For those fortunate members of the Celiac Disease community who have an Outback Steakhouse in their area, this restaurant has long been a popular destination due to their knowledge of the gluten-free diet and their gluten-free menu. So, how did all this come about?
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Tiffany James recently published a fun article over at The Examiner celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the gluten-free Bloomin’ Onion, a food that the restaurant has long been known for. The post then goes on to share the story of how the bloomin’ onion and the rest of Outback’s gluten-free menu came about.
Here is an excerpt from Tiffany’s post:
The original batter was made from cornstarch which was very good but not exceptional. Cornstarch batter doesn’t taste like wheat flour batter, of course. The proprietor of this Outback location is Tom Propp who does not want to serve anything mediocre to his customers. He experimented with gluten-free flours and products until he found just the right combination.
Once the batter was perfect, Tom started making things other than fried shrimp. Chicken fingers came next and finally the world famous Bloomin’ Onion. After these creations were sampled by a few discriminating gluten-free diners, Tom had no choice but to invest in a dedicated gluten-free fryer. Needless to say this was a big investment but one that Tom has never regretted for a moment.
Tom Propp is a bit of a perfectionist regarding the food he sends out to the dining room so it was no surprise that he took time perfecting all the new gluten-free dishes for his expanded gluten-free menu. To date it includes – Mac-n-Cheese, No Rules Pasta, Toowamba Pasta, Kookaburra Wings, Bushman ‘Shrooms, Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp, Fried Chicken Tenders and the now world famous gluten-free Bloomin’ Onion. Of course the normal gluten-free menu is also available and it’s full of many delicious gluten-free selections, including the decadent Thunder From Down Under chocolate dessert. This Outback location even stocks four gluten-free beers and gluten-free buns for burgers and sandwiches – made complete with gluten-free fries!
What is your favorite gluten-free menu item that Outback offers?
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.
Appetizers:
I generally order a bunless hamburger, grilled salmon, or salmon with garlic and herbs. I usually request black beans and rice, corn, or fresh vegetables as my sides without additional sauce or butter. The allergen friendly menu clearly states how you should order your food and what you need to inform your waiter or waitress about in ordering.
We can confirm that since this announcement a few months ago, we have eaten at the Texas Roadhouse several times without any trouble, so if you decide to eat at Texas Roadhouse, just let your server and their manager know about your gluten-free needs.
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