More Gluten-Free Dining in Denver ~

Over the past few weeks I have made two trips to Denver, as mentioned in my previous post, - one to visit family and the other last week for work. During both trips to the Mile High City, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the knowledge of celiac disease and eating gluten-free is fairly prevalent. I always worry a bit before heading to a new location, or different part of the country/world, not knowing what the level of celiac awareness will be, but on these two particular ventures to Colorado I was very happy and excited with what I found!

In my opinion and from my experiences, I have found that eating out at perhaps more "up-scale" restaurants seems to be a safer bet vs. faster food or even take out. I don't mean this to sound "snobby" in any way, shape, or form, but it seems that higher-end restaurants want to get it right and take more care with their meal preparation—now, I realize that this is by no means a 100% guarantee for eating safely just because you are paying more for your food, but from my experiences I have found that wait staff and chefs seem to be much more educated when it comes to eating gluten-free, under these circumstances.

With that said, the two Italian restaurants that I visited in Denver were both terrific. Truly, one of the highlights of this week's business trip to Denver was discovering the restaurant Panzano, in downtown Denver on 17th Street. At first I was a bit alarmed with the limited "bar menu" we had to choose from given the time of day, but I quickly learned that our server was very educated on eating gluten-free. He guided me through the menu and went out of his way to create a gluten-free Caesar salad, and wonderful antipasti plate that was fabulous, but the best part of the experience was when our server asked if I would like my own basket of gluten-free focaccia bread! Uhhh, "what did you say?" I replied...I continued, "Are you SURE it's gluten-free and safe"...he responded "Yes, it is" and they do all the fresh gluten-free baking every day in their bakery that's designated for celiacs and not contaminated. In that case I said, "PLEASE bring me some bread! And wow, was it delicious—I ordered two plates!

The next time any of you are in Denver, I encourage you to visit either or both of these great restaurants and enjoy all the delicious choices offered and care given to you during your meal. I also received a great post from one of my readers with some additional GF eating spots in Denver that sound terrific...

If you haven't already, on your next trip through town check out Watercourse Foods, on East 17th. They're a vegetarian establishment with many gluten free options. It possesses a nice, bright dining room and it's a very popular place and comes highly rated.

The same owners also run the smaller "http://www.watercoursefoods.com/cityocity.html">City 'O City" cafe/bar on 13th, just a few blocks away. Its smaller establishment I'm told, with a more hipster crowd, and their wheat free pizza is terrific.

Enjoy and safe travels!

Gluten-free in the Mile High City ~

I've always wanted to visit Denver...and I'm not talking about just dashing through their uber-cool airport to make a connection - a real visit to the Mile High city to experience some of what it has to offer. My brother is working there temporarily for a few months, which provided me with the prefect excuse to use some miles for a nice weekend get-away, just in time to see the gorgeous fall foliage in all its many colors and shades of autumn, and I definitely wasn't disappointed!

As a Celiac, there's always a bit of apprehension as to where and what I will find that's safe to eat when visiting a new location, but I did a bit of research and felt confident that Denver would be clued into what "gluten free" dining is all about...and I was correct in my assumption (phew!). So our first night out to dinner consisted of a lovely salad from the Whole Foods salad bar, just down the street from his apartment due to a very late arrival, but I'm happy to report all was well with that meal.

Our second night out we walked to a fun restaurant called Ted's (as in Turner) Montana Grill, which is pretty Eco-friendly AND guess what...they have a gluten-free menu which came as a great surprise. I dined on a very delicious fillet (beef that is, because they do offer bison), a scrumptious sweet potato and grilled asparagus. The manager even came over to go through the menu with me, ensuring that I understood all of the dishes that were safe to eat and made sure I was comfortable, which was very kind.


The third night out found us dining downtown at Prima Ristorante, in the heart of the theatre district. We found this lovely Italian restaurant on Opentable.com - love that sight for finding new restaurants, wherever you find yourself. The restaurant was great and offered a delicious and fairly authentic Italian menu with a warm and cosmopolitan feel to the decor and experience. Our server was from Belarus (as in the former USSR country, as she explained) and was very familiar with gluten-free eating and double-checked everything I ordered with the chef. She helped me decide upon an antipasti of roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, with a chunk of dry Fontina cheese, drizzled with olive oil. My "secondi" or entree dish was so fresh and delicious but could have used a tad more salt - it was a piece of grilled salmon over a bed of fennel and fava beans, with mushrooms and Roma tomatoes. Delizioso!


