an awesome thing. 

This was the third annual Gluten Free Taste Fair, and if you missed it, they've been such a success I was told they will almost certainly be another next year. It might even become a bi-annual event. 

In brief, here's what I learned about the Ohio - Celiac going ons of the next few weeks...

- "Learn what you can eat on a Gluten - Free Diet: Discussion & Store Tour" will be held at the Solon Mustard Seed Market on Saturday, November 15th from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. There's no charge for the tour. Call 440-519-3663 to register. And while you're there, be sure to stop at the Mustard Seed Market's Cafe, as it now provides gluten free menu upon request with lots of options, vegan and vegetarian gluten free offerings, too. 

 - Loretta Paganini, long time favorite Cleveland chef and proprietor of the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking  is having a Gluten Free Dinner at Sapore Restaurant . The dinner / class lasts 2 hours and is $45 a person. The next one is this Thursday, October 16th, but on the website, they're already advertising the next dinner on Thursday, January 15th, 2009. Click the links above to register. 

- Both the North East Ohio Celiac Support Group and the Greater Cleveland Celiac Association have upcoming meetings.  The GCCA meets alternately on the east side (in Solon) and the west side (in Parma). They're next meeting is this  Saturday, October 18th at 2pm at Parma Community Hospital.  The NEOCSG meets in Independence, Ohio at the Independence Public Library and will be having a holiday cookie exchange in late November. Please click on the links for more information. 

- The Celiac Conference will be held at the Columbus Children's Hospital Saturday, November 8th. Registration is required. 

- Families with Food Allergies is having its Spooky Ooky 2008 party on Sunday, October 19th from 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Wickliffe, Ohio. It's a Halloween party with allergy safe foods and activities (and some guest speakers) that's great for kids, teens, and their parents, too. Please click on the link for RSVP information. 

If that doesn't keep your gluten free calender as well stocked as your gluten free pantry, I don't know what will.

The Original Pancake House

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. No matter how hectic the attempt to get to work on time is, there's always a momentary reprieve when you pause to sip your coffee or bite into a banana. It's the eye of any chaotic morning storm. 

But that's the work week life. On the weekends, breakfast comes at a much more leisurely pace. Didn't wake up until 11? Fluffy scrambled eggs will taste pretty great then...and even better later on, should you manage to sleep on through to the mid afternoon. You can't say that about most foods. After all, when's the last time you craved stir-fry at 9 am? 

The novelty of breakfast for dinner puts a smile on most people's faces. And if you're a traditionalist, relax , a whole meal - brunch - was created just to accommodate you sticklers who can't conceive of eating an omelet after 10:30. (I've heard the fast food giants have a similar issue. Perhaps someone ought to lobby for a McDonald's brunch menu.) 

Yes, yes, breakfast is good, breakfast is great. But the thing is, breakfast is also a celiac minefield. Most yogurt contains gluten. Cereals that aren't made in dedicated facilities are streamed along on conveyor belts dusted with flour. Granola bars, oatmeal, bagels, the list goes on and on. And sadly, gluten-free breakfast products are among the most expensive out there. Ever thought about buying Glutino gluten-free breakfast bars? A box of six bars will run you $7.50. A bag of five bagels costs $6.00. A package of Van's frozen waffles is in the neighborhood of $6.00...and then you best make sure your toaster hasn't accidentally been shared with a stray piece of regular bread. 

And sure, you can buy a Pamela's mix and make your own, but hasn't there been a Sunday morning where you just want to sit back, relax, and have a warm plate of pancakes placed in front of you? 

When The Original Pancake House opened a few years ago, I remember thinking, no, wishing, that it had opened before I'd been diagnosed. Alas, it did not, and I knew better, so there was no pancake house for me. However, about 2 years after The Original Pancake House came to Cleveland, someone in the business had it in their heads - or more likely, hearts - that they needed to cater to the gluten-free community and they decided to provide gluten free pancakes. But they more than provide them.  They have a dedicated cooking stations. They're staff understands the need for separate cooking utensils. Every waiter and waitress knows what gluten free means. How cool is that? 

