When we flew into Sea-Tac airport the other week on a trip to visit my grandparents, one of the first things I did was pull out the DH’s IPhone and look for a gluten-free bakery near the airport. I was hungry and remembered an earlier visit to a gluten-free bakery located near the airport. That bakery was no longer open to the public, unfortunately, but I found another promising candidate in Kent about 20 minutes away from the Seattle airport. It was in the opposite direction from our ultimate destination, Anacortes, but a good gluten-free breakfast can be hard to find. After a few token grumbles, the DH agreed.

The bakery was in a pleasant strip mall with a Starbucks. This latter fact turned out to be important because we were dying for some morning espresso. When I walked in the doors, I was so impressed that I momentarily forgot about my pressing need for coffee. This bright and airy space was cheery, and small tables arranged against the windows were welcoming. Most welcoming of all was the bountiful offerings in the bakery cases and against the wall behind the counter.

The first order of the day was breakfast. I can rarely find gluten-free quiche, so when I saw that they had one, I had to order it. The DH was intrigued by their larger-than-life breakfast muffins that emulated omelets, and he bought the Denver muffin with onion, peppers and ham. I couldn’t believe the fluffy texture when I saw him rip off a piece for Kira. I had to get a meatless one for later that had been basted in pizza sauce.

After we ate, it was time to get some baked goods for the rest of the week in Seattle. I got some of their sandwich bread as as staple food, and I was so intrigued by their sourdough loaf that I had to get some. Living in San Francisco I’m always jealous of the sourdough bread bowls filled with chowder. It was interesting though- when I brought it to my grandparents’ house and my grandpa saw it, I learned that when he was a kid, only poor families ate the stuff. He ate it and hated it- so now he won’t touch it. Actually- although I’ve made gluten-free sourdough at home a la Bette Hagman and enjoyed it, this loaf turned out to be my least favorite of the things I bought at Haley’s. It was just a bit on the heavy side for my taste, and maybe my Grandpa’s story about the hardships of sourdough as a kid made the flavor a bit sour for me.

But let me tell you about my favorite things at the bakery. There were a lot of them. The DH gave an unequivocal thumbs up for Haley’s Corner, and said “the selection is just what you would get at a regular bakery.” In many cases, he said he wouldn’t have known it was gluten-free unless he was told that it was. And amazingly, they don’t even use unusual flours- rice and tapioca seemed to be the norm.* You could buy prepared pizza slices in the refrigerator case- but they all seemed to have meat (especially chicken) so I didn’t buy any of those. I was so impressed by the sweets that I went a little crazy buying one of everything, or so it seemed.

I got pie- and who could choose between gluten-free apple pie, caramel apple pie, or key lime pie? Not me, apparently. I liked them all, but the key lime pie was my favorite. It was sweet without being cloying, with just the right tart note to make things interesting. I love cookies, so on the clerk’s recommendation I got the peanut butter chocolate chip cookie and a snickerdoodle. The former came in handy for a reunion with my cousins when they had a box of those foofie cupcakes of beauty that everyone, including toddler yum, got to enjoy. I ran and got my cookie and savored every sweet crumb. There was a slice of sweet cake for sale as a day-old goodie that also went into the rental car with us… and last but not least, tiramisu AND one lovely chocolate eclair.

I know, I really went crazy with the sweets- but this place had such lovely sweets, and would you believe for everything I bought, there was at least 3 more things that I could have tried? The selection was amazing. I enjoyed watching my sometimes critical DH dig in and enjoy this bakery, and it was fun to see Toddler Yum dart around the store, occasionally pausing to gaze in rapture at the counter, saying in her breathless, high pitched toddler voice “oh my!” She was also a fan of the cookie samples, although we stopped after two pieces because I try to limit her sugar.

I am so pleased to see another bustling gluten-free bakery in the Northwest, and I hope they are around for many years to come so that stopping in for breakfast with the DH and Kid Yum can become a tradition. I had more sweets and baked goods in the week after my visit than I usually have over a period of a few months- probably next time I wouldn’t go QUITE so crazy. After all, my grandparents did feed me, and it wasn’t necessary to stock up quite so heavily on the sweets. But… it was fun, and now I know what my favorites are for next time. I’d buy the tiramisu again… and the key lime pie… and the peanut butter chocolate chip cookie. And then I’ll sign up for gym membership. Pangs over dieting aside, this bakery is one more reason to love the Northwest. I hope you get a chance to visit and love it as much as we did.

*By the way, for those allergic to rice, in researching Seattle bakeries I found out that Da Vinci bakery is not only still running but is also transitioning to be rice free.

*PS This was written while on the road in Tel Aviv, Israel, and is the first of many Gluten-free bakery and restaurant posts I’ve got lined up. We’ve been in Seattle, Manhattan, and now are in Israel. Can’t wait to share our latest gluten-free experiences with you! Adopt a Blogger adoption sign-up post should be up or linked around the 15th of this month.

1) Grab a quick gluten-free meal from a gluten-free friendly fast food chain on your way to the resort, if you have the time. You will probably get tired of fancy food at the resort and a quick, cheap meal in the hand is better than being hungry and confused about your options when you first arrive.

On the drive in, I wanted to get dinner at Picazzo’s gluten-free pizza, a local pizza chain that I once enjoyed in Portland, Oregon. But, time was pressing, so we stopped at In-N-Out instead.* They have safe gluten-free fries and milkshakes, and for those that eat meat they have a protein burger in lettuce. Those in the know say to skip the spread as it has cross contamination, and tell them you have a wheat allergy. The french fries are pretty foolproof, though, unless your companion orders something in a bun and it is snuggled in the bag next to the bun. Long ago, I used to get fries from McDonalds on road trips. This was before the great reveal of meat and wheat (although the gluten is probably denatured). Now that I have In-N-Out as an option in both California and Arizona, I am happy to snub the gross grease sticks at McD’s. The people working at In-N-Out are just so darned nice, too. Other options include Wendy’s with their naturally gluten-free baked potatoes (watch for glove cross contamination) and Five Guys fries, which are fried in dedicated friers in peanut oil. Some people swear by Chipotle’s but I haven’t tried them myself.
*Don’t feel too sad for me missing Picazzo’s. Later in our stay we went to the Tucson Picazzo’s… twice. Review coming soon.

