tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66524211261712844372024-02-07T07:04:26.384-06:00Adventures of a Gluten-Free GirlAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-3741554474719993742015-07-20T09:26:00.000-05:002015-07-20T09:26:00.225-05:00General Travel Tips For Traveling to Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
Traveling to Asia was quite eye-opening for me. The culture
is so beautifully unique from anywhere else I had visited but it took time to
learn various cultural expectations and norms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are various notes regarding dress code, interacting
with monks and haggling that I hope you’ll find useful if you’re heading to
Thailand.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaaaQx4jv1BXi-0G9y2j-kTp_BTOcX4alHsRToJjaePvVl5o7qmHk841mivfTijNnk4otv0IAfRjVb6pSxFRE8wg6nCpWoglWAgREaWmtxcV7GqN82dcDNQaHc_uo_hSUrassVWDrnsTR/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaaaQx4jv1BXi-0G9y2j-kTp_BTOcX4alHsRToJjaePvVl5o7qmHk841mivfTijNnk4otv0IAfRjVb6pSxFRE8wg6nCpWoglWAgREaWmtxcV7GqN82dcDNQaHc_uo_hSUrassVWDrnsTR/s200/IMG_0258.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful taxis!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Taxis </b>– When
hailing a taxi, keep your hand horizontal, fingers facing down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fingers up is considered rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to either ask if the meter is
on or ask for the price up front before getting in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many taxis either don’t have a meter or
won’t turn it on in an effort to charge more than they should – so always
ask!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should also be aware of
the carbon copy ticket the airport or hotels give you once you get into your
taxi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hang onto this until you’re
out of the cab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also found that
tipping taxi drivers is very different than it is in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically, it’s expected that you round
up on your fare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a 97 baht fare
would be rounded to 100.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Water</b> – be really
cautious when it comes to water and ice. If you plan on making coffee or tea in
your room, double boil the water (most rooms come with an electric water
boiler).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask for drinks without
ice when at restaurants and be weary of smoothies that contain ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re typically safer eating ice in
nice hotels and restaurants but it’s good to always be aware. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Haggling </b>–
everything except food can be negotiated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a rule of thumb, I never accepted the price tag as the final
price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time you can
either offer a lower number or try to haggle a package deal (ie: I’ll take 5 of
these for 500baht).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Visiting Temples:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Attire:
make sure shoulders and knees are covered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yoga pants are not allowed at the Grand Palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most temples have a place where you can
borrow clothing. </li>
<li>Never
sit with your feet facing Buddha; sit with your feet facing the back or cross
legged.</li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Hu8TzbjlmS7J3pCHTysodjzqUrIXLTSBysofidMKvwATDbFrMgSetd8wCWxWMuXAnqSJtBIm_4usNmuH03kiqBYajQpsOX_ujTKxrXKL6f0XrHxBy0knk6-pTX1J2_bNa-1Dsm_LlR1T/s1600/IMG_1271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Hu8TzbjlmS7J3pCHTysodjzqUrIXLTSBysofidMKvwATDbFrMgSetd8wCWxWMuXAnqSJtBIm_4usNmuH03kiqBYajQpsOX_ujTKxrXKL6f0XrHxBy0knk6-pTX1J2_bNa-1Dsm_LlR1T/s200/IMG_1271.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thai Baht</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li>Women
are never allowed to touch monks (ie: no hand shakes)</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bangkok
Metro system:</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There are 3 types of transportation: the BTS,
the MRT (metro) and Airport Link.</li>
<li>For the MRT, you’ll need coins to purchase tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to the cashier desk to get change if
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find the ticket machines
and look up the stop you’re going to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The number associated is the fare amount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insert the exact change into the machine and get your
ticket. Callie and I struggled with figuring the system out and a sweet Australian man showed us the ropes. (He also gave us some travel tips which can be found later in this post)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Air Asia Baggage Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Checked bags need to be 20kg/44lbs or less or
we’ll be charged</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Checked bags cannot exceed 81cm (H) x 119cm (W)
x 119 cm (D)</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Each passenger is allowed 1 carry on and 1 purse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cannot exceed 56cm x 36cm x 23cm and
cannot weigh more than 7kg; 15lbs</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycm5_nucYyPodnWHzBh_pODZoW6kPkpNVL-3s0XLV1ld8LYO3UrqeNJQzY9_RNE_yzbpCDMmovo16U0X9DZK5eFH3A7ZlT8NkhYUv_4-yA_oL9h_eefOGnBeiOvMBk0lM6BCRiSX7qrrU/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycm5_nucYyPodnWHzBh_pODZoW6kPkpNVL-3s0XLV1ld8LYO3UrqeNJQzY9_RNE_yzbpCDMmovo16U0X9DZK5eFH3A7ZlT8NkhYUv_4-yA_oL9h_eefOGnBeiOvMBk0lM6BCRiSX7qrrU/s200/IMG_0322.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grand Palace Schemes:</b>
Beware that many people will try to lure you away from the Grand Palace
entrance and some of them are very, very convincing (we fell for it even though
we were on high alert).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For us,
someone approached us saying the temple was closed for lunch but he could take
us on a tour of nearby attractions for 500 baht while we wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he did take us to 1 attraction (a
golden Buddha statue) the rest of the time he shuffled us to various tailors
and gem stores where we had to spend at least 15 minutes inside and engage with
the salespeople.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Total scam and
total waste of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t fall
for it like we did, just keep your eye on the entrance and don’t stop!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tips from a very nice
Australian we met:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Never go to bars that are not on the ground
floor.</li>
<li>NaNa in Bangkok is where the party scene
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re looking for a crazy
night out, that’s your place</li>
<li>Don’t go into any Russian bars</li>
<li>Be cautious when eating food on Koh Phi Phi
island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told us that tourists
die every year from food poisoning. </li>
</ul>
<br />
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-87578235636902650862015-07-19T09:24:00.000-05:002015-07-19T09:24:35.986-05:00Thailand Itinerary and Notes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have become quite the planner when it comes to trips -especially those
that are international!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
just so many places to visit, so many restaurants to research and since WiFi
and cell service is often unreliable, my itineraries become extremely detailed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s become common practice for me to distribute my travel
itineraries to friends and colleagues to help them plan their trips, so I
thought I’d do the same here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
of the information won’t matter too much to you, but hopefully you’ll find my
notes, itinerary outline and attraction tips useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So without further adieu, I give you my Thailand itinerary
and travel tips:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thailand Itinerary and Notes</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 4<sup>th </sup>&
5<sup>th</sup>: Travel to Bangkok<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
American Airlines Flight 2413</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Depart DFW at 8am CST for LAX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Arrive at 9:29am local PST</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cathay Pacific Flight 885</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Depart LAX at 11:25am PST for Hong Kong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Arrive Thursday, February 5<sup>th</sup> at 7:05pm local time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
*Checked bags cannot exceed 20kg; 44lbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May be able to go beyond this leaving the US, but getting
back will be strict</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cathay Pacific Flight 709</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Depart Hong Kong at 10pm local time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Arrive in Bangkok at 11:55pm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Airport transportation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>taxi. <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Notes on taxis:</b> <span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When you get into the taxi,
make sure the meter is on and showing 35 baht. On arrival at your hotel, you’ll
have to pay the fare on the meter, plus an airport surcharge of 50 baht that is
not shown on the meter. In addition there may be optional expressway tolls of
75 baht which you should pay directly at the two toll stations. Typical cost:
250 to 400 baht in total (including metered fare, surcharge and tolls)
depending on distance and traffic conditions. The average seems to be around
300-350 baht to most inner city destinations. Average Time : About 30 to 45
minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8hlXat2LZk3tScjtxLBmcyqqJscaKGTxyNKj2L716Wd44uhQFwGP0x7IDhA55MJGgevsOoFoj0aaqxWOJG5ykbtKeRawVMmFbf0OvFiEa-fLx33jhSUf5t7r7zw1ogZyfRSdfh7iXe_8/s1600/IMG_0265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8hlXat2LZk3tScjtxLBmcyqqJscaKGTxyNKj2L716Wd44uhQFwGP0x7IDhA55MJGgevsOoFoj0aaqxWOJG5ykbtKeRawVMmFbf0OvFiEa-fLx33jhSUf5t7r7zw1ogZyfRSdfh7iXe_8/s200/IMG_0265.jpg" width="150" /></a><b><i><u><span style="color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Taxi drivers are not normally tipped</span></u></i></b><b><span style="color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, </span></b><span style="color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">although
rounding of odd amounts (e.g. 97 baht to 100 baht, or even sometimes of 101
baht down to 100 baht!) is commonly practiced.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Bangkok: 2/5- 2/8<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hotel:</b> Hilton Sukhumvit
Bangkok</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
11 Sukhumvit Soi 24</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bangkok, 10110, Thailand</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
+66 2 620 6699</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Places to go:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JtZoAF427fokso1pMgXbY2m3g-H2XGVaQjwQEG8CfJcx2vhoRsQoqZX8dUrzq7gg1MwXJHs1EbzlzZ2V95eCyeeQ_4I2bvSB6NKSm36IWa36f3NoGin6LvuvFPodTVlX4-mNQ6fJQjXp/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JtZoAF427fokso1pMgXbY2m3g-H2XGVaQjwQEG8CfJcx2vhoRsQoqZX8dUrzq7gg1MwXJHs1EbzlzZ2V95eCyeeQ_4I2bvSB6NKSm36IWa36f3NoGin6LvuvFPodTVlX4-mNQ6fJQjXp/s200/IMG_0422.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sirocco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Sirocco: tallest open-air restaurant/bar in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go at sunset for a drink</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Grand Palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[Closes at 4pm; audio guides stop at 1:30pm; must have your knees
and shoulders covered and pants cannot be tight]</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Temple of Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>looks like it’s located within the
Grand Palace</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) most famous and
photographed temple in Bangkok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pretty close to Grand Palace, just West of the river and down South just
slightly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
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<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
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</v:shape><![endif]-->Jim Thompson House –
he has plenty of stores throughout Bangkok, this is more of a house tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks like it’s on the way from the
Hilton to the Grand Palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could
also do it on our way to Sirocco possibly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxixDk-KH34C89JoMx8MK8CzgRqc9wgMICpaMo8arXaEl6oImJnau833WrfVCT6ZkltoarUJJKVSSoK23OEqzH6xtQmGcbuZqVry6UvBeEzBO4kXUChmgITpLYwYsI2h5iDi_yfppurRi/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxixDk-KH34C89JoMx8MK8CzgRqc9wgMICpaMo8arXaEl6oImJnau833WrfVCT6ZkltoarUJJKVSSoK23OEqzH6xtQmGcbuZqVry6UvBeEzBO4kXUChmgITpLYwYsI2h5iDi_yfppurRi/s200/IMG_0323.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 7<sup>th</sup>:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dinner at Hamilton’s Steakhouse at 7pm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dusit Thani Bangkok Hotel</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
946 Rama IV Road,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bangkok 10500</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
+66 (0) 2200 9000 ext 2345</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bangkok Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Skytrain is also known as BTS</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>There are 3 types of transportation: the BTS,
the MRT (metro) and Airport Link</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>13 hours ahead</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Ask taxis to always use the meter, otherwise
negotiate on cab fare </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 8<sup>th</sup> Travel
to Phuket<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Air Asia flight FD3005</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Depart Bangkok (DMK) at 12:45pm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Arrive Phuket (HKT) at 2:00pm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
*DMK is Don Mueang International Airport; different from when we flew
in</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Air Asia Baggage Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Checked bags need to be 20kg/44lbs or less or
we’ll be charged</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighPZq1ULzfivDGc9DN9abx8s0lXbktxFsZH7rnaPr04yQmbqb-y6oLoipR_kJCDs_pwZtmyz1vvZ9dsLew3eiItjTpUChvg8u8U6SDCBvJEPHLngi1FHr6pZGt1wKgdFLKt_9aVYLcFFu/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighPZq1ULzfivDGc9DN9abx8s0lXbktxFsZH7rnaPr04yQmbqb-y6oLoipR_kJCDs_pwZtmyz1vvZ9dsLew3eiItjTpUChvg8u8U6SDCBvJEPHLngi1FHr6pZGt1wKgdFLKt_9aVYLcFFu/s200/IMG_0615.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catch Beach Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Checked bags cannot exceed 81cm (H) x 119cm (W)
x 119 cm (D)</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Each passenger is allowed 1 carry on and 1
purse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cannot exceed 56cm x 36cm x
23cm and cannot weigh more than 7kg; 15lbs</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Airport transportation: taxi</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Phuket: 2/8 – 2/11<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hotel:</b> DoubleTree Phuket
Surin Beach</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
106/27 Moo3, Cherngtalay Surin Beach</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Phuket, 83110 Thailand</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
+66 76 303 300</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 10: Koh Phi Phi
Island Tour<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9GnLPNmQS08WwdPye2RMya9YfJHJ6solw-amdTiv_99_nji9qyh09X_PcHtnb3yCMZyXHl7uxJCDs_7fXz8rQTuzKHD2nyekvsmyjJJzevj8u2WEqPRHgzz88npRbBUUon0Fus9pm2nM/s1600/IMG_0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9GnLPNmQS08WwdPye2RMya9YfJHJ6solw-amdTiv_99_nji9qyh09X_PcHtnb3yCMZyXHl7uxJCDs_7fXz8rQTuzKHD2nyekvsmyjJJzevj8u2WEqPRHgzz88npRbBUUon0Fus9pm2nM/s200/IMG_0545.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koh Phi Phi Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Andaman Leisure Phuket Co</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Koh Phi Phi + Maya + Bamboo island day trip</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Contact: nick Candu</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="mailto:nick@andamanleisurephuket.com"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">nick@andamanleisurephuket.com</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
+66 (0) 818 955 766</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pickup at hotel at 8:40am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Return around 5:30pm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Price per person is 3,300 TBH + tip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay in person</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
*bring sunscreen, nausea meds, beach towel and maybe water shoes </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Things To Do in Phuket:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Beaches, gyms and yoga studios mainly</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Phuket Big Buddha – on the Southern tip of
Phuket; taxis may be expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look into public transit if we want to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May be cool around sunset.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Catch Beach Club – across from hotel, will rent
out bean bags on the beach, restaurant and night club</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 11<sup>th</sup>:
Travel to Chiang Mai<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Air Asia Flight FD3161</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Depart Phuket (HKT) at 10:35am</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Arrive Chiang Mai (CNX) at 12:30pm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Air Asia Baggage Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Checked bags need to be 20kg/44lbs or less or