Given the lengths the company has gone to serve the celiac community, its a complete mystery to me why they don't advertise that they provide gluten free pancakes on their menu. But don't let this scare you off from mentioning your gluten free needs to waitress! In fact, most of the nearly 20 types of pancakes can be made gluten free. All of the fruit ones are served with an accompanying fruit flavored syrups - and if you're as easily amused as I am, you'll appreciate discovering you can cover your blueberry pancakes with drippy blue goo. 

The pancakes are very good - so far, the strawberry ones are my favorite - but like most gluten free products can be a little dry, and definitely require some syrup action. And as it is with most gluten free foods, they're surprisingly heavy. After eating two or three of the fluffy cakes, you'll feel like you've eaten at least twice that - but that's okay, take the rest home and enjoy pancakes for tomorrow's breakfast, too. 

The price is absolutely right for the food - which is something you seldom get to say about anything gluten free. I remember the manager of the Woodmere restaurant balking when I asked how much extra celiac safe pancakes were. There is no charge extra charge for eating gluten free. Most menu items are under $9.00. In fact, for $7.00 you can get a gigantic omelet, 3 gluten free pancakes, and most likely a stomach ache, if you managed to eat it all. Admit it, leaving a restaurant with an oh-man-I'm-so-full stomach ache sounds like a lovely change from the old gluten eating days of stumbling out of restaurant, stomach churning and head spinning. You'll choose gluten free pancakes every time. 

The Orginal Pancake House is located on the East Side at 28700 Chagrin Blvd. in Woodmere and at 3000 Westgate in Fairview Park on the West Side.  But there's more good news:  The Original Pancake House is a nationwide chain, with six locations in Ohio alone. So worry not pancake eating celiacs with wanderlust, a good breakfast - be it be at breakfast, at lunch, or at dinner - is never too far off. 

Greens in Cleveland: From the Botanical Gardens to a Salad at Tommy's

I've been thinking a lot about greens. From driving through the metroparks to experimenting with lettuces, I'm filling my end of summer days with greens. And with autumn - and it's promise of crisp weather and crisper apples - on the way, perhaps my all my green thoughts are a sign of wanting what I can't have. A little, grass is greener on the other side if you will. (Okay, even I'll admit that was pretty bad.) 

You wouldn't think green is a word I would - or could - use much in Cleveland. It's a real steel mill city. A real meat and potatoes (or, okay, pork and pierogies) kind of town. "Greens" are certainly not invited guests here. At least not A-list guests.

But I know your secret, Cleveland. I've been reading up, exploring, and yes, eating. And though you may hide it, seems there is room in this town for a one girl green machine.

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Reopening in July of 2003, the Cleveland Botanical Gardens sits in the center of University Circle. There are two plant galleries in the towering glass structure: a southwestern type scape, teeming with nonnative plants that range from prickly cacti to striking desert flowers, and an Amazonian hothouse filled with butterflies. Outside, the theme gardens spanned from expected offerings such as a rose garden and imitation Japanese landscaping to the completely unique "Blues Garden", that is, topiaries peppered with actual brass instruments. If I had to make one definitive summation about the Gardens, it's this: if you're given the time, there's probably no finer, more relaxing, way to spend an afternoon in this city.

While I didn't eat at the Garden Cafe, I did notice a large sign indicating much of the food there was bought locally. It's an ecological push to lower a diner's carbon footprint, and while not really related to gluten at all, I'm always appreciative of thinking outside the food box.

All of that nature made us thirsty. And we were oh so close to Cleveland's Little Italy, so...

Presti's Bakery

Yes, I went to a bakery. I know. Maybe the day was more about wanting what I couldn't have than I realized. But while my eyes did sweep over the freshly baked loaves, the beautiful cookies and cakes, and the pizza and calzones, I didn't really feel deprived. I wasn't there for lunch, and besides, if I really wanted to eat, I could've enjoyed some of the Italian ices or gelato. I was there for one reason, an iced mocha. 

I almost didn't go, thinking what's a celiac like me doing in a place like this. But that's not a good reason not to go anywhere. Especially not the sunny corner of a Little Italy bakery on a gorgeous end of summer day. Gluten free living shouldn't limit where you go and what you do, and we all need reminding of that from time to time. The coffee was a fine bonus, though.

Tommy's

It was only a matter of time, right?

