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Gluten-Free on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Hilton Head Island, SC has been a favorite of mine since I was little, and now we go as a family at least once a year. It is a nice, easy getaway from Atlanta. Typically we cook our meals at the house, in addition to keeping costs down, I don’t have to worry or stress about cross-contamination at restaurants.

But on this recent visit, we decided to explore a little bit, and since going gluten-free this was my first time actually eating out there.  I tried to do some research before our holiday and ask for suggestions, but the only responses I received were for chain restaurants.  And while I appreciate that chain restaurants are expanding their gluten-free offerings, those are restaurants I can go to anywhere, whether I am in Hilton Head or on the west coast.  I really wanted to find something unique and local.

We happened to have some friends staying on Hilton Head at the same time and they suggested meeting at The Sea Shack for dinner. One look at the website and it looked like a gluten haven, but after calling and being reassured I could order fish grilled, I felt a little better.  When we arrived, it really did look like a shack in a very-unlikely area.  Nothing fancy, yet  had a line out the door at 7pm.  Seeing all the fried items, I was a little apprehensive…ok, a lot apprehensive.  It is the type of place you go to the counter and order, so I asked several questions, while holding up the line and placed my order.  I ordered plain, grilled salmon, with grits and cucumber salad.  I also asked them if they could grill my fish on a clean surface and not to add any seasoning. They seemed pretty knowledgeable and  pretty sure their seasonings were safe, but I didn’t want to risk it, especially on vacation.  This reminded me why going to a restaurant for the first time when it is packed is not the best idea.

Thankfully, the dinner was delicious.  I looked longingly at my daughter’s hushpuppies, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and left there feeling great.  I will definitely be back on our next visit.

Another night during our visit, I really wanted to take a break from cooking and do something easy. This time I went against my philosophy of “no chains” and decided to order out from Mellow Mushroom, which I have yet to try since going gluten-free.  I miss the days when I could eat the gluten-filled Mellow Mushroom crust and it smells so good, but I was happy I could still go there and order a pizza.  The gluten-free crust only came in a 12″, so I ordered a Mega Veggie on gluten-free crust, and a Greek salad (the dressing is gluten-free).  My husband and I were very pleased with the pizza, and sharing that and a salad was more than enough.  We even had enough salad for lunch the next day.

On our last night, we decided to go out one more time, and this time we tried Land’s End Tavern at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. We choose this place based on the pirate theme…there was no planning or calling ahead for this one.  I figured I could order grilled fish if nothing else.

Luckily, before being seated, I asked the hostess about gluten-free options and she told me she also had celiac and went through the menu and marked everything that was safe.  And let me know anytime a dish has fried fish, it could also be done grilled.  She also told me they had a separate fryer just for fries, so I was exited about this.  But, then she went on to say how while she has celiac, she will sometimes cheat – my confidence just dropped.  When we sat down I asked the server to confirm about the fryer and he said no, they are all fried in the same oil. That nixed my chances for tasting my daughter’s fries.  I ended up ordering grilled fish (swordfish) tacos with crispy corn tortillas with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies.  The fish tacos were very tasty and I felt great after the meal.  My husband ordered the same as me, but fried, and after tasting mine, he said he preferred mine.  Plus, the grilled is much healthier.

All in all, my three experiences eating out while we were in Hilton Head were a success, and I would be happy to revisit all three of these places. My conclusion when visiting a beach side restaurant, stick with simple…grilled fish, grilled or steamed veggies and potatoes.  But always ask questions about exact ingredients and preparations.

Orange Leaf Yogurt Gluten-Free Menu

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It is always nice to be able to join friends for a frozen treat on a hot afternoon or after a nice meal out. Self-serve frozen yogurt places are popping up all over the place, so I thought it was time that I check one out. I was able to visit Orange Leaf Yogurt this weekend for a mid-afternoon snack.

I had tried several other times to visit Orange Leaf, but the line had been out the front door. I don’t like crowds. Especially when I am trying to ascertain if I can safely eat someplace for the first time. I opted to head back at a less crazy time, which is clearly mid-afternoon on a Saturday.

There were only a few people in the store when I walked in. I loved the light, bright and funky décor. There is a wall of self-serve yogurt machines and then a toppings bar.  I asked the manager on duty which flavors were gluten-free. I was told that the gluten-free flavors were any of the following:

  • Banana
  • Blueberry
  • Blueberry Banana
  • Butter Pecan
  • Caramel
  • Caramel Chocolate
  • Cherry
  • Chocolate
  • Chocolate Cherry
  • Chocolate Coconut
  • Chocolate Mint
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • Chocolate Raspberry
  • Classic Tart
  • Coconut
  • Coffee
  • Cotton Candy
  • Dole Pineapple
  • Eggnog
  • Grape
  • Grapefruit
  • Green Apple
  • Green Tea
  • Honeydew
  • Kiwi
  • Lemon
  • Lychee
  • Mango
  • Mango, Strawberry, Banana
  • NSA Chocolate
  • NSA Vanilla
  • Orange
  • Passion Fruit
  • Peach
  • Peanut Butter
  • Peppermint
  • Pineapple
  • Strawberry, Banana
  • Pistachio
  • Pomegranate
  • Raspberry
  • Raspberry Banana
  • Raspberry Lemonade
  • Strawberry
  • Strawberry Banana
  • Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry
  • Taro
  • Vanilla
  • Watermelon
  • White Chocolate

Obviously, not all of the above flavors are available at all times, though I had a nice selection to choose from.  I opted for pineapple, coconut, coffee & caramel.  I headed over to the toppings bar, which is a cross-contamination nightmare.  In all honesty, I didn’t feel safe adding any of the fruit or toppings that were out in the open, as there were gluten-containing toppings placed right next to them.  I saw that some of the toppings had other toppings that didn’t belong in them and that was enough to convince me to skip them.  There was another small section that had closed bins that I chose peanut M&M’s and regular M&M’s from.  I went to add some Reese’s Pieces, but when I grabbed the scoop, a malted milk ball rolled out.  Not good. My advice is to stay away from the toppings or ask if there is a specific topping that an employee can get from the back that hasn’t been put out and is “at risk” yet.

The yogurt was good, but not something that I would probably opt to have on a regular basis.

Orange Leaf has many locations across the country.  Have you tried Orange Leaf?  What was your experience like?

Review: Mimi’s Cafe Gluten-Free Options

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Last year we wrote a post about Mimi’s Café Gluten-Free Menu. It was nice to see the menu written out, as each time I have been to one of their restaurant locations, I am presented with a notebook with confusing information inside. The other night was no different.

Hannah and I headed out to have a girly dinner and then try a new frozen yogurt place in town (which ended up being packed and we settled for Coldstone). We wanted to hit the new Jason’s Deli up the street, but they don’t open until later this week.  Mimi’s was the next choice on our list. I have dined at Mimi’s many times in the past, but it has probably been over a year since the last time I was there.

I was hoping that they would have improved their menu delivery since the last time that I was there, but that was not the case.  The notebook was brought out, which I don’t mean to complain about, as it is more than some places offer.  I would just think that with as common as gluten-free dining has become if you are offering it, you should have a printed menu to hand out.

There are lists inside the notebook that are meant to follow the menu, which they do somewhat.  The problem I found was conflicting information throughout the list.  For example, one place would mention that the ginger/honey glaze contained gluten, while another area of the list/menu didn’t.  I was reassured when the manager came over to see if I had questions about the menu and we talked about some of my questions and the procedures at Mimi’s.  They seem to have a good understanding of cross-contamination and have good procedures in place to try to avoid it at all costs.  They are willing to work & modify dishes as needed.

I chose to order the Broiled Chicken & Fruit plate with a side of brown rice.  The chicken is not marinated (the marinated chicken contains gluten).  None of the dressings are gluten-free, so I had olive oil & balsamic vinegar.  If you don’t like O & V, consider bringing your own.  This was a good size portion, though it wouldn’t have been enough for me had I not ordered the rice.  I might ask for extra salad or fruit if I were to order this again.  Aside from that, the chicken was flavorful and moist.  The fruit was tasty and not bland, which is sometimes the case in restaurants.

 

Mimi’s Café has locations across the  US.  Ever wonder how Mimi’s Café came to be?  Read on…

In 1944, an American airman named Arthur J. Simms fell in love with the beauty, foods and flavors of France. It was to become a passion that would change his life.
Stationed there during the final days of World War II, young Arthur J. was taken by the friendly neighborhood bistros and warm, inviting cafés. Arthur J. loved the simple yet charming meals. He savored the aroma of freshly baked breads, café au lait and the company of good friends raising toasts all around. Equally captivating was a mademoiselle he met by chance, who went by the name of Mimi. Arthur J. Simms never forgot his days in France. In 1978, he opened the first Mimi’s Cafe® – a neighborhood bistro inspired by his memories of Mimi and passion for good food, wine and camaraderie that he remembered so fondly.

Have you dined at Mimi’s Café?  If so, what did you order?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Review: Gluten-Free Menu at Rosa Mexicano

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When the Atlanta location of Rosa Mexicano opened several years ago, word quickly spread that the menu there was very gluten-free and friendly.  The gluten-free training of the staff was slightly shaky at first, but servers who couldn’t answer questions about gluten-free options quickly referred to the chef so they could relay accurate information to gluten-free patrons. I’ve enjoyed lunches with gluten-free friends and joined gluten-eating friends for brunch at Rosa Mexicano many times.

