Many items are made to order, making it a bit easier to accomodate other dietary concerns. And if you’re watching your carbs,  there are many choices including the Broiled Scrod or Scallops which are offered with or without the addition of a gluten-free crumb topping.  In addition, there are no gluten-free hamburger buns or fries to go with Jackie’s Juicy Angus Burger, which, of course, may pose a problem for others.  Available sides include baked potato, spinach, rice and the gluten-free pasta.

This casual eatery also offers function space and seasonal outdoor seating.

This menu also shares space with the vegetarian selections.  Grilled Vegetable Risotto and the Vegetable Timbale are both vegetarian and gluten-free.  For wine enthusiasts, an extensive wine list is offered by the bottle or by the glass and  function space for up to 100 guests is available too.

Watch for special events such as their seasonal 3-course dinners and half-price appetizers on certain nights!

If you choose the pasta and have a soy intolerance be sure to inquire about the ingredients. On our visit we  were told that some of the gluten-free pasta varieties contained soy, while others, like the angel hair, did not.  

The pizza crust is also dairy-free (contains egg and soy), and can be ordered with the standard signature toppings (these vary by location).  We tried  Joe’s Italian Pizza which was a thin crust pizza topped with Italian sausage, tomato sauce, peppers, onions, rosemary and provolone and parmesan cheese. All gluten-free pizzas come in one standard size and, always a bonus, we were charged the same price as the ‘regular’ pizza.

Aside from these gluten-free items, quite a few standard items on the menu such as soups, salads and many grilled entrees were, or could be altered to be, gluten-free as well. On the day of our visit we were tempted by an offer of a gluten-free chocolate cake for dessert. Maybe next time!

Most of the vegetarian dishes can be easily modified to vegan and there are raw food choices here too. For a small additional charge, one can order gluten-free bread (contains dairy) or vegan cheese to go with any of the dishes. I’m glad to see the gluten-free, vegan Baked Macaroni and Cheese is offered on both the lunch and dinner menu!

Everyday a gluten-free baked good is offered. This could be one of many cookies such as the Coconut Almond cookies or the Chocolate Chip cookies.  Often the featured dessert is both vegan and gluten-free.  Some of these include the Kahlua Chocolate Layer Cake, Rice Crispy Treats or the Chocolate Macadamia Pie which is made with a raw almond date crust. Obviously, there are a lot of nuts offered here to take into consideration, if that is a concern of yours.

It’s best to call ahead to discover the featured desserts and daily specials. On our planned visit they were offering gluten-free lasagna (we had to postone our trip).  And Tuesday nights are ‘Raw Nights” where a raw entree and dessert are offered.

The chef certaintly doesn’t impair the integrity of any dish with these modifcations. Dishes are not stripped of  flavor.  For instance, the signature appetizer, Thai Nachos (contains shellfish), is modified by substituting root vegetable chips in place of crispy wonton strips, and herb risotto replaces the farro in the Long Island Duck entree.  

Also worth noting is that someone living with celiac disease is on staff. Besides catering to the needs of gluten-free customers, this establishment strives to please all customers and will work with you to devise an enjoyable meal despite any dietary restrictions.  

I suggest making a reservation to increase the chances that you’ll have some warm gluten-free bread waiting on your table! 

Burger on a Gluten-Free Bun

The Ninety Nine restaurants have started serving  delicious gluten-free buns to accompany their steakburgers. These buns are made from a mix of rice and tapioca flours and are free of dairy (contain eggs, soy and yeast) and are manufactured in a gluten, tree nut and peanut-free facility.

On our visit,  I was planning to order a salad, but as soon as the server mentioned that they now carry these buns I just had to give them a try. I’m so glad that I did.  The bun was warmed perfectly and not a bit crumbly.   Another surprise was to find that the fries (contain soy) were cooked in a dedicated fryer!  I dined at the Wilmington, MA location so if you plan to order the fries elsewhere, please make sure to ask if your location has a dedicated fryer. 

The Ninety Nine’s has had a gluten-free menu for sometime now as well as a great Allergen Info chart on their website (increase magnification of this chart for easy viewing).  This chart is helpful to find other allergens that may be lurking in items on the menu. For instance, the mashed potatoes, not surprisingly, contain milk but they also contain soy.

When looking at the chart , I noticed some items were gluten-free but not listed on the current gluten-free menu.  For example, the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake (contains soy, dairy, eggs)  is free of gluten but not available on the menu. My server did confirm that it was indeed gluten-free but she was not comfortable offering this to me because she wasn’t sure the staff had been properly trained about plating it and wanted to ensure minimal risk of contamination, which I appreciated. I contacted the corporate office for more information and they confirmed that the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake is gluten-free, however, it is processed in a facility that is not a dedicated gluten-free facility. When I inquired about the discrepancy between the items on the gluten-free menu and those items on the Allergen Info list that were free of gluten, I was told that these items are being reviewed in anticipation of a new and improved gluten-free menu to debut in the early fall of 2010.  And yes, the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake will be featured!

 Update:  The gluten-free menu now includes a child-sized burger with a gluten-free bun.

Shopping has just become more enjoyable.  Nordstrom’s  Blue Stove and Cafe Bistro will deliciously and affordably accomodate gluten-free diners!