we’ll be charged</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Checked bags cannot exceed 81cm (H) x 119cm (W)
x 119 cm (D)</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Each passenger is allowed 1 carry on and 1
purse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cannot exceed 56cm x 36cm x
23cm and cannot weigh more than 7kg; 15lbs</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Airport transportation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Resort is sending a complimentary car</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeayqMTEAt5muwYRt6-jn9QmNoFjwZhAo6ZmJX0zipO3BP_ExYVOPKlnR3LEMqVKC8AJqhUZdtp9_7YHTrjTE22PlpqDcjpCb7gvruPnqwB0i4rzpxbfjK3zK8wQYMfeJBViEt2YmNuoa/s1600/IMG_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeayqMTEAt5muwYRt6-jn9QmNoFjwZhAo6ZmJX0zipO3BP_ExYVOPKlnR3LEMqVKC8AJqhUZdtp9_7YHTrjTE22PlpqDcjpCb7gvruPnqwB0i4rzpxbfjK3zK8wQYMfeJBViEt2YmNuoa/s200/IMG_1269.JPG" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hotel:</b> Oasis Baan Saen Doi
Spa Resort</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
199/135 Moo 3 Chonpratan Road, Mae Hia, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Muang, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spa:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALi6itbSs_f1BzRl_H7NXUVcFwykb-8ZI981JVisoL8jY3jzUVLO0pH40x4ZsP63v1_OnikS7xeTAdE0BJGD6aaArH1JL1YpWuqAd3_1OWReSGxXnrr3zS5arDNEWFi9aIExOLV0HWuo2/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALi6itbSs_f1BzRl_H7NXUVcFwykb-8ZI981JVisoL8jY3jzUVLO0pH40x4ZsP63v1_OnikS7xeTAdE0BJGD6aaArH1JL1YpWuqAd3_1OWReSGxXnrr3zS5arDNEWFi9aIExOLV0HWuo2/s200/IMG_0752.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Elephant Tour</td></tr>
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Booked: 2 Paradise of Oasis treatment from 14:00 – 18:00.</div>
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3,920 TBH after the 20% discount; however, there is a 17% VAT and
tourism fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Include tip as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay after services.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 12: Day Trip<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Blue Elephant Super Day Trip: Elephant Interaction + Chiang Mai Zipline
+ lunch at tiger Kingdom</div>
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Price per person: 4,900 TBH to be paid in person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tip is encouraged </div>
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Pickup at hotel at 6am</div>
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Contact: Surin Riangtong</div>
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<a href="mailto:Rinlong55@gmail.com">Rinlong55@gmail.com</a> </div>
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*email Surin with our room number once we arrive</div>
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Blue Elephant Tours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+66
(0) 81 884 3295</div>
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<i>Highly, highly recommend this tour!</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uO1Jf1yki3Er4rhtTmKx9A1ehCc1twV03uA-AL4zmjar5D2RsrNC-eFV1isetzy1S0h5Gt77l78PhJM3CmTyP7VQ2ctiNkI9KJGPNjCbokoAYKhyR5UiwCk9nPaW473NgmXJrWIFhK3W/s1600/IMG_1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uO1Jf1yki3Er4rhtTmKx9A1ehCc1twV03uA-AL4zmjar5D2RsrNC-eFV1isetzy1S0h5Gt77l78PhJM3CmTyP7VQ2ctiNkI9KJGPNjCbokoAYKhyR5UiwCk9nPaW473NgmXJrWIFhK3W/s200/IMG_1131.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Elephant Tour</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Things to do in Chiang Mai:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span></span>Salsa Kitchen – North of walled city; Mexican
food; knows about Celiac</div>
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o:title=""/>
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</v:shape><![endif]-->Yummy Pizza – fairly
close to the hotel; good reviews; $3-$15; Australian owned</div>
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</span></span></span>Note on food: Butter is Better and Blue Diamond
Breakfast Club sometimes offer gf baked items, but they are not actually gluten
free. Stay away.</div>
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</span></span></span>Wat Chedi Luang – used to house the Emerald
Buddha, ancient ruins; #3 in TA</div>
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</span></span></span>Wat Phra That Doi Suthep – beautiful, 30 minutes
outside of city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reviews say it’s
not to be missed, view of chiang mai from top is amazing (stairs are involved),
see monks and maybe get blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can get guided tours that talk about Buddhism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring offering. Traveler’s Choice Award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks really cool.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ij8yT-GrvDxgTNevpe9y1zDH4K7iYtf1l4hl0qmnGaNtnfGl3xUvOiXwN2NbMrXI8slv5p1ZSsh4HCUhKofwsyff-LUyiZJxSMiNuXT120eHTgTOnM15fu_JQlhoiF3NdKIidFnhbA7_/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ij8yT-GrvDxgTNevpe9y1zDH4K7iYtf1l4hl0qmnGaNtnfGl3xUvOiXwN2NbMrXI8slv5p1ZSsh4HCUhKofwsyff-LUyiZJxSMiNuXT120eHTgTOnM15fu_JQlhoiF3NdKIidFnhbA7_/s200/IMG_1256.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wat Phra That Doi Suthep</td></tr>
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</span></span></span>Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden
Mountain)</div>
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</span></span></span>Wat Suan Dok</div>
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</span></span></span>Royal Park Rajapruek – flower gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close to hotel</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Other Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span></span>TripAdvisor reviews mention a shuttle that takes
guests into the walled city and back every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May only run 2 times a day, but may be worth asking about</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 14: Travel to Hong
Kong<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Dragon Air – HKG Flight 233</div>
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Depart Chiang Mai (CNX) at 6:25pm</div>
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Arrive Hong Kong (HKG) at 10pm</div>
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*Checked bags cannot exceed 20kg; 44lbs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hotel: </b>Regal Airport Hotel,
connected to airport<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span></span>Hong Kong Airport Express takes passengers from
the airport to the city center; located in the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It operates until 1:15am with the last
train leaving Hong Kong Station at 12:48am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journey time from airport to Hong Kong is 24 minutes;
roundtrip ticket is $28 or 180HK$.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we do want to go into the city, we may be able to train there but we
may have to taxi back based on time. Hotel also offers shuttles based on
availability</div>
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</span></span></span>$1 USD = $0.78 HKD</div>
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</span></span></span>14 Hours ahead</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February 15 Fly Home: <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Cathay Pacific Flight 806</div>
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Depart Hong Kong (HKG) at 11:50am</div>
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Arrive Chicago (ORD) at 12:20pm on 2/15 local time</div>
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*Checked bags cannot exceed 20kg; 44lbs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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American Airlines Flight 2335</div>
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Depart Chicago (ORD) at 2:38pm</div>
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Arrive DFW at 5:20pm</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-64283977866653598232015-07-18T10:18:00.003-05:002015-07-18T10:20:14.402-05:00Celiac-Safe Foods In Thailand Part 2: Restaurants Worth Noting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
As previously mentioned, Thailand is a pretty easy country
to navigate for Celiacs given the fact that rice is their main staple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When eating out, sauces should be one
of your top concerns as oyster sauce, plum sauce and sometimes fish sauce can
contain wheat (see my blog post about this for more information).<br />
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<br /></div>
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Before embarking on our Thai trip, I researched restaurants
in the 3 cities we were visiting who had gluten free menus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stored each restaurant in an app
called CityMaps2Go and it really was a life saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly recommend downloading this app for both domestic
and international travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
doesn’t even use WiFi!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to admit though that we ate a lot of meals at our
hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the Hilton Sukumvhit
and the Doubletree Phuket made me feel as comfortable as I am in my mother’s
kitchen, so it was hard to pass up a meal that I felt completely safe
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Doubletree even told me
that they could make whatever Thai dish I wanted gluten free, so I had a blast
exploring Asian cuisine without any fear of being glutened!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Below is a list of restaurants we ate at along with a few
others I had noted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawee80mXoSR1rZCQw3_taShGhyUJ6yzJa7wGK7dQBFb18CJ84xSNcGVdxwdJHU9It9RR33yM5PxBaO28icOPjwi4LH-arwoYouWXbzb5Bk7Nk3E1HiJe2wpcanu3J6K-9xgEzsvHgoBEX/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawee80mXoSR1rZCQw3_taShGhyUJ6yzJa7wGK7dQBFb18CJ84xSNcGVdxwdJHU9It9RR33yM5PxBaO28icOPjwi4LH-arwoYouWXbzb5Bk7Nk3E1HiJe2wpcanu3J6K-9xgEzsvHgoBEX/s200/IMG_0333.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italian food at the Hilton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bangkok:</b></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><a href="http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/thailand/hilton-sukhumvit-bangkok-BKKSUHI/index.html" target="_blank">Hilton Bangkok Sukhumvhit</a></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">- </b>This is the hotel I stayed in while in Bangkok and both their
food and service receive my accolades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you stay here as well (which I highly recommend), make sure to alert
the hotel of your allergy before you travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had gluten free bread for me every morning at breakfast
and walked me through their breakfast foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their Italian restaurant, Scalini, is also not to be
missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They actually ran to the
grocery store to get fresh gluten free pasta for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both my meal, and my non-Celiac friend’s meal, were
delicious and one of the highlights of our trip!</li>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hamilton’s
Steakhouse – </b>My friend, Callie, wanted to splurge on a nice steak dinner on
her birthday, so this is where she picked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a fun New York style steakhouse nestled in the Dusit
Thani Bangkok hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
surprised to find that gluten free items were already noted on the menu –
score! I went with the roasted rosemary chicken and it was delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part though was that they
offered an assortment of delicious gluten free breads </li>
<li><b>Other</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">restaurants in Bangkok that I noted to have gluten free selections but didn’t
visit included:</b> Cabbages & Condoms (sounds very odd, I know but people
rave about their food), Olive ad Mrs. Balbir’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thanks to <a href="http://www.glutenfreetraveller.com/" target="_blank">Marley’s blog</a>) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrln8j_263ftaS_JcZ1FfPhpAjYycTF0U_jOn0aS0iu63e2jW9NIEO5Tu40d8NMUUDJKWLkL706j7uX2MJCX7FFpJ1YAMCNBX7brlk8kilG9aZtOZ1MgF78RtQDsQIQ-aGvL-_duPi8ct/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrln8j_263ftaS_JcZ1FfPhpAjYycTF0U_jOn0aS0iu63e2jW9NIEO5Tu40d8NMUUDJKWLkL706j7uX2MJCX7FFpJ1YAMCNBX7brlk8kilG9aZtOZ1MgF78RtQDsQIQ-aGvL-_duPi8ct/s200/IMG_0633.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GF Pad Thai at the DoubleTree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Phuket:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><a href="http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/thailand/doubletree-resort-by-hilton-hotel-phuket-surin-beach-HKTSBDI/index.html" target="_blank">DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Surin Beach</a></b> – The staff at this hotel were so gracious and
extremely accommodating of my allergy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I arrived, they told me that they had bought gluten free bread for
breakfast and had gluten free soy sauce so that they could make me anything I
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each meal they’d ask me
what Asian cuisine I had always wanted to try and they’d whip up a gluten free
version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never felt that safe
outside of my own kitchen and the DoubleTree deserves a huge round of
applause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Callie and I ate
literally every meal at the hotel and I wouldn’t change a thing!</li>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Other
restaurants in Phuket that I noted to have gluten free selections</b>: Lady Pie
Bakery & Café, Aqua Restaurant and the JW Marriott.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpIOSIAHu3OYnbvZGTDqMeTFSXhRxZJaUSLvv9zfl1hHdNUsBAR-ZWDYfBMIl0Bn2qe4hnX_qErgETueTdSVNvzTdxSespl7dpMN1lvXB9XH5cLyLJqrRPqBdSfWriJS08sWoKS6ENTx8/s1600/IMG_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpIOSIAHu3OYnbvZGTDqMeTFSXhRxZJaUSLvv9zfl1hHdNUsBAR-ZWDYfBMIl0Bn2qe4hnX_qErgETueTdSVNvzTdxSespl7dpMN1lvXB9XH5cLyLJqrRPqBdSfWriJS08sWoKS6ENTx8/s200/IMG_1141.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Chiang Mai:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Country
Club near the Oasis Spa Baan Saen Doi resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lovely boutique hotel was across the street from a
beautiful country club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The club
had traditional Thai food and were very accommodating of my gluten travel
cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you come here for
dinner, be sure to get there early and ask for a table overlooking the
mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The views are absolutely
gorgeous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stuck to curries
mainly but the fish and chicken dishes looked to be naturally gluten free.</li>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Other
restaurants in Phuket that I noted to have gluten free selections</b>: Yummy
Pizza, Salsa Kitchen, Butter is Better*, Blue Diamond Breakfast Club*</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e5cG3jPZaNqqE7JUzA9Fvw71dBkQsmlWmhCHAfYzj1oNgPTPXvwKRxaSX79aYIWMcYrciO1sYcMZdoQNLXyB9oe-ASfZ37bKUKELvo8xtr34ciQynnn26-McYdgpXxNfHiDuikNgeyZm/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e5cG3jPZaNqqE7JUzA9Fvw71dBkQsmlWmhCHAfYzj1oNgPTPXvwKRxaSX79aYIWMcYrciO1sYcMZdoQNLXyB9oe-ASfZ37bKUKELvo8xtr34ciQynnn26-McYdgpXxNfHiDuikNgeyZm/s200/IMG_1143.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Curry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>*I
found blog posts that mentioned that both of these restaurants offered gf items
but there seemed to be inconsistencies with their foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One blog post warned against both
restaurants.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-47445521286859275202015-07-02T10:53:00.001-05:002015-07-02T10:53:59.386-05:00Celiac-Safe Foods In Thailand Part 1: Breakfast, Snacks & Sauces<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
Believe it or not, Thailand is a great destination for
Celiacs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the country’s
staple is rice, not wheat, there are plenty of naturally gluten free options to
choose from.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSLl3oYaT_soaEtDkGS3ZTxhdMkquS1Pk4lt1QJkhh4-f_FqPO9lwqm8KMPopYkFOGXOIQiUyoFmEEvlxup9vaEWmTJX75naBznMzRlTOTxQG6T54WXOD4TFz195lMVq1m1JDIMQlMbiJ/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSLl3oYaT_soaEtDkGS3ZTxhdMkquS1Pk4lt1QJkhh4-f_FqPO9lwqm8KMPopYkFOGXOIQiUyoFmEEvlxup9vaEWmTJX75naBznMzRlTOTxQG6T54WXOD4TFz195lMVq1m1JDIMQlMbiJ/s200/IMG_0433.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast in Bangkok</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start with breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, this was the easiest meal and I think I ate
more at breakfast than I did at dinner. Most hotels offer both Western and
Asian items, so you’ll see everything from traditional eggs to thai curry,
sushi and rice porridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask if
your hotel can walk you through the breakfast selections to tell you what’s
safe or not – most hotels are very receptive to food allergies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each morning I ate yogurt, fresh fruit,
eggs (usually an omelet), Thai curry with rice and gluten free bread (if they
had it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m telling you, I
feasted at breakfast!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I8nDNB7Gptcxy2Mr0odeqeek4k835t7BZNU-1KbjNaUDTC-jXyZ7Pjze1OLs1EqLxHjgvn-II4qqXH8khizKlnLtQZ_kXl1h7CWF_QQmDw7gVWOtp6VcVydac_M9YP0nozr9_OEQQmCd/s1600/IMG_1428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I8nDNB7Gptcxy2Mr0odeqeek4k835t7BZNU-1KbjNaUDTC-jXyZ7Pjze1OLs1EqLxHjgvn-II4qqXH8khizKlnLtQZ_kXl1h7CWF_QQmDw7gVWOtp6VcVydac_M9YP0nozr9_OEQQmCd/s200/IMG_1428.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouth full of bamboo sticky rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Snacking is also super easy in Thailand. My favorite go-tos
were bamboo sticky rice and banana leaf rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are slightly sweet and can be found just about
anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The banana leaf sticky
rice is easy to eat as you just unwrap the leaf but the bamboo can be a bit
trickier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To open the bamboo,
