EAT: Gamekeeper Restaurant, Boone/Blowing Rock/Grandfather Mountain, NC

A trip to the mountains can bring you back to nature, leaving the hustle and bustle of city life behind. Gamekeeper Restaurant in Boone (convenient to Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain, NC) enhances the experience. A plethora of interesting wild game offerings makes Gamekeeper a great dining choice. 

Our server was knowledgable about food allergies and even checked with the chef on several questions to ensure safe options. 

We started the meal off with the Chef's Selection of Meats appetizer. A variety of grilled elk, grilled duck, and wild boar sausage complete with dipping sauces was a great start to the meal. The app was suppose to come with fries, but after inquiry, we found out they were not fried in a dedicated frier. We were able to sub roasted potatoes and onions instead. The grilled elk was by far the best. Lean, it does not have a strong gamey taste at all. 

I ordered the Grilled Peking Duck Breast with Honey Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Wicked Weed Black Angel Sour Cherry Demi. It was delicious. The duck was grilled to a nice medium and the greens and sweet potatoes that accompanied were a perfect compliment. 

My dinner companion ordered the Grilled Bison Flank Steak with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes (minus the Horseradish Sour Cream - contained gluten). He said it was tasty, but preferred the meats on the Chef's Selection of Meats. 

If you love meat and want to try some different types of meat, check out Gamekeeper Restaurant. Their meats are properly raised with no antibiotics and hormones, and local when possible. It is by far the most unique restaurant in the area. Located outside of town near Crestwood Resort and Spa, the atmosphere was fantastic. It felt like you were in a treehouse on a mountain!

Gamekeeper Restaurant

3005 Shulls Mill Rd. 

Boone, NC 28607

828.963.7400

www.gamekeeper-nc.com

EAT: The Katherine Brasserie and Bar, The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel,Winston Salem, NC

The Katherine Brasserie and Bar is located in the old RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company Headquarters, the building the Empire State Building is modeled after, in Winston Salem, NC. The Headquarters is now a boutique hotel called The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel and Private Residences. Being a native to Winston Salem, I was excited to try out The Katherine and to see what changes were made from the original building.

The Katherine does not have a gluten free menu, but our server was very knowledgeable about ingredients and was happy to check with the bartender and the chef on ingredients. The menu has a great selection of appetizers. I know many times based on my food allergies, I do not even have one appetizer option, so to see so many was great. We started out with the Seared Sea Scallops, complete with Black Truffle and English Pea Risotto. Very tasty and the scallops were cooked to perfection.

We also started with the Trio de Pates, but as you can see from the picture, only two of them were gluten free. Also, no crostini. The Rabbit Rillettes and the Foie Gras Torchon were gluten free, but the chef recommended against the Wild Boar and Fig Terrine due to Bourbon. I know many people can consume distilled grain alcohols with no problems, but unfortunately, I am not one of them, so I avoid them. The dish was finished with a Plum Puree, whole grain mustard, and pickled vegetables. The pates were delish! Would definitely order them again and wish the portion size was larger. I am not sure I have ever eaten Rabbit before, but I was pleased with this pate. Also, this is the best foie gras I have had other than in Las Vegas.

Our server was so helpful that she mentioned that the French Fries were gluten free and fried in a dedicated fryer! Of course, this meant we had to order them! I ordered the Dry Aged Burger, which came with the fries. I ordered the burger without the bun, and while I was told they dry age the burger in house, I was not blown away by it. The fries were the winning part of that dish!

 

My dinner companion ordered the Grilled Poulet Rouge (chicken) with Asparagus and Cherry Vinaigrette. Instead of the Olive Oil Crushed Potatoes, he went with the French Fries. He was not blown away by the dish, but said it was very good. He said the Pates and Fries were the best.

 

I really appreciated the care our server took to make sure we both had gluten free and corn free meals. I always appreciate when a server does not know an answer, but gladly asks the chef. Those of us with food allergies appreciate that level of care.

 

If you get a chance to visit The Katherine, named after the matriarch of the RJ Reynolds family, but sure to check it out. Reservations on Open Table are a must, unless you want to dine in the bar. Be sure to also check out The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel while dining to see that the history of the RJ Reynolds Headquarters building remain.