A day trip to Vail was also on our list, so Saturday morning we grabbed our cameras, warm jackets and headed west to the Rockies. The fall foliage has just turned and the golden hues were breathtaking and endless. The 1.5 hour drive went by too quickly and there wasn't enough memory on my camera to capture all the orange leaves I needed to snap up. Vail was not what I expected nor what I had visualized in my head for years, but have no fear, no disappointment here. Vail is a quaint and Euro-village-like with a darling shops and restaurants that back right up to the lengthy slopes sliding down the mountain. I was happy to find there seemed to be no "attitude" floating around Vail whatsoever. It felt quaint and comfortable, and surrounded by gorgeous fall colors dripping off the Aspens, while the crisp fall air began to settle into our bones.


On Sunday, my last day in Denver, I convinced my brother to visit the Denver Art Museum with me. He's such an art afficianado...ha. Truth though, this museum is world class and very impressive. From the eye-catching and amazing sculptures all around the museum campus, to the beautiful clean lines of the museum walls, and the angles they create against the Denver skyline - wonderful. NOT to be missed!


So, not only can you eat gluten-free and very well, visit gorgeous scenery, world-renowned ski resorts, and an incredible museum, but you can also just take a wonderful stroll around the town and take in some lovely sights in a very cosmopolitan city. In my case, the highlight of the trip was spending valuable time with my awesome baby brother and exploring a new city together. So great!

Oh...and don't miss your chance to say hello to these guys while you are in town...



Be well...traveled.

Ole! Gluten Free in the Bay~

So...I fully intended to snap lovely photos of the incredible Tapas that my dear friend Alison and I savored and devoured during our "girl's" evening at Va de Vi in Walnut Creek last weekend, but instead...we became entranced by the "Mystery Reds" wine flight that we were tasting...so this was the only snap shot we came away with!

The joy of visiting Walnut Creek is watching this once tiny town, transform itself continuously into a chic, Little House on the Prairie-meets Rodeo Drive (for the shopping only, not attitude!) kind of spot that one can never get tired of walking all around, finding delicious little spots to eat at, such as Va de Vi. Earlier this year, a friend had told me about this Tapas bar and bistro, so this past reunion weekend with my dear pal Alison seemed the perfect time to check it out.

I had called ahead to the restaurant to make reservations, but most importantly, to ask if a Celiac was safe and able to eat there. The answer was a resounding, "Yes, we are very familiar with gluten-free eating"...and they were. Our waiter, though a bit over-hyped about his job, was VERY diligent about me being able to eat safely and well! He even went through the entire Tapas menu with me and helped choose our delicious Spanish delights. It was a huge relief and I trusted that he knew what he was talking about, and thankfully he did. Each plate that arrived was a vision and perfectly gluten-free.

It always delights me to rediscover over and over again, just how well a Celiac is able to eat/dine and how many delicious foods and flavors are out there for us to savor. It's also exciting to me when I find a new restaurant that "GETS IT!" So the next time you are visiting the East Bay/ Walnut Creek area be sure to visit Va de Vi and please, please order the Pomme Frits...ils sont cest' manifique!!

By the way...I did guess the origin of one out of the three reds we were tasting - it was a delicious 2004 Artessa "Elements" Cab Franc/Syrah/Tempranillo from the good old Napa Valley - love the California reds.

Eat well.

and...Eat delicious food!

Gluten-Free Birthday Wishes ~ Spanish Style!

So I just recently celebrated my birthday...however, which year doesn't really doesn't matter, right?! It was a joyous celebration with family and friends sharing laughs, good conversation, delicious wine, and an almost-all gluten free menu to boot!!

I was determined to create a delicious and safe menu that didn't contain one ounce of gluten even though I, the birthday girl, was the only Celiac at the party. Now you might be wondering about the beautiful little desserts you see above...thinking, "those look too good to be true"...well sadly, you are correct. Those were all specially hand-picked desserts for my guests, however, you can see a blurred vision of my sweet little chocolate cake below, candles included!


