Gluten-Free Road Trip: California Adventure

It had been more than 20 years since I was last in San Francisco (for a late-summer work trip) and all I remember from that time was having to leave the Giants game mid-way through because it was brutally cold. I should have realized I was out of place in shorts and a t-shirt when I noticed most everyone else wearing sweatshirts and pants.

Not that December is warm in California either, but I've always wanted to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and see more of the sights throughout the state. With the family's winter break schedules aligning, we were able to spend four days in San Francisco and the surrounding area last month before driving through Big Sur and ending our vacation in Newport Beach.

My takeaways: California is beautiful, expensive and extremely gluten-free and celiac friendly. Out of all of our meals, we had only one occasion where the restaurant (not mentioned here) provided us with bad information, which we were able to straighten out prior to ordering.

House-made gluten-free blueberry coffee cake
at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco

Our hotel in San Francisco, the Marriott Marquis, is within walking distance of the famous Union Square. I communicated with the kitchen staff prior to the trip and felt confident that our son would be able to eat breakfast at the M Lounge. The eggs and bacon were gluten free, as was the separately baked blueberry coffee cake. Each night, there were several gluten-free hors d'oeuvres at the lounge and on one occasion, the chef brought him a gluten-free dessert.

Among the amazing baked goods at Mariposa Baking Co.
are pain au chocolat and savory "hot pockets"

We spent time in San Francisco taking tours of Oracle Park (the home of the Giants) and Alcatraz and seeing the rest of the city via the on/off Big Bus Tour, which includes stops at Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and the Embarcadero. Our son had safe gluten-free meals at the all-gluten-free Mariposa Baking Co. in the famed Ferry Building and at Oriental Pearl in Chinatown (gluten-free dumplings and more). At the Ferry Building, you can also find sweet and savory options at Dandelion Chocolate, G.L. Alfieri Fruits & Nuts and Humphry Slocombe ice cream. Also look throughout town for the famous See's Candies, where every item is gluten free except for the candy canes. The company recently debuted soft and chewy red licorice medallions, which are extremely difficult to find in a gluten-free version.

C Casa in Napa is entirely gluten free

Nicholson Ranch was among the vineyards we visited in Sonoma

We took a day tour of Napa and Sonoma through Green Dream Tours, visiting three area wineries. For lunch, we stopped at Oxbow Public Market, home of the all-gluten-free C Casa taqueria and Gott's Roadside, which has gluten-free soft-serve ice cream.

On Christmas Day, we departed San Francisco and headed south, spending the evening at the Monterey Marriott. Monterey has its own Fisherman's Wharf, and we had dinner that night at Old Fisherman's Grotto. The kitchen was easily able to accommodate our son and - to his surprise - he was able to enjoy a slice of gluten-free double chocolate cheesecake, made with an almond crust.

The Big Sur region has incredible views

The redwood trees at Henry Cowell State Park
are among the tallest in the world

The next morning, we walked around Cannery Row in Monterey before departing for the gorgeous sights in Big Sur, the mountainous Central Coast region that offers amazing vistas. We stopped for lunch at Nepenthe, a 70-year-old cliffside eatery, where our son had soup and salad. We ended the day at the all-new beachfront Vespera on Ocean in Pismo Beach - one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed at. The house restaurant, Somerset Grill, had many gluten-free options for dinner (our son had the local salmon filet made with a tamari glaze) and the following morning at breakfast, including gluten-free granola.

No trip to California is complete without a stop at In-N-Out Burger, the West Coast chain that is extremely careful preparing gluten-free orders. Gluten-free options include burgers protein-style in lettuce wraps, fries and shakes.

As we headed toward southern California, we ran into the notorious traffic but plowed through past Los Angeles and spent two nights in Newport Beach at Lido House. This beautiful hotel in Orange County blends perfectly into the seaside town and offers bike and surfboard rentals, among other amenities. We rode bikes along the beachfront boardwalk on a perfect 62-degree afternoon. The house restaurant, The Mayor's Table, has a dedicated gluten-free toaster in the kitchen; one morning, the kitchen prepared our son toast with eggs, the next day, avocado toast. We had lunch at Malibu Farm Lido, along the waterfront in Lido Marina Village, and dinner in town at Wild Taco, which has a dedicated fryer for tortilla chips.

Flying American Airlines, we didn't have to look far from our departure gate at Los Angeles International Airport to find a safe gluten-free meal. Lemonade is a fast-casual chain with locations throughout California. Most salad and bowl ingredients are gluten free, as indicated by signage. There's even a packaged gluten-free s'mores brownie.

We love traveling west of the Mississippi, where the scenery and food are so different from the East Coast. I was glad to finally check off a bucket-list vacation and was even happier that we were able to enjoy nearly every meal without hassle.

For information on more gluten-free options in the San Francisco area, visit the Wheatless Wanderlust blog.

Gluten-Free Road Trip: Eating Safely on the East Coast

Holiday travel and vacations can be fun but stressful, even without factoring in seeking out gluten-free-friendly places to eat. The fact that the East Coast has so many restaurants and bakeries that are entirely gluten free makes the trip just a little easier. I’ve joined forces this week with Andrea Tucker of Baltimore Gluten Free, Erin Smith of Gluten-Free Globetrotter and Abby Kelly of Gluten-Free New England to give you a round-up of 100% gluten-free spots from Maine to D.C. Visit their websites for comprehensive information on these and other accommodating places in those areas.

