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California Pizza Kitchen Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 3 Comments

Earlier this month I shared the great news that California Pizza Kitchen re-released their gluten-free pizza, but this time, the right way, with the guidance and blessing of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). When I had to go to the mall over the weekend to pick up a book at Barnes & Noble for a book report, I planned a stop at CPK since it is located at the other end of the same mall.  Since this was going to be the first time ordering the new gluten-free pizza, I wanted to do so in person to get a feel for how well the restaurant employees were trained.

Official Website Menu Information: California Pizza Kitchen Gluten-Free Menu
Location Finder: Find a California Pizza Kitchen Location Near You

This is the sign placed right out in front of the restaurant to lure people inside. I was thrilled to see this! To me it was definitely a good sign, pun intended, that the staff had been educated about the gluten-free pizza and procedures. I made my way over to the “To-Go” order counter and saw another good sign.

photo 2The tabletop sign talked about the strict procedures approved by the GIG and listed the four varieties of gluten-free pizzas offered:

  • Margherita
  • The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza
  • Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage
  • Pepperoni

I ordered the Margherita for me and the Pepperoni for my son. The pizzas only took 15 minutes to prepare and were presented to us like this:

Another indication that CPK got it right this time.  Only one question remains…how does it taste?  The gentleman that was working the “To-Go” counter said he liked the new version better than the old.  He went on to tell me the base ingredients, which really impressed me!

The pizza was a little overcooked at the edges but didn’t taste burnt, so it didn’t bother me at all.  The texture of the crust and the overall taste of the pizza were outstanding, so much so that I forgot about the edges until I looked at the pictures before sharing them here with you guys. The pizzas are roughly 10 inches in diameter. I stretched mine out into 2 meals by adding an arugula salad when I got home.

If you haven’t figured it out already, I am beyond ecstatic with the new gluten-free pizza at CPK.  I definitely see it being added to our “safe” list of restaurants in the Columbus area. To see where the closest CPK restaurant to you is, visit the website store locator.

Well done California Pizza Kitchen, well done.

As always, when dining out gluten-free, do your due diligence and make sure the staff understands your needs. There are very few restaurants that are 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is always a risk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are hearing from the staff, perhaps it is best to dine elsewhere.

For information about other gluten-free restaurants menus, check out our gluten-free restaurants page.

Buca di Beppo Gluten-Free Menu

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Eating out should be fun and enjoyable, not intimidating and stressful, right?  Whenever I have plans to go to a new-to-me gluten-free restaurant, I always get nervous. One would think that after 7+ years on the gluten-free diet that I would be an old pro by now.  No matter how much experience I have eating gluten-free, there are variables I can’t control when eating out.  A restaurant that has a gluten-free menu and a staff well-trained on that menu makes all the difference in the world.

Sunday night we went to Buca di Beppo to celebrate some belated family birthdays.  I just love the ambiance of this restaurant!  The red and white checkered tablecloths, family-like photos on the wall and a lively atmosphere all make for a unique experience.  I was immediately impressed by the number of options on the gluten-free menu.  Plenty of options to choose from – something for everyone. Traditionally Buca di Beppo serves their dishes “family style”, encouraging family and friends to share.  More about Buca:

Buca di Beppo® is a collection of neighborhood restaurants with a lively atmosphere and authentic Italian menu for all to enjoy. In the spirit of Italian culture, our dishes are meant to be shared and served family-style, perfect for passing around the table.

We encourage our guests to dine with family and friends while enjoying the Italian traditions of food, friendship and hospitality. The first Buca di Beppo opened its doors in 1993 in the basement of a Minneapolis apartment building. We’ve since grown to over 86 locations nationwide.

IMG_6975Since Jon and I were the only ones eating gluten-free, I was concerned that we would have a lot of leftover food.  The staff was more than accommodating and willing to make a smaller version for us.  The Ceasar Salad is not on the gluten-free menu, but after checking with the chef, the only gluten is in the croutons.  We ordered a large salad to share with the table, croutons on the side.  We also ordered a smaller Mozzarella Caprese to share – it was just perfect!

Jon and I ordered the Chicken Limone (lemon butter sauce and capers) and Rosemary Potatoes to share for our main course.  All entrees have a note to ask that the dish not be dusted with flour.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal – the chicken was tender and flavorful and the the potatoes were cooked perfectly!  Kudos to the staff for taking such good care of our needs!

Buca di Beppo has locations across the US and also offers banquet and catering options, though I did not ask about the ability to do them gluten-free.

Have you dined at Buca di Beppo?  How was your experience?

Review: Uncle Maddio’s in Edgewood, Atlanta

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A year ago, I wrote about my experience at Uncle Maddio’s, and how much I loved it, and it’s dedication to serving safe gluten-free pizza. A few weeks ago, an Uncle Maddio’s opened right around the corner from me.  I was thrilled, now I could enjoy this yummy gluten-free pizza regularly.

As luck would have it, I was invited to the opening night, and while I was super excited to be one the of the first to try their new location, I can’t deny I was also a bit nervous.  I was nervous because I didn’t want to be a guinea pig for people trying to navigate and learning how to prepare a gluten-free pizza with minimal risk of cross-contamination.  In addition to this, the opening night was packed.  A setting I try to avoid when I want to be sure the people in the kitchen and servers are handling my order carefully.  My nerves were eased when I spoke with the owner and she assured me that they have been trained and that the main person making pizzas that night was an experienced pizza maker from another Uncle Maddio’s location.