2) Pack or Buy Some Basic Staples to make your life easier.
You may enjoy eating out every meal and trusting to restaurants to provide for you. While a good resort hotel can make reasonable accommodations, especially during regular business hours, I like to have an emergency stash for midnight cereal cravings and to have options for a light meal when I don’t feel like a restaurant experience. I know there is always room service, but I’ve always found that the person taking my order rarely fully “gets” gluten-free so it can be stressful. Besides, room service is always dreadfully expensive! Going on a Target run in your destination city can be a lifesaver.
My Shopping List for Basics:
2 sets of full plastic silverware (unless you like ordering room service a lot or borrowing silverware from the restaurants.)
At least one set of plastic (non breakable, bpa-free preferred) dishes with one cereal sized bowl. If you are minimalist a ziploc type round plastic container will get you far, paired with dishwash solution.
Small dishwash solution or the cheapest dollar store equivalent in a large bottle. You can pitch it prior to packing up.
Freezer safe quart or gallon-sized ziploc bags or your favorite wax paper sandwich sacks etc. for transporting bread to or from your dinner
Gluten-free Dry Cereal (I prefer to buy this in our destination city as it is bulky. Your mileage may vary)
Gluten-free Nuts or Seeds for a quick protein snack. I tend to shop at Trader Joe’s for our nuts. Baby Yum loves sunflower seeds and asks for her “seeds” regularly.
Nut or Seed-butter for a Protein Snack in another form I bought a jar of almond butter in our destination city just for convenience. If peanuts and peanut Cross Contamination is ok for you, Justin’s Almond Butter Squeeze Packs are wonderful for travel. They contain palm oil and some varieties contain sugar. There is a new brand called Barney’s with a similar product that claims to be peanut contamination free.
Gluten-free Protein bars like Lara Bars These are easily available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts and many other places. Or bring them from home. I like the blueberry muffin, pecan pie, and banana bread varieties myself.
Aseptic Cartons of dairy or dairy-free milk (These do not require refrigeration; just put in your ice bucket prior to opening to chill for best flavor. Bring in your checked bag OR buy from Whole Foods or other health food store.)
Horizon Organic 1 % 8-Ounce Aseptic Cartons
Dairy-free Silk Soymilk 8-Ounce Containers