squeeze the top of the stick together to create cracks in the stem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove the grass from the top of the
stick and peel the stick down to reveal the rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise it’s delicious and filling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not feeling up for rice, fresh
fruit is also readily available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Smoothies are also pretty easy to find but be careful, the ice may not
be made with filtered water.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOCnMgpsgsLKh5FyKDh_oRgwgRHpnykQuCSx2GfibbEOLDdnAH0SKmXMhG88gqL16BeaYoEEp8FENN7_8i0cUwyFcwUQt1H2EW_7zyn8djXYyN8b0d0y4PNNbyfkG2VIUMjejz4IXHQKe/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOCnMgpsgsLKh5FyKDh_oRgwgRHpnykQuCSx2GfibbEOLDdnAH0SKmXMhG88gqL16BeaYoEEp8FENN7_8i0cUwyFcwUQt1H2EW_7zyn8djXYyN8b0d0y4PNNbyfkG2VIUMjejz4IXHQKe/s200/IMG_0485.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another great breakfast!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sauces are where things get a bit sticky (pun
intended).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thailand‘s main sauce
is fish sauce, not soy sauce, and while this is a mini victory for Celiacs,
it’s not a 100% safe bet. Below is a list of common sauces used in Thai food and
what you need to know based on my research:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Fish Sauce: low-moderate risk</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Thai
translation: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">námplaa </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gluten free brands (based on my
research): Tiparos, Squid, Golden Boy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not gluten free brand: Three
Crabs</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Found in: noodle dishes, fish
dishes, can be in curry and pad thai, also served as a condiment</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Oyster Sauce: high risk</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Thai
translation:<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Naam Man Hoy</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Found
in: stir-fried vegetables, meat/seafood/noodle dishes</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Most
sauces do contain wheat flour in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make sure to ask or verify before eating!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Tamarind Sauce: low risk</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Thai
translation: </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Commonly
found in soups and noodle dishes</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Most
tamarind sauces are gluten free; in fact, I haven’t found one that isn’t yet!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Plum Sauce: high risk</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Thai
translation: <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hoisin</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commonly found in Chinese
dishes; stir fries, added to meat as a glaze or served as a dipping sauce</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most plum sauces have wheat
flour in them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soy
Sauce: high risk</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thai translation: Naam See Eew
Khao; See Eew</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commonly found in Chinese dishes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most soy sauces contain wheat
flour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note: some international
restaurants will carry gluten-free soy sauce but be sure to ask before
ordering!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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Interested in researching other sauces, ingredients or
brands?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite
resources was <a href="http://www.importfoods.com/">www.importfoods.com</a>. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-91156278861691135102015-07-02T10:41:00.000-05:002015-07-02T10:41:53.201-05:00Tips for Traveling to Thailand with Celiac Disease<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtPfvTrYR-VQIehoxQmKthqh0EibZq0EUn4zjyB_RF48G9mXYVMqauO7bKM3aUApSBbIj0i5L1m-znY0OvXFeWtNZn5aYpdLoKJ6xOJLX59KWFfk6Ci6wfvbv-byR1jhNVuaKsBzosQi4/s1600/IMG_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtPfvTrYR-VQIehoxQmKthqh0EibZq0EUn4zjyB_RF48G9mXYVMqauO7bKM3aUApSBbIj0i5L1m-znY0OvXFeWtNZn5aYpdLoKJ6xOJLX59KWFfk6Ci6wfvbv-byR1jhNVuaKsBzosQi4/s200/IMG_1426.JPG" width="200" /></a>One of my best friends and I decided a few years ago that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one year we’d travel for both of our
birthdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds quite ambitious
I know, but with enough planning and airline miles we made it work! My birthday
in September was spent in Italy (posts coming soon) and her birthday in
February was in Thailand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Thailand is a great gluten-friendly destination as most of
their culture revolves around rice, not wheat. That being said, the vast
majority of Thais will not understand what gluten is, so I did a TON of research
before our trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy to
report that I never once got glutened during our 11 day trip and hope that my
tips and research will help you as well! </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Tips for Traveling
to Thailand with Celiac Disease:</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>1. </b></span></span> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Use the hotel reservation comment box to
your advantage.</b></div>
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Make sure to alert your hotel before check in of your special diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was surprised to find that my hotels went out of their way to make sure they
had gluten free bread ready for me at breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also graciously walked me through the breakfast buffet and explained what was safe to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve found that this is the case with most hotels as long as you give
them enough of a heads-up.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>2.</b></span> restaurants beforehand and store
their locations. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Callie downloaded an app called CityMaps2Go
and it was a real life saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a map that allows you to store points of interest (attractions, your hotel,
restaurants, etc.) but doesn’t run on WiFi – so no international roaming
charges!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly recommend
storing restaurants with gluten free selections in this app before leaving. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3. </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pack plenty of snacks.</b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
I packed about 3 meal bars for each day we
were over there along with a package of rice cakes, a jar of peanut butter and
a box of crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure to
take a good amount of snacks on the plane as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While most of the long-haul flights offer gluten free meals,
many of the shorter routes do not.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4. </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bring your translation cards.</b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
These are absolutely essential! I took
these everywhere I went and everyone I presented them too was really
receptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d suggest bringing
two copies just in case one gets lost or messy (I had one chef assume it was
his to keep and threw it in the trash). </div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5. </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ask your hotel concierge to write a simple allergy
card.</b></div>
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This may seem redundant if you have your
translation cards, but I found this was a much faster and more relatable tactic
to use when on the go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my
hotel concierge write out <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>No Soy Sauce. No Wheat. No Oyster
Sauce.” </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbZX_PYtb7nA-0B_iXHS-1BXcGA6KTLMP5GS8DyttXXKa7veLikDIcjOoj3InBMs2mR2-hDRkX_kvJByRV66UhTOfzRpR3XgscgeWveNBySeYsCK6ckCKn9SpOZ-PV9yraE4dNxMU0n05/s1600/thai+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbZX_PYtb7nA-0B_iXHS-1BXcGA6KTLMP5GS8DyttXXKa7veLikDIcjOoj3InBMs2mR2-hDRkX_kvJByRV66UhTOfzRpR3XgscgeWveNBySeYsCK6ckCKn9SpOZ-PV9yraE4dNxMU0n05/s200/thai+card.jpg" width="144" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick allergy card my hotel wrote for me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Have an idea of safe food options.</b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Plain rice, bamboo sticky rice and banana
leaf rice were all my favorite go-to snacks while in Thailand and most could be
purchased absolutely anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve also developed an extensive translation card where I’ve noted what
should be okay and what shouldn’t be okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(More about that in a later post)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If the sauce is dark and you’re in doubt,
go without.</b></div>
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While Thailand’s sauce of choice is fish
sauce, not soy sauce, a few varieties of fish sauce actually do contain
wheat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same goes for plum
sauce and oyster sauce as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, if you’re served a dark sauce and the restaurant cannot verify that
it is wheat-free, go without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[See
post about safe foods for a list of gluten-free fish sauce brands]</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXj_dhDUL57vai3iX_hQafPx4Bys1DdRbr-5MGYYWlIkRBG2_BkKQNXZGeY4bbfL30SJmcXk-XGm8kRZLp8pJi-YmHR7t0ldB4JDn4SXy1Urp8BqbciuHzeYGEGFDPrUfag8Pi0r7NmCyD/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXj_dhDUL57vai3iX_hQafPx4Bys1DdRbr-5MGYYWlIkRBG2_BkKQNXZGeY4bbfL30SJmcXk-XGm8kRZLp8pJi-YmHR7t0ldB4JDn4SXy1Urp8BqbciuHzeYGEGFDPrUfag8Pi0r7NmCyD/s200/IMG_0322.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bangkok's Grand Palace</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-82283529472716860702014-07-21T08:00:00.000-05:002014-07-21T08:00:05.377-05:00Hotel Zaza Sunday School for Celiacs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RhiKRegmczL8GzT7MTKjAhnRQOoeKvbsrUYj5gSGyxLZhwwPeFohs0ZW1Okv4eqOc23mT0CuhrV08W-zwyhScRtFNZKC39RmJbwYtqCs2TC74M03fzBy6hWJ1X1xfZrzlt6qtT0nCvD1/s1600/zaza4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RhiKRegmczL8GzT7MTKjAhnRQOoeKvbsrUYj5gSGyxLZhwwPeFohs0ZW1Okv4eqOc23mT0CuhrV08W-zwyhScRtFNZKC39RmJbwYtqCs2TC74M03fzBy6hWJ1X1xfZrzlt6qtT0nCvD1/s1600/zaza4.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Okay, let me just start out by
saying I am not a typical club-goer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think the only times I’m out past midnight are for bachelorette
parties and New Years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I’m
aware of how boring I sound but what can I say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that’s life in the working world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, enough about my grandma-type
tendencies and back to the subject at hand: gluten. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
of my best friends had been dropping hints since I moved to Dallas about
attending the infamous Hotel Zaza Sunday School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not much information was published about the shindig,
it had enough publicity for us to know that it was one of the wildest
experiences in Dallas, it only happened once in awhile and it was not to be
missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So naturally, when
the announcement came out that they were having a summer-themed ‘school,’ we
jumped faster than you can say ‘mimosa.’</div>
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We
really didn’t know what to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The price tag was fairly high ($65) and I was weary given the fact that
I may not be able to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loud music,
dark lights and alcohol don’t typically equal a celiac-friendly
environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was so
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua2seTv2Nn5V1CRdNgAIoIPPo4g1DcDpHAihHqBNZPN4myddI2mrJjbRjktsj-i1vLAwWdLm_n2DbgKlyITC19AlAiyZ9EQim26ocAMAmujTP_pFgizDZk1qaCgCETkvgRmtIEaUuQQcS/s1600/zaza2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua2seTv2Nn5V1CRdNgAIoIPPo4g1DcDpHAihHqBNZPN4myddI2mrJjbRjktsj-i1vLAwWdLm_n2DbgKlyITC19AlAiyZ9EQim26ocAMAmujTP_pFgizDZk1qaCgCETkvgRmtIEaUuQQcS/s1600/zaza2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
morning started while we waited in line to be checked into Sunday School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The line was long, but we were
immediately greeted with mimosas which made the experience a much more pleasant
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once inside we noticed the
DJ’s music, lights and the glow in the dark accessories conveniently arranged
on each table. We waited for about an hour for the rest of our “school” to show
up, all the while being poured copious amounts of mimosas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then brunch began.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brunch
was served family style; another fear for Celiacs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I told my waiter about my condition and he promptly
returned with a plate filled with a shockingly delicious greek salad and a
heaping side of hummus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I
was done with that plate, he returned with some grilled pork, bacon, eggs and
fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked continuously if he
could bring me anything else, but by that point I was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the plates were being cleared,
shots were handed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I
can’t drink wheat vodka, my waiter brought me a huge Tito’s drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The service was quite spectacular and
something I was definitely not expecting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once
brunch was over, the lights went down and ‘camp counselors’ with sparklers
attached to champagne bottles appeared out of nowhere and descended upon the Sunday
Schoolers like Santa on Christmas Eve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every 2 people got a full bottle of champagne and the surprises didn’t
end there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The music was amazing,
people were dancing on every surface possible, costumed creatures came out of
the woodwork and much, much more.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gmzqukz4rg-5p6ISe0IJ1x7QrCIb-BVDu8cmrMKV0EIgRiyi5o-oYuwufbqWdp-Nlt5pbIrfOTe2TKaLmuRZZAGp6XdAsupA4_ONIp9_yS5lmvb7xREr-Q01lqhJ1i2Cla0rDl0rx8or/s1600/zaza1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gmzqukz4rg-5p6ISe0IJ1x7QrCIb-BVDu8cmrMKV0EIgRiyi5o-oYuwufbqWdp-Nlt5pbIrfOTe2TKaLmuRZZAGp6XdAsupA4_ONIp9_yS5lmvb7xREr-Q01lqhJ1i2Cla0rDl0rx8or/s1600/zaza1.jpg" height="150" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
experience was just like that of a summer camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time went by too quickly and everyone had the time of
their lives; even the Celiacs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can’t honestly say I’ve ever had more fun between the hours of 12 – 3pm on a
Sunday and highly recommend experiencing this at least once (again, keep in
mind that I’m a non-club goer, so this is saying a lot!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
word of advice though for my Celiac friends:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contact the host beforehand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I registered and bought my ticket through Eventbrite and was
able to email the host that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She graciously said it was not a problem to accommodate me, and my allergy
was noted next to my name on their check-in list. Second word of advice: tell
the waiters immediately when you walk into the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t seem like my allergy had been communicated to the
waiters, and once the lights go down it gets difficult to communicate. So speak
up as soon as you get in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirdly,
enjoy it and make sure to arrange for transportation home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll thank me later.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-50012895391935611612013-09-23T11:15:00.002-05:002013-09-23T11:16:55.179-05:00Brunching in Dallas: Top 3 Gluten Free Spots<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">In Dallas, brunching could be considered a sport. The
tradition of weekend brunch is sacred in this city, but can you blame us?
Bottomless mimosas, great friends and a plate of gluten free goodness is all
you need to start your weekend off right. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YOZDPw-RRRNNIN43481JBgzQNXHRGTCbt7FWT5UPf1J-1JpEFHVqOKBKVIWClaHXAYY97Z3dB5q9AKf4LUomvNEjhh2cVzZjtTPRXpyWVMGaiVJRfXqUjKKrJIKlBZRCvyOScvA3eQIL/s1600/IMG_2177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gluten Free Eggs Benedict" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YOZDPw-RRRNNIN43481JBgzQNXHRGTCbt7FWT5UPf1J-1JpEFHVqOKBKVIWClaHXAYY97Z3dB5q9AKf4LUomvNEjhh2cVzZjtTPRXpyWVMGaiVJRfXqUjKKrJIKlBZRCvyOScvA3eQIL/s200/IMG_2177.JPG" title="Gluten Free Eggs Benedict" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gluten Free Eggs Benedict</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Brunch is the easiest meal in my opinion for Celiacs. Why, you
ask? Well, most restaurants offer plenty of egg options and the only
problem you have to worry about is whether they share the same cooking surface
as other glutened items. Potatoes are also a good bet typically (as long
as they're not fried) and Dallas happens to have plenty of brunch spots that
offer gluten free menus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I've been to quite a few places in my past 2 years of Dallas living,
but for now I'll share my top 3 gluten free brunch locations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><a href="http://companycafe.net/" target="_blank">Company Cafe</a>- </u></b>Deserving
of a restaurant review by itself, this gluten-free focused restaurant is a
Celiac's dream. Company Cafe has 2 locations in the Dallas area and
offers everything you've missed from being tied to a gluten free.