Have a Merry Christmas, Happy 2019 and safe travels no matter where you're headed!

New England (CT, MA, RI, NH, VT & ME)
Contributor: Abby Kelly

Abby Kelly founded Gluten-Free Connecticut to spotlight all the gluten free food her home state had to offer. She soon realized there was more ground to be covered and now has the whole New England gluten-free scene covered! In addition to her comprehensive data base, Abby organizes curated Gluten Free Expos, showcasing large and small businesses throughout New England. For a more comprehensive list, visit her dining directory at Gluten-Free New England.

Abby’s Tip: “New England is full of amazing gluten-free dining! With seafood as our specialty, we’ve got plenty of places serving up celiac-safe (made in dedicated fryers) GF fish and chips, clam cakes, lobster rolls and more. Check out our dining directory for all the deliciousness we have to offer!”

Abby’s list of dedicated gluten-free establishments in New England is here!

New York City
Contributor: Erin Smith

Erin Smith is one savvy globetrotter. Diagnosed with Celiac at age 2, she hasn’t let that stop her from filling her passport and traveling the world. This year, she added a cross-country road trip to her impressive list of travel adventures! She’s passionate about sharing how she lives life without limits, even while living with Celiac, at Gluten-Free Globetrotter. Erin calls her native NYC home and her list of gluten free NYC-area restaurants has been carefully cultivated and regularly updated. If you’re visiting the City that Never Sleeps, makes sure you have her list of restaurants that Never Contain Gluten!

Erin’s Tip: “Do your research on where to eat before leaving home. Make restaurant research part of your itinerary planning!”

Erin’s list of dedicated gluten-free establishments in New York City is here!

Philadelphia Region (DE, PA and NJ)
Contributor: Michael Savett

Michael Savett, founder of Gluten Free Philly, is the gluten-free guru of the Philadelphia area. For nearly a decade, he’s galvanized the gluten-free community around his weekly posts about restaurant news, product releases and events. Michael has organized the Delaware Valley’s more than two dozen dedicated gluten free restaurants, bakeries and businesses in his Gluten Free Philly app and website. An even longer list, full of businesses with gluten-free offerings, is housed at the Gluten Free Philly app [iOS and Android] and on the Gluten Free Philly website.

Michael’s Tip: ”Dining gluten free in Philly doesn’t mean missing out on cheesesteaks and soft pretzels! The region offers celiac-friendly cuisines to suit every palate.”

Michael’s list of dedicated gluten-free establishments in the Delaware Valley is here!

Washington, D.C. and Maryland
Contributor: Andrea Tucker

For those who don’t know the person behind Baltimore Gluten Free, Andrea Tucker is a Health Educator, Celiac Advocate and gluten-free group leader. She founded Baltimore Gluten Free as a landing spot for vetted resources for the gluten-free community in Baltimore and beyond. As a lifelong foodie, when she's not reading about food, writing about it or taking pictures of it, she's eating at one of the gluten free restaurants on this list!

Andrea’s Tip: “Many gluten free businesses cater and sell family-sized portions. Whether you need help with food for your whole event, or just an entree or dessert, think about these businesses. Not only does it save you work but supports them as well. It’s a win-win!”

Andrea’s list of dedicated gluten-free establishments in D.C. and Maryland is here!

Gluten-Free Road Trip: Aruba, One Happy Island

Poolside at the Aruba Marriott

The more things change, the more they stay the same. When we honeymooned in Aruba 21 years ago, I could hardly envision that if we returned it would be with kids in tow, let alone at the same hotel. Part of the "A-B-C" island chain off the coast of Venezuela (also comprised of Bonaire and Curacao), Aruba has fabulous year-round weather and is particularly popular given its proximity outside the Caribbean hurricane belt.

We joined many Americans from the Northeast U.S. last week who fled the frigid conditions back home for some sun and relaxation on "One Happy Island," as license plates in Aruba proudly boast. Though American Airlines flies direct from Philadelphia, we left and returned out of Baltimore on Southwest, whose fares were substantially less than American's. Our base was the Aruba Marriott in the Palm Beach resort area, located on the island's northwest coast. The hotel was one of several with small in-house casinos, while water sports are plentiful along the beach and there are off-road adventure tours as well. Mainly, though, Aruba is a place to unwind, whether by sitting poolside or wading in the sea.

The gelateria at the Aruba Marriott
(Photo Credit: Aruba Marriott)

I had emailed the hotel concierge in advance of our trip to see what options were available for our son on site. He referred me to the executive chef, who told me about the gluten-free section at the breakfast buffet, complete with dedicated toaster, cereal, bagels, donuts and muffins. In addition, the Starbucks at the Marriott has gluten-free egg sandwiches and marshmallow rice crispy treats, the pool bar serves salads and burgers with gluten-free buns, and the sundry shop sells gluten-free cookies and chips. There's also an on-premises gelateria with many gluten-free gelatos and sorbets (each flavor has its own scoop).

Gluten-Free Road Trip: Eating Safely on the East Coast

Holiday travel and vacations can be fun but stressful, even without factoring in seeking out gluten-free-friendly places to eat. The fact that the East Coast has so many restaurants and bakeries that are entirely gluten free makes the trip just a little easier. I’ve joined forces this week with Andrea Tucker of Baltimore Gluten Free and Abby Kelly of Gluten-Free Connecticut to give you a round-up of 100% gluten-free spots from Maryland to Connecticut. Visit their websites for comprehensive information on these and other accommodating places in those areas.