*If at Target, consider picking up some Gluten-free California Baby Sunscreen in the Baby section. More on this later. Also- if your destination in hot and sunny, pick up any extra clothes that might make your stay more pleasant. Do you or your loved ones have a swimsuit? A long sleeved loose cover up to avoid burns or to wear if you acquire one? How about a long sleeved shirt that you could wear into the pool that will block the rays? Need an extra pair of cheap sunglasses? Sandals you can get wet? Pool toys? Selection at the Resort Gift Shops tends to be limited and pricey, and I bet you’d rather buy things you actually want rather than necessities from them.
Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton Arizona Tip: In June, the Walgreens in driving distance from the resort had cute cheap-o sundresses, sunglasses, flip flops, and plastic beach and pool toys for the kids. They ALSO had an interesting Gluten-free snack- Twice Baked Potato Stix. Note: they are produced in a facility that also processes wheat. That being said, I risked it and it worked for me, but your mileage may vary.
2) Pick up some local gluten-free goodies to take to the resort for snacks. If you won’t have refrigeration (which is the case at the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton), keep shelf-life in mind when purchasing.
If your hotel is a nice one, they may offer some basic gluten-free breads to you at meal-times with advance notice. However, resort meals can get pricey and repetitive, so it never hurts to have something in your room to snack on.
Research local Gluten-free Bakeries in your destination area online prior to your visit or do a search from your Iphone etc. in the car
I read up on gluten-free resources in Phoenix and found the Gluten-free Creations Bakery. Their Phoenix bakery is closed on Saturdays, and their cafe is in Scottsdale and we didn’t have time to go, but I was able to find a limited selection of their products at a local Whole Foods in the freezer case with other gluten-free baked goods. I was tempted by a strawberry cupcake, but since Baby Yum seems to be sensitive to strawberries I held off in favor of their Whoopie Pies and Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes (pictured left). These lovelies were pricey (oh how pricey), but I do so love trying new local gluten-free baked goods. The Whoopie Pies weren’t really my thing, and I bought them more for the DH who loves chocolate cake type things, but both Baby Yum and I enjoyed the yummy cupcakes. Brilliant! While I was at Whole Foods I also picked up some gluten-free cereal (thank goodness cereal only requires milk), Udi’s gluten-free bagels, and Glutino’s gluten-free pretzels.
Where to Shop for Gluten-free Goodies on a Trip:
If you’re a gluten-free veteran, you probably know this already. But, for nationwide options you have Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Regionally there is Sprouts in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Texas, and local health food stores that I didn’t have time to investigate.
Sprouts is an Arizona-native chain that also has some gluten-free frozen products, although they don’t tend to be local. Among other products, they carry a Canadian-based O’doughs excellent gluten-free banana cake with chocolate chips that I can recommend, although it is not cheap. It keeps well in a dry climate at room temperature. Sprouts also has other gluten-free snacks, bars, and chips in their grocery section so may be worth a stop. I don’t find their produce impressive and the resort should have a decent fruit buffet and salad options, so I would skip their fresh stuff.
3) Bring specialty Gluten-free items from home in your Checked Bags so you don’t have to worry about liquids.
My Gluten-free Packing List:
Gluten-free Soy Sauce Packets
Your options are:
San J Wheat Free Tamari Travel Packs, 200-Count
OR
Kari Out Low Sodium GF Soy Sauce 400-count
You could also pick up a cheap bottle of the gluten-free La Choy soy sauce from Walmart or a regular grocery store if desired. Read the labels carefully as not every type of La Choy soy sauce is gluten-free. I think the flavor of the packets is superior and they are certainly easier to stick in your purse!
Having gluten-free soy sauce makes sushi so much more interesting. While sushi is not available every night, at the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton the Ignite bistro offers sushi on special days (usually around the weekend, Thurs-Sat ). If you are doing a long stay, the variety will appeal to you, believe me. Besides, any major city and even some minor ones will tend to have a tolerable sushi bar that you could dart out to and gluten-free soy sauce will make your avocado and cucumber rolls even tastier.
Toaster Bags for the courageous and determined gluten-free guest
Any dining option with a buffet (such as Core at the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton) will have a toaster for that nasty gluten-filled bread. Do you hear horror music when you think of that toaster? It is scary, and a huge source of cross contamination, unless of course you have some awesome toaster bags, called “Toast it” sold at various online retailers. These babies are great to take on any trip, and kept me very well fed on European trips. You can even melt a cheese sandwich in one if your bread is thin enough! It does take some guts to whip out your bread in a bag in front of other diners or attentive wait staff. If you prefer to, you can trust in the resort to provide you with gluten-free bread (with caution), ask them to toast your bread and hope that they will do it, and do it safely OR choke down your gluten-free bread untoasted. I have also bought a cheap toaster (you can get them for $10 at somewhere like Walmart) and toasted my heart out at less fancy establishments, but I would sure hate to set off the smoke alarm at the Ritz. If you go the untoasted route, which is what I did this trip because I forgot to bring toaster bags, the more sugar or fat there is in the recipe, the longer the shelf life and the better they will taste cold. Protein levels in the flour will also extend life- the higher the protein the softer the bread may be on day 2 or 3. Watch your climate. A dry climate like Arizona is fairly forgiving- worst case is it will dry your bread out somewhat. In a humid climate you may have to fight the mold monster. At a Ritz Carlton or other high quality resort, restaurants MAY have gluten-free pancakes or bread available. Availability may depend on the notice you are willing to give them, or their personal schedule. It may take longer to get anything that they have to make from scratch, and it may not always be available, so keep this in mind. *Report on my experience with gluten-free breads at the Ritz Carlton coming soon*
Gluten-free Graham Crackers
Ok, I don’t ordinarily bring gluten-free graham crackers wherever I go. However, Dove Mountain at the Ritz Carlton offers smores nights for families, complete with potbellied stoves. You can buy a package of (gluten-filled) homemade graham crackers, marshmallows and some form of chocolate from Ignite on some evenings. If I had known this, I might have been tempted to bring my own crackers and either use their marshmallows and chocolate or pick some up from a local drug store. My favorite mainstream option is Kinnikinnick Gluten-free Graham Style Crackers which you can either order from Amazon or find at a specialty health food store. I didn’t notice this product at Whole Foods in Phoenix, but I was also not looking for it. Another option is Health Valley Gluten-free Crackers, which isn’t my favorite but I know some people like them for smores. However, my favorite way to go with graham crackers would be to make my own and bring them, following Rebecca Reilly’s recipe in her cookbook Gluten-Free Baking. Smore nights aside, these are wonderful snacking crackers and I thoroughly enjoyed them when I brought them with me to India.
Gluten-free Sunscreen I don’t usually worry about gluten-free topical products as doctors say that the gluten molecule is too large to enter the body through the skin and should not provoke the gluten antibodies for Celiac.Those with secondary wheat allergies or skin sensitivities will want to avoid topical wheat, of course. However, even those with “just” Celiac will have to take precautions when wearing gluten-containing sunscreen or lotion and snacking with their hands. As an infant, Baby Yum had a dreadful habit of licking lotion on her face or dipping her finger into the jar and tasting it, so I decided to buy her gluten-free and allergen-free creams. I ended up buying California Baby for her, which smells yummy and works beautifully. The lotions keep her dry skin soft and their mineral sunscreen has kept her burn free without nasty chemicals OR gluten. You can buy California Baby Sunscreen Lotion from Amazon or from (nice) Targets in the baby section, which makes it easy to find wherever you are. I also like their gluten-free bubble bath soap, which comes with a bubble wand, smells divine and is fun to bring on trips. Resort bath tubs are perfect for bubble baths! *For those allergic to coconut, their products do contain coconut, but are otherwise very allergy friendly.

This is not connected to being gluten-free at all. But… let me just say that floppy garden hats are the BOMB when it comes to sunny resort vacations. I bought a sassy green floppy hat for gardening and took it on our vacation. It was perfect for the pool! I only had to take it off when we took Baby Yum down the water slide. Baby Yum has a cutie pie Flap Happy Floppy Hat, too, and for the 110 degree weather, I made sure she kept it on. It worked beautifully. My girl has a golden glow but never burned thanks to careful sunscreen application and her stylish hat.
See what fun we had?

Share your experiences traveling gluten-free in the comments! Have you stayed at the Ritz carlton gluten-free? Any tips or stories to share? I’d love to hear them!

Coming Soon:
A review of the specific Gluten-free Options offered at the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton. My experience should prepare you for what to expect from a Gluten-free Visit at other Ritz Carltons.
A review of the gluten-free offerings at the yummy Picazzo’s restaurant in Tucson (Branches also in Phoenix and other Arizona locations.)

Adopt a Gluten-free Blogger News: This month’s edition is being hosted by Wendy at Celiacs in the House. Sign up now! Last month was hosted by Zoe of Z’s Cup of Tea and the roundup is here. Thanks to both of these ladies for coming to my rescue and helping with the Adopt a Gluten-free Blogger Event. If you would like to host this event, drop me an email!

You can also find Locations in California (51), Texas (20), Arizona (6), Florida (6), Nevada (4), Colorado (4), Oregon (2), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (2) Washington (2), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), and possibly Lahaina Hawaii (with a limited menu).

