A Minnesota hockey family living our best gluten free life
Category:Traveling Gluten Free
As a family we love to travel, and no matter where we go finding the best gluten free restaurants is a high priority-what better way to explore unique cultures. Now we can share our favorite finds with you all. Big shout out to “Find Me Gluten Free” for guiding us towards some amazing restaurants world wide.
This past spring my family and I vacationed on Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. It was incredible! I am not here to write about the Hotel and experience itself, but I am more than happy to fill you all in on the food.
Of course the food was out of this world… on the Galactic Starcruiser I would expect nothing less. I will say the chefs and mixologists alike use excellent techniques and modern advancements in food science to make fantastical and delicous refreashments. The attention to detail was supurb and made everything we ate or drank that much more special. Regardless if you are an OG star wars fan or falling in love with the series for the first time, this is a one of a kind dining experience that can be enjoyed by everyone. I will say that upon booking our stay, we made note that we are a gluten free family and never once were we concerned about food choices. The staff was knowledgable, charismtic, and professional. They ensured our dining experince was just like the gluten-eating guests and never once did we feel left out. Below I will let the photos speak for themselves. If you ever find yourself in a galaxy far far away, a stay at Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser immersive resort is a once in a lifetime experience.
I hope this post finds you safe and healthy. I few weeks ago I went to Moorhead, MN to visit my grandparents. Ope, I hadn’t been up there since before the Covid-19 Pandemic. There are a few traditions we partake in every time we visit. Those traditions are oh for cute and include morning Starbucks runs with Grandpa, Grandma’s waffles, and Happy Joe’s Pizza. Happy Joe’s has incredible gluten free pizza and we cannot go up to Fargo-Moorhead without grabbing some taco pizza from Happy Joe’s. I wish we had one in the cities, but uff-da it’s definitely a treat when we head up to Grandma’s house. This time we went up for a visit, it was a slightly longer trip so we decided to try a new restaurant called Mezzaluna. Mezzaluna is located in the heart of downtown Fargo; the quaint shops, charming historical undertones, local cuisine, and artistic embellishments highlight the rich and ever evolving culture of Fargo-Moorhead. After an afternoon of shopping and admiring the Red River, Mezzaluna is the perfect place to escape North Dakota’s November wind and become immersed in an eclectic ambience. Mezzaluna is an upscale eatery featuring elevated American classics. Say whether you’re looking for a place to grab some drinks and appetizers, or sit down for a warm comforting meal, Mezzaluna has gluten free options for whatever is you’re looking for in your dining experience. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable dontchaknow. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the kind people of Fargo-Moorhead. The six of us tried a wide array of menu items throughout our dinner and I must say their french fries were tied for our favorite item with their decadent Bruschetta appetizer. The following is a link to their website: https://www.dinemezzaluna.com/ and if you find yourself in Fargo-Moorhead I wouldn’t hesitate to make a reservation. If you asked me if I would go back to Mezzaluna, you would receive a resounding ‘you betcha’ from Grandma and Grandpa Dahl as well as their gluten free goaltending granddaughters. Thank you all for letting my Minnesoootan accent and sayings be a bit more incorporated into this post. Be kind to each other and yourselves, and enjoy the start of the holiday baking season.
Hi Everyone, I hope this post finds you all well this fine Thursday morning. I’ve just finished sipping the last of my protein shake and I’m thinking about my Dad. He is in Chicago for work and is likely enjoying a fresh, warm, mouthwatering Do-Rite donut right about now with his team. Do-Rite Donuts is an incredible donut shop that offers delicious gluten free donuts, located in the heart of the Windy City. Most people don’t know this, but I was born in Chicago and adore the city. It has incredible nightlife, entertainment, shopping, and most importantly gluten free dining! Do-Rite Donuts is no exemption. Here in Minneapolis finding a good gluten free donut is the equivalent of finding Bigfoot, but just two states away we can find some of the best gluten free donuts in the Midwest! If you find yourself in Chicago head over to one of their many locations and grab yourself an immaculate gluten free donut by Do-Rite. Here is a link to their website that includes their location addresses: https://www.doritedonuts.com/ . I hope you all enjoy the last month of Summer and keep an eye out for more content coming soon.
