Gluten Free Travel - Canmore, Calgary, Red Deer, Airdrie

I know when I travel, being someone with Celiac Disease the first thing I do is start a google search for gluten free dining in the places we are going.  And I find actual REAL people information, whether reviews or blogs to be so very helpful.  

I have close friends, Michelle (also a fellow Celiac) and Gerald, that also love to travel and she has graciously passed on some information from her last trip about traveling, shopping and eating gluten free as a celiac ~ with the promise to also supply me with more info as they take trips - so nice of her. I have kind of separated it into three blogs to keep the areas they visited and passed through together.  These will be a first of my new Gluten Free Travel posts - as I will start setting up my own travel experiences the same way.

So as we kind of just sprung with this idea - these first posts won't come with pictures of food she ate - but good to have the first hand account of places that were successful in dining or shopping for someone with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance. And I am pretty well just posting this as written ... as the comments are not my own experiences.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canmore –
Wild Orchid Bistro and Sushi Lounge - restaurant in the Silver Creek Lodge Resort & Spa .
100% Gluten Free - Evening dining only - closed Wednesdays

Canmore –
Tapas - Gluten Free entrees marked on the menu and they are well informed.  Sharing plates. I think the menu changes every once in a while, but have had patatas bravas and tostados (substituted with tortilla chips?).  Cool ambiance ~ in a little house.

Banff – *** Just a note that the Banff Springs Hotel will do a gluten free high tea with advance notice.  Haven’t tried yet, but is on my list to do soon.

Calgary –
Peking Garden – Huge gluten free menu, does not show this online but gluten free menu available in restaurant.  Separate fryers.  Well informed about celiac disease
- Did not stop there this last trip, but have been there many times before - very good.

Thank you Michelle for the great information. :)

Adding to this post:

Red Deer  (Gasoline Alley)
Glenn's Family Restaurant (Cindy's Teapot Gallery and Giftshop next door) 
I have to write of one of my favourite places I stop at on my way traveling to Calgary or even staying in Red Deer.  Very handy when traveling down south as it is situated right on Gasoline Alley - just off the highway - usually whether I need to stop for gas or not I love to take a bit of time and take a break at the restaurant or tour through the amazing and beautiful gift shop next to the restaurant.
We recently had to travel down to Calgary and as it was kind of between breakfast and lunch time we decided to stop for a bit of a bite.
Glenn's has a gluten sensitive menu - and I have always found the staff to be well informed of my need of no cross contamination, and even better always pleasant. :)  I have had early breakfast and lunch here in the past.

The last menu item I tried was the gluten free wrap with a grilled chicken and greens, with a side fruit salad.  The gluten free wrap was so good I was alarmed it was not gluten free - our wonderful waitress was so good about going and checking in the kitchen before I took a bite and even bringing me back the brand name of the wrap - I believe it was Udi's.  It was a simple but safe and filling meal.

Airdrie -

Rico's in the Village (Permanently closed) -  No website but I posted the trip advisor link.
Loved the atmosphere here - went for a early supper late lunch date with some girlfriends - and was impressed that they had gluten free pasta for my meal - it was nice for a light meal.

Ricky's All Day Grill 
Airdrie 404-988 Yankee Valley Blvd. SE, Airdrie, AB T4A 2E4 Directions
Phone: T: 403.912.8082 | F: 403.912.8020
Hours: Sun - Thurs: 7am - 10pm | Fri & Sat: 7am - 11pm

Stopped here for a quick supper on our way home from being with family in Calgary - they do have a gluten sensitive menu ... the food was quite good, the knowledge and service were ok. 

Dedicated deep fryer - so I had fries with my steak and shrimp dinner.

  And Kevin went with coleslaw side and fries with his steak dinner.

Gluten Free Travel - Peachland, Kelowna, Golden

I know when I travel, being someone with Celiac Disease the first thing I do is start a google search for gluten free dining in the places we are going.  And I find actual REAL people information, whether reviews or blogs to be so very helpful.  

I have close friends, Michelle (also a fellow Celiac) and Gerald, that also love to travel and she has graciously passed on some information from her last trip about traveling, shopping and eating gluten free as a celiac ~ with the promise to also supply me with more info as they take trips - so nice of her. I have kind of separated it into three blogs to keep the areas they visited and passed through together.  These will be a first of my new Gluten Free Travel posts - as I will start setting up my own travel experiences the same way.

So as we kind of just sprung with this idea - these first posts won't come with pictures of food she ate - but good to have the first hand account of places that were successful in dining or shopping for someone with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance. And I am pretty well just posting this as written ... as the comments are not my own experiences. 
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Peachland –
Ships A-Hoy Fish and Chips – separate preparation and fryer, change gloves etc.
They do not have a website, but here is a link to trip advisor reviews https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g665835-d4697826-Reviews-Ships_A_hoy_Fish_and_Chips-Peachland_Okanagan_Valley_British_Columbia.html.
~ Had the halibut and fries.  So yummy!  Put gluten free stuff separate from rest of order.  Can eat out on the beach or they have a few tables inside and out.  

Kelowna –
Fernando’s Pub (cool pub downtown - Mexican food) - The owner has Celiac Disease ~ almost whole menu is gluten free. Almost everything is $7 on the menu  The nachos are awesome!