My biggest regret of the night was being so caught up in all the excitement and chatter and running around, that I completely forgot to snap a few photos of the most delicious Basque Tortilla de Patata and Los Pimientos that my sweet friends from Espana made for us all to indulge in. My beautiful friend Nere, created two of the most perfect looking Tortillas I have seen, other than the delicious ones sitting on some bar in San Sebastian. They were a meal in themselves and my guests were ohhhing and awwing with every bite. The same went for the gorgeous platter of burnt-sienna colored Pimientos con ajo y aceite de oliva (peppers with garlic and olive oil) that our wonderful amigos de Pamplona prepared to pair with their fabulous vino de Navarra in Spain. Check out their website - it's fantastico!!


Here's a gluten-free recipe for Basque Tortilla de Patata:

- 4 Slices Bacon

- 2 tsp Sliced Green Onions/tops

- 3/4 tsp Salt

- Dash Pepper

- 3 Med. Potatoes

- 1 tbs Snipped Parsley

- 1/8 tsp Dried Thyme, Crushed

- 4 Large Eggs

In 8-inch skillet cook bacon until crisp; drain, reserving 2 T of drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside. In same skillet combine reserved drippings, peeled, thinly sliced potatoes, onion, parsley, salt,thyme and pepper. Cover tightly; cook over low heat until potatoes are barely tender, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring carefully once or twice. In small bowl beat together eggs and milk; pour over potato mixture.

Cover and continue cooking over very low heat til egg is set in center, 8 to 10 minutes. With a wide spatula, loosen sides and bottom and slide potatoes
out onto serving plate, or serve from skillet.


Aside from our muy delicioso Tapas, I also served some tasty gourmet-style all beef hamburgers I found at Whole Foods. There were a variety of fresh-seasoned flavors to choose from, such as basil, sun dried tomato and mozzarella burgers or a jalapeno and herb burger and my favorite was the mushroom and mozarella burger. They are all so delicious and are sure to please any hamburger connoisseur! In keeping the menu fun but low-key, I also found some delicious Kettle gourmet chips in a variety of flavors that ARE safe for Celiacs and so tasty, you won't be able to eat just a few. The final touch was all the hamburger fixings, which included fresh garden tomatoes, sliced onions, butter leaf lettuce, pickles and all the GF condiments one could need for a burger!

Not only was the party such a delight, but so was the satisfaction that came from hosting a gluten-free party where everyone walked away totally satisfied and sated. It was a lovely evening filled with delicious food and a wonderful guest list.

Here's to next year and eating safely for the next 365 days!!

Viva Espana!

A Place of Inspiration ~

The past couple of weekends I was luckily enough to spend time in one of my favorite locations on the planet, Sun Valley, Idaho. There's something truly magical and spiritual about the Big Wood River Valley, the beauty of Mt. Baldy and the way the sun sets behind the Sawtooth Mountains.

I had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Sun Valley Writer's Conference since last year, and though I wasn't able to attend the entire weekend program (who knew this was so hugely popular!), attending the individual seminars and lectures was easy as pie...gluten-free, of course! This year's theme was Frontiers in a Changing World, and I was lucky enough to hear five amazing authors speak, including Kati Marton, Ian Buruma and the charmingly funny Frank McCourt, just to name a few.


Being the aspiring writer that I am, I was truly in awe of these great storytellers and their gifts of putting life onto a page with some ink and creative thought. Listening to their insightful world-views and ability to discuss such a vast variety of topics reminded me that life is a journey, and boy do I need to make sure I learn something new each and every day I'm able to take it in. Not only were the authors words so alive and genuine, but they were supported by the magic of the venue, Sun Valley!


Throughout the weekend there was delicious food to be found and eaten, as well. The town of Ketchum, just one mile from the Sun Valley Resort, is so delightful and charming and warm and happy and...oh, I could go on an on. I am SO at peace in that place, I cannot begin to describe the blanket of warmth I receive when my feet are planted in that town. I'm digressing... there were quite a few great restaurants I visited that not only prepared my gluten- free dishes correctly, but staff totally GETS IT! They understand eating and living gluten-free in this little place on the map of the world...so for any of you Celiacs out there who find themselves in this part of Idaho, feel safe to indulge your taste buds at the following little haunts and enjoy:

~ Desperados Mexican Cantina - YUMMY!

~ Vintage - A charmingly cozy new bistro inside a historic Ketchum cabin

~ Ketchum Grill - A favorite of mine

~ China Panda - Obviously - Chinese food

~ Baci - A great Italian Cafe and Wine Bar

I am already looking forward to next year's conference and to the endless possibilities that await me between now and next August 2009. Between now and then, I intend to do a lot of reading and writing on this blog and hope that in the next twelve months the Celiac world will also be the beneficiary of some exciting and earth-shaking discoveries in research and a good, moist chocolate cake!!

