Sunday, May 29, 2011

Gluten Free in New Orleans

I rang in 2011 in New Orleans and found some pretty amazing gluten-free meals! I stayed in the french quarter, and was worried the selection of food would revolve around gumbo, poboys, and fried foods.  While there were plenty of those, there were also quite a few great gluten-free options.

Our first night's meal was spent at Muriel's. The restaurant is located in a prime french quarter spot and has a very elegant and fun feel to it. They also have a gluten-free menu and great drinks. I had the Spinach Salad: Fresh picked spinach tosses in a warm apple smoked bacon vinaigrette, with spiced pecans, shaved sweet onions, and feta. And the Gulf Shrimp Herbsaint: sautéed Louisiana shrimp served with a fennel herbsaint cream. Both plates were delicious and to top it off, we finished the meal with Muriel's flourless chocolate cake! If you want to eat in the dining room call ahead, reservations are almost always required; however, if you're okay with a more casual setting, their indoor courtyard doesn't require a reservation.

Napoleon House
Muriel's
Napoleon House: The Napoleon House is a tourist location in the middle of the french quarter. Built over 200 years ago and offered to Napoleon during his upcoming American stay (he never made it), you can see why so many people flock to this spot for a meal. The restaurant is incredibly historic and has a great atmosphere. The one downside, because you know there is one, is that they're famous for their poboys. There were a few items on the menu that didn't include bread and I opted for the Shrimp  Remoulade Stuffed Avocado. It unfortunately was very small and would be great as a light snack, but not filling enough for lunch. Also, while I talked to our waiter about my allergy, my avocado was served next to slices of toast-so be cautious when ordering and double check that none of those pesky breadcrumbs are on your plate.


Bloody Mary at Swizzle Stick
Swizzle Stick Bar: This cute bar located in the Loews New Orleans Hotel is a cute place for brunch and a drink. I enjoyed a cute bloody mary and the  new orleans shrimp remoulade-which was more of a salad. 


Luke's Jumbo Louisiana shrime "en cocotte"
Luke: Although they don't have a menu, the staff knew what gluten was and was very friendly in finding me an entree. I settled with the jumbo Louisiana shrimp "en cocotte" and oh my gosh it was amazing! It was pretty much a fancy shrimp and grits with andouille, but wow was it good! Luke also has an oyster bar and offers happy hour specials.  Check out their menu and website for more details, but it's definitely a must try when visiting New Orleans.

I also ate one meal at my hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn. They didn't have a gluten-free menu but the chef came out to talk to me and had a few suggestions. As you can see from this post, a safe gluten-free Nola option is always boiled shrimp and vegetables. 

Here is a list of other restaurants I researched that either have a gluten-free menu or accommodate us:
Bubba Gump's
Coquette Bistro and Wine Bar
Bayona
Old Coffee Pot Restaurant
Cafe Amelie
Galvez Restaurant
Bootlegger's Bar and Grill
Landry's
Naked Pizza

Hope this helps if you find yourself in New Orleans looking for a gluten-free meal! :)

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