The DH came back from a business trip to Israel and found himself in sunny California jet-lagged, starving, and awake on a certain Saturday morning. We decided the best course of action would be to take ourselves to a restaurant, post haste. But where to go? I have mentioned several times that a good friend of mine from our Gluten-free Support Group recently wrote an article recommending her favorite gluten-free pizza joints. One of her absolute favorites was the pizza at BJ Brewhouse. This is ironic. I’ve lived in Sunnyvale for several years and passed the BJ Brewhouse in Cupertino countless times and snubbed it. A microbrewery with a food menu? Those places usually have, at best, a salad or two that MIGHT be adaptable for a gluten-free vegetarian. Might, if they don’t coat the lettuce greens in breadcrumbs just so they match the rest of the menu. Every time the DH made noises about how it might be nice to stop and get a beer, I was less than enthused, so we’d always end up going to the nearby Outback Steakhouse, where at least I could get a Gluten-free Chocolate Thunder from Down Under and a hearty baked potato, not in that order but ordered by preference. But then my friend tells me, while our Gluten-free toddlers are toddling along on a playdate, that BJ Brewhouse has a fantastic gluten-free pizza baked on a Venice Bakery Crust. Who knew! They do, in fact, have a full gluten-free menu which includes salads, soups, omelettes (brunch menu) and protein bits in addition to pizza. The only thing they don’t have is a thrilling gluten-free dessert, unless root beer floats float your boat.

The atmosphere is a combination between a cleaner microbrewery and upscale family-style restaurant. The designers of the Cupertino location really like diverse lighting, as you will see if you just look up. Tract lighting, chandeliers, everyday lamps and hanging bistro lights add ambiance, as do the brewing vats behind glass in the corner. Ordering at BJ Brewhouse is remarkably painless. If you want just a pizza, the gluten-free option is listed on their regular menu. Otherwise you need to ask for their gluten-free menu. The first time we went we had a pizza with fresh basil and artichoke hearts. Excellent! The second time, I went with roasted red pepper and, yes, fresh basil. What can I say, I’m a basil girl. I also tried their highly tasty tomato soup, their California Omelet (which does not seem to include their gluten-containing potatoes), and most recently their Italian Market Salad. Everything has been good, and satisfying. And, while it isn’t exactly fine dining, the prices are quite decent. While I love going to unique family-owned restaurants, sometimes I really, really like the security of dining gluten-free with a chain; this is especially the case when they have gluten-free down to a science as they seem to at BJ Brewhouse.

The pizza has turned out to be my favorite, locally available pizza. I like Jina’s idea to order it with extra sauce, although we haven’t done so yet, and the pizza has been appropriately crispy both times I ordered it. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed their Italian Market Salad, ordered without salami to make it vegetarian. It had several kinds of lettuce, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, basil, artichoke hearts, olives, roasted red pepper, garbanzo beans, cucumbers, and more. Basically all my favorite things, in something that felt way too hearty to be a salad. Perfect!

BJ Brewhouse is a great place to go with Baby Yum. She loves the pizza, and the booths are very handy for babies and toddlers. She has tried and seemed to enjoy everything we ordered. And for our part, the DH and I are happy to have found another option where we can all eat safely and enjoy ourselves, without going bankrupt. I would definitely recommend BJ Brewhouse to others. I haven’t had so much as a tummy rumble after eating there, and that speaks for itself. Unless of course it was a tummy rumble for MORE PIZZA!

Have you eaten at BJ’s Brewhouse? What is your favorite thing on their gluten-free menu? Tell me in the comments!

This weekend we went on an impromptu trip to Death Valley, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. On our way out, we happened to drive by an unexpectedly appealing coffee shop in Tehachapi, California. They were closed at the time, but the sign featuring Rosie the Riveter and just plain appealing exterior made us think it was somewhere we’d like to visit. One great thing about coffee is that it is generally gluten-free as long as you keep an eye on flavorings and syrups. Granted, I’m pregnant so no longer downing the double-shot lattes as I once was, but there’s always decaf or herbal tea. On our way home from our long trip the DH happened to remember this coffee shop and so we made sure to stop. When we walked in the door, I was really glad we had. Funky, home-grown and eclectic artistic decor was everywhere- and a bright, cheerful menu sign immediately grabbed our attention, not just with an extensive coffee and tea menu but also with a light lunch menu. I had been eating gluten-free snacks and the odd microwaved potato or In-N-Out fries for days, and when I started reading their (largely organic and healthy sounding) menu, I went a little crazy. Note: this coffee shop does not have a gluten-free menu or any special gluten-free goodies, but they do have simple and natural ingredients and were more than willing to check on items for me. I was intrigued by their customizable salads and baked potato with broccoli-cheese toppings, although I didn’t check on the GF status of the latter.
Here’s what they say about their food:
“All of our food is made from scratch and is about 95% organic. If we can find it organic (preferably local), it is organic. All of our coffee and tea is organic and fair trade.”
Couldn’t sound better to me! (Unless of course there was something about gluten-free items in there too.)

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For this anniversary we didn’t have the time or budget necessary for one of our ’round the world jaunts, though, so we started thinking about trips closer to home. The two main contenders were Portland, Oregon or Disneyland, in great part because both places make gluten-free travel blissfully easy. Gluten-Free Living just did an article on travel to Disneyland. It was fluffy and didn’t have much of the nitty gritty detail I prefer, but it did indicate that Disneyland staff make serious efforts on the behalf of their gluten-free diners, and that was reassuring. DH loves his roller coasters and I was intrigued by the gluten-free friendly rumors, so finally we decided to celebrate at Disneyland.

