Book of Yum

June eighth was our sixth wedding anniversary, and we celebrated all six of those years (eight, really) in grand style by hopping into our car and driving across California all the way to Disneyland. Who would have thought, eight years ago, that the cute blond boy sitting across from me in that fateful Japanese language class, would turn out to be THE ONE, and take me around the world and back again. Oh, the places we’ve been. Mexico, Jamaica, the Grand Cayman, France, Italy, Belgium, India (twice together!), Japan (our second home), Singapore, Austria, Germany… My honey has the travel bug and he delights in nothing more than sharing it with his friends and loved ones. He also handily has a knack of finding great airline fares online or using frequent flier miles in creative ways, so happily, all our travels haven’t been near as expensive as it all sounds. But, then, as DH says, while some people buy big vehicles or houses- we travel, instead. And the magic of travel is, once you get a passport and get past the idea of everything being far, far away- you can go ANYWHERE. And while being gluten-free still makes me nervous about certain countries, you can get by brilliantly in most places with a little creative thinking and some handy language cards like those provided by Triumph Dining.

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!

*a few pescatarian references, but all visible photos are vegetarian*
For our special Anniversary Meal, we decided to go to the Blue Bayou, the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The Pirates of the Caribbean has always been my favorite ride and I’d always longed to join the fancy people watching over the swamp and enjoying their meal, so it was a fitting place to go. By the way, if you want to eat there, a reservation is recommended, especially if you want a traditional dinner time. We tried to make a reservation by calling their priority seating number 714-781-DINE the first day and they were full that night, but we were able to make an early afternoon reservation for the next day. When we made the reservation, DH mentioned that I was gluten-free, and I noticed that it appeared on our table note sheet when we were seated. By the way, if you want a waterside seat, you should probably ask for that when you make the reservation or make friends with the hostess, as she determines seating. You might have to wait longer for a waterside seat. We ended up one table away from the edge- not bad, and I could make out the faint outlines of boats and riders, so I was happy. One funny note- celebrity Bob Saget was actually sitting one table away from us. I saw him and heard his voice, and half thought, “oh, he kinda looks like that guy that was on Full House,” and it turned out… it WAS that guy that was on Full House. His next table-mates asked for an autograph and photo with him, which he very graciously granted. Seemed like a nice guy. Anyway. So about the food. They had about eight dishes that could be made gluten-free. Two were pescatarian (mahi mahi or salmon) and one was actually vegetarian- a Broiled Portobello Mushroom. I was nervous about the latter becuase the Celiac Offerings list said “Portobello Mushroom with couscous.” Didn’t they KNOW couscous was made from wheat? Luckily when they brought out the chef, a very nice woman with a cool accent, she knew all about the couscous and offered rice instead. BTW, only come here if you are celebrating and up for the stiff prices- we were on the lunch menu and each main course entree was around $30, including the vegetarian dish. They first brought out a salad- it was buttery lettuce with a rather acidic sherry dressing, with a side of avocado and some blue cheese. Thankfully the blue cheese was on the side, because I can’t stand the stuff, irrespective of its gluten-free or gluten-containing status. It wasn’t bad, but I thought there was too much dressing. Apparently the salad usually comes with some kind of gluten-based sausage- I was quick to tell her I didn’t need it anyway. Our main dishes were quite good. I had a pescatarian offering (sorry guys, you may or may not know I occasionally indulge when dining out- don’t think worse of me but for $30 I thought better go with the recommendation of the chef) and was quite satisfied. The cajun rice was pleasant, and I liked the side vegetables- simply prepared and seasoned white asparagus and broccolini. DH had jambalaya that he quite enjoyed, despite the fact that he’s not usually a jambalaya kind of guy. We had told our server that it was our anniversary, so, to our surprise, at the end of the meal she brought us “free” ice cream with candles and mint doubloons, along with two mickey and minnie “Happy Anniversary” pins. Altogether it was a pleasant meal that felt very satisfying, celebrating our anniversary and fulfilling a childhood fantasy all in one swoop.
So, that was our experience at Disneyland proper. Next time, I think I’d go to the Rancho Del Zocalo in Frontierland and try their corn vegetable tacos and cheese quesadillas and/or cheese enchiladas. Pizza is good, but a girl can’t live on gluten-free pizza alone.