Logo_Uncle_MaddiosI decided to trust it, and ordered my pizza.  I love how the format is “Chipotle-style”, casual and family-friendly.  You can order from one of the many speciality designed pizzas, or you can go down the line and choose the toppings to make your own unique pizza.  There is a huge menu board that lists the specials and toppings available.  My family all ordered gluten-free pizzas, because honestly they all like the crusts better, even though they don’t have to eat gluten-free like me.

I told the pizza maker I was going to have a gluten-free pizza, and thankfully he changed his gloves without being asked, as well as, alerting the next people in the pizza line to change their gloves as well.  Since I have been to an Uncle Maddio’s before, I was familiar with what toppings were safe, but as we know, ingredients always change, so I asked again.  I was told that all veggies were OK, but he seemed a little fuzzy as to all that was safe after that.   I ordered a pizza with red sauce, broccoli, green olives and tofu. My daughter ordered her favorite of tofu and pepperoni – such a great contradiction!

All in all, it was a great experience, even if I was a little nervous in the crowded, just-opened atmosphere.  The leftovers the next day were just as delicious!

One change I would make, if I could, would be to mark the gluten-free toppings on the menu board rather than leaving us guessing.  The salads are marked, so why not mark the pizza toppings?

I can’t wait to go again!

Review: Gluten-Free at Bravo

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My weekend was full of celebration for my birthday and my mom’s birthday – how cool is it that we share a birthday?  We ended up eating out for three meals, with Bravo being one of those restaurants.  I hadn’t been to Bravo in years, in fact, I am not sure that I have dined there since starting the gluten-free diet.

The gluten-free menu is decently sized with options for salads, entrees and pasta.  Since we were there for lunch I chose a salad with grilled salmon.

IMG_4497Doesn’t that look wonderful?  The salad is “Served with field greens, tomatoes, grilled asparagus, Feta and a balsamic vinaigrette”.  I was pleased with the freshness and flavor of this salad.  The salmon was cooked perfectly and I love the addition of grilled asparagus to a salad!

The one thing lacking from Bravo is a dessert option for the gluten-free diner.  The menu does have crème brulee and ice cream on it, but neither are included on the gluten-free menu. It would be nice to see one or both added in the future.  Bravo has locations across the US. Visit the website to see locations nearest you.

Have you dined gluten-free at Bravo?  Please share your experience below.

Red Lobster Gluten-Free Options

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 15 Comments

I can’t believe there is a chain restaurant out there that I haven’t tried since I have been gluten-free, but there is: Red Lobster.  I guess I knew they had a few gluten-free options, but never really stopped to see what they offered.

In addition to the obvious gluten-free items like steamed shellfish, baked fish, baked potato and plain salad there are many other options such as:

  • Shrimp scampi
  • Bacon-wrapped shrimp  with mashed potatoes
  • Blackened fish
  • Coleslaw
  • New York Style cheesecake with strawberries

There are some other items marked gluten-free, like chicken wings and French fries, but it is necessary to check to see if a common fryer is used at the location where you are dining.  The allergen menu is updated on a regular basis to ensure that if anything has changed it is updated.

Just because an establishment offers a gluten-free menu doesn’t mean you don’t need to ask questions regarding preparation and precautions taken to eliminate the chance of cross-contamination.  Here are some questions that should always be asked:

  • Is there a dedicated fryer?  Fries, tortilla chips and chicken wings are not gluten-free if they are fried with breaded items.
  • How are gluten-free items on the grill/flat top kept from coming in contact with gluten?
  • Is it possible to cook the gluten-free items in a separate pan?
  • If there is gluten-free pasta offered, is it cooked in a dedicated pot?
  • Is the salad prepared in a separate dish to avoid being tossed with any crouton remnants?
  • Are separate utensils used to plate the gluten-free food?
  • Are vegetables a part of your entrée?  Ask how they are prepared to ensure any butter sauce or seasonings are gluten-free and that they are not cooked in pasta water.
  • If there are gluten-free bread or bun options, how are they toasted/warmed?
  • If you are eating breakfast and ordering omelets or scrambled eggs, ask if pancake batter is used to add fluffiness.
  • If there is gluten-free pizza on the menu, is it baked separately or on a dedicated pan?  Is the sauce and toppings kept separate from the non-gluten-free sauce and toppings?
  • Desserts – flourless chocolate cake isn’t gluten-free if the pan is dusted with flour; ice cream should be scooped with a clean scoop that hasn’t come in contact with gluten, crème brulee is gluten-free until a cookie is stuck out of the top of it.

The list above is not all-inclusive, but should give you a good place to start when dining out gluten-free.  Always remember if you don’t feel comfortable eating someplace, leave and go to another restaurant. Don’t worry about hurting feelings of any staff members, your health comes first.  I try to research new-to-me restaurants in advance to limit some of the issues that may arise and make a mental list of questions I want to get answers to before I get settled in.

Have you eaten gluten-free at Red Lobster?  Have you tried the New York Cheesecake?

What is your number one tip for dining out gluten-free?

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