Brunch items include scrambles, huevos rancheros, french toast, pancakes, biscuits
and gravy and my personal favorite: applewood smoked bacon and jalapeno stuffed
pancakes topped with fried chicken and real maple syrup. (Pause for
dramatic effect). Yes, it's just as amazing as it sounds too. The
restaurant serves up locally farmed food that’s all organic and yes, everything
can be made gluten free. Check out the deserts too, they offer a plethora of
decadent gluten free cakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjH6biq0JG9Ap6-XFnyAZYCSfLPkpOlxzsCuU4yxme8uyCKykjqAeuszwjkLIlL4VLoE8uxSmAW0daol7xZm40GUPF4XPZGb2cBKNTMb4AVjTrkWnTgK5ft0nql4Jvn46ggZfsPa7bwGb/s1600/IMG_2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panna Cotta at the Mansion on Turtle Creek" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjH6biq0JG9Ap6-XFnyAZYCSfLPkpOlxzsCuU4yxme8uyCKykjqAeuszwjkLIlL4VLoE8uxSmAW0daol7xZm40GUPF4XPZGb2cBKNTMb4AVjTrkWnTgK5ft0nql4Jvn46ggZfsPa7bwGb/s200/IMG_2176.jpg" title="Panna Cotta at the Mansion on Turtle Creek" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panna Cotta at the Mansion on Turtle Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.kozy2day.com/" target="_blank">Kozy kitchen-</a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.kozy2day.com/" target="_blank"> </a>Similar to
Company Cafe in that they can make everything on the menu gluten free, but
different in the atmosphere and history. Kozy Kitchen was the original
gluten-free restaurant in Dallas and offers a much simpler, dare I say it,
cozy, atmosphere. For brunch, the restaurant offers the typical breakfast
classics with a gourmet spin. I've tried both the Migas and gluten free stuffed
french toast and let me just say, that french toast was lethal (in a good way).
Other items include pancakes, french toast, steak omelets, their famous
hangover helper and various egg dishes featuring their grass-fed beef, buffalo
and other game meats. Kozy Kitchen also offers a variety of gluten free
desserts, the most infamous of which is the OMG cake. Lastly, I should
warn you that this restaurant is BYOB. So if you want to brunch the right
way, don't forget the champagne!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_C9HVfhx8CFGO2xF7Ck0Q4IhSTxWQa9uysx8bmvNGO3DGU-pB798D1Pj8lK3I9N3XW8lB_XHnWM8nAdrLoRKJQ8Azy7-FauAzR_nAwwvOp3pPAKzZvSTRgbE4iUN6j5e9BS0s3bEQysE/s1600/IMG_2179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gluten Free Brunch at the Mansion on Turtle Creek" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_C9HVfhx8CFGO2xF7Ck0Q4IhSTxWQa9uysx8bmvNGO3DGU-pB798D1Pj8lK3I9N3XW8lB_XHnWM8nAdrLoRKJQ8Azy7-FauAzR_nAwwvOp3pPAKzZvSTRgbE4iUN6j5e9BS0s3bEQysE/s200/IMG_2179.jpg" title="Gluten Free Brunch at the Mansion on Turtle Creek" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brunch Desert: Creme Brulee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mansion-on-turtle-creek-dallas/dining/mansion-restaurant" target="_blank">Mansion on Turtle Creek</a>-</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> While not realistic for a casual weekend brunch, TravelZoo
occasionally offers brunch deals that make the meal much more affordable.
For about $65 total, a friend and I enjoy a full 3 course brunch in the
gorgeous Mansion. To start I had a lovely panna cotta topped with mixed
berries. For my main dish I ordered a gluten free Eggs Benedict (yes, they
have gluten free english muffins) accompanied with a savory potato pancake and sauteed asparagus. Because the restaurant keeps gluten free items on hand, they can pretty much alter anything on the menu to be gluten free. For the third and final course the restaurant offered coffee and a variety of
gourmet desserts, displayed in a buffet-style setting. The crème brulee and
various chocolate truffles, as I was told, are all gluten free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-45509388967288133452013-09-07T11:50:00.001-05:002013-09-07T11:50:13.867-05:00Gluten Free Restaurant Review: Kenny's Italian Kitchen in Addison Tx<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When eating out, there’s a moment that will make even the
seasoned Celiac feel a twinge of envy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, I’m talking about the moment the hot communal bread is set on the
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember being a newly
diagnosed Celiac and finding this to be one of the toughest challenges to
overcome. Hey! It’s tough being hungry and watching your friends devour a
delicious loaf of steaming hot bread!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who wouldn’t be a bit jealous? But more on that later.<br />
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One afternoon we were celebrating a coworker’s birthday and
found ourselves at a quaint Italian restaurant down the street called <a href="http://kennysitalian.com/" target="_blank">Kenny’s Italian Kitchen.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a Celiac, I figured
I’d order a salad and then snack on chips or something once we got back to the
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a big deal, we were celebrating
a birthday after all!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSq0hweOYnWdMaAKSzoyZ1Jec6dF4TVg2QdpRutOGkkFm8klm404PiIMEVc_ARpo4H0VRC7zhd6K6mBVhepPGwL2KUkBD2Gl7ifEXdWpYN7zFbLC73pbQ8D1dZsbfz5z-4SUeM7pIXpvu/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSq0hweOYnWdMaAKSzoyZ1Jec6dF4TVg2QdpRutOGkkFm8klm404PiIMEVc_ARpo4H0VRC7zhd6K6mBVhepPGwL2KUkBD2Gl7ifEXdWpYN7zFbLC73pbQ8D1dZsbfz5z-4SUeM7pIXpvu/s200/IMG_3302.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan</td></tr>
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When we sat down I was surprised to see the restaurant
offered gluten free pasta and our waiter was extremely helpful. Once I put in
my order for gluten free pasta, the waiter promptly brought out a steaming loaf
of gluten free French bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s right, gluten free French bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I left my body for a few seconds I was so overjoyed
and excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bread was out of
this world too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crispy on the
outside, steaming hot on the inside with an incredibly light and fluffy
texture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no shame in
admitting I ate the whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When lunch was over, I asked for a to go box for the remaining pasta and
they included a new loaf of gluten free bread for me to take home!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make matters even better, they
didn’t even charge extra for the gluten free bread or pasta!! We had found a
gem for sure.</div>
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I went back a few weeks later looking for a carb fix and
hoping to see what else they could make gluten free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some convincing from the waiter, I decided to try the
chicken parmesan (gluten free) over gluten free pasta with vodka sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the breadcrumbs did taste a bit
different, the meal was decadent and something I don’t think I’d had since
being diagnosed 5 years ago! And of course, it was accompanied by an amazing
loaf of gluten free bread.</div>
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If you’re in the area, I strongly suggest paying Kenny’s a
visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do they carry
gluten free pasta, but they can make their Italian sandwiches gluten free, fry
anything on the menu to be gluten free (think chicken parmesan) and will top
off your gluten free dining experience with a fabulous gluten free chocolate
mousse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, so what could be
better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, you may want to sit
down for this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The restaurant
will actually prepare gluten free lasagna, made from scratch, if you call at
least a day ahead of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
could possibly be better?!</div>
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The restaurant pride’s itself on serving the best gluten
free products around, and those products happen to come from a local bakery in
Carrollton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also been
reassured that the kitchen does an excellent job of keeping gluten free foods
separate at all times to avoid cross contamination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So feel comfortable and taken care of when visiting Kenny’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still impressed with the food,
service, and care when it comes to gluten free dining and will be back many
times. This is definitely a ‘must’ for Celiacs living in the DFW area.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9o_bv1k-hV47vuPpCSxF5ibd0iKKFumCKcNvTyaTYDjGYZa4gxYQTT_A90NFqPafoQ2iR9JZrBzjcKXf-0yC-4hU4EjUFnrfleyWmQXoH7chyphenhyphenprwdW-22emlZWNE9LKldoNJESv2QmfN/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9o_bv1k-hV47vuPpCSxF5ibd0iKKFumCKcNvTyaTYDjGYZa4gxYQTT_A90NFqPafoQ2iR9JZrBzjcKXf-0yC-4hU4EjUFnrfleyWmQXoH7chyphenhyphenprwdW-22emlZWNE9LKldoNJESv2QmfN/s200/IMG_3161.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gluten Free Bread at Kenny's Italian</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta7qOoH4cAAduwBOqgWnf1gBaoq8ynKXWxF8JWCNOBLbDZUETMJivHal3F75T7KyMwRxVqlIXgX3s3OEsSTbZjC6SWIyRMH7bzTmfJ9jaJ8mqa69a9RguPCNWvgs_Vid-9W8tF8Y2WCRD/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta7qOoH4cAAduwBOqgWnf1gBaoq8ynKXWxF8JWCNOBLbDZUETMJivHal3F75T7KyMwRxVqlIXgX3s3OEsSTbZjC6SWIyRMH7bzTmfJ9jaJ8mqa69a9RguPCNWvgs_Vid-9W8tF8Y2WCRD/s200/IMG_3162.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gluten Free Pasta with Vodka Sauce</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-23128471073000439882013-08-31T11:26:00.002-05:002013-08-31T11:26:55.889-05:00Dallas Love Field Gluten Free<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dallas Love Field happens to be my favorite airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why you ask? Well, I live just a few
miles away, it’s a small airport that’s never crowded or stressful and they’ve
recently undergone a major renovation. </div>
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Luckily, the renovation included a restaurant revamp and
there are some great gluten free options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next time you find yourself in the DAL airport with an unexpected delay,
don’t worry ‘bout it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below is a
list of restaurants that offer gluten free items. To view each restaurant's allergen list, simply click the links!</div>
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<a href="http://www.cruawinebar.com/pdfs/menu_dinner.pdf">Cru
Wine Bar</a> – While expensive, Cru is able to adjust most of their entrees to
be gluten free. You’ll find a variety of cheese plates, charcuterie boards,
salads, filets, seafood and wine flights for those looking to take the edge
off.</div>
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Sky Canyon – I never found the restaurant while in the
airport, but I know it’s got to be great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the newest Stephan Pyles restaurant and offers a variety of Tex-Mex
dishes, brisket, Southern cooking and a moderately priced brunch menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard great things about this
restaurant and that the staff is extremely helpful and accommodating. </div>
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<a href="http://www.moes.com/food/allergens">Moe’s Southwest
Grill</a> – Opt for a bowl or salad for a quick meal in the Dallas Love
airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As their allergen menu
states, all of their meats, beans and condiments are gluten free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beware of the crispy corn taco shells
and Southwestern Chili though as these are not gluten free.</div>
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<a href="http://www.dickeys.com/docs/Allergens.pdf">Dickey’s
BBQ Pit</a>- All of their meats are gluten free along with most of their
sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go for the beans, coleslaw,
dill potato salad, mustard potato salad, green beans with bacon or baked potato
casserole, as they all are gluten free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Meat plates are served with a slice of bread, so make sure to notify
them beforehand. </div>
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<a href="http://www.cantinalaredo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CL-Menu-Star-Love-4-22-13web.pdf">Cantina
Laredo-</a> Find a variety of gluten free Tex-Mex dishes noted by a gray
triangle on each menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Options
include guacamole, queso, salads, and chicken fajitas (the beef is not gluten
free). </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-41256729701393259862013-08-30T09:21:00.000-05:002013-08-30T09:21:13.344-05:00Gluten Free in Florida: Destin, Rosemary Beach & Aly's Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuBiXm6rqdU_21VgFdmuAWZEHWwjnxMRChF-DZcLlt5z5A0YbbkX7Yg0b8v9QAeBCBdlljJdLnH4EATIbFJAmwAogI1idhOf-4jUMV5S_rlLw4m_2nI9DqEmq4QOWBgBJsVcX3qLtr4_d/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuBiXm6rqdU_21VgFdmuAWZEHWwjnxMRChF-DZcLlt5z5A0YbbkX7Yg0b8v9QAeBCBdlljJdLnH4EATIbFJAmwAogI1idhOf-4jUMV5S_rlLw4m_2nI9DqEmq4QOWBgBJsVcX3qLtr4_d/s200/IMG_3210.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family in Destin</td></tr>
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I don’t think there’s anything more relaxing than a day spent
at the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What more could you
want than a good book, margarita and the sound of the Ocean? Summer trips to
Florida became a tradition for my family before I was born. Each year we
stay in the same quaint neighborhood and visit the same restaurants and
shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I feel like I grew
up at Miss Lucille’s Gossip Parlor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I was younger I’d beg my parents to take me for ice cream. During
middle school I’d walk over to get on AIM and now I reminisce over coffee. This year was an extra special vacation because for the first time in 6 years, all 6 of us were able to make it to Florida together. It gets tough aligning 6 schedules nowadays! </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgGikGZo91HXdBrVHbnjhfa9iNInH8gL20UNPOFBrW7BpNez9B7Mg6QEFKOuoBLoiUmqvbuTOyF8FGEIFVlkq8GdcmREYgp4FA9umBbDb8Q-gOaWYz30-F50DGjpQAf4nnxJlPCMMnOgP/s1600/IMG_0858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgGikGZo91HXdBrVHbnjhfa9iNInH8gL20UNPOFBrW7BpNez9B7Mg6QEFKOuoBLoiUmqvbuTOyF8FGEIFVlkq8GdcmREYgp4FA9umBbDb8Q-gOaWYz30-F50DGjpQAf4nnxJlPCMMnOgP/s200/IMG_0858.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosemary Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While my parents are now excellent gluten free cooks, I was
shocked at the cuisine my brother, Jeff, whipped up while on the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For starters he made gluten free
blackened tilapia tacos with a homemade mango pico, cilantro lime rice and
black beans. Then on our last night he concocted a gluten free coconut/blue
corn fried shrimp with a mint-cilantro yogurt sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guys, I’m telling you, it was all out of this world (which
means a lot because I tend to be picky with food).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re single and in Nashville, you should definitely
think about meeting this guy. (Shameless proud sister plug over) While Jeff
cooked some spectacular meals, we also explored a few local restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Because you’re on the coast, delicious seafood is readily
available everywhere and is always an easy gluten free option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seafood not your thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem, from what I’ve found, the
area is really accommodating.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since being
diagnosed with Celiac Disease I’ve eaten at a few restaurants in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a short recap of my favorites:</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SVdG5pB2ZWH7QxtDpfrZY0lnlAxl6x-PGUUqa2jVmLpbESmz36VkZVsaGFfZ8eZBeEevnf1UwmuW8GbQZyDqKIbggXBPRcWPlr-Dn3iRA-NBN-TcjdwfCh6h62jsgAHdFTZwMptuJCKp/s1600/IMG_0848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SVdG5pB2ZWH7QxtDpfrZY0lnlAxl6x-PGUUqa2jVmLpbESmz36VkZVsaGFfZ8eZBeEevnf1UwmuW8GbQZyDqKIbggXBPRcWPlr-Dn3iRA-NBN-TcjdwfCh6h62jsgAHdFTZwMptuJCKp/s200/IMG_0848.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosemary Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://www.budandalleys.com/index.php">Bud &
Alley’s-</a> Named after two beloved dogs, this restaurant is located in
idyllic SeaSide, in the center of great shopping and across the street form the
famous Modica Market. Call a few days in advance to make reservations as they
fill up very quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dining
room has a country feel to it and the atmosphere changes with the sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The menu focuses on seafood but does
offer a filet and chicken dish. The most exciting part about the menu is that
all their gluten free items are marked!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Beware though, we ordered the oysters because they were marked gluten
free but we came to find out that it wasn’t a naturally prepared gluten free
dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure to notify your
server so that the chef can prepare these items to be gluten free. For dinner I
had the grilled grouper with butter peas, herbed basmati rice and lemon aioli.