*I would like to say Thank you to everyone at the SillyYaks Message Board for their helpful suggestions and tips. You made my visit so much easier!*
Here’s the breakdown of our experiences at various places:
We arrived and went through security. I had a few GF granola bars in my bag and no one commented or seemed to care. I think if you are trying to bring more substantial food into the park you might want to mention a medical dietary restriction. First stop was City Hall. We stood in the (short) line and asked for a gluten-free listing of foods at the park. They handed me a four page, double-sided printout with lists of gluten-free foods available at Disneyland Park and California Adventures. Sites were organized by place- Tomorrowland, Adventureland, etc. Also, vending cart offerings were listed. Guess what? We can eat the cotton candy, popcorn, and Mickey faced ice cream bars (not the ice cream sandwiches, of course.) Them as what eat meat can also have the turkey legs, but those of us of veggie dispositions won’t want that. One thing that I found somewhat aggravating was that I really wanted a breakfast, but both days, by the time we got to the park the breakfast menu was over or finishing. We tried several times to go to the Plaza Inn, where you can get GF waffles and other traditional breakfast fare, but the first day it was closed until Dinner, and the second day they had a special character meal for $23 per person. Much as I love Minnie, I didn’t think she would add that much to my meal, so we passed on that one.

Luckily, Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port, a “futuristic” (think 1970s Jetsons) cafeteria, had quite a few gluten free AND vegetarian options, so we ended up having “breakfast” there both days.

*Please verify information with the latest Celiac Offerings Reference Sheet available at Disneyland as offerings may change!*

When you walk into the Pizza Port, a cast member greets you and shows you to the cafeteria line. I told her right away I needed a gluten-free meal, and so she ushered me to a spot where the line was open to the kitchen and had me ask for the chef. The ladies working there called him, and he came out. I told him I needed a gluten-free meal, and he said “no problem.” Magic to my ears. I could have had rice noodles with pasta, a salad, or a Cheese Pizza with a gluten-free shell. *If you are dairy intolerant, the pasta is fine, but at least one of the salads has cheese and both pizzas (one meat) have cheese. You can ask the chef and he could probably modify it for you but it will require a special order.* I chose the cheese pizza, out of novelty. I’d heard that they only carried Amy’s pizzas, so I was surprised when it came out- if I’m not mistaken, it was a glutino or similar personal pizza crust that was nothing like Amy’s, so they must have changed distributors. We did have to wait about 20 minutes for them to fix it. Do yourself a favor and lean against the wall or find yourself a table with a view of the pick up counter. It came out, suitably cheesy and pizza-like. And, happily, I noted that they seemed to do the prep work out of view in some safe, sequestered area, and DIDN’T cut it with a contaminated knife. I actually felt safe eating pizza in a “pizza joint”- thanks to the segregation of work spaces. We were both pleasantly surprised when our two GF pizzas (DH ordered a GF pizza too, because he’s sweet that way) only came to about $12.00, costing a little under $6 each. It wasn’t even more expensive than the regular pizza, how cool is that?!! We carried our pizzas outside and enjoyed a little Disney pizza magic. How was the pizza? Well, I’m not that crazy about the crust they use- it’s not gourmet. But it is recognizably (reassuringly) gluten-free, the pasta sauce they use is good, and the cheese is suitably cheesy. Altogether a pleasant, if not mind-blowing meal. And the best part? I felt fine after I ate it, and all day. Yay for good gluten-free meal preparation training!

The second day after we passed up our chance to eat with Minnie and Friends, DH pulled me back to Redd Rockett’s. I get grumpy when I don’t eat, so he was determined that I eat, and fast. haha.. This time I wanted to be more adventurous, so I ordered the rice noodles with marinara sauce (on the chef’s recommendation), the Planetary Pizza Salad, and one personal cheese pizza. Keep in mind the pizzas are around 4-6 inches across. Regardless, it was a lot of food, especially with the mountain of rice pasta that came with it. I was a little startled because the planetary pizza salad did come with meat- pepperoni- that I wasn’t expecting. Doh. Had I known I would have asked for it without meat, but as it was I stole some of the olives and peppers that came with the salad and added it to the rather bland pasta. Additional salt also helped the pasta taste better- salt packets were available with the plastic utensils inside the cafeteria. The pasta was clearly rice pasta, and as DH said, looked very different than the regular pasta they served. Funny the things that are comforting when eating out. We ate our GF feast (DH shared everything) while Darth Vader and other Star Wars heroes performed on a nearby stage and kids played with a sphere fountain. Altogether, I was thoroughly happy with the experience. It wasn’t fancy food, or even especially flavorful (although the olives on the salad were higher quality than one might expect), but it was gluten-free and reasonably vegetarian friendly. The salad and pasta were a bit pricier than the mini pizza, so our second bill was about double the first one, but I was glad to get the chance to try everything.

Later we went to the Tiki Juice Bar (and saw the show with the chorus birds-don’t ask) in Adventureland. I was a little confused by the gluten-free list as the names didn’t exactly match up, so I asked the servers if it was gluten-free. They didn’t know, but gave me a great ingredient list- not only did it list all the ingredients but had a “special notes” section with a nice, brightly highlighted “Gluten-free” tag. Yay! To be honest, I took one bite and left the rest to DH- it was too sweet and artificial-tasting for me, but it was gluten-free! There are also many fruit stands all over the park where you can get fresh fruit like pineapple, oranges, and apples. I’m a little embarrassed to say that we didn’t get any- but we could have!

So- that was our gluten-free, vegetarian (with excursions into pescatarianism) experience at Disneyland. You will notice many of the dishes I had included cheese- if you eat meat, it’s easier to avoid the cheese, and it is probably possible to get the pizza without cheese, although I don’t necessarily recommend it. There are salads, possibly taco options, and pasta that could be made dairy free, though- and the fancier restaurants do seem to offer at least one vegetarian main dish. We had a great time and it was so nice not to worry about food the entire time. Not having to lug around food made it easier to enjoy the real point of Disneyland- the rides, and spending time with my honey celebrating our Anniversary!

