Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The Boys of Summer . . . in Winter

Updated February 7, 2014:

2014 Spring Training games begin on February 26. The Phillies' home ballpark, Bright House Field, will serve all-beef hot dogs on gluten-free buns (by request), grilled chicken and chips at food stands behind home plate and in left field, while Redbridge beer and hard cider will be available at Beers of the World.

In addition to the ones mentioned below, other gluten-free-friendly restaurants in Clearwater include Clear Sky Beachside Cafe, Joe's Crab Shack, BJ's Brewhouse, Nature's Food Patch and Hooters.
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With the Flyers and Sixers in a serious funk and the Eagles hobbled by injuries, the Phillies give Delaware Valley sports fans the best hope for the next championship parade down Broad Street. Pitchers and catcher report to Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida in mid-February 2010.

Many of the Phillies faithful travel every March to Clearwater, where the Phillies have readied for every regular season since 1948. There are multiple daily nonstop flights from Philadelphia to Tampa, the city with the closest major airport to Clearwater about 40 miles to the east. Home games are played at Bright House Field, which opened in 2004. The Phillies’ Grapefruit League games begin on March 4, 2010 with a contest against the New York Yankees, whose Spring Training home is in Tampa.

Lots of gluten-free dining options exist in Clearwater and surrounding cities. In Clearwater and Tampa, there are familiar standbys such as Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Chili’s, Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden. In those towns, gluten-free menus also can be found at Columbia Restaurant, a Latin spot, Smokey Bones Bar and Fire Grill, a barbeque joint, and breakfast and lunch eatery First Watch. Also in Clearwater is Peter Gillham’s Nutrition Center, which has a café that serves gluten-free pizza.

In Tampa, you’ll find recognizable gluten-free-friendly places like The Capital Grille, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, LongHorn Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Pei Wei Asian Diner. There’s gluten-free pizza at Boston’s, seafood at Mitchell’s Fish Market, Southern cuisine at Lee Roy Selmon’s, Asian-American at Kona Grill, barbeque at Shane’s Rib Shack, surf and turf at Stonewood Grill & Tavern and baked goods, sandwiches and salads at Viitals.

About five miles north of Clearwater is the town of Dunedin, the Spring Training home of the Toronto Blue Jays. A new organic gluten-free restaurant called Serendipity Café, serving pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wraps and sweets, is set to open there this month. Meanwhile, you can order gluten-free pasta at Joseph's Little Italy.
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1 comment:

  1. Thanks for mentioning Peter Gillham's in Downtown Clearwater. When you come back this year you will find us 1 block west of our old location on Cleveland Street. Our cafe is evolving into an organic food an wine bar - a 40 seat sit down restaurant that is entirely gluten free and will be called Green Organic Food and Wine Bar. We look forward to seeing everyone.

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