West Kelowna –
19 Okanangan Grill at Two Eagles Golf Course (eat inside or on patio overlooking golf course). Many gluten free options and very aware about needs of those with celiac disease.  Delicious! 

Golden, BC-
Island Restaurant - Overlooks Kicking Horse River, gluten free menu. Dine inside or on patio.
Had Geschnetzeltes (sliced buffalo in creamy mushroom brandy sauce- German dish). Very good! Server very well informed about celiac disease and options.  Sorry, can’t remember if they had dedicated deep fryer.

Golden, BC –
Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Resort (need to take gondola up – can’t remember how much it cost as we bought a package so we could go to the grizzly bear refuge too).
Had the burger with gluten free bun and a salad. They were well informed about gluten free options and celiac cross contamination needs.  Server very nice and helpful and food was good!  Beautiful view and can go for a hike after.

Golden, BC-
Kicking Horse General Store- Product - vodka mudshakes (vanilla and pina colada) gluten free. Looked these shakes up online http://www.independentdistillers.ca/products-en/vodka-mudshakes-en.

Would love to take that trip up the Gondola to the Kicking Horse Resort - good to know that the restaurant is able to accommodate Celiac dining - YAY!  :)

Thank you Michelle for all the awesome information!

Gluten Free Travel - Coeur D’Alene, Spokane, Seattle

Time to get blogging again and what a better way than to have a little help from a friend. ;) My girlfriend Michelle was wonderful to provide an email with some travel info to get me motivated to get back onto my blog on a regular basis.

I know when I travel, being a celiac the first thing I do is start a google search for gluten free dining in the places we are going.  And I find actual REAL people information, whether reviews or blogs to be so very helpful.  

I have close friends, Michelle and Gerald, that also love to travel and as I have been a bit neglectful in posting about traveling and eating gluten free as a celiac she has graciously passed on some information from her last trip, with the promise to also supply me with more info as they take trips - so nice of her. I have kind of separated it into three blogs to keep the areas they visited and passed through together.  These will be a first of my new Gluten Free Travel posts - as I will start setting up my own travel experiences the same way.

So as we kind of just sprung with this idea - these first posts won't come with pictures of food she ate - but good to have the first hand account of places that were successful in dining or shopping for someone with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance. And I am pretty well just posting this as written ... as the comments are not my own experiences.

We would love to take a trip to Seattle ourselves one day so it was awesome to at least have a bit of a heads up in case we also decide to take the drive that way. And then I will also have a blog started to fill in our experiences as well.
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Coeur D’Alene –
Rivelle’s River Grill – had the burger, food was good.  Well informed about celiac disease and cross contamination.  Sat on patio.  Nice ambiance.

Spokane –
Huckleberry’s Natural Market - grocery store with lots of gluten free products 

Seattle –
Café 56 & Elliott’s Oyster House 
~ Café 56 is the walk-up window ~ gluten free indicated on menu with patio seating.
Had the rockfish taco’s… so good!
~ Elliott’s Oyster House is nicer dining with seating inside and outside along the water, Puget Sound.  Had the king salmon and oysters.  Very good!  I think their menu indicated gluten free as well and server was well informed. 

Seattle (Millcreek location) –
China City Restaurant (again a chain restaurant) with gluten free options on menu in the restaurant and server aware of celiac needs
I think I had a salmon dish. The full menu is not online ~ just shows appetizers and desserts.

Seattle (Millcreek) – 
Central Market - grocery store with lot of gluten free products.

MMMMmmmmm I really want to go to Seattle and try that Cafe 56 & Elliott's Oyster Bar - I am a big seafood lover and that restaurant looks amazing with choices.

Thank you Michelle for all the awesome information.  :) 
  

Sorrentino's Gluten Free and a night at the Winspear Centre

My girlfriend Elaine scored us some amazing tickets to go to the Winspear Centre to hear "Time for Three" play with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

So I thought it fitting that I take my good friend out for a lovely supper before we were to enjoy the music.

Very handy as it is a short walk from the Winspear Centre is Sorrentino's downtown -
I have been here once before to eat and decided this was the perfect place to dine.

I did of course before we went take a look at their downtown menu  and was very encouraged to see the words gluten-free and celiac in plain print.

 I decided when we were there to go with the "Panccheri Frutti di Mare" dish - they made it with a gluten free penne pasta - with shrimps, mussels, calamari in a spicy marinara sauce.  The sauce was not too spicy at all, a slight kick that went so well with all the rich seafood (though the server did mention that the chef could bump up the spice if the diner preferred), and I was so pleased to see that the amount of seafood was in perfect proportion to the pasta.  The whole dish was delicious - and definitely would go on my favourites list for pasta dishes.

Then it was off for a short stroll to the Winspear Centre to an enjoyable evening of musical entertainment.

With the Winspear Centre, the Citadel and the Art Gallery of Alberta all being close by it is a lovely place to have a good meal and then go out for an cultural evening.

Sorrentino's Restaurant - Downtown
10162-100 street
Edmonton, AB
780-424-7500 reservations recommended
can also reserve on Open Table