Their salads looked fantastic but were a bit on the large side and could easily
feed 2. For dessert their gluten free option is a chocolate pat<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">é</span>
that was absolutely to die for! </div>
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Bud and Alley’s also own a pizza parlor and taco shack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if these offer gluten free
options and are a bit more casual but may be worth looking into if you’re
wanting a quick bite.</div>
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<a href="http://www.restaurantfire.com/">Fire-</a> located
behind Miss Lucille’s Gossip Parlor and around the corner from some fabulous
local art exhibits and shops is this cute restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there wasn’t a dedicated gluten free menu, the chef
was very comfortable altering dishes to fit my needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up having the Red Snapper with a sunflower seed
crust, rice and pasta caviar, tomatillo peppadew relish and sriracha remoulade
sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was adjusted to
be gluten free and it was out of this world! </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDTs644zJlIxEDTsdEojuIqsmyYhELuL42pzWj31OkM3_md1NmLdttlI-BI7ejX4PS7nODMXk_vaqmD3yfBXEXk_1_DZOCxaeW3u5pNjmi3Z5azGFw4zoZTqmnwvWiidCw2VrwB7D0r8O/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George's at Aly's Beach" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDTs644zJlIxEDTsdEojuIqsmyYhELuL42pzWj31OkM3_md1NmLdttlI-BI7ejX4PS7nODMXk_vaqmD3yfBXEXk_1_DZOCxaeW3u5pNjmi3Z5azGFw4zoZTqmnwvWiidCw2VrwB7D0r8O/s200/IMG_0855.JPG" title="George's at Aly's Beach" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friends enjoying George's at Aly's Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://georgesatalysbeach.com/pages/about.html">George’s
At Aly’s Beach</a> – This cute restaurant with a quirky frog theme is located
off Highway 30-A and provides some amazing dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t take reservations and told me your best bet at
getting a table without a wait would be to arrive no later than 5:15 (also,
they’re closed on Sunday).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ate
the jerk crusted gulf snapper with black rice, roasted plantains, pineapple salsa
and coconut cream. Yum, just typing that makes me want to make a trip
back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their menu does have gluten
free options listed, but the chef was able to alter this dish so that it could
be gluten free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, everyone
seemed happy to accommodate my allergy and I greatly appreciate it!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goatfeathersseafood.com/">Goatfeathers</a>
- While many people venture over here for fresh fish, it also doubles as a
restaurant. The atmosphere isn’t what you’d expect for the quality of food they
serve, but I don’t think you’ll find fresher fish anywhere in the area. Their
menu is based mainly around seafood but there are other options available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waiter was extremely nice and told
me anything on the menu could be altered to be gluten free. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXaBFRucaNUF4E8qW4YdE6o_xBQ2SRcXJwtgW73cmumTINzSzSeyULhXBZJLVkS1tF473vqYZShHGk_JXlVChgqQRtMc26iJ2drOQVMDMhDywR62D1rt_lsPKwM47LjzNTmKLleEd2_Yg/s1600/IMG_3224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXaBFRucaNUF4E8qW4YdE6o_xBQ2SRcXJwtgW73cmumTINzSzSeyULhXBZJLVkS1tF473vqYZShHGk_JXlVChgqQRtMc26iJ2drOQVMDMhDywR62D1rt_lsPKwM47LjzNTmKLleEd2_Yg/s200/IMG_3224.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destin Sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://thegossipparlor.com/">Miss Lucille’s Gossip
Parlor</a>-When looking for quirky coffee and ice cream shops, this place is a
‘must!’ While they don’t offer gluten free food per say, they do offer a
variety of ice creams, snow cones and coffee drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gossip parlor is a ton of fun and I highly recommend
visiting if in the area. The parlor is located across the street form the
public beach and hosts a variety of shops and local artists behind the
shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great way to spend
the afternoon if you find yourself in the area!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-81486932503559135652013-08-27T10:00:00.000-05:002013-08-27T10:00:07.866-05:00Gluten Free in Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Biit5q5RnZYzjXq0xKtmbxFrgZGnXPgWwnaWuK8rJf19jD1slaP3biZyLFYed0keIkatXUHtbyWEpdxsuURQ7Ql19w9w4f83J9ZV3iDdP6TPv2tN-KHxNNG6SVKJpaAWF4MWw26H7r1X/s1600/IMG_3187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Biit5q5RnZYzjXq0xKtmbxFrgZGnXPgWwnaWuK8rJf19jD1slaP3biZyLFYed0keIkatXUHtbyWEpdxsuURQ7Ql19w9w4f83J9ZV3iDdP6TPv2tN-KHxNNG6SVKJpaAWF4MWw26H7r1X/s200/IMG_3187.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn from 30,000 feet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When you’ve got Celiac Disease, airports can be your worst
nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short trips are fine
because you can plan ahead and can avoid airport food, but long trips, or
unexpected long trips, can really become trouble for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about you, but the
additional stress of knowing I don’t have another option and will stuck in
public if I start feeling bad is incredibly stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully within the next few years airports
will start becoming a little more allergy friendly, but for now I hope my
experiences will make traveling a bit easier for you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve been to the Houston Hobby airport many times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in Dallas and frequently fly out
of Love Field, which pretty much guarantees a connection through Hobby when
traveling anywhere in the South.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This summer I met my family in Destin for a few days and got to spend a
few hours wandering around the airport. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURftJmx7NosLuVLmPd41vnxvZN0Z32In6KID6rJcYZqYryiMH1KR3tLsgk96QWvZy9iK-u4HDUuqQqdiQgbb_TqS1Q1Boenwahz5BxvjBIVpmiK8JbJs1kWzJe2xQ7r3QbVwDoKkb7Nzg/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURftJmx7NosLuVLmPd41vnxvZN0Z32In6KID6rJcYZqYryiMH1KR3tLsgk96QWvZy9iK-u4HDUuqQqdiQgbb_TqS1Q1Boenwahz5BxvjBIVpmiK8JbJs1kWzJe2xQ7r3QbVwDoKkb7Nzg/s200/IMG_3193.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd Bar Oyster & Eating House in IAH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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I left Dallas at 5:45am and arrived in Houston in time for a
really early brunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was really
surprised at the swanky, chic and relaxing ambience of 3<sup>rd</sup> Bar
Oyster & Eating House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose
a secluded and comfortable booth towards the back of the restaurant and totally
plugged into the jazz music playing overhead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a mimosa in hand (an expensive mimosa, mind you) I knew
I had chosen the perfect place to start my trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waitress was extremely helpful and directed me towards
their omelet, hashbrowns and bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their breakfast potatoes are made with corn starch and are sautéed
instead of fried-great news for a Celiac!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The meal was great and I’d highly recommend it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their lunch and dinner menu seemed to
rival any nice restaurant you’d find in the city, but it did seem a bit
expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if you’re traveling
with a family, this may not be the place for you. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB3ySNhpRCzmL2lwFbgrsoM47XDQnFNPLhdkf8mPat3Nqk8eeDWGkBJRZWOfhernG81_J_BSk-03Cytmc1F2KXhRjPPzS2RGPqUy_6WXerH4aLtiuQml7hLObobGCpE7Z64P4Irg98DUo/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB3ySNhpRCzmL2lwFbgrsoM47XDQnFNPLhdkf8mPat3Nqk8eeDWGkBJRZWOfhernG81_J_BSk-03Cytmc1F2KXhRjPPzS2RGPqUy_6WXerH4aLtiuQml7hLObobGCpE7Z64P4Irg98DUo/s200/IMG_3194.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brunch at IAH Airport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On my way home, my flight from Destin was delayed which in
turn cased me to miss my connecting flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always a fun afternoon, right? Luckily, it only extended my
time in Houston by about 2 hours, so I wandered around again and chose to sit
down at the airport Chili’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
waiter was not very helpful and told me that the airport Chili’s get their
supplies differently than the chains do; leading me to doubt if the Chili’s
gluten free menu would hold up in the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After many questions, I had clearly exhausted my waiter but
felt comfortable enough ordering the Caribbean salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hoping for some type of carb (in the form of French
fries or mashed potatoes) but he told me those were probably not safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The salad came in a very small portion,
but was able to hold me over until I got home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Airport Chili’s aren’t always the best, but with some
questioning, you can usually find something to eat. </div>
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<br /></div>
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A few other options I found while perusing the airport’s
website include:</div>
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<br /></div>
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Barcuterie- If you bring your own crackers or are in the
mood for a good cheese platter, this seems like a great option.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.camdenfoodco.com/america/">Camden Food
Co</a> – Looks like a great place to grab a salad, omelets and the like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their website says that they offer gluten-free
fare, so this definitely is worth a try! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Cat Cora’s Kitchen- Okay, if I had known this existed, I
would have never eaten at Chili’s during my unexpected layover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the airport restaurant does not
have a website, nor does she have a gluten free menu, I’m sure you’d be able to
find something delicious and free of gluten.</div>
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<br /></div>
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La Tapendade – This Mediterranean Café offers fresh cuisine
but seems like it’d offer more of a light meal for us gluten-free
travelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose this restaurant
for fresh cheese, meats and salad options.</div>
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<a href="http://www.le-grandcomptoir.com/">Le Grand Comptoir</a>-
Again, I’m wondering what I was doing during my layover to not know a place
like this existed in the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This restaurant seems to offer an elegant steakhouse-like atmosphere
with quality foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2010 it was
ranked the “Best Airport Hotspot” by Travel + Leisure and seems to live up to
it’s award.</div>
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Nature’s Kitchen Fresh Café – Another great spot to grab a
salad on the go.</div>
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<a href="http://www.pappadeaux.com/">Pappadeaux Seafood
Kitchen</a> – Like their chains, the Pappadeaux are always an easy bet when
dining gluten free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose from a
variety of seafood and chicken options that can be prepared gluten free (just
notify your waiter).</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wendy’s – Doesn’t require
much explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a chain they
provide an extensive gluten-free menu, but make sure to check with the airport
restaurant before ordering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment-->
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-42595874634019047842013-08-26T12:30:00.000-05:002013-08-26T12:30:03.270-05:00Gluten Free Options at the Detroit International Airport<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Traveling back from Greece ended up being a 24 hour affair
and our last stop of the day was at the Detroit International Airport. We
weren’t there for very long, but I’ve compiled a list of potential gluten-free
restaurants based off their restaurant page: <a href="http://www.metroairport.com/pdf/maps/mcnamara_concession_map_new.pdf">www.metroairport.com/pdf/maps/mcnamara_concession_map_new.pdf</a></div>
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<u>Wendys-</u> Doesn’t need much explanation as everyone is
familiar with the chain, but if you’re unsure of their gluten-free items, check
out their online <a href="http://www.wendys.com/pdf/en_US_gluten_free_list.pdf" target="_blank">allergen menu </a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Boar’s Head Deli-</u>If you bring along a box of gluten
free crackers, or snag a bag of PopChips from a snack shop, you can make your
own lunchable with gluten free cold cuts and cheese.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Chilis-</u> Find a variety of salads and main dishes that
are gluten-free with their online allergen <a href="http://www.chilis.com/EN/LocationSpecificPDF/MenuPDF/001.005.0000/Chilis%20Allergen%20Generic.pdf?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1" target="_blank">menu here. </a> I typically opt for the Caribbean salad when dining at airport Chili's and haven't had any negative reactions. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Max and Ermas-</u> According to their gluten free menu,
you can get a variety of salads, steaks, grilled chicken, salmon, tilapia and
vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out their
<a href="http://www.maxandermas.com/files/menu_gluten.pdf" target="_blank">gluten-free menu here </a> for more details.</div>
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Hope this helps anyone traveling through the airport. Please feel free to leave comments if you find another gluten free option in the Detroit airport.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-11249790107409980962013-08-25T12:13:00.000-05:002013-08-25T12:13:00.160-05:00Dining Gluten Free in Greece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgnfDrBA0K1niwoqUOi05LhahjSy86Lw5TS1iM6Dco7TEnJd5yvU_40CPyV_OYeKH7gIzpgu1SrpbTbOjohZDo_5G1pki-7Jpz3iZTrt2p2EJvb-mD0N7SHQGuZb8vH347ndHHo5nVr8x/s1600/IMG_2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgnfDrBA0K1niwoqUOi05LhahjSy86Lw5TS1iM6Dco7TEnJd5yvU_40CPyV_OYeKH7gIzpgu1SrpbTbOjohZDo_5G1pki-7Jpz3iZTrt2p2EJvb-mD0N7SHQGuZb8vH347ndHHo5nVr8x/s200/IMG_2621.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Greek Breakfast<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the help of a friend, I compilied a list of authentic Greek dishes that may naturally be gluten free before embarking on my spontaneous Greece trip.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While short, I hope this list will give anyone traveling to
Greece a few ideas when dining out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always though, make sure to double check!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Breakfast-</u> this meal was my lifeline during my trip as it was always a safe bet. Everywhere we stayed the breakfast consisted of greek yogurt, an assortment of fruit, cheese, local meats, bacon, hard boiled eggs and on occasion potatoes, scrambled eggs and bacon (to appease the American travelers I'm sure). One word of caution though: ask about the salami before eating it. I found that our Athens hotel's salami was actually a beer cured salami. Strange, I know.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCHAhWbP0aW3Ieug3aRkMTYGhzWnPueW3nWVbfEJcHMDUYJ75wlaj6T5E7UzUl63zOBZwYhFPwMuPRjXrP56D5FNIcrZN7lGG_JzsxpHVN138jVXUhR4qp6cYSZ2BpGMglFuNPajISOtQ/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCHAhWbP0aW3Ieug3aRkMTYGhzWnPueW3nWVbfEJcHMDUYJ75wlaj6T5E7UzUl63zOBZwYhFPwMuPRjXrP56D5FNIcrZN7lGG_JzsxpHVN138jVXUhR4qp6cYSZ2BpGMglFuNPajISOtQ/s200/IMG_2696.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greek Salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>Greek Salad</u>- This salad is very refreshing and is
simply cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, tomato, olive oil, capers and feta
cheese. Word of Caution: In Crete I’ve read they may include cracked wheat.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Svoulaki</u>-traditional meat skewer that’s brushed with olive
oil, lemon and oregano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
typically served on pita bread, so make sure to order it without the pita.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Word of caution: you may run into
cross-contamination issues as most skewers are grilled alongside their pita
counterparts.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUMTGJvmS1J9rL2WdS-XNZMU5-tgrPaQvZLGaTX-2o7_SY_JD1vwmVq5ekVlq0mn_h-oe6120rrcOP0oFilvZ0ME-HNzmlY-9ZqahBm0gQEXOFQaK0BFpP4DWZ30q_bB1WpJ84SValDar/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUMTGJvmS1J9rL2WdS-XNZMU5-tgrPaQvZLGaTX-2o7_SY_JD1vwmVq5ekVlq0mn_h-oe6120rrcOP0oFilvZ0ME-HNzmlY-9ZqahBm0gQEXOFQaK0BFpP4DWZ30q_bB1WpJ84SValDar/s200/IMG_2382.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Svoulaki and Greek Salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Dolmas</u>-vine leaves stuffed with rice, vegetables and
possibly lamb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone makes them
differently, so make sure to ask before ordering.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Paidakia</u>-grilled lamb chop usually seasoned with only
lemon, oregano and salt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Gemista</u>- vegetables like tomatoes or peppers stuffed
with minced meat and then baked.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Arakas Me Anginares</u>- peas and artichokes mixed with olive
oil and baked in the oven.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Kotopoulo sto fourno me patates</u>- Oven roasted chicken
or lamb served with a side of potatoes. </div>
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-24715656339382751902013-08-24T11:50:00.001-05:002013-08-24T11:50:26.797-05:00Gluten Free in Greece Part 3: Santorini<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
When you look at pictures of Greece, I’m willing to bet that
90% of those pictures were taken in Santorini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The views from this volcanic island are exquisite, dramatic
and simply breathtaking.<br />
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-5SVb_5YVXqOywggtp4fJ2DQJU1PSU9ZDpqCmev4XmZWHogk2gTvKcr2NAdPfDiDBHrvYIDVeArx6NGrUxoQy63VfAc1fAYGbJl-vOttOHuhLUEFxq3ZPRj_85aepDWTYkyYyGW3GYAE/s1600/DSC_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-5SVb_5YVXqOywggtp4fJ2DQJU1PSU9ZDpqCmev4XmZWHogk2gTvKcr2NAdPfDiDBHrvYIDVeArx6NGrUxoQy63VfAc1fAYGbJl-vOttOHuhLUEFxq3ZPRj_85aepDWTYkyYyGW3GYAE/s200/DSC_0383.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oia, Santorini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Built on a volcano that erupted over 3,600 years ago, the
island of Santorini is rumored by some to be the lost Atlantis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eruption changed the landscape of
the Caldera and left the island of Santorini with a dramatically high elevation
on one side and a sea-level elevation on the other. Oia, one of the most
recognizable cities in Greece, is perfectly balanced at the top of the island
at 984 feet above sea level (nearly equivalent to a 100 story building). The
other half of the island slants down to the sea and is actually on a beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santorini’s beaches offer a variety of
colors as the dried lava varies from black to red to white.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We stayed in Perissa and ventured into Fira and Oia during
our 2 day-stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoyed walking
around the markets in Fira, but after about 2 hours we felt we had seen it all.