Have a Merry Christmas, Happy 2018 and safe travels no matter where you're headed!

Maryland

Southern Maryland/Metro DC:

The Red Bandana Bakery (8218 Wisconsin Ave Ste. 101, Bethesda). The Red Bandana describes itself as a happy, healthy little bakery. It's a dedicated gluten-free facility that also specializes in vegan, dairy-free, low-fat and low-sugar baked goods.

Western Maryland:

Sanctuary Modern Kitchen (16 North East St., Frederick). Sanctuary Modern Kitchen creates classic comfort dishes, simply sans gluten.

A Better Choice Bakery (27 W Potomac St., Brunswick). A dedicated gluten-free, dairy-free bakery with a selection of corn- and soy-free products too.

One Dish Cuisine (8001 Hillsborough Rd., Ellicott City). Restaurant and bakery with special menu free of the top eight allergens including dairy and casein.

Eastern Shore:

Gluten Free Bakery Girl (116 N Talbot St., Saint Michaels). Bakery specializing in wedding cakes, cupcakes, pastries and gluten free baking. See website for other retail locations throughout Maryland.

Baltimore:

Eat Deliche (1712 Fleet St.). Organic grab-and-go and meal prep.

Points South Latin Kitchen (127 W 27th St.). Serving traditional South American dishes and classic drinks in a heart of historic Fells Point.

Amano Taco (301 W. 29th St.). Authentic Mexican family cooking with a creative twist.

White Envelope Arepa Bar (301 W. 29th St.). Venezuelan street food at R. House food hall serving modern spins on the classic dish.

Sweet 27 Bakery and Cafe (127 W 27th St.). Bar, restaurant and bakery.

Harmony Bakery (3446 Chestnut Ave.). Bakery with a selection of vegan, dairy-free and vegetarian items. Savory offerings include soups, pizzas and tarts.

Heading North (Baltimore County):

Divine12 Café (10709 York Rd., Cockeysville). 100% gluten free, organic and non-GMO café serving a varied menu of nutritious, clean and hearty food. Don’t miss their gluten free fried chicken, crab cakes or filling soups.

Delaware

Cafe at Good Earth Market (31806 Good Earth Lane, Dover, 302-537-7100). Organic food store and cafe featuring  food, a bar, and live music.

At Melissa’s Bed & Breakfast (36 Delaware Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-7504). Located just one and a half blocks to the ocean, circa 1910 beach cottage serves an extended all gluten free continental breakfast.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia:

Agno Grill (2104 Chestnut St., 267-997-4524) Menu featuring fresh, healthy, nutritious Mediterranean Food.

Fox & Son (512 N. 12th St., 215-372-7935). Unique fare including corn dogs, poutine, fried cheese curds and funnel cake.

Farmers Keep (10 S. 20th St., 215-309-2928). Also free of dairy, egg, nuts and shellfish; most beers are not gluten free.

Pure Fare (119 S. 21st St., 267-318-7441; 1609 South St., 267-687-2292; 3417 Spruce St., no phone) Vegan options.

Real Food Eatery (207 S. 16th St., 215-608-8941). Vegan options.

Sweet Freedom Bakery (1424 South St., 215-545-1899). Menu is also free of dairy, soy, egg, corn, peanut and refined sugar; vegan; kosher.

Taffets Bakery (1024 S. 9th St., 215-551-5511). Kosher.

Yoku (119 S. 21st St., 267-318-7441). Vegan, egg-free and nut-free options.

Northern and Western Suburbs:

Gangster Vegan (2454 W. Main St., Norristown, 610-630-1600). Vegan.

Oasis Juice Bar (224 Sugartown Rd., Wayne, 610-254-9797) Vegan.

Sweet Freedom Bakery (1039 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-527-7323). Menu is also free of dairy, soy, egg, corn, peanuts and refined sugar; vegan; kosher.

Sweet Megan Bakery (234 Holland Rd., Southampton, 267-288-5080). Free of major allergens; kosher.

The Happy Mixer (4275 County Line Rd., Chalfont, 267-663-7209; 32 S. Main St., New Hope, 267-664-4886; 12 Summit Sq. Shopping Center, Newtown, 215-860-1989). The menu is also free of tree nuts with dairy-free options.

New Jersey (Southern)

Philadelphia Suburbs: 

Sweet Freedom Bakery (577 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, 856-869-7322) Also free of dairy, soy, egg, corn, peanut and refined sugar; vegan; kosher.

Posh Pop Bakeshop (109 E. Kings Hwy., Haddonfield, 856-428-7674). Dairy and lactose-free options.

Heart Beet Kitchen (29 Haddon Ave., Westmont, 856-240-1106) Also free of dairy and egg.

Just outside of Atlantic City:

Kizbee’s Kitchen (734 W. White Horse Pike, Egg Harbor City, 609-553-3383). Wholesale and retail bakery sourcing local and organic ingredients.

Heading North:

WildFlour Bakery/Cafe (2691 Main St., Lawrenceville, 609-620-1100). Fresh-baked artisan breads, pastries and custom cakes. Serving breakfast and lunch daily made with freshly baked bread, Mary’s Organic Chicken and locally grown produce.