The Katherine Brasserie and Bar
Inside The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
51 East 4th St.
Winston Salem, NC 27101
http://www.thecardinalhotel.com/winston-salem-restaurants/
336.761.0203

EAT: Mission BBQ

 

I just found a great BBQ restaurant! It is tough for me to find good BBQ restaurants outside of North Carolina (the home of BBQ), but Mission BBQ fits the bill. They have a great selection of BBQ, including pulled pork, beef brisket, Smoked Prime Rib, Chicken, Sausage, and Turkey. What really impressed me was how helpful the staff was to check on ingredients for me to make sure the items I was interested in were gluten free and corn free. Some BBQ restaurants will put a rub containing gluten and/or corn on the meat. And don't even get me started on the sauces...most of those are full of corn syrup. Not at Mission BBQ! The rubs on the meats are gluten and corn free, as well as all but one of the sauces (it contains A1 Steak Sauce in it). Love being able to have variety and the ability to try out the sauces.  They even have fun names, like Memphis Belle, Smoky Mountain, Bay-B-Que, Tupelo Honey Heat, NC Vinegar, and Craftsman Special. The Texas Twang has gluten in it, so please avoid.

The staff was also quick to let me know once they found out my food allergies that the french fries are gluten free and the only thing they fry in the fryer! Yum! I had to try the fries, as well as the pulled pork and beef brisket. All were very good. The pulled pork and beef brisket were crispy on the edges with a nice smoked flavor. I tried a couple of the sauces and they were a nice compliment to the meat.

I visited the Fort Myers, FL location, but Mission BBQ has 21 locations up and down the East Coast in Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. You order at the counter and then wait for your number to be called. Another thing about Mission BBQ I really liked is all the service men and women memorabilia from police departments, firefighters, soldiers, and first responders everywhere in the restaurant. Fun fact, Mission BBQ opened on September 11, 2011 and the owners want to make sure our service men and women are represented and appreciated for all of their efforts. Giving back and good BBQ? A winning combination! God Bless America!

Mission BBQ
http://mission-bbq.com/

EAT: Angus Barn, Raleigh, NC

Looking for a great steak in the Raleigh area? And you are gluten free too?! Head over to the infamous Angus Barn. They have an extensive gluten free and dairy free menu. The binder is a different color than the regular menus. 

Many of Angus Barn's favorites are gluten free. A great selection of steaks and seafood. I promise, you won't feel deprived eating at The Barn!

I ordered the Spinach Salad with no egg to start and the Ribeye with Asparagus. The Barn does not have gluten free bread, so nothing to spread the yummy cheese on (spoon, please?). Don't worry, there are plenty of other safe options to fill your belly.

The Angus Barn

9401 Glenwood Ave. 

Raleigh, NC

919.781.2444

www.angusbarn.com

EAT: Limones Mexican & Californian Cuisine, Asheville, NC

With so many great restaurants in Asheville, it is so hard to decide. When you want something a little different, check out Limones in downtown Asheville. Even though Limones does not have a gluten free menu, our server was very knowledgeable and checked ingredients for us to make sure we had the safest meal possible. Limones has great small plates and with so many great choices, we could not decide on just one entree, so we ordered a bunch of small plates!

Limones is known for its ceviche and lucky for us gluten free eaters, they are gluten free! Be sure to try the sampler. Ceviche Verde (at the top) has papaya and avocado. Spicy Ceviche (bottom left) complete with manzanilla olives, tomatoes, roasted Anaheim peppers, avocado, and cilantro. The Ceviche Del Mercado (bottom right) has fish of the day (shrimp), marinated lime juice, guacamole, and red onion. 

Since Limones has so many small plates, we continued the trend and ordered the Arugula and fig salad with roasted beets, habanero-lime vinaigrette, marcona almonds, and goat cheese. Beets have become one of my favorite foods, and these beets were roasted, not pickled, to give them a nice change of flavor.

Not a huge Brussel Sprouts fan, but the Brussel Sprouts with bacon, balsamic-fig glaze, and Pecorino-Romano cheese were great. A great mix of flavors. More cheese on top, please.

Finally, (wasn't that enough food?!), we ended with the Mussels with Chorizo, Chipotle, Basil, and Grilled Lemon. OMG, that was a ton of food! Thank goodness, downtown Asheville is so walking-friendly. The mussels were tasty with some spice.

Limones is a very popular spot (rightfully so), but has limited seating. Be sure to make a reservation on Open Table to ensure a table on the day and time you want. Check with your server on allergy issues. In fact, I made two trips to Limones during my visit to Asheville for the ceviche and both servers were very knowledgeable. Also, be sure to order the Basil Refrescante, a fresh and tasty gluten free drink. Unlike anything I have ever tasted. 