But what about not quite Disneyland proper? When I asked people on my favorite gluten-free message board, Yahoo’s SillyYaks group, they highly recommended the Storytellers Cafe in downtown Disneyland in the Grand Californian Hotel. (Menu). We went there for an early dinner the first night. I did notice that there wasn’t a lot of variety as far as vegetarian options- in fact, they were fairly non-existent. Honestly our server seemed quite clueless about the whole vegetarian preference thing- she said, Oh, we can make almost anything gluten-free, so what would you like… and then when I asked about gluten-free and vegetarian she sort of blinked and said, er, well, there’s the prime rib. Riiiight. We ordered the gluten-free pizza, because I was looking forward to a gourmet version, and I selected artichoke hearts, red onions, and mushrooms. We also ordered the Gluten Free (pescatarian) Linguini. Photo of Pescatarian Pasta. (Remember, DH and I were sharing, so the pesc. thing was mostly for him.) When the pizza came I was pretty disappointed as it was barely warm and clearly hadn’t been cooked long enough. I would have sent it back but I was concerned about it becoming cross contaminated on the way to the oven, so I just ate it as is, but sadly enough the Redd Rockett pizza was 100 times better. Amazing what being cooked properly will do for a food. Also, the toppings were just thrown on there with little, if any seasoning- the artichoke hearts were not even cut up so it was a bit hard to eat. The pasta was better, although there was so much of it and it was so calor-ific there was no way we could eat it all. (Not that that is a bad thing- after all, the last thing you want to be after a big GF meal is hungry!) DH thought the pescatarian bits were very tasty, and I thought the sauce was nice. Actually, I got rather nervous because it was so thick and I kept wondering if it had some thickening sauce in it, so I asked for the ingredients. I was surprised at how helpful our server was with this. She actually went to the kitchen and wrote out the ingredients: cream, shallots, black peppercorn, bay leaves, lemon juice, salt, and tomato relish (tomato, onion, shallots, cajun seasoning). My mind at ease, I could enjoy the dish. Overall we had mixed feelings about our meal there. The pasta was good but extremely rich, and it felt like they put very little effort into the pizza. However, the fact that you can order a gluten-free meal there and feel confident in it means a great deal. I would ask to speak to the chef for a real gluten-free vegetarian meal next time, and maybe go for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner. Their non-vegetarian meals are probably where their real expertise lies, and I heard so many positive reviews that I feel pretty confident recommending it for that- or even for a vegetarian meal, with better communication. If you liked the tasty salsa at the Storyteller’s Cafe, here’s the recipe.

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!

One of the things DH and I most like to do in the Bay area is go on weekend adventures, especially ones involving agri-tourism. The Bay area has a lot going for it, actually, with unique local farms, wineries and food companies, shops and of course beautiful scenery. One place that DH and I have returned to over and over is a little coastal town called “Half Moon Bay,” maybe partly because it has such a charming name. It’s a bit of a pain to get there- you have to drive through a windy, single lane road through trees and it inevitably gets clogged with weekend traffic- but once you get there, there’s a picturesque shopping street with restaurants, cafes, and shops, as well as access to a (Very cold and windy) beach. I had heard rumors of a gluten-free friendly health-food store and wanted to go in, but every time I came, it was usually past closing time. This time we got up extra early (by noon! haha) and made it to:

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*

The destination?
Harley Farms Goat Dairy
Pescadero, CA 94060
1-650-879-0480

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?

a beautifully written piece on Harley Farms by I heart farms
a news article on the history of Harley Farms
Read Dee’s blog and experience life on the farm!

happy animals at Harley Goat Farm

If you’re wondering what else there is to do for Gluten-Free or agri-tourism in the Half Moon Bay, let me recommend some of my favorite stops. We love Cameron’s Pub, a ridiculously atmospheric British pub with double decker red buses parked outside (for smoking and games) and a mini “village shop” inside. I like their enormous baked potatoes (their mushroom and cheese topped potato has enough calories to get you through a 10 mile hike in the Cotswalds) and hard cider on tap. Apparently Pierce Brosnan and family stopped there for a pint and hearty meal once and everyone’s still excited about it. If you drive a bit farther you can go to Phipps Country Store and farm for a ka-jillion varieties of dried heirloom beans in bins available for purchase, fresh goose eggs, an aviary (for viewing pleasure), and the opportunity (in season) to pick strawberries, blackberries etc. And of course, once you’ve picked up some fresh fruit or veggies, fresh goat cheese, artichoke salsa or other local goodies- nothings more fun than having a picnic on the beach, or, if it’s terribly cold and windy, having a picnic in your car at some spot overlooking the ocean. Salty, creamy goat cheese and crackers, crisp apple slices and maybe a gluten-free muffin- no matter what you have, it’s better with the taste of salt water in the air and the sound of the ocean crashing around you.

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.