Connecticut

Along I-95:

NewBrook Kitchen & Artisan Market (37 Saugatuck Ave., Westport, (203) 557-6087). If you’re traveling along I-95 North, your first celiac-safe stop is in Westport, where NewBrook Kitchen, a 100% gluten-free and paleo café churns out amazing meals for dining in or to go. You can also pick up desserts, snacks, and other items from local artisans.

Izzi B’s Allergen-Friendly Bakery (22 Knight St., Norwalk, (203) 810-4378). If you’re in the mood for a treat, Izzi B’s Allergen Free Bakery comes up next on 95 North in Norwalk. They are dedicated gluten-free and top eight allergen-free as well. Check their website and place your order prior to arriving if possible, or call to see what they have in stock that day. They do not have a formal storefront, so you’ll be picking up your treats right in the kitchen!

Still Delicious Bakery (13 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook, (860) 552-4662). As you proceed north on  along the coast, you’ll eventually arrive in Westbrook, where Still Delicious cranks out amazing breads, bagels, and treats. Even if you’re not hungry, you must stop in and pick up one of their chocolate chip cookie lava cakes. We dare you to buy just one.

Shayna B’s By the Sea (247 Main St., Old Saybrook, (860) 339-3144). Continuing north, you’ll eventually hit Old Saybrook, where Shayna B’s by the Sea is located. You’ll find her dedicated gluten-free and dairy-free eatery right on Main Street where you can grab sandwiches, calzones, soups baked goods and more.

Along Route 84:

Swoon Gluten Free Bakery (109 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield, (203) 438-4326). If you’re up for a little detour, Swoon just might be the cutest bakery we’ve ever seen. Just swing south from Danbury to their adorably tiny little shop in Ridgefield. They may be small, but they make incredible treats worth bringing to your holiday hosts or hostesses. They have vegan and dairy-free options as well.

Pure Love Bakery (136 Simsbury Rd. #16, Avon, (860) 409-0302). Tucked away in the beautiful rolling hills of the Farmington Valley is Pure Love Bakery. They’re about 20 minutes off of Route 84, but if you have some extra time, this place is worth the detour. They make pretty much everything – breads, rolls, English muffins, cookies, cakes, brownies –  anything your little gluten-free heart desires. They always have fun stuff in their front case, but if you’re looking for something in particular, call ahead and place a special order. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a bag of the best gluten-free granola around!

Nature’s Grocer (81 East St., Vernon, (860) 870-0020). After you pass through Hartford and approach the border with Massachusetts, you’ll pass through Vernon, which is home to one of our all-time favorite spots, Nature’s Grocer. Their dedicated café makes all sorts of sandwiches, paninis, wraps, soups, pizzas, calzones and more, which you can eat in their adorable dining area or take to go (vegan cheese available). They also make an enormous number of baked goods, many of which are vegan as well. 

Along 91 North:

The Sweet Beet (498 Salmon Brook St., Granby, (860) 653-2338). If you’re traveling on 91 North through Connecticut, don’t miss The Sweet Beet in Granby. It’s a bit off the beet-en path, but if you’re gluten free and vegan, it’s worth every beautiful mile. They have cases full of prepared foods and they’ll make sandwiches to go. They also have soups and amazing desserts.

Viva L'Italia!

Today's post is written by guest blogger Heather Stern, a longtime celiac advocate and volunteer, who shares her gluten-free finds from her recent trip to Italy.

Imagine for a moment starting everyday with an espresso and gluten-free pastry, spending afternoons eating pizza and gelato, and finding restaurants around every corner where the staff knows exactly what you mean when you ask for gluten-free pasta (or senza glutine/sono celiaco). This paradiso exists. This is Italy.

I originally planned the timing of my trip around one of Jovial Foods’ gluten-free Italian cooking getaways, but quickly found that most of their pricing was not very flexible for a solo traveler. So instead, I created a list of ideas (based on blogs, articles and history lessons over the years) and hoped that my instincts and smart phone would culminate into one great adventure.

Day 1: I started in Rome, where I stayed at an Airbnb around the corner from the Pantheon (and 10 glorious steps away from the gluten-free bakery/shop Pandali).  This shop quickly became a part of my daily routine where I attempted to try every item they offered. My “Welcome to Rome” twilight tour to managed to keep the jetlag at bay, especially with the stop at Della Palma, a gluten-free-friendly gelateria. For dinner we found a charming restaurant named Pantharei that offered gluten-free pizza and pasta options from their little alley-way nook.

Wonderland Bakery has gluten-free sweets

Day 2: I began the day with a tour of Cinque Terre where the friendly staff were not so well versed in gluten free options; luckily, trains in Italy actually carry gluten-free snacks and I found (through the magic of Google) a delicious veggie and pesto sandwich snack from Lunch Box in Vernazza and a few sweet treats from Wonderland Bakery in the town of Monterroso.

Gluten-Free Road Trip: What Happens in Vegas ...

Though we usually head to Florida between Christmas and New Year's Day with our boys, this time around we opted for something different - going west. It had been more than 15 years since my wife and I were last in Las Vegas and much has changed since then. This time around, however, we had to be mindful of gluten-free dining options. I'm happy to report that both on and off the Strip, Sin City has many accommodating restaurants.