When we went to Cafe Bistro at the Nordstrom’s in our local mall, I was not expecting to have anything more than my ususal “safe” salad but was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a menu marked with gluten-free choices.  And the choices were abundant!   My dining partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I chose the braised short ribs & polenta which consisted of tender boneless beef short ribs, roasted mushrooms, natural jus and creamy white cheddar polenta.  My sister had the Roast Chicken Pommes Frites and the ‘Frites”, or fries, were cooked in a dedicated fryer!  The food was so delicious and ordering was uncomplicated.   

Other gluten-free items on the Cafe Bistro menu; Blue Cheese & Pear Salad , Warm Asian Glazed Chicken Salad (skip crisp wontons), Cilantro Lime Shrimp (skip tortilla chips), Caesar Salad with Roasted Chicken (skip croutons), Nicoise Salad with Salmon, Vine Ripe Vegetable Salad, Chicken Artichoke & Goat Cheese Salad, Bistro Steak Pommes Frites, Roast Chicken Pommes Frites, Salmon with Gazpacho Salsa and Oven Roasted Scallops.                                             

Another mall visit led us to the Blue Stove, also located at (a different) Nordstroms.  This restaurant serves many mini-plates, or tapas.  Upon entering, I inquired about a gluten-free menu and although there was not one premarked, the hostess knew what my needs were and immediately brought a menu to the chef.  He painstakingly reviewed the menu and noted which items were safe options. Again, I was impressed with the abundant choices.  We started off with the Crispy Parmesan Polenta & Arugula Salad.  Crispy coated, melt in your mouth cubes of polenta shared the plate with shavings of parmesan cheese and a tangy dressing that offset the slight bitterness of the arugula.  To follow, we had Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Wings and they were spicy!  To ameliorate the delightfully burning sensation left on our palate, we chose to sample the Chocolate Banana Creme Brulee. This included a small pot of warm chocolate sauce to drizzle over the dessert.  Exquisite!

Some of the other gluten-free items on the Blue Stove menu;  Frisee Salad with Manchego Cheese & Quince Vinaigrette, Chopped Vegetable Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette, Seared Tuna Loin with Napa Cabbage Slaw, Caramel Clay Pot Chicken (soup), Crisp & Spicy Dark Cherry Glazed Beef, Roasted Garlic Chicken with Corn & Arugula, Lemon Scented Risotto with Seared Scallops & French Beans,  Strip Steak with Romesco Sauce (nuts) & Balsamic Roasted Onions, Lemon Caper Glazed Shrimp, Brussel Sprouts with Spanish Chorizo, Seared Wild Mushrooms & Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Zest, Fresh Grilled Corn Sauteed with Lobster, and Grilled Risotto Cakes with Roasted Oyster Mushrooms.

Please keep in mind that these menus are seasonal and may vary by location. Enjoy!

The sandwich bread is both gluten and dairy-free as are the sugar cookies, Snickerdoodles and the Oh Snap! Gingersnaps.  Also very popular are the gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, M & M cookies and FreeFlour Fudgey brownies.  Boar’s Head meats are used for the sandwiches and salads and soups are available daily as well.  Call before your visit to see if the soup of the day is gluten-free.

The Cucina restaurant in Slatersville offers a tempting menu of gluten-free appetizers, salads, pizza and entrees, including dishes made with rice pasta.  Their pizza is a more traditional variety of tomato, basil and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese while Cucina Twist in South Kingston offers individual sized pizzas with standard vegetable toppings along with diced chicken as an option.  They also offer entrees with a “pick your topping” option for the grilled chicken, pork, sirloin, scrod or shrimp dishes. Some of the toppings are also dairy-free such as the Pomodoro, Fra Diavolo and Marinara.  See the rest on their menu.

Another, the Grille on Main in East Greenwich is open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner.  Pizzas here include a mix of traditional and more unique combinations like the Mashed Potato Pizza or Cheeseburger Pizza.  The aforementioned is made with a base of mustard and ketchup and is topped with ground angus beef, cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato and pickles!  On this gluten-free menu you’ll find Crispy Calamari made with quinoa flour. You can also find salads like the Buffalo Chicken Salad or the Grilled Sirloin Steak Salad which are substantial enough to be considered a meal. 

In East Greenwich you’ll also find the Post Office Cafe where a variety of soups, salads and pizza are offered on the menu.  I’d love to try the Sweet & Salty Pizza which is a thin crust pizza topped with green apples, arugala, gorgonzola and ricotta cheese.   When you visit Twist in Warwick, you will find another unique gluten-free menu that offers appetizers, salads, numerous entrees and SANDWICHES!  These are served with french fries, sweet potato fries, quinoa salad, mashed potatoes or vegetable of the day.

Pinelli’s Deli and Cafe at Night is a gourmet deli by day and is transformed into a cafe at night.  Unfortunately, there is not gluten-free bread available for sandwiches in the deli but they do carry salads and Boar’s Head deli meats which are gluten-free. The Cafe at Night’s menu is changed frequently to reflect the seasons and the many signature Italian dishes that they are known for.    This establishment does not have a gluten-free menu available online, but can easily accomodate dietary restrictions as every meal is cooked to order.   I hear the homemade flourless chocolate torte must be tried! 

The newest addition to the group is the beautiful and romantic Waterplace overlooking the Waterplace Park and Waterfire in Providence.  Though  a gluten-free menu is not found on the website, they continue the tradition of serving gluten-free pizza and other gluten-free dishes here as well.