Be well.

Celiac Disease Hitting Mainstream News ~

Happy Thursday!

It seems like every week there's another article popping up throughout the mainstream media talking about the ever-growing prominence of gluten-free foods and Celiac Disease. This week is no exception - USA Today ran an article titled, "Gluten Free Foods Gaining Popularity" so have a read and pass it along to your Celiac and non-celiac friends, as well.

It's not a great article, in my opinion, but the fact of the matter is Celiac Disease continues to garner more media coverage, bringing more and more awareness to this country, so we'll take what we can get. There are some good links included in the story, but darn it, they left out my Blog! ha

Let me know what you think of the article. I'm curious.

Have a wonderful, gluten-free week and weekend.

Celiac Support ~

It's August already! How can this be? Seriously? It was just June, then suddenly July 4th arrived and now it seems that everywhere we turn in our society we see all the signs of promoting "Back to School"...and to be honest, I'm feeling pretty slided. Due to my last bought of gluten poisoning that happened on July 2nd, these past six weeks have literally been a blur of coming out of the Celiac brain fog, trying to feel human and eat again, while slowly getting back into some sort of a normal life and routine. And from the abundance of comments, feedback and helpful tips I've received from so many of you, it helps me to know that I've been supported by so many, in so many ways and that I'm certainly not alone.

Some great comments and VERY helpful tips came my way via the blog that I also write for on the Celiac.com website, as well as what's been posted here. I must say that each and every time I read one of your comments, I am moved by what so many of you are going through, each and every day. I have to say that in 2008, it is quite astounding to me that soooooooo many adults and children are suffering needlessly by still not being diagnosed properly and left to suffer, search, and anguish on their own while trying to find a diagnosis. Something has to be done to expedite this process. It literally breaks my heart to read some of the comments I've received and to know that this disease deserves MUCH, much more attention by medical professionals across our nation.

I'll politely step down from my soap box right now, but the fact of the matter is...if you live in the United States and are an undiagnosed Celiac, your quality of life is going to suffer for quite a while (tremendously so, in some cases) and all the boxed, gluten-free goodies from here to China (okay, it's the Olympic spirit) will not make things better. However, in many western European countries children are automatically tested for Celiac by the age of six. That's pretty astounding and amazing, in my opinion.


In the spirit of summer-time breakfasts on the patio and in the warm August sunlight, I thought I would post a yummy waffle recipe that I have been enjoying! I found it in my new favorite magazine, Living Without:

Best Morning Waffles
Serves 4
To save time in the morning, mix batter the night before, cover and store in the refrigerator overnight. Stir the batter in the morning while your griddle heats up. If batter is too thick, add more milk. Using an egg substitute isn’t recommended for these waffles.

4 eggs
5 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter or vegetable oil
1 cup milk of choice (plain-flavored rice, soy or almond)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups brown rice flour*
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs and sugar together in mixer bowl until light and frothy. Add oil, milk and vanilla and mix until well combined.
In a separate bowl, mix together flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt. Add to egg mixture and beat on low speed until well combined. Batter should be thick.
Pour a small portion of batter into a well-oiled waffle iron and cook until done. Repeat until all batter is used.
*TIP For lighter waffles, use 11/2 cups brown rice flour and 1/2 cup sorghum flour.

TIP For banana-nut waffles, add 1/2 ripe mashed banana to liquid ingredients; add 1 tablespoon ground almonds or pecans to the dry mixture. For blueberry waffles, add 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries to liquid ingredients. (If your family prefers waffles with consistent texture, puree blueberries in the blender before adding them to the batter.) If batter is too thin, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time.

For special occasions, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate chips—a special treat your kids will love. (Your waffle iron will need special clean up after this batch!)

Finally, I thought it would be beneficial to post an upcoming calendar of Nation wide Celiac events coming up now through fall 2008. There are some great opportunities to mingle with hundreds of other Celiacs, try new products, and learn learn learn about what's going on with medical research and what might hopefully be on the horizon that could aid in faster and proper diagnosis of those with Celiac Disease.

Be well and enjoy the wonderful summer days, gluten-free, of course!


Here's to abundance and support. Thank you all for your goodness.