Great Resources for Dining Out With Food Allergies

TI came across two great Web sites that have a comprehensive list of dining options for people who are:

Dairy Free

http://www.godairyfree.org/eating-out/fast-food-dairy-free-listings

Gluten Free

https://www.verywell.com/gluten-free-fast-food-562726

EAT: Zoe's Kitchen

Zoe's Kitchen just opened in my hometown. A chain of Mediterranean food located in 15 states, mainly in the southeast.

I was pleasantly surprised that Zoe's not only has detailed nutritional facts, but their gluten free items are listed on the menu! A large portion of the menu items were gluten free minus the pita bread. I tried the Greek salad and hummus combo minus the pita bread and extra veggies for dipping. Yummy!

The atmosphere was great with a large and inviting outdoor seating area. It is a popular place for lunch. The long line did not lead to a long wait with the staff quickly and efficiently taking orders. The young lady taking my order was knowledgeable about the gluten free menu (a plus!), and a staff member quickly brought out our order, even fixing an incorrect order with efficiency so no one in our group was sitting without food for any length of time. 

I am excited to return soon to try another yummy gluten free Mediterranean meal!

EAT: Extraordinary Cupcakes, Williamsburg, VA

Need a sweet treat after a day in Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, or on one of many of the fine golf courses in Williamsburg, VA? Extraordinary Cupcakes is the place! 

They serve a variety of interesting flavors of regular (read gluten filled) cupcakes, but on weekends, the staff prepares a gluten free chocolate cupcake in a separate space using Cup 4 Cup gluten free flour (Edit: Cup 4 Cup flour is NOT corn free). The gluten free cupcake is iced to order with choices like Buttercream frosting, Chocolate Buttercream frosting, and cream cheese frosting. I ordered mine with the Buttercream Frosting, which is also corn free. 

Extraordinary Cupcakes also serves a fun selection of beverages, including Mexican Coke and Mexican Fanta, both made with cane sugar. 

With its fun decor and great cupcake selection, Extraordinary Cupcakes draws a crowd. Be sure to stop in early in the day, as I visited mid day on a Saturday and stood in line out the door. Extraordinary Cupcakes does custom orders as well as cakes to order. 

Extraordinary Cupcakes

1220 Richmond Rd. 

Williamsburg, VA

757.645.2122

extraordinarycupcakes.com

EAT: Fonuts in Los Angeles, CA

What do you do when you have a sweet tooth and you are in Los Angeles? Head over to Fonuts. According to their Web site (fonuts.com), a fonut is a doughnut that is baked and/or steamed, never fried. The best part of Fonuts is that it offers gluten free and vegan fonut options! The gluten free fonuts contain almond flour, and the bakers take great care to prevent cross contamination from their non-gluten free fonuts. 

The gluten free fonut flavors include: chocolate with sprinkles, lemon, vanilla latte, chocolate hazelnut, peanut butter chocolate, pumpkin, banana chocolate, chocolate coconut, coconut passion fruit, and banana cinnamon. 

Fonuts is located near Beverly Hills on West 3rd St. and is always a stop for me when I am in the LA area. 

Fonuts

8104 West 3rd St. 

Los Angeles, CA 90048

323.592.3075

Food Allergies?? No worries, mate!

Eating out with food allergies is risky, but Outback Steakhouse, a national chain, makes it much easier. It's parent company, Bloomin' Brands, also owns Bonefish Grill; Carrabba's Italian Grill; Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar; and Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cusine. 

Outback Steakhouse has a gluten free menu, but if you have other allergies, no worries, just speak to your server or ask for a manager.  One of the great things about Outback is their gluten free menu is extensive, so you won't feel limited or deprived by your options. With my many food allergies, my favorite meal at Outback is the Prime Rib medium, no au jus (it is not gluten free), a side of fresh horseradish, and a sweet potato. Other gluten free menu items include: salads, bunless burgers, steaks, ribs, and seafood. They even have a gluten free dessert, the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under, and a gluten free Joey (kids) menu! The one downside is that their Aussie Fries (french fries) are not gluten free.  As stated before, please check with your server or manager if you have other food allergies. The servers are well trained and can assist you with ingredients. 

EAT: Lunch at 2Good2B, San Diego, CA

Ok, so after I raved about 2Good2B Bakery in my last blog post, I found myself with a day off and in downtown San Diego in the Gaslamp District. It was lunch time and I was right down the street from 2Good2B's San Diego location that just opened. What a great chance to check out something besides their sweets (ok, ok, I had dessert too!). The San Diego location is a gluten free, corn free, and soy free bakery just like the Encinitas location. 