From Fira we took a bus into Oia, which was an experience in itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The windy roads as you climb the
volcano were definitely not for the faint of heart, or the claustrophobic.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The views from Oia were absolutely spellbinding and
something my mind would never have been able to conjure by itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The white architecture built into the
side of the volcano contrasts vividly to the deep azure blue of the Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s absolutely breathtaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the rest of the day wandering
around Oia as we were determined to stay for the famous sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One travel tip I’d recommend though is
to bring a jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The island
cools off quite a bit once the sun sets and we found ourselves huddled together
to try to keep warm at one point (keep in mind, we travelled in June).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Alright alright, you clicked on this blog to get a feel for
the gluten free Santorini cuisine, so here we go:</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2XnFKhhWsaAHLe95QusBEDXXz70uijNXmgTDimHIOW7ANAdWehbaoIDqmfP1-_E4Qv8Bm4bx7UxnAYEqIpZgbkcH4yn6VQ-l7gRbp3uhLWta2h3imUxEO9zd7uPip_2XbccVCH58Jbnw/s1600/DSCN1657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2XnFKhhWsaAHLe95QusBEDXXz70uijNXmgTDimHIOW7ANAdWehbaoIDqmfP1-_E4Qv8Bm4bx7UxnAYEqIpZgbkcH4yn6VQ-l7gRbp3uhLWta2h3imUxEO9zd7uPip_2XbccVCH58Jbnw/s200/DSCN1657.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group at Noma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/nomagreece">Noma Kuzina
Mediterra</a>: Our hotel was situated on a quaint little street facing the
black beach and offered restaurants, shops and more right outside our
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We originally sat down at restaurant that seemed much more like a tourist restaurant than an authentic Greek restaurant and after viewing their picture-only menu decided to continue our search.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down just a few feet was Noma, our
hidden gem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The restaurant was an
indoor/outdoor type set up with a bit of a swanky feel to it but offered simple
foods at simple prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as
we sat down we were greeted with a shot of a local spirit, which tasted of
honey and organically sparked a conversation with the restaurant owner. Coincidentally,
the owner had lived in the USA for a few years growing up and to my delight was
also was very educated on Celiac Disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He even discussed his idea of creating and distributing a gluten free
pizza crust to the restaurants he oversaw in the city (yes please!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a long discussion on how
successful I think it would be, it was time to order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ordered a decadent potato casserole that was out of this
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could recreate it
somehow because the<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwBzKr6HKXg2q2DVFJMXU9yz4SdOqOPE6bjFldRNv5AKw6-Ag6OMvJE2K55f-8O4FIVoTADJfncJ_cjJG7pliWe6_216eqi0QgYUKUmvTK2milnl1YhbeKrhohf7p8XDulaCMCfqs3Kwq/s1600/Photo+May+30,+2+21+29+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwBzKr6HKXg2q2DVFJMXU9yz4SdOqOPE6bjFldRNv5AKw6-Ag6OMvJE2K55f-8O4FIVoTADJfncJ_cjJG7pliWe6_216eqi0QgYUKUmvTK2milnl1YhbeKrhohf7p8XDulaCMCfqs3Kwq/s200/Photo+May+30,+2+21+29+PM.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Amazing potato casserole at Noma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
flavors were simple yet divine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was oozing with cheese, bacon, chives and some type of
tangy mix of spices, garlic and sour cream that threw it over the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dish probably could have served 2,
but I ate the whole thing accompanied by a refreshing Caprese salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dreamt of this casserole the rest of
our time in Santorini and highly recommend the restaurant for that reason only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before heading that way, you may want
to send the restaurant a facebook message and see if they have started offering
gluten free pizza crust!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy8Kp2zYCAZvlI3JYPOthNL17-O4O5-vLizDX9Q-yvctKbttdx4Uw3kauYn5bkFQKpKlberGDDnxPWsPPTQbtETVxgpeVZOif1XLTehV5fFhjo9QmY3whCGIIKCX8ZfdgzU7e5f_wuVYG/s1600/IMG_2761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy8Kp2zYCAZvlI3JYPOthNL17-O4O5-vLizDX9Q-yvctKbttdx4Uw3kauYn5bkFQKpKlberGDDnxPWsPPTQbtETVxgpeVZOif1XLTehV5fFhjo9QmY3whCGIIKCX8ZfdgzU7e5f_wuVYG/s200/IMG_2761.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view at Pelekanos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Oia is known to have some of the best sunsets in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had arrived in the city
around noon and after exploring, shopping and picture taking, it was time to
wait out the remaining<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate light
snacks, drank wine and just relaxed at quite a few restaurants within the town,
but since everything was so simple I didn’t write down the restaurant names
(oops!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with most small
restaurants, I stuck to the Greek Salad just to be safe.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91_XUR9MkNOrqchsog-J6y1Ou_xberRp0hyphenhyphenaTLqtbshuJgtuBdyKe2PVKVQVL3HW7DH7INNd-olwR5HVYza_cNL8AxmH87JFtwaSzCWG4usys3-uztWq5ZmWM-zUfDC1OQVmBYjm42Ta8/s1600/DSC_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91_XUR9MkNOrqchsog-J6y1Ou_xberRp0hyphenhyphenaTLqtbshuJgtuBdyKe2PVKVQVL3HW7DH7INNd-olwR5HVYza_cNL8AxmH87JFtwaSzCWG4usys3-uztWq5ZmWM-zUfDC1OQVmBYjm42Ta8/s200/DSC_0503.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Shrimp at Pelekanos<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://www.pelekanosrestaurant.gr/home.html">Pelekano’s:</a>
The time had finally come for the sun to set and cast it’s painting across the
Aegean Sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We luckily got to the
restaurant just in time to get a table at the corner of the glass-encased
dining room that extended even further above the city of Oia than
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The restaurant played a
dramatic opera concerto while the sun made it’s descent and then quickly
changed to upbeat music once the event had passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The view from the dining room was absolutely stunning but
the food for gluten free travelers was a bit bland. I ate shrimp, dusted with
pink peppercorns accompanied with some garlic butter along with a side of roasted
potatoes (a girl’s got to have some type of carb after a long day of walking!).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Oia is more of a tourist
stop, the restaurants we found weren’t anything out of the ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d recommend getting a cocktail and
light dinner while watching the sun set from the balcony but recommend dining
elsewhere if a hearty gluten-free meal is what you’re looking for. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCxOIaL6JnrRM2WVKzK24m_rzX-6zkLWQq5zorNRVrCBfS5gpES25wGWwTLrxzt-KVjaDxfIBTehjPINYVqG87L4KgNy4A2aWbxv3TeC1hf9Nmn7Tm6M_bbXBHLMPfkCXMupnN0XkZCt_/s1600/DSC_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCxOIaL6JnrRM2WVKzK24m_rzX-6zkLWQq5zorNRVrCBfS5gpES25wGWwTLrxzt-KVjaDxfIBTehjPINYVqG87L4KgNy4A2aWbxv3TeC1hf9Nmn7Tm6M_bbXBHLMPfkCXMupnN0XkZCt_/s200/DSC_0510.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Sunset at Pelekanos<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-64167015336818655692013-08-11T12:03:00.003-05:002013-08-11T12:06:28.889-05:00Gluten Free in Greece Part 2: Mykonos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
In case you’re just now tuning in, I’ll give you a brief
recap of what brought me to Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had been itching for a vacation and mentioned taking one to my friend
Callie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started throwing around
the idea of Mexico and then just decided if we were going to take a week off
work, we may as well go somewhere cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Greece idea was conceived, we were able to get 2 of our friends on
board with us and the entire trip was booked within 1 week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems like a great movie storyline,
right?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQRj5rm6T6171QB-V4FJGL1DVVfZO7FQEFRB-eKK-31Qi0FoK1X8zQ4QgBjfMtt-2T0mH89-RoIfjYkQyL259hO8d9g6cBKCmoVEVkcUX6Pz11nKDJ2PX4lcFrww07NPCA9IJfxEdnHvy/s1600/IMG_2375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQRj5rm6T6171QB-V4FJGL1DVVfZO7FQEFRB-eKK-31Qi0FoK1X8zQ4QgBjfMtt-2T0mH89-RoIfjYkQyL259hO8d9g6cBKCmoVEVkcUX6Pz11nKDJ2PX4lcFrww07NPCA9IJfxEdnHvy/s200/IMG_2375.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kivotos Hotel Welcome Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We arrived in Athens and then flew over to the island of
Mykonos, which was just stunning. While it’s known to be a party island
frequented by celebrities and the most extreme party-goers, our experience was
a much more relaxed one. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we arrived at our hotel, we instantly were all taken
aback by the extravagance of the place and felt like we had to have been
dreaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt as if I were
Carrie Bradshaw walking into the palace in Abu Dhabi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still am not sure how in the world we got such a great
rate, but let me tell you, it was out of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon arriving, we were placed in their windowed sitting room
and given a glass of champagne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What more could we ask for? An amazing view, glass of champagne and a
sea breeze-we were in heaven.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During our 2 day stay on the island we lounged by the pool,
tried out the nightlife at the Paradise Club Mykonos, took a trip into Little
Venice and walked our way around part of the island to a castaway beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think our half-day of exploration to
the castaway beach was my favorite experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we made the 3-mile walk we stopped to take pictures with
all the gorgeous Greek doors and were speechless when we arrived at the
beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, it was like being in
a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water changed colors
from a vibrant turquoise into teal into navy blue and was situated between two
rocky hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked
photoshopped it was so beautiful. The water was freezing, but that didn’t stop
us from swimming!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Alright, so getting to the food stuff; where did we eat?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzT4yLB-aEIhFcysXrHjm0zc-KYsu8zAy8aAoh4z_W4CCzfiIWc5_-_Jc3SAwu4frVEvqTNSakXBfVVRe-OM6PTcFMn-ft9FLGC-jcoowZxFg6nNIXk9Jh7K8Z0iAtGdJxRTOjlhpYuQT/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzT4yLB-aEIhFcysXrHjm0zc-KYsu8zAy8aAoh4z_W4CCzfiIWc5_-_Jc3SAwu4frVEvqTNSakXBfVVRe-OM6PTcFMn-ft9FLGC-jcoowZxFg6nNIXk9Jh7K8Z0iAtGdJxRTOjlhpYuQT/s200/IMG_2382.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at Ithanki</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://www.ithakirestaurant.gr/">Ithaki</a>: Located
in Ornos Bay right on the beach, the restaurant offers authentic Greek foods
with a gorgeous view of the water. It’s a bit more on the touristy side as it’s
literally a beach restaurant, but the food was pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ate a greek salad and chicken