I hope this will encourage you to give Disneyland a try, post-diagnosis. It really is one of the “happiest,” or at least the easiest places, to eat Gluten-free on vacation, and I highly recommend it. Happy trails, and may all your gluten-free dreams come true! (I can’t help it- the mickey ears get to you after a while…)

Looking for more tips on Disney travel? Try Disboards or wdwmagic.
Here’s a very thorough photo essay about eating gluten-free and dairy free at Disney WORLD
and various reviews of GF Disney – somewhat dated.

And now… I’d love to hear about your gluten-free adventures at Disneyland, so please share in the comments!

Oasis Natural Foods
523 Main Street
Half Moon Bay
(650) 726-7881

This health food store was listed and reviewed positively by vegetarian sites and gluten-free lists, so I was hoping to pick up a few things for a gluten-free coastal picnic. It was a (small) thrill to actually be able to open the door and go in for the first time in four years. Quarters are cramped, but this little shop DOES have an excellent selection of Gluten-Free products, both mixes and prepared foods. A wide assortment of Pamela’s mixes, Kinnikinnick cookies, Gluten-free cookies and crackers are stored in this tiny place, and I was happy to pick up a box of Glutino round gourmet crackers for my picnic. Unfortunately, rents are high in Half Moon Bay and the prices reflect that- the crackers alone were over $5 and everything else was similarly priced for sticker shock. They offered hot rice and soups in the back, but the soup contained gluten (although it was vegetarian, yay!) so I had to pass. Probably the most interesting item was at the check out counter- a little basket of big gluten-free muffins, labeled accordingly and baked on site. There was only one left, so I snagged my very own almond poppyseed muffin made from Pamela’s Baking Mix. It was pricey, at $3, but I figured it was my only good freshly baked GF option for miles and I’d better take advantage of it.

Since one muffin and a box of crackers does not a picnic make, and DH was looking mopey and hungry, we went to some of the other spendy, spendy grocery stores on Main Street. Oh the prices made my eyes hurt. But, we managed to pick up tortilla chips and salsa. I was dying for guacamole but couldn’t bring myself to pay $6 for it. DH bought a loaf of french bread and some assorted fillings, and we went back on the road… because we had another destination in mind before we had our picnic. *Non-vegan review following*

We first found out about this goat cheese farm from the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce in response to our queries about local, small scale, family run dairies. I was very excited when I learned about the local goat dairy farm, Harley Farms, and the more I heard, the more I wanted to go and check out their operations and of course, taste their award-winning goat-cheeses. The farm is run by a British ex-pat named Dee Harley who started with six goats fourteen years ago and rebuilt and revitalized a 1910 cow dairy farm. Harley Farm is now the home of 200 some American Alpine goats and Harley Farm cheeses have won countless awards. Further, and perhaps coolest of all, Dee “was the first woman ever chosen by the Chamber of Commerce as Farmer of the Year in San Mateo county”. (source: I heart Farms) Harley Farms combines traditional methods with artistry and science, going that extra mile by using the traditional method of separating the curds and whey with cheesecloth bags and using (home grown) fresh flowers, dried nuts and dried fruits to create cheese that is as delicious as it is beautiful. The goats receive no antibiotics or hormones, and vegetarians will be happy to know that they only use vegetarian rennet. Harley Farms have also been recognized by the Slow Foods movement, and were invited to Italy “to represent one of 500 farmers that epitomize the group’s mission of . . .ecological food production, stewardship of the land and “the revival of the kitchen and table as centers of pleasure, culture and community.” (source: MetroActive) As if that wasn’t enough, Harley Goat Farms also recently won a Sustaneable San Mateo award for following “several environmentally-friendly practices by providing goats to the “Rent A Goat” program, where goats clear brush and grass. The farm won a four-year grant from the Natural Resource Conservation Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for creek bank restoration and water conservation. The farm utilizes recycled water to cool the milk and offers free manure to its neighbors.” (source: Sustainable San Mateo)

It is rare to come across a farm where artistry, environmental concerns, and care for animals is combined so dramatically, and it’s no surprise to me that Harley Farms has won so many awards and gained such recognition in their field. When you visit the farm, you definitely feel that you’ve come to a very special place that provides balm and respite from a world where most goods are mass-produced and soulless. You can visit the farm on weekends, and they hold tours (reservations required), or you can just wander out and peek at the goats and their babies in the field and watch the chickens and roosters bouncing freely around the yard. You can also visit a charming little shop featuring all their cheeses for tasting and purchase, including the glorious flower strewn variety, sundried tomato chevre, herbed chevre, and even goat cheese ricotta or herbed spread. One slightly disappointing feature of the cheese tasting area is that it is all served with bread, so us gluten-free folks can’t taste anything. (It’s possible if you ask nicely that you might be able to get them to open something fresh for you, but I didn’t go to the trouble.) DH and I enjoy saying saying hi to the goats and perusing the cheeses for some nice selections to take home with us (and enjoy in a picnic.) And now, perhaps, you see why I bought those spendy crackers! Our favorites are the sundried tomato topped goat cheese, the cranberry (with a walnut surprise filling) and apricot (with a gorgeous green pistachio filling). We also like the herbed cheese, but it’s more commonly available, so we stick to the unusual combinations that Harley Farms is famous for. You can buy local artichoke products at the shop, as well as super free-range chicken eggs. If you’re interested in purchasing some cheese but can’t visit the farm, you can find it in some California Whole Foods cheese cases (Los Altos etc.) or purchase it online through their web site. The price tends to be lower in their shop than in Whole Foods, but this kind of quality, painstakingly produced cheese isn’t inexpensive. In our current economy, business must be tough, but I hope that Harley Farms continues to succeed and receive well deserved accolades for their efforts. Beauty wherever you find it is special- and their cheeses and farm are very beautiful indeed. And did I mention that of course, the cheese itself is gluten-free and vegetarian?

happy animals at Harley Goat Farm

If you enjoyed this article on gluten-free, foodie adventures in Half Moon Bay, you might also enjoy my article on

Heirloom Tomatoes in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Or
a comprehensive list of all my Bay Area travel reviews

We also find our copy of “Weekend Adventures” to be an invaluable source of travel ideas around the Bay area.