I tried the Roasted Turkey Panini. Yum! It came with a huge side salad. I got the panini without the Ceasar spread and it was great without it. The bread was soft with a nice crunch from the grilling, not crumbly like a lot of gluten free breads. I added a Mexican Coke, made with sugar, not corn syrup. It was my first Coke in three years! 

Back to what 2Good2B does best, desserts! I tasted a slice of their carrot cake. Wow, so good and moist. Their San Diego location has a good variety of cupcake choices, but not as many as the Encinitas location. They also make wedding cakes and had a sample on display. 

I really liked the vibe of the 2Good2B San Diego location. Sleek and modern with fun colors and a nice outdoor seating area, it is a great addition to the Gaslamp District. Check it out if you are in the area!

2Good2B Bakery and Cafe

423 F Street

San Diego, CA

EAT: 2Good2B Bakery, Encinitas, CA

Are you in the San Diego area and need a yummy, allergen free treat? Head over to 2Good2B Bakery and Cafe in Encinitas. 2Good2B is a gluten free and corn free (including corn syrup free) bakery. They can also do egg free and dairy free on request and offer several cupcakes that are egg and dairy free. The staff was super friendly (especially Luis) and very knowledgable about their products. 

2Good2B makes a variety of cupcakes, muffins, brownies, breads, and bars, as well as chicken pot pies, Mac and cheese, sandwiches, and pizzas. They also make wedding cakes to local customers. I stuck to the sweet treats during my two trips and everything I tried was delicious! Do you know how many years it has been since I have had red velvet cake?? Years! And, 2Good2B did not disappoint. My favorites were the red velvet cupcake (of course!), the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, and the lemon bar. 

With limited hours of operation (Tuesday - Saturday 7am-6pm, Sunday 8am-2pm), 2Good2B offers take home meals of pizza, chicken pot pies, soups, salads, and Mac and cheese, which looked great. I wish they were open for dinner, as both my trips were right before closing time and I would have loved to eat dinner there. 

It is great to be able to walk into a cafe and bakery and not worry about wheat gluten and corn!

2Good2B Bakery and Cafe

204 N El Camino Real 

Encinitas, CA

EAT: In-N-Out Burger, A West Coast Treat!

Every trip to the West Coast includes at least one visit (ok, lots of visits) to In-N-Out Burger! In-N-Out is awesome for those of us with food allergies, and they use high quality ingredients, even though it is a fast food chain restaurant. 

The hamburger patties are never frozen and are 100% American beef, no preservatives or fillers. Each burger is made to order. The fries are cut fresh daily and the shakes are made with 100% real ice cream. 

To accommodate my food allergies, I tell the person taking my order that I have allergies, each of which are noted on my order and on my receipt! He or she even announces that an allergy order has been made so your order can be prepared in a special station.  I order my double-double burger protein style, meaning no bun and gluten free. Protein style is when the burger is wrapped with lettuce. I also request no special sauce. The fries are also gluten free, since they are the only fried item in the restaurant. 

I love to be able to grab food at a fast food restaurant and be able to get as safe a meal as possible. Now, In-N-Out needs to go nationwide!

EAT: Camino Bakery, Winston Salem, NC

I always try to find hidden gems on my travels that cater to people with food allergies.  It is a pleasant surprise to find one in your own hometown. Camino Bakery is not "hidden," it is located in the middle of downtown Winston-Salem on 4^th St in the Nissen Building across from a/perture cinema. Camino is expanding its "flourless" line of baked products to accommodate those with gluten allergies. Although, Camino is not a dedicated gluten free bakery, they take great care to prevent cross contamination.

Wednesdays are my favorite days to stop by Camino, as it is half price 3-layer cake slice day and they always have a different flourless cake each week, in addition to their flourless quiche, flourless Queen of Sheba cake, flourless chocolate dipped coconut macaroons, and flourless almond horns.

In addition, for those with a dairy allergy, they can also use almond or soy milk as a replacement in their coffee drinks. The chalkboard listing the syrups for crafted coffee drinks states which syrups contain dairy. 

Camino is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but don’t be surprised to find a line between meals or late at night. It is a great place to meet up with friends for lunch or a glass of wine.  You will always see people working on their computers, reading books, knitting, or just people watching.  It has a great coffeehouse vibe with soft music playing in the background. I always find the staff very knowledgeable about their ingredients and happy to answer any questions.

