Off the Menu: Guero's Taco Bar

Guero's is awesome. Not only are they located on South Congress, but they also boast fantastic margaritas, live music on their outdoor stage and a very "Austin" atmosphere. I love that they were one of the first to have a full, printed gluten-free menu in this city, and they know what they are talking about. And, as always, when I can eat queso somewhere it is a win-win.

Please note: no rice here!! They sub potatoes.

Breakfast: don't forget to ask for corn tortillas!
- Tacos: choose two fillings - egg, cheese, bacon, ham, mushroom, spinach, tomatoes, beans or potatoes.
- Migas
- Huevos Rancheros

Appetizers: complimentary chips and salsa
- Black Bean & Cheese Tamales
- Chile con Queso
- Guero's Dip
- Guacamole
- Nachos Grande

Soups & Salads:
- Puebla Dinner Salad
- Spinach Salad
- Taco Salad
- Tortilla Cheese Soup
- Black Bean Soup

Enchiladas:
Fillings: Chicken especial, beef, pork, picadillo, cheese, spinach & mushroom, sauteed veggies
Sauces: Roja, verde, fresca, chipotle, ranchero

Tacos:
Fillings: Chicken especial, beef, pork, picadillo

Mr. Gatti's Gluten-Free Pizza!!

I was so excited to not only receive this picture of an insert for Gatti's gluten-free pizza thanks to my friend Jeff, but also to drive by and see a nice, big poster too! Gatti's is taking g-free mainstream at all of its Austin locations according to the advertising - and I couldn't be happier!

As many of you have noticed from Domino's recent news, cross-contamination is a huge problem when it comes to eating gluten-free in a mainstream location. Gatti's requires their employees to take a training course on gluten-free, take a test to ensure they understand and then follow strict procedures in the kitchen to avoid any problems. This means that even Celiac customers are safe and can have this pizza without fear, and you don't have to worry about mix-ups with orders because there is a designated gluten-free specialist who fields them all.

While I know other restaurants offer gluten-free pizza here in town, Gatti's has a great price point that is hard to beat and offers a 12" option that is better for families. Let me know if you try and what you think!

On their website they still list only 6 locations -  but don't worry, the inserts never lie! Added bonus - they actually do it right...

Off the Menu: Bartlett's Austin

Bartlett's is located at Anderson and Burnet and boasts a WIDE variety of gluten-free dishes. Their sandwiches have buns courtesy of Smart Flour Foods and the remainder of the menu is delicious and full. Check it out!

STARTERS & SIDES
Home Smoked Salmon without toast points    15Artichokes (when available)   13Shoestring French Fries   5Cole slaw   5Seasonal Vegetable   5Wilted Spinach   5True Idaho Baked Potato   6

Burgers and Sandwiches

All burgers and sandwiches are served without buns Add a gluten free bun from Smart Flour Foods for $1.50 CHEESEBURGER*   15 Fresh ground chuck with Cheddar, tomato, lettuce, pickles, and onion CANADIAN BURGER*   15 Canadian bacon, chopped Cheddar and onion BRENTWOOD CHICKEN SANDWICH   15 Marinated chicken breast with Jack cheese, red onion, tomato, and arugula FRESH FISH SANDWICH*   17 Grilled 6 oz fillet with leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion and our Chef's dressing + Choose: Coleslaw, French Fries or Seasonal Vegetable Salads GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD   15 Mixed greens and corn tortilla strips with honey-lime vinaigrette CLUB SALAD   15 Grilled chicken with mixed greens, smokehouse bacon, avocado, egg, and tomato SASHIMI TUNA SALAD*   MKT Pan-seared ahi tuna with cilantro-ginger vinaigrette, mixed greens, red onion, avocado, mango and tomatoes *Please specify no soy sauce ASIAN CHICKEN SALAD   19 Rotisserie chicken with avocado, mango, and herbs in Thai dressing CAESAR SALAD   10 Crisp Romaine with Reggiano and our eggless Caesar dressing TRADITIONAL SALAD   10 Mixed greens, carrots, corn, chopped egg, and smokehouse bacon +Dressings: Blue Cheese, Mustard-Honey, Buttermilk Garlic, or Vinaigrette Entrees: TODAY'S FRESH FISH*   MKT Filleted in house daily, simply grilled over hardwood, with seasonal vegetable SEASONAL VEGETABLE PLATE   17 This season's hand-selected vegetables ROTISSERIE CHICKEN   19 Half a roasted chicken with crushed herbs, served with wilted spinach DOUBLE-CUT PORK CHOP   26 Cured in-house and hardwood grilled, served with a baked potato ROASTED PRIME RIB*   33 Aged prime rib roasted on the bone, served with a baked potato *Please specify no Au Jus HAND-CUT FILET*   36 Beef tenderloin grilled over hardwood, served with wilted spinach +Caesar or Traditional Salad to accompany your entrée   6 Dessert: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream   2 Orange Chocolate Pot de Creme 5