Topgolf (above) and M&M World are among the non-gambling
attractions on the Las Vegas Strip

While gambling and Vegas go hand in hand, you don't have to be a high roller to enjoy the area's many activities and sights. We used one of the many hotels on the Strip - Mandalay Bay at the southern end - as the base for our week-long stay. Since we were flying to and from the East Coast, two days were effectively for travel, leaving us with five full days to sight-see. We flew back on New Year's Eve, but as you can imagine, Las Vegas is a popular draw for holiday revelers, so the city was crowded throughout the week. (Artists as varied as Drake, Bruno Mars, Elton John and Sting were performing in town on the 31st.) During the week, we saw the always-entertaining comedy-magic act Penn & Teller (who are in residence at the Rio), America's Got Talent-winning illusionist Mat Franco (at the Linq) and the incomparable Jerry Seinfeld at one of his two shows at Caesars Palace, whose set was as funny as ever. Must-see Strip attractions include the Mirage volcano, the Bellagio fountains, the gondola rides at the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes, M&M World and the Coca-Cola store (where you can sample soda flavors from around the world), the Stratosphere tower, and the Topgolf golf entertainment complex at the MGM Grand (there's one opening in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey in late 2017; gluten-free flatbreads and burger buns are on the menu).

Winter in Utah's Zion National Park

We alternated our days between spending time in Las Vegas proper and taking road trips to explore the surrounding area. If you plan to visit places away from the Strip during your stay, it's worth your while to rent a car compared to the cost of paying for a tour, particularly for more than two people - the drives themselves are priceless. On one of the days, I made the nearly three-hour, one way trek though Nevada and Arizona to Utah's Zion National Park - a breathtaking sight, especially in the winter.

The gateway to Zion National Park is a small Utah town called Springdale. We stopped for lunch at Cafe Soleil, where our son had the Southwest Chicken Salad. Gluten-free options are noted on the menu and there were pre-packaged snacks and cookies available.

Within an hour's drive from Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam (above)
and Valley of Fire State Park

Our other - shorter - road trip was to the majestic Hoover Dam, traversing back alongside Lake Mead and through Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park, where we walked several trails.

We found it easy to dine gluten free at the Strip hotels we visited. At Mandalay Bay, our waiter at the SeaBreeze Cafe was diligent about making sure our son's breakfast (eggs, potatoes and bacon) were made separately. For dinner one evening, the chef at Lupo by Wolfgang Puck prepared his gluten-free spaghetti in a clean pot with fresh water and tossed it with a Bolognese sauce. Though we didn't get to many of the other restaurants at Mandalay Bay, most can accommodate and note gluten-free options on their menus, including Border Grill, Fleur by Hubert Keller and House of Blues.

The Shoppes at Mandalay Place have gluten-free-friendly
restaurants that include Burger Bar (above) and Rick Moonen
RM Seafood

At the adjoining Shoppes at Mandalay Place, our older son enjoyed a delicious burger (with gluten-free bun), separately prepared steak fries and a shake at Burger Bar. For dessert on another evening, we went to Rick Moonen's RM Seafood for "Rick's Tasting Game," 16 flavors of ice cream and sorbet served blind. (We asked to make sure that all flavors were gluten free.) We were given a sheet to write down our guesses and if we got all correct, the dessert would be on the house. Though we only got about half right, we had a fun time trying them all. RM Seafood lists gluten-free options on the lunch and dinner menus.

Lupo by Wolfgang Puck (above) and El Segundo Sol are
among Las Vegas's many gluten-free-friendly
restaurants.

The Lettuce Entertain You chain of restaurants out of Chicago has long had a reputation of being gluten-free-friendly, and the Vegas outposts we went to were no exception. My wife commented that the chicken fajitas she had for lunch at El Segundo Sol were the best she'd ever had. We took advantage of some refills of the unlimited tortilla chips (prepared in a dedicated fryer) and our older son had a chicken quesadilla made with grilled corn tortillas. On the night my wife went to see the Michael Jackson-themed Cirque de Soleil show (which she highly recommends), the boys and I ate at Mon Ami Gabi, the chain's French bistro at the Paris Hotel. (There are East Coast locations in Bethesda, Maryland and Reston, Virginia.) Not only did the restaurant bring out warm gluten-free bread for our older son, he had French onion soup with gluten-free croutons for the first time as the prelude to a wonderful salmon entree.

Incidentally, we ended up at Mon Ami Gabi because our original plans were scuttled. We had a reservation at Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq Promenade but had to cancel after after there was a gas outage in the shopping complex. We were looking forward to some gluten-free fried chicken (prepared in a dedicated fryer) but will have to wait for next time - or at least until we get to the original location in Brooklyn.

We did try one hotel buffet for breakfast, the aptly named MORE at the Luxor. The chef came out to speak with us about safe options and several items were clearly labeled gluten free. However, the food was fair at best and not worth the $20 per person that would have been better spent elsewhere.

We also dined at a couple of spots with New York connections. Although the original Carnegie Deli in New York City just served its last pastrami sandwich at the end of 2016, a subsidiary remains open at the Mirage, where our son had corned beef sans bread with a side of cole slaw. He had an ahi tuna salad and a banana split at the Las Vegas outpost of Manhattan coffee shop Serendipity 3, which closed since the time of our visit.

The gluten-free crepes at Crepe Expectations are worth
a drive off the Las Vegas Strip.

Off the Strip, popular West Coast fast-foodery In-N-Out was careful to prepare protein-style burgers and fries. One morning, our son had his first crepe - made with gluten-free batter, Nutella, bananas and strawberries - at Crepe Expectations. The staff uses one of the griddles for gluten-free crepes and cleans it thoroughly when not in use exclusively for them.