Camino Bakery
310 West 4th Street
Winston-Salem, NC
336.721.9990

EAT: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Firebirds Grilled Shrimp and Strawberry Salad

Several years ago while driving to a golf tournament, I stopped for dinner at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Birmingham, AL. At the time, Firebirds did not have a gluten free menu. Luckily, the CEO and Executive Chef were at the Birmingham location that night.  Being from North Carolina and Firebirds corporate headquarters being in Charlotte, NC, I asked my server if I could chat with the CEO and Executive Chef.  After swapping NC stories for a few minutes, I mentioned that a gluten free menu would be a great addition to the restaurant, which now boasts 35 locations around the country.  We discussed the challenges and requirements of creating such a menu and they were very interested in providing their customers with more options.  Now, Firebirds has an extensive gluten free menu.

Firebirds has great dinner salads! Prior to going dairy and egg free, my favorite was the Firebirds BLT salad, tasting exactly like a BLT complete with roasted garlic ranch dressing. The BLT salad is just as tasty with the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. For those of you who are not dairy free, ask for a side of their aged Cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top (they toss the salad in the dressing, and trust me, the cheese tastes completely different if tossed in the dressing!). Now, I get the Grilled Shrimp and Strawberry Salad and replace the Balsamic Vinaigrette (has eggs) with the Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette. Still super delish!  If you have other allergies besides wheat gluten, be sure to ask your server or speak with the manager.  There is a book with all ingredients in the back that they are happy to share to make sure you have as safe a meal as possible.

Firebirds BLT Dinner Salad

The gluten free menu also has several types of beef, including prime rib and filet mignon, as well as a variety of seafood and baby back ribs.  They also have a selection of five sides to go with entrees and a gluten free kid's menu.  

My only caveat with Firebirds is the lack of a gluten free dessert (everyone needs something sweet occasionally, right?!).  I hear they have remedied this with a new gluten free flourless chocolate cake, available for a limited time. Hopefully, it will be a permanent fixture on the menu soon!

So, if you are in Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia, be sure to check out Firebirds and its gluten free menu.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
http://www.firebirdsrestaurants.com

EAT: Put some Mojo in your BBQ (Jacksonville, FL)!

Looking for an allergen friendly dinner in Jacksonville, FL, but don't want to go to the usual chain restaurants? Then, head over to Mojo BBQ (www.mojobbq.com)! There are four locations in the Jacksonville area. I took a trip to Mojo no. 4 (only a few minutes from Sweet Theory Baking Company (see earlier post)).  I was not disappointed.  They have BBQ, soups, salads, sandwiches, and southern platters.  A quick chat with my server and she brought me a list of menu items that contained gluten.

Being from North Carolina, I am a little particular about my BBQ. To my surprise, the menu offers North Carolina pork, as well as just about any BBQ sauce you can think of.

Since I have several different food allergies, I decided on a Jumbo Pulled Pork Sandwich (no bun and no slaw) and a side of collard greens.  Pretty tasty!

Mojo Bar-B-Que - "A Southern Blues Kitchen"
1607 University Blvd. West
Jacksonville, Florida 32217
(904) 732-7200

Mojo Kitchen - "BBQ Pit and Blues Bar"
1500 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
(904) 247-6636 

Mojo Smokehouse - BBQ & Blues
1810 Town Center Blvd.
Fleming Island, FL 32003
(904) 264-0636

Mojo No. 4 - Urban BBQ & Whiskey Bar
3572 St. John's Ave.
Jacksonville, Florida 32205
(904) 381-6670

EAT: Breakfast of Champions at the Sawgrass Marriott, Jacksonville, FL

How can a food allergy sufferer eat the required "Breakfast of Champions" when he/she is traveling and can't make own breakfast?? Easy! I have already blogged about my quick breakfast granola, but what if you need a breakfast that is a little more substantial?

During a recent stay at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, I found myself at the Breakfast Buffet. This is the buffet the PGA Tour Players enjoy before their tournament rounds at the famed TPC Sawgrass. After speaking with Chef Matt, I learned that I could have several of the items on the buffet.  I did discuss more gluten free options, such as gluten free bread and granola.  Chef Matt said that they were interested in expanding their options for those with food allergies and asked for suggestions.  Luckily, I had some extra Udi's Granola in my bag to complete my breakfast. As you can see from my photo above, I did not go away hungry... fruit, juice, smoked salmon, sausage, and a couple of pieces of aged cheese.  Good sources of protein are great ways to keep you fuller longer and fuel your activities for the day.  Of course, if you are not allergic to eggs, they will make your omelets with a variety of additions.

I have found that all full scale Marriott hotels are more than accommodating for breakfast.  Many even have gluten free bread options and are eager to prepare something special for you.  Just be sure to discuss your allergen needs to the server, manager, or chef. Next time you are in Ponte Vedra Beach or the Jacksonville, FL area, be sure to check out Vernon's in the Sawgrass Marriott.  They will be happy to accommodate your food allergies and tell them I sent you!