*Note: Cynthia at the Heirloom Tomato heaven, Love Apple Farm has a beautiful blog you should check out. If you happen to be local, definitely pick up some of her heirloom tomato plants, on sale starting March 15th, only available at the farm. I plan on going early in April to pick up some new babies.

Many of you may have seen my menu plan for our Valentine’s Day trip to Florida, and you may have wondered how or why I was planning on cooking during a vacation. Well, unlike vacations where one stays in a hotel and ends up eating out of the microwave and whatever gluten-free restaurants you can find, this time we were staying in a time share condo with a gorgeous kitchen and lots of counter space. Our everyday kitchen lacks floor AND counter space, so just staying somewhere with a nicer kitchen was a vacation all by itself. Of course the gorgeous palm trees (complete with coconuts), beach, and golf course outside our window, not to mention family all around, were the best part, but the kitchen was a definite perk.

Because we were staying on an island (Captiva, near Fort Myers), I knew that access to groceries would be limited. There are two (expensive) grocery stores, but their offerings are somewhat limited, so I thought it would be a good idea to bring some staples. Of course I brought along snacks for the plane, which was a good thing because in spite of the fact we were flying all night, cheap-o American Airlines didn’t offer us a thing, except for the opportunity to buy candy and potato chips from their stewardesses. I passed, and chomped on some prepared roasted broccoli (yes, really), roasted brussel sprouts (ditto), and Ener-g Foods Pretzels. It wasn’t great, but it was better than nothing. I also brought protein bars, a mariposa brownie, and some individually wrapped Pamela’s cookies. I also had, stashed in my suitcase, the following staples:

1 box polenta (corn grits) from Trader Joe’s
1 box arborio rice (for Risotto) from Trader Joe’s
1 box pocono buckwheat cereal
1 small bottle, sealed, of wheat-free san-j tamari
1 pkg Pamela’s pancake baking mix
2 pkg Chebe- one bread stick, one regular
1 small bottle of toasted sesame oil from an Asian market
1 package rice/tapioca summer roll wrappers
1 pkg Thai rice noodles (for summer rolls)

*I probably also should have brought some spice mixes because they are pretty pricey at resort areas, and limited.

Bringing all these goodies meant that as soon as we arrived at the condo, I could whip up some pancakes and have breakfast before collapsing in exhaustion. But what about our other meals?

The first day we were there, Thursday, was Valentines Day. I planned to make summer rolls with peanut sauce, coconut rice, and grilled fruit with a coconut peanut sauce from my favorite book, Peanut Butter Planet. At the grocery store that first day I bought fresh veggies, fresh fruit a jar of natural peanut butter, coconut milk and pineapple juice, which allowed me to make all I wanted! Everything turned out pretty well, but the grilled fruit was only mediocre due to the very weak grill we used. The grilled pineapple was tasty, but the strawberries and plums ended up somewhat mushy. I think this recipe needs a bit of tweaking.

Thai Peanut Sauce Sauces & Condiments  Thai

Ingredients 1 sliced small onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sugar 2 cloves crushed garlic 3/4 cup NATURAL peanut butter or 1 cup dry roasted salted peanuts 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons lime juice Directions Saute onion and garlic in oil til tender. Cool. Place in blender, add everything else, and blend carefully. Slowly and carefully add enough boiling water to form a thick paste. (I like it about the texture of slightly thinned peanut butter.)

Rating:  9 Original Source:   Recipe ID:  1029 Added:  March 3, 2007 Last Modified:  March 3, 2007

The next day I’d planned a Mediterranean menu. I used my entire box of polenta to make a dairy-free polenta with italian seasonings. Of course it was way too much for us, even with family members there, but as soon as I saw it bubbling away I remembered Erin’s polenta fries. I served half of it at the table and put the rest in a baking dish to cool and firm up for the next night’s dinner. Since there was broccoli and some tasty organic cauliflower in the fridge, I decided to make my roasted broccoli recipe with a twist- adding gorgeous cauliflower florets to the pan. I was feeling a bit anxious about having enough food, so not only did I make an old favorite recipe,Aunt Joan’s summer salad, but I also mixed up a batch of chebe rolls, using cheese for extra luxurious texture and flavor (and to make it more palatable to the glutenoids). The meal was a success! I did find that it is quite a bit different cooking for six than two- what seemed like a mountain of food vanished. Happily, there was still enough for a tasty breakfast the next morning.

*scroll past recipes to continue with post*

Chili-Garlic Roasted Broccoli Recipe Side Dish  Vegetables

Ingredients broccoli tops, equiv. to about one lg broccoli. 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil or so. 5 to 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped dash of chili powder 1 tablespoon grill seasoning blend (I used Trader Joe’s) Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, chili powder and grill seasoning in the bottom of a large bowl and add the broccoli spears. Toss to coat broccoli evenly then transfer to a large nonstick baking sheet. Roast the broccoli until ends are crisp and brown and stalks are tender, 15-17 minutes. Notes I made this tonight with a baked potato(washed, dried, pricked and baked in the oven on a bed of kosher salt), and my favorite southern fried tofu recipe. (That recipe should be already in the recipes file).. It was really satisfying. And I was just thinking that one way to expand what we can eat is by expanding how we prepare what we eat… Roasted broccoli is very different (to me) than steamed or sauteed… So, give it a try. I thought it was delicious! I’ve also enjoyed this recipe with half organic cauliflower florets. You can tone down or up the chili powder to taste.

Rating:  8 Original Source:  Adapted from Rachel Ray Recipe ID:  1004 Added:  January 13, 2007 Last Modified:  February 28, 2008

Aunt Joan’s Summer Salad Salad  Vegetables  American

Ingredients 1 can of corn, drained 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 small jar roasted red peppers, chopped 1 english cucumber, peeled cut in half, with seeds scooped out, chopped 1/4 jicama, peeled and chopped 2 green onions, chopped 1 organic carrot, peeled and chopped your favorite vinaigrette dressing Directions Combine all prepared vegetables in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Drizzle vinaigrette over all ingredients to taste. (Be sparing with it). Enjoy as a side dish for a light, fresh, grilled summer meal.