Although the Joseph James Brewing Company in nearby Henderson does not have a taproom or offer tours, visitors can find the brewery's gluten-free Fox Tail Pale Ale sold in local bars, markets and liquor stores. The beer, sold in cans as a four-pack, is made with organic rice as a base.

You can find more Las Vegas restaurant recommendations posted at Gluten Free in Las Vegas, where Vegas resident Lisa writes about her favorites, and at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.

Ride to Rhode Island

Having covered much of the region from New York to D.C. on weekend family getaways over the years, we looked to expand our geographic footprint this summer. It had been quite some time since my last visit to Newport, Rhode Island's famed coastal town - 25 years to be exact. A return trip, even if a bit farther than our usual domain, was in order.

After a washed-out false start two weeks earlier, we set out in the end of July for a two-night stay over a weekend coinciding with the renowned Newport Folk Festival. In addition to the Folk Festival and its jazz festival counterpart, Newport is perhaps best known as the longtime home of the America's Cup yacht race as well as hundreds of Gilded Age-era mansions.

On the trip north, we stopped in Mystic, Connecticut, a quaint fishing village made famous by 1988's Mystic Pizza, which featured Julia Roberts in one of her first film roles. Though it likely wasn't an option back then, the original Mystic Pizza (56 W. Main St., 860-536-3700) offers gluten-free pizza, which our son described as one of the best he's ever eaten.

Come Sail Away

Royal Caribbean continues to impress the Gluten Free Philly clan. We spent time over the holidays on Royal's Independence of the Seas, currently based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a five-night cruise with stops in Falmouth, Jamaica and Royal's private resort in Labadee, Haiti. This was the third time we've cruised with Royal since our 15-year-old was diagnosed with celiac disease, and each time it's gotten easier to manage his diet.

While the traditional dinner seating times for the ship's main dining room still exist, many cruise lines - like Royal - allow guests flexibility to choose their own dinner reservation times. Either way, you'll be served by the same waitstaff every night, so they become familiar with guests' dietary requirements. In our case, our servers took great care of our son, from bringing him freshly baked gluten-free bread at the start of each dinner meal to taking his order in advance the prior evening so that the following night's entree would come out at the same time as those of his family and friends. Royal's dining room menus are clearly labeled with gluten-free, vegetarian and lactose-free options.

Smooth Sailing

If you have a glass-half-full outlook, the mention of cruising ought to trigger memories of "The Love Boat" rather than, say, "Titanic." While some things stay the same - the purser, the cruise director and the bartender are still mainstays - modern cruise vacations have evolved to the point where many guests don't even leave the ship given the many activities on board.

Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas
(All photos courtesy Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. except where noted)

After spending a few days in Orlando to kick off our summer family vacation in August, we drove to Port Canaveral, where we dropped off our rental car and shuttled to Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas for a three-night trip to the Bahamas. The Enchantment, which sails year-round between Florida and the Bahamas, is part of an older class of ships in Royal's fleet but was overhauled in 2005.

Building a Better Mouse Trip

When is a family trip to Orlando not a traditional Disney vacation? When it doesn’t involve a visit to the “Big Four” Disney World theme parks. Our family’s original itinerary included Epcot, a Disney water park and Universal Studios. But with just days to go before departure and no agreement among the boys as to which parks to go to and which rides to check out - we went to two Disney parks and Universal in California last summer - I called an audible.

Since we couldn’t change our destination, I revisited our original plan to take a cruise. The hurdle would be our younger son’s refusal to sail, since he apparently has sat through one too many Shark Weeks on TV. My wife and I ultimately convinced him that all would be well, so I booked a three-night cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas departing out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Gluten-Free Road Trip: Hollywood Nights

Previous: A Whole New World

As famous California roadways go, the Pacific Coast Highway is a top-five candidate. Otherwise known as State Route 1, the famous road runs along much of the coastline and connects the northern San Francisco Bay Area to the southern part of the state. One magnificent stretch runs through Malibu, where we had dinner our first night in metro Los Angeles. Our place of choice was Duke's Malibu, an offshoot of the Duke's family of restaurants well known in Hawaii, where we were able to get an ocean-view booth. Duke's has a gluten-free menu, off which our son ordered a Rocket Salad (arugula, Maui onion, bacon, roasted beets, goat cheese, white balsamic vinaigrette) and ono (also known as wahoo) glazed with a chili and cumin aioli with white rice and black bean salsa as sides.

Before returning to the Sheraton Delfina for the evening, we drove down another famous highway, Wilshire Boulevard, to get dessert at Beachy Cream in Santa Monica. Not just any dessert, mind you, but a homemade ice cream sandwich - two gluten-free chocolate chip cookies with pistachio ice cream.

The next day, we drove to Universal Studios in Hollywood. The production company behind classics like Jaws, Psycho and Jurassic Park runs an hour-long studio tour that's included in the price of  admission to the attached theme park. We took in the amazingly realistic Transformers 3-D ride (a couple times, actually) and Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster before going on the tour.

Among the many highlights of the tour was the King Kong 3-D motion simulator, which made us feel like we were trapped amid a jungle battle between the famous gorilla and a horde of dinosaurs. We also got to see Doc's DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Wisteria Lane exterior set from Desperate Housewives, and the War of the Worlds plane crash scene.

We broke for lunch at one of the CityWalk restaurants, Wolfgang Puck Bistro, where our older son amazingly ordered from the kids' menu for the first time in years. That said, he got two orders of salmon skewers with green beans.