The time has come Everybody! Travel is a huge part of my family’s life and Covid put a damper on our ability to do that. The stars aligned and my mom and I were able to take our first trip in 18 months. In a normal world my mom works a conference on Amelia Island annually and we were able to go back this year, thanks to the high vaccination rates of attendees. We stayed at our favorite hotel in the area: the Ritz-Carlton and went to our go-to favorite gluten free restaurants. I am going to list them out for you, with some of our must order menu items. Without further adieu, please be sure your seatbelt is fastened, tray table is secure, and aisle armrests are lowered…
Our journey began at the MSP airport at 4:00 am on Thursday. We arrived to Amelia Island by noon. Hungry for brunch mom and I made a pit stop at The Patio Place, a gluten free crepe restaurant in downtown Amelia Island. Mom and I both ordered the Gluten Free savory crepe with a side of grits. We finished our trip back at The Patio Place for breakfast where we ordered the Patio Plate complete with eggs, bacon, hash browns, and a sweet crepe. The Patio Place uses buckwheat flour for their gluten free crepes and they are a delicious treat.
At the hotel, mom and I adored spending cocktail hour and mocktail hour (for me) at the poolside bar, where we enjoyed fresh guacamole topped with queso fresco cheese and their house spice blend. There is nothing better than scooping up refreshing guacamole on a crisp salty chip, while mesmerized by the waves crashing onto the beach, cooled by a salty breeze, after long walks on the beach.
For dinner, mom and I returned to downtown Amelia Island to explore the local flavors and cuisine. On the second night we stopped into Ciao Italian Eatery, a delicious restaurant plating familiar italian favorites with island flair. Mom and I both ordered the Rigatoni Ciao which included fresh shrimp, scallops, and mushrooms served over a bed of fresh gluten free fettuccine pasta and smothered in pink sauce, just like nonna would make. It was a light dish that was somehow also rich, creamy, and hearty… my favorite ways to describe pasta dishes.
For our last night we ate at David’s Restaurant and Lounge. David’s is a premier Steak House & Seafood Restaurant that provides high-quality food for those that wish to combine an intimate ambiance with skillful cooking into one extraordinary dining experience. We visit David’s every time we travel to Amelia island and can count on an evening filled with great food and wonderful memories. This year I ordered the caesar salad, Truffle Scallops, and flourless chocolate cake. Mom enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, Chilean sea bass, and flourless chocolate cake. Every course was delicious and I will let the pictures from the evening speak for themselves.
As we were leaving the hotel, at the end of our stay, a local chef gave us his recommendations for more restaurants in the area. We already have a wish list started for new dining experiences to explore next year. Mom and I can’t wait to go back, and if you’re ever in Amelia Island we hope you enjoy these resturants as much as we do.
Our family loves to travel. No matter where we go we use the free app “Find Me Gluten Free.” We have used it from Hawaii to Italy and have always had success. What’s so great about this app is that it’s review based from individuals apart of the gluten free community. It gives information on if the restaurant is dedicated gluten free, if it’s just gluten friendly, the overall service, the food quality, price, other food allergens it accommodates, etc. Below you will find images of some of our past reviews incase you find yourself needing restaurant recommendations.
I love to travel. My husband and I started dating while on a month long seminar for college in Europe. (Tomorrow is our 23rd wedding anniversary!!) We have always brought the girls along, we feel the world is an excellent classroom. One resource we ALWAYS use is the app Find Me Gluten Free. We all have it on our phones. It has never failed us from Hawaii to Italy and everywhere in-between. You may even find our reviews of places we have stopped. One of our personal favorites was in Barcelona:
Happy Girls at Messie Pizza in Barcelona
Thank you Find Me Gluten Free for making it easier to find safe food so we can enjoy the rest of our vacation without the fear of getting sick!
Hello world! Recently I took a trip to Florida; it was so fun we started our trip out in Amelia Island. By far the best dinner restaurant there is David’s, a very “Hidden” surprise. Not only is their potato cheddar soup something that will make you smile, their palette cleansing strawberry sorbet in between courses is through the roof. The main course will make it’s way into your heart, and bring your tummy to cloud nine! With their fresh seafood, and great steak, (oh and there alaskan king crabs), there is no way you can go wrong. Next thing if you want the best crepes around go to Jack and Diane’s still on Amelia Island this dive will hit you by surprise with the most amazing crepes EVER! The owners are very knowledgeable of your needs and guess what almost their entire menu is gluten free!!!! Well there is not much to say about the rest of the trip Amelia Island by far had the best food.