EAT: A Valentine's Day treat in Jacksonville!

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! If you are in the Jacksonville area and need a sweet treat for the one you love (or even yourself!), head over to Sweet Theory Baking Company. Located at 1243 King Street, all of Sweet Theory's baked goodies are vegan and free of eggs, soy, dairy, and peanuts. They also offer gluten free treats as well that are made with separate baking utensils and in a separate space from non-gluten items. Sweet Theory uses Organic Cold-Pressed Coconut, Organic Cane Sugar, and Agave Nectar. Corn allergies beware as the powdered sugar used in the icing has corn starch.

Sweet Theory has variety for your Valentine too: Doughnuts, Cakes, Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies, Biscuits, and more! The Gluten Free items are designated with a "GF" on the sign. Be sure to get your Valentine treats early! This place is in high demand!

Sweet Theory Baking Company

1243 King St. 

Jacksonville, FL

904.387.1001

EAT: Fatto in Casa, Orlando, FL

Who needs a sweet treat?? Fatto in Casa, located in the East End Market at 3201 Corrine Dr. in Orlando, FL, has the selection. As a person with food allergies, I find it difficult to find allergen free desserts. Fatto in Casa specializes in Italian dishes, but also takes those of us with food allergies into consideration. 

The Hazelnut Flourless Chocolate Torte is gluten free, as well as the Italian cookies. Both are made with almonds and eggs. The torte was delicious, but not too sweet and a perfect size slice. 

Fatto in Casa is just one of 20 merchants at the East End Market, a perfect and eclectic detour from the hustle and bustle of Orlando. 

Fatto in Casa

3201 Corrine Dr. 

Orlando, FL

EAT: East End Market, Orlando, FL

Looking for a fun, healthy market to browse and find some allergen free treats in Orlando, FL? Not too far from Mickey and Minnie at 3201 Corrine Drive is the East End Market. According to its Web site, http://eastendmkt.com/, the market is "a neighborhood market and cultural food hub inspired by Central Florida's local farmers and food artisans." What better way to pair healthy food with an opportunity to grow the local economy and cultivate connections with others!
Located in a renovated church, East End Market currently houses 20 merchants. A few of my favorites include: Skyebird is an organic, vegan, gluten free, and GMO free smoothie and juice bar. Fatto in Casa provides a selection of Italian food, including some gluten free desserts. La Bretxa has all types of wild caught seafood, while Local Roots brings the farm directly to Orlando. Houndstooth Sauce Company makes saucy concoctions of BBQ sauces, marinades, dressings, etc., while Olde Hearth Bread Company has a variety of bread for those without a gluten allergy. La Femme du Fromage brings artisan cheeses from around the world. 

East End Market even has a garden out front! As soon as I stepped inside, I left the hustle and bustle of the land of Mickey and Minnie. At first, I thought I had been transferred back to my home state of NC, as the market had a feel of Asheville. Each merchant had its own unique vibe, but you could tell they were working together toward a common goal of local entrepreneurship and healthy living. Several staff members at different tenants  even spoke about others making sure I checked out this merchant or be sure to try that merchant's food. 
For those of us with food allergies, I was impressed with our selection. All the smoothies and juices at Skyebird are organic, vegan, gluten free, and GMO free. They use almond milk in their smoothies so no worries for those with dairy allergies. Fatto in Casa offers Italian treats, from appetizers to desserts. They have gluten free cookies and a flourless torte, but these are not egg free. If you have questions regarding a product, be sure to ask, as each merchant I spoke with was very knowledgeable. 

Be sure to check out my next blog where I taste-tested several items from the East End Market!

EAT: Orlando Smoothies!

"SMOOTHIES," exclaimed Cameron Diaz in the movie "What Happens in Vegas." That was my reaction when I stopped by Skyebird in the East End Market in Orlando, FL.

Skyebird is a vegan, organic juice and smoothie shop. They sell kombucha and raw snacks as well. Everything is organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and GMO free. I tried the popular Skye's Fave, a smoothie with Blueberries, Kale, Bananas, Raw Almond Milk and Chia. Yum! It has a nice balance of sweetness (could not even taste the kale!) and even came in a take home/travel mason jar. I also got to sample the Ayurvedic Coffee with cherries added, a concoction of dandy blend coffee, banana, maple, coconut oil, almond milk, and cacao. It had a sweet with slight bitter taste, but a nice balance of both. I tend to find coffee to be a little bitter, but enjoyed the cherry addition. 