In the afternoon, we conquered the upper level of the park, where we entered multiple dimensions at Shrek 4-D, Terminator 2:3-D and The Simpsons Ride. The best attraction there was Waterworld, a 20-minute live-action rescue adventure featuring lots of stunts and special effects.

The Flintstones BBQ stand was among the concessions listed on the park's gluten-free dining guide, so my son ordered the BBQ chicken platter, which came with sides of baked potato and cole slaw. The boys chased dinner with Ben and Jerry's vanilla soft serve.

With three theme-park days under our belts, we opted to leave the driving to others the next day. We took a 6-1/2 hour guided tour of Los Angeles. The tour took us through several neighborhoods where some of Hollywood's famous make their homes, including Bill Cosby, Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Jack Black, Will Smith and Jackie Chan. We saw famous sites like Rodeo Drive, Paramount Studios and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (where I got to see the star awarded a few years ago to my favorite band, Canadian rockers Rush).

This tour, like many others, stops for lunch at the Original Farmers' Market. There's a stand there that serves gluten-free pizza, but we weren't comfortable with the preparation. We weren't able to find any other accommodating vendors, so I ended up taking my son to a nearby Chipotle for a rice bowl. As it turned out, we were only a few blocks from fonuts and had time to spare, so we walked over to the shop. We were amazed to see so many varieties of gluten-free donuts. My son devoured the coconut passion fruit donut before we left, and so I ended up buying another flavor - chocolate hazelnut - for his breakfast the next morning.

We stopped for dinner before returning to the hotel at the Santa Monica location of Buddha's Belly. With a large gluten-free menu to choose from, we ordered family style and shared shrimp dumplings, pad thai, fried rice and peanut noodles.

I was nervous heading into the vacation that nine days was too long of a trip, but there was so much to do in southern California that the time flew by. With just a couple of exceptions and a bit of planning, it was extremely easy to find gluten-free options throughout the region.

Gluten-Free Road Trip: A Whole New World

Previous: California Dreamin'

This being a road trip, we couldn't miss an opportunity to catch a baseball game. After we checked into the Sheraton Park at the Anaheim Resort - a short walk to the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks - we had dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. [GF menu] nearby. Son No. 1 got the Accidental Fish & Shrimp, a plate of broiled mahi mahi and grilled shrimp seasoned Cajun-style, and a side of broccoli.

Before we left on the trip, I bought cheap tickets to the Angels-Indians game online. Despite the presence of Albert Pujols, Torii Hunter, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson on the roster of a team in the thick of the American League wild-card hunt, Angel Stadium was half empty (or half full, if that's how you roll).

The stadium itself is among the oldest in the Majors, although it's been renovated since its mid-1960s construction. Compared to the swanky retro-style ballparks in Philadelphia, Baltimore and other cities, Angel Stadium is dull. Gluten-free veggie dogs, black bean burgers, nachos, sweet potato fries, salads, fruit bowls and hummus are located at Melissa's Fresh For You stands in the first-base and third-base food courts and Redbridge beer is sold throughout the venue.

The game itself was a snooze, with the lowly Indians taking an early lead and ultimately winning the contest. We left early but stopped at an ice cream stand on the way out. I asked for vanilla soft serve in a cup, but the woman at the counter told me that I had to get it in a cone or upgrade to a large sundae in a decorative bowl. I told her that our son couldn't have the cone because he was on a gluten-free diet and that he didn't want a sundae, but she wouldn't compromise. And I wasn't willing to compromise by paying more for a plain sundae just to get it in a bowl. Enter my wife. She nearly jumped over the counter as she told the clerk: "Have some sympathy. My son has celiac disease and he cannot have the cone." With that, the clerk went to check with her manager. She returned with a cup of vanilla soft serve. Ah, the power of persuasion.

We spent our first full day in Anaheim at the legendary Disneyland. The park is much smaller than I expected, having been to the much larger Disney World in Orlando several times. The size made it easy for us to cover the park in a single day. As in Florida, Disney's California resorts are great for gluten-free dining. (The Disney Eats blog, written by a Disneyland employee, has a current list of gluten-free options; the list is also available at City Hall at Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A.) Lunch was in Frontierland, where we ate at River Belle Terrace. Our older son devoured a freshly carved turkey sandwich on a gluten-free roll with a side of cole slaw and baked beans. At dinner he ate a pastrami-topped burger and fries at Village Haus, a Pinocchio-themed restaurant in Fantasyland. At both places, I spoke with managers who oversaw the orders.

Disneyland's Mark Twain Riverboat

The best attractions at Disneyland included Indiana Jones Adventure, the Star Wars-themed Star Tours flight simulator, Space Mountain and Matterhorn Bobsleds. Our park experience was made much easier with the Fast Pass system (which allows guests to come back to more popular attractions at a designated time with little to no wait) and the Disney Parks mobile app that provides up-to-date wait times. The impressive fireworks show capped off an active day.

Disneyland's sister park, the 10-year-old California Adventure, was our base the much of the following day. The park just debuted a new section called Cars Land, home of the fantastic Radiator Springs Racers. Other rides we liked were Soarin' Over California, Toy Story Mania and Goofy's Sky School.

Restaurants at the Paradise Pier Boardwalk had many gluten-free options. At lunch, our older son had chicken skewers with Moroccan chili sauce at Paradise Garden Grill; directly next door, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta serves gluten-free versions of their namesake foods.

