Gluten Free Spokane

Fraiche—Voulez Vous Gluten Free?

shallan — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:42:42 +0000

Usually when a new restaurant opens up, its not the best time to test out their awareness and dedication to serving gluten-free guests. But it had been a few months since Fraiche Bistro started serving up contemporary French cuisine at 14 N Post Street downtown Spokane, so we decided it was time to venture in for a dessert. This gave us the cover for our real mission: to scope out the menu and chat with the chef to assess their commitment to preparing safe gluten free meals.

We asked the server about their gluten-free desserts and ordered the flourless chocolate cake and the creme brulee. While we were waiting, the young head chef arrived at our table and went through what dishes had gluten and which ones were safe. The French Chicken Risotto with brie, prosciutto and vegetables was the first thing to catch my eye. The halibut, poached in parchment with fresh herbs, butter and garlic, was a close second. The other gluten-free items they had on their frequently-changing-menu that night all sounded fantastic, and the place was packed late on a Friday night. A good sign.

flourless chocolate cake

crem brulee with crisp banana

One thing to look out for, especially if the server doesn’t bring it up, is the Panko (bread crumbs) used with some dishes like the potato cakes. The staff is eager to help and though “gluten free” is not marked on the menu, and some staff might ask a few questions about what you can and can’t have, they were paying attention and seemed to want to get it right. The chef reassured us that gluten free orders are made in their own pan. The kitchen is shared with Rex’s, a burger joint next door with the same owner, but Fraiche’s food is prepared in and served from a separate area.

We’ll be back for dinner soon.

Vien Dong—Celiac Safe Asian Eats

shallan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:24:13 +0000

I’ve heard a lot of good things about this little Vietnamese and Chinese food joint in the “International District” out on Sprague Ave., but a few barriers had always kept me from trying it. First, Asian food, at least the kind you find in many American towns, is usually soy sauce laden, a big no-no for a strict gluten free diet. My second hesitation was my concern about the language barrier. It can be difficult enough sometimes communicating allergy, ingredient, and cross-contamination concerns to a server or cook whose first language is English. So I started with a phone call and an overview of my dietary restrictions for the very sweet lady who answered the phone. After a long pause, she responded to my standard gluten-free spiel with a pleasant but firm request: “I don’t understand, please call back in half hour.”

Not 15 minutes later, the phone rang. It was Nick, her son, calling to see what I was asking. How is that for customer service? The lengthy conversation, while he read ingredients to me and warned me not to eat the pulled pork, culminated with him suggesting that I bring my own soy sauce. That was enough to convince me to give Vien Dong a try.

When we rolled up for lunch, I asked for Nick (highly recommended for all allergy customers) and handed over my big bottle of gf soy sauce. We ordered the fresh wraps sans pulled pork and his suggestion: tofu and veggies in a lemongrass seasoning all prepared in a clean wok. The tightly wrapped, fresh veggie rolls arrived with a sweet peanut sauce. Totally affordable at $2.50 for two rolls.

Fresh Rolls

Then came the brimming-over-the-edges bowl of stir-fry and rice noodles. The colors were bright and fresh. The flavor was mild, allowing the taste of red peppers, peas, mushrooms and tofu to be enjoyed. As I dug through the noodles, I discovered shredded lettuce and mung beans. A nice crunchy surprise.

Tofu and Veggies in Lemongrass Sauce

When Nick came out to ask how we liked our food, I remembered to ask about how the rice noodles are cooked. Depending on the day, they might be cooked in the same water as the wheat noodles. Nick’s eyes got big as he realized it could make me sick (not his fault at all). He asked me to make sure to ask for noodles cooked in fresh water next time. I will and suggest you do the same!

Grocery Outlet: Good Deals on Gluten Free

shallan — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:44:07 +0000

A shopping trip at Grocery Outlet is sort of like a treasure hunt. It’s not the kind of store you can reliably run to for a specific item you might need, although the new downtown store near Browne’s Addition seems to have more variety than the other two Spokane stores. Grocery Outlet is typically more of an experience scouring each self as you wander up and down each isle. Little gluten-free treasures can be found quite easily if you are willing to take some time to scan each item and look at labels of promising looking finds. It’s also a good place to stock up on naturally gluten-free basic ingredients like organic olive oil, rice, beans, quality cheeses, gf pasta, spices, juice and other drinks, and on and on.