Off the Menu: Hickory Street

I must talk about gluten-free dining too much (well, I know I do) because my classmates are starting to notice gluten-free menus for me. This week I was made aware that Hickory Street has got a gluten-free menu, which they change with the seasons! I had no idea that they would cater to  me, so I am definitely heading there this weekend to check it out. Enjoy!! A special thanks to Nathan Howry, owner, for helping get this into my hands electronically!


Gulf Shrimp Crab Cake

Shrimp Avocado Salad

Beer Battered Onion Rings (made with Red Bridge gluten-free beer batter)

Charred Sweet Corn Guacamole

Heirloom Tomato Salsa & Mozzarella

Chopped Salad

Duck Egg Salad

Arugula Caesar

Carrot Quinoa Salad

Gluten Free Fried Chicken (house hot sauce, basil and apple salad with yogurt dressing)

Short Rib Mac & Cheese

Chickpea Chili

Ribeye Meatloaf

Texas Fried Catfish Tacos (you can order with Corn Tortillas)

As always, make sure to let your waiter know that you are ordering gluten-free :)

Thanksgiving Dinner Success @Maggiano's

First off, bravo Maggiano's for not only making so many of your dishes naturally gluten-free but for making my family Thanksgiving fantastic and full of options. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with their staff cooperation and my meal.

The Thanksgiving menu was family style and I could eat multiple things from almost every course (minus dessert and bruschetta). Here's a quick snapshot of the menu:

I made a reservation through Open Table and put in the notes that we had a gluten-free diner. After that I proceeded to call them and talk to a sous chef who walked me through the Thanksgiving menu and made sure that I felt comfortable with their knowledge of gluten-free dining, I was surprised to find out that I had options beyond just the gluten-free pasta, whoo!

First course was salad and I could have both the Caesar and Italian salads with just the croutons removed. Since the family style allows you to choose two from each portion of the menu we got the Caesar with croutons on the side for me and the glutenous eaters got the Chopped salad.

Next course was the full-on Thanksgiving style meal, yes even Italian restaurants do it traditionally! The options for meats were turkey with gravy and stuffing, ham with mashed potatoes and tilapia. When the sous chef came out to talk me through it (awesome!!) he said that I could have both the ham and turkey meats and that they would simply make me a small plate of plain without the stuffing and gravy so there wouldn't be any cross-contamination. It came out on a HUGE plate and I even have some turkey leftovers. The family also got the tilapia which was breaded so that was out, but I was happy. In addition we got to choose two sides and two pastas. I could have the following: creamed corn, creamed spinach, mashed sweet potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes - we chose the creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes, yum! For the pastas they allowed my family to choose two and made me my own side of the gluten-free spaghetti and meat sauce. I could've also gotten gluten-free versions of the rigatoni, ziti or gnocchi.