Limones Mexican & Californian Cuisine
13 Eagle St.
Asheville, NC 28801
828.252.2327
http://www.limonesrestaurant.com/

EAT: Rhubarb, Asheville, NC

 

I love Asheville! Even though most people come to Asheville for the fall leaf color or the Biltmore House, I do to Asheville for the fabulous food. Downtown Asheville has so many great restaurants, and many are allergy friendly. Case in point: Rhubarb. I now love Rhubarb even more because I found out that Chef John Fleer is a native of my hometown, Winston Salem, NC and a fellow alum of UNC (Go Heels!). John wants Rhubarb to be a special place, and it is.

Even though Rhubarb does not have a gluten free menu, it is very gluten free friendly. Just ask your server and surprise, a basket of gluten free bread will be delivered to your table.

My dinner companion and I could not resist trying the Rosemary-Sea Salt Pecans. So good! They arrived warm in a metal tin and were so tasty with the hints of rosemary and sea salt. Who does not love warm nuts??

For dinner, I ordered the Blackberry Glazed Duck Confit with Sweet Potato Anna Cake, Swiss Chard, Sweet Garlic, Wet Walnuts, Coffee-Cured Duck Ham, and Blackberry-Shiso Salad. The duck was cooked to perfection and all the flavors paired well together. Love the presentation as well.

My dinner companion decided on the Pinchito Roasted Heritage Pork Collar with Sweet and Sour Collard Greens, Sea Island Red Peas, Peach-Red Onion Marmalade, but no Crispy Okra. The pork was tender, definitely a southern dish. Our server was great about letting us know what was gluten free and what was not, in fact, most of the menu was naturally gluten free.

Even though Rhubarb does not have a gluten free menu, the restaurant prides itself on accommodating gluten free and allergy free diners. It is always so cool when the restaurant does not feel it needs to make a splash about accommodating, but gladly does so and surprises diners with gluten free bread and makes most of the dishes automatically gluten free. As an added bonus, I highly recommend sitting out on the patio to enjoy the live music played on the sidewalk by local musicians nightly.

Rhubarb
7 S Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
828.785.1503
http://www.rhubarbasheville.com/
Closed Tuesdays

EAT: French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Asheville, NC

Who wants dessert??  How about some chocolate?  Lots of chocolate?? Then, head over to the French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville, NC. There, you will find chocolates, chocolate cakes, chocolate mousse, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cookies, chocolate bars, chocolate drinks, everything you can imagine chocolate!  It is not a completely gluten free establishment, but if you notify your server of your allergies, they have a big allergen notebook they can look up ingredients of items. I had great success eating gluten free at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge.

Decisions, decisions. It is hard to choose which chocolately treat to indulge. The items in the glass case have a "gf" listed on the tag if they are gluten free.Once again, this is not a gluten free establishment, so please verify the status of each item before eating.

I decided on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse. Delicious! And so rich! Just enough to satisfy the sweet tooth. Also, their chocolate turtles are gluten free.

The ice cream is corn free, with many being gluten free as well. The milkshakes are super yummy, but be sure to ask for a clean blender to avoid any cross contamination. Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake on left and Salted Caramel Milkshake on the right.

Another note about the French Broad Chocolate Lounge is that it has moved locations to a much more accessible location right in the middle of downtown Asheville. It is practically right across the street from gluten free restaurant Posana and gluten free friendly Rhubarb. Also, depending on when you visit, prepare to wait in line! I found that it is most crowded on weekend nights from 8-10pm. The staff does a great job of making sure the line moves regularly, so the wait is not too bad. You can even pick out what you want before you get inside the door. It is a must visit on your next trip to Asheville!

French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
828.252.4181
https://frenchbroadchocolates.com/

EAT: Posana, Asheville, NC

I love completely gluten free restaurants! To be able to sit down and not have to give my gluten free spiel to the server is always a plus. However, with all of my other food allergies, I am not 100% safe in a 100% gluten free restaurant. I still like to support restaurants who go the extra mile to be gluten free and usually, they "get" other food allergies and know the ingredients of their dishes. A great 100% gluten free restaurant in Asheville, NC is Posana. Posana does not even scream "I am a gluten free restaurant" out front, which is nice, but I verified with my server just to make sure. I was really excited about dining here, as I had heard tons of great comments about Posana.