By far, the most popular attraction at California Adventure is Radiator Springs Racers. I managed to snag four of the last few Fast Passes around 10 a.m.; the return time on the tickets was 10 p.m. After covering most of the rides we wanted to see, we walked back to the hotel for some poolside relaxation and I picked up pizzas from the zpizza location in neighboring Santa Ana. (The entire chain is GREAT Kitchens-trained through the NFCA.)

At night, we returned for seconds (and thirds) on several park rides and caught the majestic World of Color light-and-water show before finally experiencing Radiator Springs. The journey takes riders through familiar scenes from Cars before the vehicles rev up and race through the faux mountains.

Before we left the Anaheim area, we sought out two other culinary finds native to California: Pinkberry and In-N-Out Burger. Pinkberry was among the originators of the tart frozen yogurt craze in the U.S. All of the yogurts and fruits and some of the toppings are gluten free. In-N-Out, a West Coast chain, pioneered the fast-food drive-through restaurant concept. The chain's fries are gluten free, as are the protein-style burgers wrapped in lettuce. The yogurt is worth returning for; the burgers are just fair.

Next: Hollywood Nights (coming soon)

Gluten-Free Road Trip: California Dreamin'

I'd only been to California once. It was more than 10 years ago on a short business trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco. I promised myself that I would go back and check out what I missed the first time - and I missed a lot. My wife spent a summer in Los Angeles in between college semesters, and longed to return. So it didn't take much for the four of us to agree on a West Coast summer vacation.

We chose to hit southern California on this trip, figuring that there was more to do with the kids. Despite our penchant for long-distance driving, we opted to fly via Virgin America, a West Coast-based airline that recently began flights to Los Angeles (and San Francisco) from Philadelphia. We packed some snacks for the plane both ways, but also ordered some through the interactive screens in front of our seats. The gluten-free choices included a Waldorf salad, popcorn, mixed nuts, Popchips and a cheese & fruit platter.

After picking up a rental car at LAX, we headed south to La Jolla. Along the way - the only time we hit the feared southern California traffic - we stopped for lunch at Yard House [GF menu] at the Irvine Spectrum Center, where our older son ordered a jasmine rice bowl with shrimp and vegetables. The kitchen substituted gluten-free sweet chili sauce for the standard rice bowl sauce. (Yard House, known for its extensive beer list, has Redbridge and Brunehaut Bio Ambrée, a deglutenized Belgian ale.)

See's Candies, a West Coast-centric candy shop, had an outpost at the Spectrum Center, where every item was gluten free. Free samples, too! The California Brittle, Milk Butterchews and the coconut-topped Kona Mocha candies were our favorites.

Hours later, we checked into the Sheraton La Jolla, about 20 minutes outside of San Diego. While not a beachfront property, the hotel neighbors the famed Torrey Pines golf course and is a short drive from the stunning La Jolla Cove. Exhausted from a long travel day, we went into town and had what was our best meal of the trip. Similar to our own Pure Tacos, Puesto is an all-gluten-free Mexican street food restaurant. The made-to-order meals are cooked on a plancha grill just behind the counter. The four of us shared a bunch of steak, chicken and salmon tacos topped with crispy melted cheese. Simple, inexpensive and tasty. (Incidentally, a great resource for all things gluten free in the San Diego area is the Gluten Free in SD blog.)

The beach town was filled with cute boutiques and shops. Among them was Cups, an organic bakery that has at least three gluten-free cupcakes on hand daily. The first night, we sampled PB Cup and Raspberry Cheesecake and returned the next evening to try Old School Vanilla, PB&J and Bunny Love.

After dinner, we walked over to the Cove and marveled as the sun set beyond the Pacific Ocean.

After eating breakfast at the hotel, we began our only full day in La Jolla by returning to the beach, planting our gear in front of a lifeguard station. This proved fortuitous, since my wife was soon stung on her left foot by a stingray while wading in the ocean. Neutralizing the venom required her to soak her foot in scalding hot water for an hour. That and an antihistamine pretty much wiped her out for the morning.

The kids spent the afternoon at the hotel pool while my wife recuperated. She was game enough to venture out for dinner at Roppongi [GF menu], an Asian tapas-style restaurant in La Jolla. (Roppongi has the same owners at Sammy's Woodfired Grill, where we shared gluten-free thin-crust barbeque and margherita pizzas for lunch.) The food at Roppongi was excellent, although the service was decidedly less so. Our older one began his meal with a California roll (and gluten-free soy sauce) and sweet corn soup with lobster, but watched us eat the rest of our meals while he waited for the Indonesian chicken satays.

After I posted a picture of said sunset on Facebook, an elementary-school friend of mine who now lives in Laguna Beach messaged me to see if we would be anywhere near her town. Actually, I wrote back, we did plan to stop there on the way to Anaheim, our next destination. It seemed that we would not be getting together since she had to work. She did, however, recommend that we visit the public Table Rock Beach. We parked along the Pacific Coast Highway and as we descended a flight of steps on the way to the beach, I heard someone calling my name. My friend spotted us as she was pulling out of her condo parking lot. (Fate? I'm always amazed when that happens. Had we hit one more light or left 30 seconds earlier from the hotel . . . .) I introduced her to my family as we tried to catch up ever so quickly before she left for work. We soaked in the rest of the afternoon on a pristine stretch of the Pacific Ocean.

Next: A Whole New World: Disneyland and Anaheim