Tommy's is known city wide - actually nation wide, since Rachel Ray visited it on her $40 a day program - for being the place for vegetarian/vegan eating. It's cheap, too. Located in Coventry Village in Cleveland Heights, I've been going to Tommy's for as long as I can remember. It's a place toasted cheese sandwiches, the best milkshakes ever created, and the only restaurant anyone in Cleveland is not only willing, but expected, to wait at least an hour for a table.

While being gluten free bars me from my old favorites, the Tommy's menu actually offers quite few options. But more than that, some of the menu is annotated "gluten free". There's chili, soups, tamales, and then, there are the salads. Readers will know being relegated to salad for dinner is a pet peeve of mine. But the Tommy's salads are good, a real meal with annotated GF salad dressings to boot. My favorite has become the Marina - a spinach salad with a healthy scoop of humus AND baba ghanoush - and I was all set to order it when something else caught my eye....

Falafel. Crispy, crunchy falafel. Falafel is usually not safe, as its often dusted with flour, but I had this feeling. A falafel feeling. And, hey, it never hurts to ask. My waitress was not only knowledgeable about what gluten was, but she even asked the cook (in front of me!) if the falafel could be guaranteed to be gluten free. Oh, it was and I was pretty thrilled. I choose the Dale - a tossed salad comprised of lettuce, celery, carrots, tomatoes, cheese, falafel and pickles (my add on!) and oil and vinegar dressing. You could probably get anything you wanted on your salad, but larger, more complicated falafel salads exist as well.

Between botanical gardens and vegetarian eating, I think I got my green urges fulfilled. I'm not really ready for the summer sunlight to go away, but the fall does promise gorgeous foliage and pumpkin spice everything. ...Something tells me I'm going to start thinking in orange.

Gluten Free Chinese Food Exists! Pearl of the Orient in Shaker Heights

Through various channels (one of the Ohio celiac webpages for one, and a friend of my mother's eavesdropping on neighboring diners for two), I'd come to learn that long time neighborhood Chinese food standard Pearl of the Orient had gluten free options. That ubiquitous term could've meant anything. Would they offer me steamed veggies and rice without any sauce? Did they have one sauce that they'd pour over everything, which yes, would make it gluten free Chinese, but really would offer me one blander than bland option? Would I get lucky and have two choices - rice and vegetables or rice noodles and vegetables? 

Such are the pessimistic wonders  of a celiac going for dinner. Like beer, cupcakes, or freshly baked bread, Chinese food is lost to us. This is due to the fact that most soy sauces contain wheat, thus making an otherwise wonderland of gluten free possibilities completely poisonous. Sad but true, Chinese food is not for the gluten free amongst you. Most of the time, that is, because I have nine words for you: Pearl of the Orient has gluten free soy sauce. 

Wholly moly. As the manager explained to me, "the whole menu is open to you. ...well, I'd advise against the egg rolls." They are willing to adjust any of their sauces, making them personalized and fresh for you, with their gluten free soy sauce packets. That's right, free from cross contamination packets. Being able to eat practically anything on the menu? Yeah, I could live without the egg rolls. 

With four of five pages of options, the menu is pretty extensive. Frankly I was overwhelmed by the choices. We settled on vegetable-tofu soup for 2 (made vegetarian by a water-based broth!) and I, being so unable to choose, ended up with the Vegetarians' Delight with tofu - sauteed vegetables and tofu in a white wine sauce. Okay, maybe I wasn't so adventurous but it was my first time out of the gluten free gate here, cut me some slack. 

Both dishes were beautifully presented and perfectly yummy. Crunchy sugar snap peas, crisp carrots, golden firm tofu. I'd say I'd be going back for more, but that would be a lie. How could I could get the same old same old in the face of options like Szechuan Eggplant, String Beans in Garlic Sauce, Vegetable Soup Noodles, Pad Thai, Steamed Buddha's Dream, or Vegetables in Peanut Sauce? And for the non-vegetarian, the options open up ten fold. At Pearl of the Orient, they're even willing to serve the breaded chicken dishes un-breaded at the diner's request. 

As we left, we talked for a moment with the manager who mentioned Pearl can do their catering gluten free, too. It's enough to make you start planning your Chinese New Year party in September. Pearl of the Orient is an excellent find and while I'm looking forward to the opportunity to go back and try something new, I'm really looking forward to those left overs in my fridge....