What is a gluten free restaurant without gluten free bread?? Luckily, the bread met my other food allergy requirements and I was able to enjoy the breadsticks. Very tasty, and I liked the addition of the sesame seeds. Butter and Olive Oil was offered for your dipping pleasure.

I ordered the Sea Scallops. I was hoping to try a dish I could not get at non-gluten free restaurants, like pasta, but Posana does not really even offer a gluten free pasta dish. The Scallops had field peas, smoked bacon, Fork Mountain Farms patty pan squash, and French sorrel puree. Great presentation, but I thought the dish was lacking flavor. It left me wanting something more. I did like getting seven scallops on the plate, a gracious number.

My dinner companion ordered the HNG Pork Chop with charred corn, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese cream, basil, and chow chow. The pork was cooked nicely and paired well with the goat cheese. He said the accompaniments were tasty, but I could not sample due to my corn allergy.

All in all, it is great to dine at a restaurant where the servers are well aware of gluten free and other food allergies. The food was good, but maybe due to the "gluten-free-ness" of the restaurant, I was expecting awesome. The ambiance made up for it though, and I highly recommend sitting outside and enjoying the live music from local artists that rotates regularly outside the restaurant. Great talent and fun people watching from Posana's patio!

Posana Restaurant
1 Biltmore Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
828.505.3969
http://posanarestaurant.com

EAT: 411 West Italian Cafe, Chapel Hill, NC

411 West was my favorite restaurant in downtown Chapel Hill when I was at UNC-Chapel Hill! The atmosphere and the food were hard to beat. Pre-gluten free, I loved their pizzas and pasta. Now, I and other gluten free diners can still enjoy pizza and pasta. 411 West has an extensive gluten free menu, along with gluten free pasta and pizza crusts. Depending on your sensitivity, the pizzas are placed in the same oven as the gluten pizzas, so beware.

Stopping in for lunch one day, I decided on the Wood Grilled Pear Salad with Salmon. It included walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese. It was very tasty and perfectly cooked. I thought about trying the gluten free Pesto Pizza (my favorite from pre-gluten days), but was apprehensive due to my sensitivity to gluten. I checked on the gluten free pasta and was told it was corn pasta, a no-go for me. I was really impressed by the large selection of menu choices on the gluten free menu, as most restaurants give us only a couple of options. There are even a couple of dessert options of Vanilla Creme Brulee, Gelato, and Sorbet.

Definitely check out 411 West for an Italian experience (and ask to be seated in the atrium). They are very accommodating for food allergies and offer a nice variety of options for any taste buds.

411 West Italian Cafe
411 W. Franklin St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
919.967.2782
www.411west.com

EAT: Print Works Bistro, Greensboro, NC

Located in the Proximity Hotel, Print Works Bistro is a great fine dining establishment in Greensboro, NC. I was excited to check it out for a holiday party gathering.The restaurant is situated in a large open room, but is sectioned off into smaller areas with railing and curtains, giving it a cozy feel. The outdoor seating looked inviting and is probably packed in the summer months.

Being with a large group and no gluten free menu, I was a little apprehensive about being able to convey my food allergy needs to the server. My fears were quickly dispelled when our server said many of the dishes were naturally gluten free and she would chat with the chef to make sure I had as safe a meal as possible. 

Print Works Bistro focuses on local ingredients. It, along with the Proximity Hotel, are the first hotel and restaurant in the US to attain the LEED Platinum Certification for their sustainable and energy efficient practices. They even provide tours for students to learn these sustainable practices.

Continuing my risotto kick, I chose the gluten and corn free Shrimp and Toulouse Sausage Risotto: creamy arborio rice with garlic sauteed shrimp, Toulouse sausage, roasted sweet potatoes, kale, and crumbled goat chevre. I was interested to see how the flavors mixed and was pleased that they all "worked" together. The portion was large enough to take home some for lunch the next day.

I was very pleased how the server handled our large group and my food allergies. As the only person in the group with food allergies, sometimes I am afraid my needs will get lost, but the server assured me that the kitchen could accommodate. I will definitely return and am looking forward to trying other dishes.

Print Works Bistro
702 Green Valley Rd.
Greensboro, NC 27408
336.379.0699
www.printworksbistro.com

EAT: The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, Raleigh, NC

The Cowfish in Raleigh, NC has a fun, laid back vibe. Although it is a small chain with locations in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Orlando, it is definitely a gathering place to grab some casual food. The menu consists mainly of burgers and sushi and it clearly states which items are "gluten sensitive." I am not a huge fan of places only claiming to have menu items that are gluten sensitive, since you hope they take gluten allergies and intolerances seriously, but after chatting with our server about my food allergies, she eased my concerns. She seemed pretty knowledgeable about gluten free and even told us that Cowfish has gluten free tamari. I am one of those people who wants to see the tamari bottle (in case regular soy sauce is put in the bowl instead of tamari), but was told that they have a huge container in the back that they dispense out.