I was also able to sample the Strawberry Mint and Citrus Honey Kombucha. Kombucha is a naturally carbonated fermented tea with many health benefits.  Both flavors were quite tasty for my first taste of Kombucha. 

On a return trip to Skyebird, with my mason jar from my last smoothie in hand for a $0.50 discount, I tried the Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie and the Spicy Lemonade. The Spiced Pumpkin was a blend of pumpkin, banana, coconut oil, walnuts, chia, almond milk, maple, and spices. It tasted just like pumpkin pie and was a little thicker than my previous smoothie.  The Spicy Lemonade was a concoction of lemon, lime, pineapple, agave, and habanero. It was a yummy thirst quencher with a kick!

I was really excited how allergy free friendly Skyebird is! Their menu has enough variety for all tastebuds, from sweet to tart to bitter to spicy. 

Skyebird

3201 Corrine Dr. 

Orlando, FL

EAT: Who doesn't love Cupcakes! Babycakes in Orlando, FL

I know I do! Finding an allergen free cupcake or mix is hard enough, but finding some when traveling is even more difficult. This is no longer the case if you are in NYC, LA, or Orlando. Babycakes is an organic and vegan bakery free of many of the top allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, casein, and nuts (except coconut). They also use agave nectar instead of sugar. Agave nectar is derived from the cactus plant and is low glycemic and great for some diabetics. Beware for those with corn allergies, the baking powder and vanilla they use are NOT corn free and their icing has corn starch in it. 

I took my trip to Babycakes in Orlando. The location in Downtown Disney is very accessible, even if you are not in town to visit Mickey and Minnie. They had a wide variety of cupcake flavors, such as red velvet cake, carrot cake, chocolate, vanilla, and lemon. Not feeling like a cupcake today? Babycakes also bakes doughnuts, cookies, and brownies. For more details, check out http://www.babycakesnyc.com

Babycakes

Downtown Disney Marketplace

1674 Buena Vista Dr.

Lake Buena Vista, FL

EAT: Healthy Fast Food?

Most fast food restaurants are out when you have food allergies, unless you are interested in eating a prepackaged salad. Yuck! My favorite fast food meal (pretty healthy too!) is a Burrito Bowl from Chipotle. In my Burrito Bowl, I usually get rice, black beans, meat, chunky mild salsa, guacamole, and a sprinkle of cheese. 

Now, there are plenty of things I cannot eat there: flour tortillas, corn tortillas, corn chips, and corn salsa to name a few. Chipotle has a list of common allergens in its menu items on its web site located at: http://www.chipotle.com/en-us/menu/special_diet_information/special_diet_information.aspx To get as safe a meal as possible (no guarantees when eating out!) and since they touch the tortillas with their gloved hands, I kindly notify the server that I am allergic to the tortillas. Usually even before I can ask the person to please change their gloves, the server is already doing so! Chipotle totally gets it! The whole line of servers change their gloves for me or one server personally handles my order, even during peak hours. If this sounds like an extreme request, it is not for those of us who are very sensitive, where even a tiny amount of an offending food can cause a reaction. Since the cheese and the lettuce are the only items handled with gloved hands, the servers are more than happy to grab some from the back when asked.

When a restaurant makes an effort to accommodate those of us with food allergies, I think it is very important to support these businesses and thank them regularly. When a server at Chipotle really goes out of his or her way to make sure my meal is as safe as possible, I thank him/her for taking care of me, make sure to get a name, and send Chipotle a quick email thanking them for the allergen training and how a particular server went above and beyond to make my experience great. And, no surprise, I always get a response thanking me for my patronage. 

Who Doesn't Love Starbucks??

When I found out that I needed to be dairy free, I thought my Starbucks days were over. Starbucks currently does not offer almond milk or coconut milk. The soy milk they do offer is not always gluten free. Be sure to check ingredients at your local Starbucks in case manufacturers change ingredients. After many posts to My Starbucks Idea requesting the addition of a dairy free, soy free, and gluten free milk alternative, I finally decided to bring in my own milk. Depending on state laws and different Starbucks stores, baristas are not allowed to stream your milk and some are not allowed to even pour your milk into your drink. However, I have found a solution. I order an iced coffee (my favorite is White Chocolate Mocha) except for the milk. I bring my favorite Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almond Coconut Milk, which to me, tastes just like the "real" White Chocolate Mocha, to add to my espresso shots and syrup. I have also found that sometimes I can sweet talk the barista into charging me for the ingredients I actually buy, rather than the whole drink. 

A word of caution for those with a corn allergy, be sure to check the ingredients of the syrups, as I have found that some stores have syrups that contain high fructose corn syrup.

Now, where is the nearest Starbucks??