On our last trip to the downtown store, we found some old favorites and new surprises. At least lately they have always seemed to have stacks of awesome gluten-free corn pasta at a great price (don’t tell too many people). Of course we stocked up. Then we stumbled upon some great gluten-free snacks: Boulder Chips, Wild Riceworks Chips, Indiana Popcorn, Lara Bars, and sugar-free, gluten-free Hansen’s soda.

Boulder Chips, Lara Bars, and Wild Riceworks

In the deli isle we hit the jackpot of gluten free organic cheese. Right next to the cheese we found gluten-free double chocolate pudding (it’s delicious).

Chocolate Pudding

The freezer case is filled with impressive quantities of gluten-filled foods, but if you take the time to pick your way through it all, you’ll occasionally be rewarded with gluten free frozen dinners, organic veggies, and gf meats.

Freezer dinners worth eating.

Organic Frozen Veggies

My favorite item we found this time was organic gluten free hairspray. And what a deal!

Organic Gluten Free Hairspray!

The Savory Side of Taste

shallan — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:08:14 +0000

Every Thursday downtown Spokane’s Taste Cafe dedicates a section of their deli case to gluten-free baked goods. They are amazing, and you don’t want to miss out on another Thursday. I’m serious. But this review is about their salads and other savory selections.

One of the co-owners of Taste is gluten free, so the items marked on the menu have been crafted to be free of any gluten ingredients and are prepared carefully to avoid cross contamination. Employees have also been well trained in gluten awareness. Knowing that you are safe at a place like Taste allows you to relax and enjoy your food even more. Like many restaurants that serve both traditional and gf items, be sure you tell them you are gluten free, or they might put a delicious, but full-of-wheat, roll on your plate.

My favorite Taste temptation is the Curried chicken salad. Big chunks of chicken breast are paired with apples, peas and other veggies and are tossed with a creamy dressing that is delicate enough to allow you to really taste all the ingredients. Another good salad is the lentil salad filled with basil, feta, tomatoes cucumber and green onions. This vegetarian dish is filling enough for a meal. If you are looking for something warm, try the Moussaka, a flavorful Mediterranean dish served hot, bubbly, and delicious.

There are a few other important things to note about Taste besides their incredible gluten-free baked goods, salads, and other lunch selections. The owners are among the most dedicated I have ever seen to local ingredients and supporting local family farms. They also deliver and cater.

Yellow Lentil Salad

Gluten Free Cooking Class in Coeur d’Alene

shallan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:38:58 +0000

Pilgrim’s Market, Coeur d’Alene’s organic, natural, and gluten-free food central, is hosting a gluten free cooking class the evening of March 29 that promises guidance on how to make some simple gluten-free dishes and desserts. The chefs from Namaste Foods in Sandpoint will be demonstrating a range of gluten free recipes. For those of us who struggle in the kitchen, the class will offer tips to make gluten-free cooking fun and easy. If you love to cook, this looks like a good way to get your taste buds dialed in on some new flavors. Registration is necessary as space is limited and classes tend to fill up quickly. Check out details below or visit Pilgrim’s online.

Date: Thursday March 29, 2012, 6-7:30 PM

Event: Simple & Crowd-Pleasing Gluten Free Cooking Class

Speaker: Namaste Foods, LLC–Daphne Taylor

Description: Learn how to make truly delicious gluten free food that’s fast and easy and sure to please EVERYONE. Come join the chefs from Namaste Foods in Sandpoint, ID for a fun night of cooking and creating. Eating gluten free has never tasted so good! Featured recipes will include BBQ Chicken Tenders, Mexi-Cal Pasta Salad and Chocolate Banana Cupcakes.

Please register by 3/26 by calling (208) 676-9730.

Namaste Chicken

Lindaman’s Gluten Free Gourmet

shallan — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:24:15 +0000

Lindaman’s has been a cozy lower South Hill fixture for gourmet soups, salads, entrees, desserts, and drinks for as long as I can remember. Over the past couple of years, they’ve expanded their offerings to cater to Spokane’s ever growing gluten-free community. And they’re getting better at it all the time.