Cowfish has a great selection of burgers and sushi. There are not a lot of "gluten sensitive" items on the menu, but enough to feel like you have some variety. They even have make your own sushi rolls with pretty much any addition you can think of in an a la carte format.

I ordered the Double Salmon Roll, which included smoked salmon and avocado, along with rice and seaweed wrapper. Very tasty and a nice size portion.

My dinner companion opted for the Make Your Own Sushi Roll and made it full of meat! He chose Filet, Salmon, Tuna, and Pulled Pork BBQ. Not sure I have ever had just a meat filled sushi roll, but it had quite the mix of flavors!

The ambiance of Cowfish is fun. A large aquarium splits the bar area and is located in the center of the restaurant. We even had a chance to watch the fish being fed! A great gathering place for friends and family in the Raleigh area, Cowfish offers a unique ability to fuse two popular food items into one restaurant. It is nice to have a gluten sensitive menu to steer those of us with food allergies to the safest meal possible.

The Cowfish
North Hills CAPTRUST Tower
4208 Six Forks Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27609
919.784.0400
www.thecowfish.com

EAT: The Oceanic, Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington, NC

When on Wrightsville Beach, NC, The Oceanic is the place to be. With its breathtaking views of the ocean and newly renovated pier, it is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. It is also well known for its private event facilities. While The Oceanic does not have a gluten free menu, our server, Scott, was well versed with the menu and double checked when we had questions. He even said that The Oceanic is changing the menu for the fall/winter and plans on adding more gluten free menu items!

We started off with the Shrimp Cocktail with no cocktail sauce. Instead, we requested melted butter. Four generous sized shrimp with no seasoning got us off to a great start.

The gluten free menu items were a little limited, and I hope the new menu has more variety. I decided on the Seared Sea Scallops with garlic mashed potatoes and collards. The sea scallops were topped with pancetta, fennel, and mandarin oranges. Very tasty!

My dinner companion went with the Oceanic Mixed Grill, which included grilled mahi mahi, salmon, and shrimp. Instead of the confetti rice (it contains gluten), he decided to go with the garlic mashed potatoes and collards. The fish had a good flavor, especially the salmon. 

The Oceanic has a great setting on the water. Of course, we were going to try the seafood and Scott made our visit very enjoyable. I appreciated his knowledge in providing us as safe a meal as possible and look forward to the new menu with more gluten free options. Be sure to check out this popular spot on your next trip to the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area.

The Oceanic
703 S. Lumina Dr.
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
910.256.5551
http://www.oceanicrestaurant.com/

EAT: Finnegan's Wake Irish Pub, Winston Salem, NC

I always get excited when I eat at a restaurant I have been to many times, only to find that they have now noted on the menu which items are gluten free! I had this experience at Finnegan's Wake Irish Pub in Winston Salem, NC. Irish pubs tend to be tough places for gluten free eaters because many items are beer battered and fried. Finnegan's has these items, but also a good selection of gluten free items. 

Finnegan's specializes in draft beer and even has Strongbow Gluten Free Cider on tap. They also have Omission Pale Ale and Lager as gluten free options. 

I ordered the gluten free Cider Glazed Scallops. Was it too much that I ordered the cider AND the cider glazed scallops?? No way! Yum! They are also corn and egg free in case you have those allergies as well. 

Finnegan's carries gluten free bread from French Meadow for sandwiches and burgers. I did ask my server about the gluten free chips (fries) listed on the menu and if there was a dedicated fryer. She said they have two fryers, but they tend to be divided between meat items and vegetarian items. Since Finnegan's has beer battered and fried vegetables on the menu, she said she could not guarantee that the fries are free of cross contamination. Those of you who are very sensitive, beware. 

Finnegan's Wake offers a good selection for those with food allergies. They even include a couple of the traditional Irish dishes that are gluten free such as Corned Beef and Cabbage and the Irish Beef Kabobs. It is great to be able to eat safely at an Irish Pub. My Irish Heritage thanks you!

Finnegan's Wake

620 N. Trade St. 

Winston Salem, NC 27101

336.723.0322

www.finneganswake.net