Gluten Free Panettone

Pre-celiac, I loved panettone, an Italian sweet bread that is traditionally served at Christmas.  My favorite was a panettone filled with candied chestnuts from Williams-Sonoma.

I was so excited to find gluten free panettone for the first time last year at Bottega dei Sapori at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Deanna's Gluten Free

Restaurants at Disney World use several brands of gluten free dinner rolls, hamburger buns and bread, including Deanna's Gluten Free, Local Oven, Ener-G, and Udi's.  When heated well, Deanna's Gluten Free dinner rolls and hamburger buns are my favorite, because they have the best taste and texture.  Deanna's Gluten Free used to be called Gluten Not Included, so Disney chefs used to refer to her products as GNI.

Last week, I ordered dinner rolls and flatbread from Deanna's Gluten Free.  The allergen free dinner rolls contain brown rice flour, tapioca flour, flax meal, evaporated cane juice, yeast, palm oil, filtered water, sea salt, xanthan gum, and natural enzymes.  They are non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free, nut free, and corn free.

Casa de Tamales - Fresno, California

Last weekend, we went to Fresno, California to see Cirque du Soleil's TORUK - The First Flight, which is inspired by James Cameron's Avatar.

Before the show, we had lunch at Casa de Tamales, and visited the amazing Forestiere Underground Gardens.

Seville Tapas - Half Moon Bay

Earlier today, we had lunch at Seville Tapas in Half Moon Bay, California, about 30 minutes south of San Francisco.

I chose Seville Tapas after reading restaurant reviews on the Find Me Gluten Free app.

Red Apple Lipstick

I spent all of my teen years in the 1980s, the decade of big hair and lots of makeup.  As a history teacher, I enjoy teaching my students about the 80s, and I love watching The Goldbergs, one of the best comedies on TV, but I am anti-80s when it comes to fashion and makeup.  I no longer use hairspray, foundation, blush, eyeliner, rainbow colored mascaras, lipstick, or blue eye shadow.

The only makeup I have worn in the last 20 years is mascara and lip gloss, but I had to give up mascara after we moved to Florida, because every time I wore it, my eyes would be red and itchy for days afterwards.  I was diagnosed with celiac disease right before our move to Orlando 8 years ago, so I tried Tarte mascara, which does not contain gluten, in the hopes that my eyes would tolerate it.  With Tarte, I still ended up with red and itchy eyes.

Tiffins - Disney's Animal Kingdom

Shortly before we left Orlando to move to California, Tiffins opened in Disney's Animal Kingdom.  Tiffins is a signature dining restaurant featuring African, Asian and Latin cuisine.

We dined on small plates at neighboring Nomad Lounge in June, which you can read about here.  After looking at Tiffins' allergy-friendly menu, I am excited to dine there when we visit Disney World next November.

Blaze Pizza

Earlier today, we had lunch at Blaza Pizza in Gold River, California on our way home from Lake Tahoe.  I have wanted to try their pizza since reading my friend Sarah's review on her blog Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW.  Shortly after we moved to California, a Blaze Pizza opened in Disney Springs, and I have heard from Sarah and others that they do a great job with special diets.

All the employees I spoke to at Blaze Pizza were incredibly friendly and willing to help.  I was told that they change their gloves, and press gluten free pizza dough on a dedicated pizza press.  When I expressed concern about cross contamination of their toppings as employees stick their gloves in them after touching gluten-filled dough, they were happy to get fresh toppings from the back or under the counter for me.  I did not have to worry about flour in the air, because they do not toss any of their pizzas, and I did not see them dusting their regular dough either.

Mission Heirloom - Berkeley, California

Update - this restaurant is permanently closed 

Last weekend, we drove up to Berkeley to see the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley, and to explore the university that is so famous for its protests in the 1960s.

Using the Find Me Gluten Free App, we found Mission Heirloom, a 100% gluten free restaurant in Berkeley, a short distance from campus.

California Pizza Kitchen

This post was last updated October 15, 2017

Earlier today, we had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen in Monterey, California.  CPK is one of our favorite chain restaurants, and we used to dine at their Waterford Lakes and Millenia Mall locations when we lived in Orlando.  You can read my previous reviews here.

I rarely eat gluten free pizza at restaurants, because of cross contamination concerns, but I don't have to worry when I go to California Pizza Kitchen.  In 2013, they introduced four gluten free pizzas that are safe for people with celiac disease - the original BBQ chicken pizza, pepperoni, mushroom pepperoni sausage, and margherita.

P.F. Chang's

This post was last updated May 25, 2019 

Yesterday, we spent the morning at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.  While we were hiking, we called the P.F. Chang's in Monterey to make a reservation for lunch, because I was in the mood for Chinese food.

I was shocked to see that P.F. Chang's now has a separate gluten free menu.  On past visits, which you can read about here, gluten free options were listed in their regular menu.