This warm and inviting bistro has clearly marked gluten free dishes on the signs that are attached to each item in the deli case. The rotating selection usually has a few warm dishes that are gluten free. They also have a quality selection of gf salads. When ordering anything make sure to tell them you need it gluten free, and they will take extra care to avoid cross contamination. Main entrees come with a salad and in the old days a roll was included (that policy has changed but it never hurts to remind them that you need your food gluten free).

Kitchen Prep

My favorite gf thing on their menu is the wild rice casserole. It’s rich and creamy with little bites of vegetables. A much healthier and tastier alternative to mac and cheese but with the same comfort food feel. I like this dish so much I’ve tried making it at home, although my concoction never comes close to the real Lindaman’s thing. The twice baked potato is also delicious, and the chicken tenders with a side of Asian chicken salad is also a satisfying, flavorful gf choice.

Twice as good

Chicken Enchilada

Based on past experiences, it’s worth noting that they do make an excellent effort to provide quality, creative gluten free options but that they have a few kinks to work out before being totally safe for those of us with serious gluten allergies. For instance the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are marked gluten free, but are made with oats that are not totally gluten free. I learned this the hard way. But don’t let this keep you away. Be diligent and ask questions and hopefully increased awareness of gluten allergies and the availability of pure gf products will help their menu get even better.

In the meantime, there’s plenty of sweet and savory treats to try whenever you’re looking for a gluten-free gourmet fix on Spokane’s lower South Hill!

Dessert

Opa! Mediterranean Cuisine: Gluten-Free Food for the Gods

shallan — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:59:47 +0000

Our first impression of our inaugural dinner outing up north to Opa! wasn’t what we’d expected from a north Spokane restaurant tucked in amongst the Newport Highway’s strip mall chaos. The atmosphere was much more genuine, warm, and comfortable than I had imagined. It felt like we’d stumbled into an authentic family run restaurant with a real connection to the Mediterranean.

Being Valentine’s Day, we started off with drinks. The champagne was poured in a glass with ice (perhaps a Greek preference?). They also have New Planet GF beer in case that sounds like a better beverage to wash down a gyro or plate of pizza. While we deliberated over the menu (which doesn’t have GF items marked but, as the server explained, most of their items can be made gluten free) we relaxed and soaked up the intimate atmosphere. The server was cheerful and attentive in a motherly way, making sure that all her customers were happy. The live accordion music was unexpected but amazing (they have regular live music on the weekends).

Once we finally made up our minds and ordered, it wasn’t long before the large portions of thoughtfully seasoned and delicious food arrived.

greek salad

The Greek salad was crisp, fresh, and flavorful. The pizza (with locally made Fusion Flour crust) was by far the best gluten-free pizza I’ve had in Spokane outside my own kitchen. And the gyro, a Fusion Flour gluten-free pita stuffed with rich strips of lamb and fist-drippingly drenched in delicious tasiziki, was reminiscent of the gyro stands we ate at in Greece back before I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. The opportunity to try so many different, flavorful dishes that you can’t find anywhere else in gluten free form in the Spokane area makes Opa! a must try for anyone on a gluten restricted diet.

greek pizza

Our meal at Opa! made for a memorable Valentine’s Day date that we continued to enjoy via leftovers the following day. The food and the experience were nothing short of fantastic.

Check Opa! out at online for a look at their menu, which as of this posting, unfortunately doesn’t indicate which items can or can’t be made gluten free.

Wild Sage Bistro-Gluten Free Gold

shallan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:06:07 +0000

Gone are the days of watching your dinner companions eating warm bread in front of you, while you wait for your meal. Downtown Spokane’s Wild Sage, hands down one of the city’s most renowned restaurants, now bakes their own gluten-free bread in house, making it one of the best gluten-free friendly fine dining destinations as well.

golden buns

These little golden buns are full of nutty flavor and will easily trick your taste buds if you’re anticipating the not-so-appetizing gluten-free texture of many commercial GF breads. They’re so good you might even worry for a moment that you were served the wrong bread. But relax and enjoy these tasty treats (baked in a highly cross-contamination aware kitchen) while you peruse their gluten-free menu.

gluten free menu

The appetizer selection was also tempting with items like a Poblano-Artichoke Dip, Tapas Sampler and White Cheese Fondue. We picked the sampler, and for my veggie friend, they adjusted the plate. We were melting in our chairs with goat cheese, olives and artichokes, pears poached in wine and cloves, house made crackers, and sweet chili shrimp. Each bite was amazing.