Rating:  8 Original Source:  Modification of Aunt Joan’s Recipe Recipe ID:  1199 Added:  February 28, 2008 Last Modified:  September 28, 2008

For our final meal in Florida, DH and I really went all out with a gourmet vegetarian feast. DH made risotto, with delicious, pan seared mushrooms, and I sliced the leftover polenta into fry shapes and then seasoned and baked them until crispy. I wanted to make roasted asparagus, but I’d forgotten it at the main store, and had to improvise because the island store had a VERY limited selection. The only fresh green vegetable I could find was zucchini. I hesitated, but then I remembered our succesful grilled zucchini salad that I’d made last year, so the menu changed from roasted asparagus to grilled zucchini salad garnished with fresh vegetables and seasoned with a vinaigrette and pico de gallo. And of course, no gourmet vegetarian grilled meal is complete without our favorite grilled tofu recipe! This meal was pronounced our best yet, and it truly was tasty. The polenta fries and risotto vanished in a flash- and some sibling rivalry fueled fighting over the mushrooms broke out, from the grown-ups, no less. haha. It’s always a good sign when people are fighting over your food! Not bad considering I was the only gluten-free vegetarian in the room- but everyone was happy!

*scroll past recipes to continue with post*

Grilled Zucchini with Tomato and Olive Salad Side Dish  Vegetables  Mediterranean

Ingredients 1 lb fresh zucchini and/or squash 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil 1 1/2 tsp fresh minced thyme 1 medium sized tomato cut in small dice 1 lg garlic clove, minced 16 kalamata olives, pitted and sliced (or regular blk olives) 1 tbsp chopped capers 1 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar salt, freshly ground pepper 1 tbsp pine nuts 8-10 fresh basil leaves Directions Heat or otherwise prepare grill or grill pan. (charcoal or propane grill is best) Cut zucchini lengthwise 1/4 inch thick, baste in 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle fresh thyme until evenly coated. Combine diced tomato cubes, garlic, olives, capers, and red wine vinegar in a bowl and put aside. Salt and pepper zucchini or squash rounds and grill until marked with grill stripes (3 minutes or less depending on heat). Place on serving platter when done, spread tomato olive mixture on top and season with salt and pepper. sprinkle with pine nuts and attractively cut basil and serve. Notes DH and I don’t even like zucchini, and we gobbled this whole recipe up in a night. A good pizza-less “pizza”- very tasty tapa dish. Yum! Perfect for using fresh farmer’s market zucchini available everywhere this year.

Rating:  9 Original Source:   Recipe ID:  1078 Added:  May 28, 2007 Last Modified:  May 16, 2009

Yummy Grilled Tofu Side Dish  Tofu  American

Ingredients 1 lb of firm tofu (Chinese Style is best for this kind of recipe) 2 tbsp GF soy sauce (preferably San-J Low Sodium Tamari) 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup 1 Tbsp rice vinegar 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil (we like a Japanese brand) 2 pressed cloves of garlic Directions Drain water from tofu, and cut horizontally in thirds or half. Wrap in towel and leave for 30 minutes or so until water has absorbed into towel. Mix marinade ingredients, and marinate tofu for at least 30 minutes. If possible, grill, if not, broil or pan fry. Makes a wonderful protein addition to salads, sandwich fillings, and perfect with rich rice dishes like risotto. Notes I’ve been making this recipe for years and it always goes over very well at parties. Very flavorful and easy. Can be doubled for a crowd. You may wish to brush or spray grill with oil, as the tofu can stick.

Rating:  8 Original Source:  Vegan Vittles Recipe ID:  1036 Added:  March 14, 2007 Last Modified:  July 6, 2008

I hope this post encourages you all to take your own gourmet vacation with a kitchen in the future. I know many people who are first diagnosed find the prospect of dining out and travel to be incredibly intimidating- and it’s true, it can be a hassle. You can research your area ahead of time to find any hidden gluten-free gems in the neighborhood, but sometimes, as with this vacation in a confined resort setting, there just isn’t going to be any specialty health food stores or restaurants. Regular restaurants CAN sometimes meet your needs, but when you have multiple issues, like vegetarian preferences or multiple intolerances, sometimes it’s just easier (and tastier!) to make your own food in a kitchen. You don’t have to have a fancy shmancy time-share either. Some quite reasonably priced hotels/long-term stay places (a week or more) have quite serviceable kitchen facilities. I loved our Austria trip and staying in a modern (kitchen-free) hotel worked reasonably well. However, the next time I go to Europe, I really think I’ll go out of my way to stay somewhere where I can cook meals, so I don’t have to be following my stomach and perpetually searching for the next safe meal when I should be sightseeing.

*
GF Travel Tip: Packing those little extra GF carbs and sauces in your suitcase really helps too- you don’t have to go quite as crazy as I did, but just having your favorite meal staples ready and waiting for you as soon as you unpack really takes off loads of stress, and frees you from having to spend your valuable vacation time in random grocery stores searching for GF soy sauce to add the final touch to your meals. Just make sure to pack it in multiple plastic bags, one sealed, so that if those baggage handlers start playing keep-away with your suitcase, it doesn’t break and douse your clothing in eu de shoyu/tamari. Also nestle carefully in soft clothes, and make sure the suitcase is full- the less it moves around, the less likely it could bang into something and break.

Still worried about that airplane trip and the perils of airport restaurants? I don’t blame you. Why not pack a bento lunch so you don’t have to worry?
Read Biggie’s enlightening post about Packing your own Airplane Bento

I’d love to hear your personal vacation stories. What gluten-free staples do you bring with you on a trip, both for munching on the plane and for preparing later in your hotel? Any tips to offer our readers? Post in the Comments!

And, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to participate in our adopt a gluten-free blogger event