svoulaki (without the pita bread).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Petros, our fun waiter, said the chicken was only brushed with olive
oil, lemon juice and oregano, so no hidden gluten. The most memorable part of this
lunch was our conversation with Petros. He was a man probably in his early 40s
who had such a passion for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We somehow got into a deep conversation and it made me realize, once
again, that we are so lucky to live in such a great country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOB52vVqyFX8uANfj_-rJNaRr8z27kDxOdZgxLLWCFsdjK7D5Gyx3DS-d6z6QUXrKnwOHhofg3uXnelfJbH8bBnOnV5D9A50DSanWDiDz8VWu5Td5c7TIBMtzfaD_qq3FFM9Oy7NFHybb/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOB52vVqyFX8uANfj_-rJNaRr8z27kDxOdZgxLLWCFsdjK7D5Gyx3DS-d6z6QUXrKnwOHhofg3uXnelfJbH8bBnOnV5D9A50DSanWDiDz8VWu5Td5c7TIBMtzfaD_qq3FFM9Oy7NFHybb/s200/IMG_2413.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gluten Free Sea Bass at the Kivotos Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u><a href="http://www.kivotosclubhotel.com/">Kivotos Hotel</a></u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was our hotel during out 2 night
stay in Mykonos and let me just say, it was beyond what any of us had
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate at the hotel
restaurant one night and I opted for the fresh Sea Bass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, the Sea Bass was pretty
underwhelming, but their menu did include a variety of rissotos, filling salads
and fish dishes, so there was plenty to chose from. The restaurant was very
chic and had brilliant views of the Bay, but overall the food was pretty bland
and overpriced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d recommend
coming to the restaurant for a drink as the sun sets but finding dinner
elsewhere unless staying at the hotel.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvy2ZCQu7hsHWlrXrLJSANil7NJu92Gv7nkzafy19ins5l-ng1icI4XwtW7WQAHWNyQOhk1kgwGmOXnx55UUQrVMXacQ_IW__fUi2_PZ8Al3A3FWnPoz_SlmZVgEvN-bTVGSwnDIQO6SY/s1600/IMG_2475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gluten Free in Little Venice Mykonos" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvy2ZCQu7hsHWlrXrLJSANil7NJu92Gv7nkzafy19ins5l-ng1icI4XwtW7WQAHWNyQOhk1kgwGmOXnx55UUQrVMXacQ_IW__fUi2_PZ8Al3A3FWnPoz_SlmZVgEvN-bTVGSwnDIQO6SY/s200/IMG_2475.jpg" title="" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L'ile Bistro & Cafe in Little Venice, Mykonos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>L’ile Bistro & Café-</u> Located in the heart of
Little Venice, this quaint little café offered traditional French café items
with a twist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner talked to
us for a bit, and as it turned out, he had many friends with Celiac and was
able to help me find something on the menu. My friends ate sandwiches and
quiche and I ordered a cold cut tray and potato salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cold cut tray was divine; it
included local meats and cheeses, olives and pickles. I just wish I had brought
some gluten free crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in
mind that this is a bread-based café, so I’d recommend it for a light meal or
resting place during a day of shopping.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2n0nU-9iolp9aI_FHUwMKqnVUcjfJa3VSh7HjedjzPUpBrkg4Ya0qie6cdEksLvqWhrhJItUkqz_MNPiwn9VZgcYQjOv2abVG1UiW1qlowv7yVAERa5oRYX9nsgbMSuM4Q1QeuT5M4TNA/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2n0nU-9iolp9aI_FHUwMKqnVUcjfJa3VSh7HjedjzPUpBrkg4Ya0qie6cdEksLvqWhrhJItUkqz_MNPiwn9VZgcYQjOv2abVG1UiW1qlowv7yVAERa5oRYX9nsgbMSuM4Q1QeuT5M4TNA/s200/IMG_2477.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cold cut tray at L'ile Bistro & Cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-76044836694552063762013-08-05T13:00:00.000-05:002013-08-24T12:03:15.645-05:00Gluten Free in Greece Part 1: Athens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I mentioned a few blog posts back, a few girlfriends and
I spontaneously decided to take a trip to Greece in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first time I had been out of
the country since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2008 and have plenty
to share about the experience.</div>
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Greeks are extremely nice people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who can’t at least
speak basic English and everyone I encountered seemed very willing to help me
figure out what I could eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
heard that Italy is very aware of Celiac Disease and was hoping Greece would be
the same; but sadly, it wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
one great thing about Greece is that most of their food is fresh and their only
marinades are olive oil, lemon and oregano. I used my Triumph Dining cards
every time I ate out and I highly recommend them to anyone preparing to travel.
</div>
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Breakfast was my lifeline while in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of our hotels had hearty breakfasts
that included a variety of cold cuts, cheeses, fruit, hard boiled eggs, bacon,
sausage and greek yogurt with all the fixings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The greek yogurt is out of this world!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One word of caution though: in Athens I
found out that our hotel’s salami was beer salami.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if that’s a hotel specialty or if it’s a
tradition throughout Greece, but stay away just in case.</div>
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Okay, so where did I eat while in Athens?</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9sQJxO1G7TaHc1ERrVGRpQTTrHVudR786GwyL-2Aq5tQXmKw5gj4qQdCf3GAM1F2JN1JqVIIr31tNFJyPflLphe2Mc9rLZDURSY6xAGuNNldaRxgSNnKACsRvmMxIE-_9pYWUReljSGA/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9sQJxO1G7TaHc1ERrVGRpQTTrHVudR786GwyL-2Aq5tQXmKw5gj4qQdCf3GAM1F2JN1JqVIIr31tNFJyPflLphe2Mc9rLZDURSY6xAGuNNldaRxgSNnKACsRvmMxIE-_9pYWUReljSGA/s200/DSC_0046.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Xenios Zeus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<u><a href="http://xenioszeus-plaka.gr/indexen.html" target="_blank">Xenios Zeus</a>:</u> This Rick Steve’s suggestion was located
at the very top of Restaurant Hill and was worth every step to get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The view of Athens at night from our
table was absolutely stunning and the restaurant served authentic Greek
platters at a great price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
chef altered my plate due to my allergy and made me stuffed vine leaves, a fava
bean salad and a stuffed onion accompanied by tzakiki, hummus and a mustard
sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For desert, instead of the baklava he served my friends, he prepared a sweetened greek yogurt with a cherry compote. </span>The food was absolutely
spectacular and I devoured the entire plate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, there must have been something in one of
those dishes because I was not a happy camper soon after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still recommend this restaurant based
on their view and the authenticity of the food, but recommend asking the chef
more questions or sticking to the greek salad. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6otpTDivU4RccmUnsr57MzeWxdZnigY4ez3Cjx5O2i2DdH8F1HQzrZwQq62zDaNhWKJzAb_4OIGd_NwIKLUCBIKrYMz4rdKyemTKhMDJHow5yNsvUU-dcOuzQHMFg2uK14A0yXMu6QND/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6otpTDivU4RccmUnsr57MzeWxdZnigY4ez3Cjx5O2i2DdH8F1HQzrZwQq62zDaNhWKJzAb_4OIGd_NwIKLUCBIKrYMz4rdKyemTKhMDJHow5yNsvUU-dcOuzQHMFg2uK14A0yXMu6QND/s200/IMG_2804.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a glass of wine at the Athens Gate Hotel restaurant</td></tr>
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<u><a href="http://athensgate.gr/" target="_blank">Athens Gate Hotel:</a></u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hotel was home to us during our 3 days in Athens and
was perfectly positioned near all the major attractions. The chef at the
hotel’s restaurant was very helpful and made me a special salad using a special
skillet, cutting board and knife to cut the chicken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were extremely helpful with my allergy and also offered
a variety of risottos, fresh fish dishes and salads that seemed
gluten-free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their breakfast was
also very hearty and an easy bet for me, just don’t eat the salami!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbu2ZTQcbDTJZeWUrW5o99uMGwsR8ZZ4zaHiYORoSWzmHHuLxYa85MeOcP-LRfLmo6BZrSxwiif9lu2UZlNR8lrnU68W7JwExbMaOOfaoXuZ9XjZnf56wWuFC4lb5PnPQc8ybU3R5mtDu/s1600/IMG_2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbu2ZTQcbDTJZeWUrW5o99uMGwsR8ZZ4zaHiYORoSWzmHHuLxYa85MeOcP-LRfLmo6BZrSxwiif9lu2UZlNR8lrnU68W7JwExbMaOOfaoXuZ9XjZnf56wWuFC4lb5PnPQc8ybU3R5mtDu/s200/IMG_2838.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potatoes with olive oil, cheese & oregano at Filistron</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHIaLqiYlsttcZIeboDxOTA32z1iSu-7GS0Vfz7jIXa3UBNOmj5wrU05643YNAO14L4B8UItqn450-VtqJDq8tOyL1GQIj77pdqiwmvGBJ2dfzKDntGHN5Z0AZWeHSZpOyZJu6bp93Brh/s1600/Photo+Jun+01,+11+33+09+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHIaLqiYlsttcZIeboDxOTA32z1iSu-7GS0Vfz7jIXa3UBNOmj5wrU05643YNAO14L4B8UItqn450-VtqJDq8tOyL1GQIj77pdqiwmvGBJ2dfzKDntGHN5Z0AZWeHSZpOyZJu6bp93Brh/s200/Photo+Jun+01,+11+33+09+AM.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filistron's Deck during a rain shower</td></tr>
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<u><a href="http://filistron.com/" target="_blank">Filistro</a>:</u> The signs outside the restaurant read
‘Filistron’ and is divided into a ground-floor level and a detached terrace
level. The entrance to this roof-top deck is hidden around the street corner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The view of Athens as the sun sets is
amazing, and is actually another one of Rick Steve’s suggestions. When we
arrived we were greeted by a shot of tequila (not traditional but hey, we
didn’t complain!), olives, hummus and bread (not gluten free
unfortunately).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waiter was
well versed in gluten and told me he could suggest a variety of main
dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stuck to a lighter dish and
ordered the grilled potato slices with grated cheese, olive oil and
oregano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was delicious and
really hit the spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re
looking for an authentic Greek restaurant with a knowledgeable staff, this one
is a great option!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-20201465036673320352013-08-04T17:00:00.000-05:002013-08-04T17:00:01.985-05:00Gluten Free in Athens' International Airport (ATH)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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During our trip we had 2 departing flights and 2 incoming
flights into this airport unfortunately, there weren’t many food options. The
airport was filled with duty-free shopping and small coffee/sandwich/snack
shops positioned near the departure gates, but no real restaurants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My advice is to either eat before you
get to the airport or bring some snacks with you in your carry on bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only 2 options I found were:</div>
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<u>Juice Bar-</u>While I’m not quite sure what the name is, the
juice bar is located just inside the airport door near the Aitalia check-in
counters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The down side to this
option is that you’ll need to finish the drink before heading through security.