Tapas Sampler

The kitchen is also willing to modify other items on the regular menu whenever possible and in our case the server suggested a gluten-free and vegetarian dish, lentil cakes with roasted vegetables, that wasn’t even on their menu. That sounded perfect. Our meal arrived with two generous cakes that held their shape on the plate beautifully. The flavors were delicate enough to pick out specific ingredients. The lentil cakes were served with a warm, savory tomato sauce and a side of roasted root veggies.

Root Veggies and Lentil Cakes

Although we really didn’t have room for more food, the coconut cake sounded too good to pass up. The white cake came sitting in liliquoi sauce. The tart flavor of the sauce paired perfectly with the sweet cake, and the toasted coconut flakes added a nice delicate crunch. An amazing finale to a perfect gluten-free dinner.

Coconut Cake

Local Love: Hallett’s Chocolates Perfect Gluten Free Valentines Gift

shallan — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:58:13 +0000

Looking for a tasty local treat for your gluten-free sweetie this Valentine’s Day? Well you’re in luck. Spokane’s Hallett’s Chocolates made-from-scratch chocolates and candies are all built from the ground up with no gluten ingredients according to Halletts. You can order directly from their web site or visit their factory on the North side or satellite store downtown for a last minute Valentine’s Day purchase and have your pick of truffles, assorted chocolates, caramels, brittles, toffee, and other delectable, hand-made sweets (some are even sugar-free too).

Chocolate on Display at Riverwalk Location

Thanks to Kari from Hallett’s who took time out from the busy V-Day rush to answer our hounding questions about possible hidden gluten ingredients and cross contamination concerns. While they don’t label their chocolates “gluten free” anywhere at their retail store or on their website (something they should consider given the growing GF customer base), we felt confident enough from their answers to test a couple of espresso caramel milk chocolates on an uber-sensitive celiac stomach. Of course they tantalized the taste buds without tormenting the intestines. Do be on the lookout though for a few candy offerings they sell (licorice and cookies center items) from other manufacturers that contain gluten but never come in contact with Hallett’s products and include an ingredient list on their label.

Hallett’s Chocolates have been around in the Spokane area for over 30 years and have time tested, award winning recipes that will make a Hallett’s Valentines gift something special.

Hallett’s factory (Northside): 1419 E. Holyoke, Spokane WA 99217, 509.484.6454 cs@hallettschocolates.com

Riverwalk store (next to Northern Lights Brewery in the University District): 1007 E. Trent, Spokane WA 99202, 509.487.3238
csriverwalk@hallettschocolates.com

Spokane’s “Best Asian Market” Lives up to Its Name

shallan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:20:02 +0000

It’s great to see new Asian markets popping up around Spokane, but one of our favorites for authentic and inexpensive gluten-free Asian ingredients is the “Best Asian Market” (formerly known as the Bay Market). It’s a short drive or bike ride from downtown Spokane at 2020 E Sprague Ave, and the shelves are stocked with staples from around the Far East. Few items are labeled “gluten free,” although most products have relatively simple lists of ingredients without questionable fillers and mystery substances. Some products list allergy information, and then of course there is an entire produce and cooler section with amazing and exotic greens and other vegetables, tropical fruit and fruit drinks, eggs and meats, and herbs and spices that are, of course, all naturally gluten free.

Varieties of Rice Noodles

One of the best things about the Best Asian Market is the shopping experience itself, including the friendly staff and customers. On a recent trip with a gluten-free friend of mine, we stalked the isles slowly, enjoying the foreign colors, shapes, smells, and labels of products and foods from around Asia that you just won’t find at a conventional American grocery store. Of course we were also on the lookout for any previously undiscovered gluten-free items hiding on the crowded shelves. Some gluten free favorites we recommend picking up on your next trip to the Best Asian Market: sushi rice and jasmine rice, amazing Thai curry pastes, great deals on quality canned coconut milk, gluten free soy and fish sauces, tapioca and rice wraps, rice and other gf noodles, millet and other gf grains, chili sauces and vinegars, eggplant and Asian greens, and good firm tofu.

Mmmmmm, mochi.

Rice Paper Wraps

Check out their web site for a look at some of their products—they even have a picture of a bottle of gluten-free soy sauce! Or give them a call at 509-534-9300.

gf grains + antioxidants in one cup