For whatever reason, I’ve never been there for dinner, but all my meals there have been both gluten-free and delicious.  When I found out that the company was rolling out a new gluten-free menu, I made a date to meet a friend there for lunch. The regular menu at Rosa Mexicano is very gluten-free friendly.  In fact, there are more items on the menu that are gluten-free than ones that aren’t.  Even so, after checking out the numerous gluten-free choices, I asked the server if I could have something that was not listed as gluten-free.  It appeared from the description of the Quesadilla de Pollo that it could easily be made gluten-free if made with corn tortillas instead of flour.  The server checked with the chef and said they could easily use corn tortillas to make me a gluten-free quesadilla.

While some people might not be comfortable asking for a special request meal when so much on the menu is already gluten-free, I feel that since I often did that when I ate gluten, there is no reason to stop now.  If something can’t be prepared gluten-free, chefs will let you know and you just order something else.  The key is to always have a second or third menu selection to fall back on, just in case what you want can’t be prepared gluten-free.

My chicken quesadilla made with fresh corn tortillas was simply delicious!  The chips with red sauce we noshed on were as fabulous as ever.  I think I could drink the red sauce from a mug – it’s that incredible!  We skipped the guacamole which is prepared tableside, but it’s also incredible if you like fresh guacamole, of course. After we finished lunch, our server brought us out a lovely light dessert, compliments of the chef.  It was a house made watermelon sorbet with fresh fruit in a light sauce and it was absolutely incredible!  This is a seasonal dessert so it’s not always available.  As it turned out, one of the owners of the company in NYC actually treated us to our meal that day.

Without question, lunch at Rosa Mexicano in Atlanta is one of the best values around.  You get creative dishes prepared with fresh ingredients for the same price as many places here charge for over-processed bland meals.  There are locations of Rosa Mexicano in the following cities:

  • NEW YORK, NY (FIRST AVENUE)
  • NEW YORK, NY (LINCOLN CENTER)
  • NEW YORK, NY (UNION SQUARE)
  • HACKENSACK, NJ
  • WASHINGTON, DC
  • NATIONAL HARBOR, MD
  • ATLANTA, GA
  • MIAMI, FL
  • LOS ANGELES, CA
  • SOUTH BEACH, FL

*The meal reviewed above was provided to me free of charge. As always, my opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any outside sources.

Review: Carino’s Gluten-Free Menu

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When I first heard that Carino’s had a gluten-free menu, I called the location near us to inquire about it. The first person I spoke to said they did not have a gluten-free menu (after I explained what that was). I asked for a manager who had barely heard of the words ‘gluten-free’ and he said that although corporate had something about that on the website, they didn’t actually have a gluten-free menu there. He was very nice and apologized for the confusion.

Recently, I called the same location of Carino’s again and without skipping a beat the person who answered the phone cheerfully said they had a gluten-free menu. Just because a place has a printed gluten-free menu doesn’t mean that the people working there understand what gluten is or how to safely serve gluten-free customers. The only way to find out how well a restaurant does with gluten-free service is to check it out. The knowledge level of the staff can vary from location to location which is why we tend not to dine out at large chains that often.

The gluten-free menu at Carino’s is pretty small, but the items on it are fairly interesting. There is even something that is not that easy to find when dining out – a gluten-free soup. After reviewing the menu, I knew immediately I had to order the Roasted Garlic Potato Soup. The Lemon Rosemary Chicken won out over the Grilled Citrus Balsamic Salmon for my entrée.

For some reason, the soup normally comes with croutons in (or on) it so you have to order no croutons when ordering the soup on the gluten-free menu at Carino’s. There are actually chunks of potato in the soup that are about the size of croutons so I paid  close attention when eating it in case a mistake was made it and croutons somehow made their way into the soup. The good news is that none did and the soup was absolutely delicious!

My entrée was very good and flavorful, but the soup was the star of the show for me. The next time I go, I’ll probably order a Caesar salad (sans croutons) and soup and call it a day. My husband ordered the Italian Pot Roast which was gluten-free and I tasted it. He loved it and I did not. I don’t like pot roast with a tomato flavor, but for those who do; this dish is a good option. The meat was super tender just as pot roast should be.

Carino’s worked with the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America to create their gluten-free menu. With so many places jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon lately, knowing a place has worked with GIG’s restaurant certification program (GFRAP) is much more important to me now than it used to be. From pizza places telling me they have gluten-free pizza, but they don’t know what toppings and sauces are gluten-free (or that those things could contain gluten) to dessert places telling me their key lime pie is gluten-free if I don’t eat the crust, it’s clear that safe gluten-free options are not clearly understood by many places that claim to have them.

Our meal at Carino’s was a decent value, coming in for around $40 for one soup, one salad, a glass of wine, two entrees and one dessert. For the record, the bread pudding didn’t impress my husband who I consider a bread pudding expert. The only gluten-free option was ice cream with chocolate syrup, caramel sauce or amarena cherries which I wasn’t even slightly tempted to order.