I was so full by this point I wasn't even disappointed that I couldn't have the huge piece of chocolate cake or pumpkin cheesecake. My whole family was impressed with the food and it worked out so well that I could have a full meal and they could have their traditional Turkey Day food. So, bravo Maggiano's you did great!! I would definitely come back for Thanksgiving in the future and suggest it to all of my blog readers :)

New Symptom: Migraines...

To start I just want to tell myself "I told you so...". This weekend while tailgating for the UT football game I decided to have what were claimed as "gluten-free" fries from the food trailer sponsoring our MBA tailgate. I spoke with the cook before ordering anything (it was all free) and they explained that the fries were only fried along with tofu, so I could get them plain. Well when they came out they were not just plain but had a spice on them...

My gut screamed MSG, MSG at me but of course I didn't listen this one time. I have never had a slip-up with MSG before but I know as a Celiac we are supposed to stay away from it. About half-way through the game I started getting a terrible headache and by the ride home (3rd quarter) I could hardly stand it. There were no digestive problems oddly but I was up until 5am with a knife sticking out of my head...and now a couple of days later I'm getting a bit of a red rash on my hands.

I inquire to other Celiac and gluten-free patients out there - have you had these types of reactions? If so, are there are ingredients that specifically cause symptoms other than those that are digestive? Please help!

Off the Menu: Brick Oven Restaurant

Yum, yum, yum...that's all I have to say! They even make their meatballs gluten-free if you ask. They change up the pastas sometimes but all of the below is legit.

Red Bridge or Bards Gluten Free Beer

Our Wine is Gluten Free

Appetizers (Add $1.00 to menu price)

Bruchetta

Portabella Mushroom

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Garlic Bread (toasted rice almond gf bread)

All Salads

Medium Pizzas

As priced on our menu with a $4.00 up charge

Pizza crusts are from Gluten Free Kneads dedicated kitchen

 Substitute lean ground beef for meatball topping

Pastas

$1.50 upcharge

We offer Pasta Rustica, Chicken Rigatoni, Pasta Primavera, Capellini Pomodoro, Spaghetti Marinara or Meat Sauce.

We use Tinkyada rice pastas

We will use spirals for most pastas so there is no confusion in our kitchen or by our wait staff and sauces are thickened with corn starch.

Gluten Free Garlic Bread is served with each Meal.

Desserts $4.50

Carrot Cake and Brownies

We also make Mac and Cheese and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for kids. $4.95

Chicken, Turkey and Veggie Sandwiches are available too! $5.95

Off the Menu: Red's Porch

Although the waitstaff still needs a lesson on what gluten-free means, the menu is pretty extensive. The food there is good and it's a favorite of my co-workers and friends so I'm relieved to have options there!

Starts:
RED's Queso
Big Bowl of Guacamole
Chips and Salsa

Greens (can add grilled chicken or shrimp to any):
Garden Salad
Greek Salad
Ship Wreck Iceberg Salad
**Dressings: adobo buttermilk, bleu cheese, citrus oregano, red wine vinaigrette, cayenne brown sugar vinaigrette

Mexicano (NO rice, can choose from charro, black or refried beans):
Shredded Pork Tacos
Carne Asada Tacos
Smoked Brisket Tacos
Chicken Ahumado Enchiladas
Veggie Veggie Enchiladas

Handlers (without bun):
Bird Puller - grilled chicken w/house smoked bacon, cheddar and avocado
Manimal Burger - burger with grilled onions, cheddar, Swiss and 1000 island
Smokey Goat - burger with goat cheese and bacon (must omit fried onions)
Fancy SOB - burger with smoked mozzarella, onions and balsamic mushrooms
Border Burger - burger w/cilantro mayo, roasted serranos and pepper jack cheese

Meals:
Voo Doo Pork Chop - omit the glace

Sides:
Green Beans (these were awesome)
Creamed Spinach (without breadcrumbs)
Charro Beans
Small Garden Salad

Enjoy!