</div>
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<u>Food Village</u>-I never found this ‘village’ while in
the airport but the website suggests they offer traditional Greek food and a
variety of salads that may be gluten free.</div>
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For a full list of Athens International Airport restaurants,
click here. (<a href="http://www.aia.gr/traveler/shoping-centre/restaurants-and-cafes/">www.aia.gr/traveler/shoping-centre/restaurants-and-cafes/</a>).</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-28182339820507680032013-08-03T12:28:00.002-05:002013-08-03T12:30:06.101-05:00Gluten Free in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The first layover of our Greece trip was in Amsterdam and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised at how fun this airport
was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a section of the
airport on the second floor that made you feel as if you were in a forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had nature noises piped into the
area, large bean bags for quick naps, trees growing throughout the space, an
outdoor garden deck and cool innovations like a bike charging station. After a
quick power nap, I wandered around for a few minutes looking for something to
eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I didn’t explore past
the D Concourse, I’ve gathered a list of potential gluten-free spots:</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpALcUGj6CgPv86nSTZSR63N9kPkliezlwQ7-QItuTCgJVCSHhQC_Aw31KDAnHz4IBNfa1y_jGa27yoYtfPvlmMc78t_hC3i1s-26DxqwzlThTMLTF2J_HqSbC52FpOdp8hM2iUGDXuvJ/s1600/DSCN1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpALcUGj6CgPv86nSTZSR63N9kPkliezlwQ7-QItuTCgJVCSHhQC_Aw31KDAnHz4IBNfa1y_jGa27yoYtfPvlmMc78t_hC3i1s-26DxqwzlThTMLTF2J_HqSbC52FpOdp8hM2iUGDXuvJ/s200/DSCN1617.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outdoor deck in Schiphol's D Concourse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>Harvest Market</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>- On the second floor of the D concourse, you’ll find a quick, cafeteria-style
food court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Harvest Market
offers an assortment of local foods such as Dutch cheese, local fruits and
vegetables, salads, potatoes and a few other gluten-free options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s also a juice bar in the middle
that serves delicious smoothies and fruit concoctions. As always, make sure to
ask about marinades and seasonings. </div>
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While I never ventured out of concourse D, here are a few
options I found on the airport website that may be able to accommodate gluten
allergies:</div>
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<u>Brasserie</u>- The airport’s website states that they
provide ‘gourmet’ meals, so you may be able to find grilled chicken, salads and
steaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<u>Bubbles Seafood & Wine Bar</u>- Who doesn’t love a
glass of champagne while on vacation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This restaurant looks like it may be a safe bet for Celiacs as it offers
a variety of fresh fish.</div>
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<u>Park Café-</u> looks to be very similar to the Harvest
Market and offers salads, fresh juices and more.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For a full list of
restaurants within the Schiphol Airport click here (<a href="http://www.schiphol.nl/travellers/foodrelax/afterpassportcontrol/fooddrinks.html">www.schiphol.nl/travellers/foodrelax/afterpassportcontrol/fooddrinks.html</a>).</span><!--EndFragment-->
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-23754316077112270392013-06-08T11:01:00.001-05:002013-07-14T11:43:11.181-05:00Preparing to Travel out of the Country with Celiac Disease<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In May a few friends and I decided
to take a spontaneous vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
first we toyed with the idea of going to Mexico and taking a beach vacation but realized if we were willing to take a week off work we may as well go
somewhere amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After only 3
days of discussion we booked a trip to...GREECE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty crazy, we know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
was my first out-of-country trip since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in
2008 and let me be honest, it wasn’t easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Greece who
doesn’t at least know basic English, I found myself suffering from accidental “glutening”
on more than one occasion (but that’s another blog post).</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
you plan to go out of the country anytime soon I have a few suggestions on how
to make the trip a bit easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First off, the <a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/products/gluten-free-dining-cards" target="_blank">dining cards</a> made
from Triumph Dining was an absolute life saver!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pack gives you a card for each type of food, explains your allergy in English and the local language, gives
examples of local dishes that may contain gluten and local ingredients that may
be okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I presented these cards
to every restaurant I visited and it made the eating out process a bit less
stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly recommend
getting a pack (or 2) for any vacation you take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second of all, make sure to bring plenty of snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our 8-day trip I packed a box of Glutino gluten free poptarts, gluten free crackers and
about 10 nut/breakfast bars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything was gone by day 7 and I wish I had packed a tad more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Detroit I found a product line
called <a href="http://www.gopicnic.com/special-diets/gluten-free" target="_blank">GoPicnic</a> that provides small gluten-free
packaged meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had known
about these pre-trip, I would have taken about 5 with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come in a variety of meals and are
only about $4 a pop. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrwMuVaa4OuWskrVZm5Pjk9ZgoIfa1G2JFhH0HQRRlCH900smZngVfTPxAKNN7TwDVCtglX03-W8641Zp2ADLtg694851GWsm7-PBayjSvNqUgDNkf6EYDjwheOP6lIkK3VTnMsl0I1mQ/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrwMuVaa4OuWskrVZm5Pjk9ZgoIfa1G2JFhH0HQRRlCH900smZngVfTPxAKNN7TwDVCtglX03-W8641Zp2ADLtg694851GWsm7-PBayjSvNqUgDNkf6EYDjwheOP6lIkK3VTnMsl0I1mQ/s200/IMG_2319.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KLM Gluten Free Dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
packing these snacks, make sure to bring a few in your carry on bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’ll cover in my next few blogs,
airports are not the most accommodating when it comes to food allergies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news however, is that the
airlines are! Make sure to note your food allergy when booking your flight
because all major airlines offer gluten-free meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my KLM flight going to Amsterdam I was served a salad,
fruit cup, gluten free bread roll and an entrée of grilled chicken with rice
and steamed broccoli for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Breakfast was yogurt, fruit, a gluten free lemon tart and a veggie
sandwich (a bit odd for breakfast, but it was food!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The airline almost always serves special meals first, so
I felt more confident there was no room for confusion.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
let’s talk about accommodations while over seas. When preparing to go out of
the country, it may be worth it to try to rent an apartment instead of getting
a hotel room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This option may end
up being cheaper and the best part is
that you’d have access to a kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you do choose to opt for a hotel, call ahead and to see if your room
comes with a mini-fridge or kitchenette and if their restaurant can accommodate gluten free
diets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my surprise, our hotel
in Santorini actually included a stovetop! I wish I had called ahead because I would have loved to make some gluten free pasta.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally,
while we hate to think about it, let’s face it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>traveling out of the country can be difficult with Celiac Disease
and you may end up accidentally eating gluten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody wants that, but hey it happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prepare ahead of time by packing
back-up medicines like Pepto, probiotics and Licorice tablets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s also a great natural supplement
called GlutenEase that I bring with me every time I eat out, even in the
United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The supplement is
supposed to help offset symptoms if you were to accidentally ingest gluten and
is 100% natural. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these
products can be found at your local grocery store or health store.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Happy
planning! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-46554207724705447442011-05-29T22:01:00.000-05:002013-08-12T23:02:16.851-05:00Gluten Free in New Orleans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div>
<a href="http://www.muriels.com/html/glutenfree.htm"><b>Muriel's:</b></a></div>
<div>
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 <b>Spinach Salad</b>: Fresh picked spinach tosses in a warm apple smoked bacon vinaigrette, with spiced pecans, shaved sweet onions, and feta. And the <b>Gulf Shrimp Herbsaint</b>: 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.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPakcjNWswvhkctXIoSQHgg-CnvVyF2j1j5hy1kKwxK4pLjD6qew4xmEtQhdsHXODMPwDfqofBXduuzifr3tC9oF_8iUSFUaiBENKkPyJayn4A2ZrOyjXOwse0rYUM6TbG656yO_4eSrLx/s1600/DSC02279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPakcjNWswvhkctXIoSQHgg-CnvVyF2j1j5hy1kKwxK4pLjD6qew4xmEtQhdsHXODMPwDfqofBXduuzifr3tC9oF_8iUSFUaiBENKkPyJayn4A2ZrOyjXOwse0rYUM6TbG656yO_4eSrLx/s200/DSC02279.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napoleon House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz94eANYH5MJVXXl7gPBIelnDrrlJvgbJ0E44Bz3ryQvAa9oxcKZM0vJ0L1ks_iaFxPSvU8_viZSV3yaeffsshaf32VaeXxes2U6HnRaYy-1RLn38z2D9BOPemwn1I0Fs4ZcBBkKT3ecRW/s1600/cropped+muriel%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz94eANYH5MJVXXl7gPBIelnDrrlJvgbJ0E44Bz3ryQvAa9oxcKZM0vJ0L1ks_iaFxPSvU8_viZSV3yaeffsshaf32VaeXxes2U6HnRaYy-1RLn38z2D9BOPemwn1I0Fs4ZcBBkKT3ecRW/s200/cropped+muriel%2527s.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Muriel's</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.napoleonhouse.com/"><b>Napoleon House:</b></a> 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 <b>Shrimp Remoulade Stuffed Avocado</b>. 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.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QzzlcQlpQZkqjhUfOUGMMA_eVzvAV1b3e52T1sJfgp4OA9rYWGGLYGc4AES2M0HgAGaHVL7_MsdkraGeQVsnpI3Yomkwtqo2UuMISAKHhriYcGDbDcQNaWZ9n1YiRZviPnWVTmznBoUt/s1600/bloody+mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QzzlcQlpQZkqjhUfOUGMMA_eVzvAV1b3e52T1sJfgp4OA9rYWGGLYGc4AES2M0HgAGaHVL7_MsdkraGeQVsnpI3Yomkwtqo2UuMISAKHhriYcGDbDcQNaWZ9n1YiRZviPnWVTmznBoUt/s200/bloody+mary.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bloody Mary at Swizzle Stick</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cafeadelaide.com/"><b>Swizzle Stick Bar:</b></a><b> </b>This cute bar located in the Loews New Orleans Hotel is a cute place for brunch and a drink. I enjoyed a cute <b>bloody mary</b> and the <b>new orleans shrimp remoulade</b>-which was more of a salad. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8eNjyDhpgVtawQQITYKVAkVUbN57HPSCPC9gGYqlTa8k9LQwgPo8LYkEzIuE7IYyu9RsroyG51pcCBJZUi0lz8YL4ydMOMJRA5P5RjBwXOoZHlAj78XsoqUn_s0T1zIFUBMOu9pCgZyw/s1600/shrimpgrits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8eNjyDhpgVtawQQITYKVAkVUbN57HPSCPC9gGYqlTa8k9LQwgPo8LYkEzIuE7IYyu9RsroyG51pcCBJZUi0lz8YL4ydMOMJRA5P5RjBwXOoZHlAj78XsoqUn_s0T1zIFUBMOu9pCgZyw/s200/shrimpgrits.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Luke's Jumbo Louisiana shrime "en cocotte"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<a href="http://www.lukenworleans.com/"><b>Luke:</b></a> 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 <b>ju</b><b>mbo Louisiana shrimp "en cocotte"</b> 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.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Here is a list of other restaurants I researched that either have a gluten-free menu or accommodate us:</span></div>
<div>
Bubba Gump's</div>
<div>
Coquette Bistro and Wine Bar</div>
<div>
Bayona</div>
<div>
Old Coffee Pot Restaurant</div>
<div>
Cafe Amelie</div>
<div>
Galvez Restaurant</div>
<div>
Bootlegger's Bar and Grill</div>
<div>
Landry's</div>
<div>
Naked Pizza</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hope this helps if you find yourself in New Orleans looking for a gluten-free meal! :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-38441667675300565702011-05-18T22:23:00.000-05:002011-05-29T20:51:18.795-05:00My Favorite Gluten Free PizzasAs an American it's part of our DNA to love pizza, so why should Celiacs miss out? Luckily, more and more pizza places are joining the gluten-free revolution and providing a gluten free option. And why wouldn't they when you can freeze a crust, pop it onto some paper, and cook everything the same way (keeping in mind a few cross contamination rules)? After trying a ton of different gluten free pizzas, here are my top 3 favorites. If you have a chance, I <b>highly</b> suggest trying one! (These are in no particular order, I don't know how I would pick between them!)<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.craigositalian.com/">Craig O's Pizza</a>:</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5YohpKkT8TWCYalHecVbkxzF_IUBhqgX-gbJkxcxacFWLp9qX3Ys_vG7ZXD7PQfIf5Us84lWRu-TaKXSW5Pkb_0iJoIArt_Sb2VQj9gI3v3BtmqFSv7diK1mVbSuKETJqD87a0PIthBA/s1600/5139680397_ba12d7f12d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5YohpKkT8TWCYalHecVbkxzF_IUBhqgX-gbJkxcxacFWLp9qX3Ys_vG7ZXD7PQfIf5Us84lWRu-TaKXSW5Pkb_0iJoIArt_Sb2VQj9gI3v3BtmqFSv7diK1mVbSuKETJqD87a0PIthBA/s200/5139680397_ba12d7f12d.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craig O's</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Locations are only in Austin, San Marcos, and the surrounding areas, but definitely worth the trip! The crust is as close to a deep dish crust I've found. The crust is fluffy in the middle, but crunchy on the outside-perfection! I've driven an hour out of my way to get a craig o's pizza before-they are amazing! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlcP9UK9k_9nD6Jpa5EQ08ecvtbh23qTx9hiClU-2eislOwiykjhcSDSyLUDOQv13NBiCXxT2UPWNWJgaZN8LRRB3lF9e8Yv7cDdHIjnbP2tFheNZI5O3zrxI0qekTM1PhGZEOsur8Xx0/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlcP9UK9k_9nD6Jpa5EQ08ecvtbh23qTx9hiClU-2eislOwiykjhcSDSyLUDOQv13NBiCXxT2UPWNWJgaZN8LRRB3lF9e8Yv7cDdHIjnbP2tFheNZI5O3zrxI0qekTM1PhGZEOsur8Xx0/s200/mail.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink's Pizza</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><a href="http://www.pinkspizza.com/">Pink's Pizza:</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Locations are all o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ver the Houston area. The crust was thin and crispy. Their speciality pizzas make a huge difference too! I shared my gluten free pizza with a non-gluten free person and s</span>he said she'd never be able to tell the difference if she didn't know it was gluten-free. Yumm!</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOZ1aBrfu3aRN-quVqcWSxKEvqwFRPJFa5Bd8HswgZu30F5PhaU5lb51Fd0DrWtIfDe1g8xoBMoDEmBfaDM6oR9gPmToHvFuVCKDIigYBdivFAQRFp1t0xWwZKmEsyIPdCScwo8VfxSoS/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOZ1aBrfu3aRN-quVqcWSxKEvqwFRPJFa5Bd8HswgZu30F5PhaU5lb51Fd0DrWtIfDe1g8xoBMoDEmBfaDM6oR9gPmToHvFuVCKDIigYBdivFAQRFp1t0xWwZKmEsyIPdCScwo8VfxSoS/s200/DSC_0045.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z Pizza</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.zpizza.com/"><b>Z Pizza: </b></a><b> </b>You can find a Z Pizza chain in almost every state. The crust is thin and soft, but absent of any type of gluten-free taste. And just like P<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">ink's, they also offer many vari<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">ations that are gluten-free. I had the bbq chicken pizza and it was incredible! Definitely worth a try! </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div><br />
</div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-80682251371194029162011-05-08T20:57:00.000-05:002013-08-30T23:02:28.644-05:00Best Ever Gluten Free Banana Nut Bread<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_3WVqGlbx7INS53zbCxBOMWYmWrg6Z14iaDjaHmM9Q2bOv6rBVuStEORx2VSPgkBogonKVetEWVqtyiEpZ-7N3leClRBFiNFO1XqKSdfpG7rUlna5n3KildWC1lYww3QianEVva9sRja/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_3WVqGlbx7INS53zbCxBOMWYmWrg6Z14iaDjaHmM9Q2bOv6rBVuStEORx2VSPgkBogonKVetEWVqtyiEpZ-7N3leClRBFiNFO1XqKSdfpG7rUlna5n3KildWC1lYww3QianEVva9sRja/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a must try! It's easy and doesn't require a bread machine. Most banana nut bread recipes I've tried usually come out dense and dry, but this one is just the opposite! The bread comes out really moist and surprisingly flaky! <span id="goog_1335922214"></span><span id="goog_1335922215"></span><br />
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Recipe adapted from the <i>Traditions, A Taste of the Good Life</i> Cookbook.<br />
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1 cup sugar<br />
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened<br />
3 ripe bananas, mashed<br />
2 eggs<br />
2 cups Gluten Free Bisquick<br />
1/2 cup chopped pecans<br />
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Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the sugar and cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in mashed bananas and eggs, then add bisquick and pecans. Pour into a greased 9X5 loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until done in center. You may need to cover with foil the last 20 minutes to prevent the top from browning too much!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-41525434179770067162011-05-06T22:33:00.000-05:002013-08-12T23:03:33.037-05:00Eating Gluten Free in the Airport (ABIA, DFW, MFE)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last weekend I was traveling from Austin to McAllen for a friend's wedding. As most celiac/gluten sensitive people know, airports aren't the most friendly to gluten-free travelers. I've grown accustomed to living off gluten free cereal bars for hours on end, as do most people in our situation. But I thought I'd share my gluten free finds (or lack thereof) in the 3 airports I visited this past weekend. I hope if you ever find yourself in one of these airports this may be able to help you!<br />
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<b>Side note:</b> Just because a chain offers a gluten-free menu doesn't mean that the airport version of the restaurant will. Make sure to check the ingredients and training are the same. I found Maudie's in Austin and Blue Mesa in Dallas both have gluten-free menus in their restaurants, but could not accommodate the allergy at the airport. So beware!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/dining2.htm">Austin Bergstrom International Airport:</a></b></span><br />
I have to say, I was really disappointed with the gluten free options. I've never paid much attention since I'm usually not in the airport for very long; however, after having a cancelled flight I had plenty of time to walk around and ask a few questions.<br />
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<b>Mangia Pizza</b>: look for the prepackaged salads. Make sure to check the dressings and that there are no croutons in the package.<br />
<b>Amy's Ice Cream:</b> I couldn't get an extensive list, but ask and it shouldn't be difficult to find out!<br />
<b>Salt Lick BBQ:</b> I'd stick with the baked potato with cheese and butter to be safe. The Salt Lick has a normal gluten free menu in their restaurant that states all of their meats, dry rubs, sauces, and potato salad are gluten free. But like I said above, make sure to verify that their products are indeed gluten free.<br />
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Other than the above choices, you can always find nuts, dried fruit, chips, and candy bars.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.dfwairport.com/shops/finder.php?type=restaurants"><b>Dallas Fort Worth International Airport</b></a></span><br />
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<b>Subway:</b> Yes! The 2 locations in the airport serve GLUTEN FREE BREAD! (and brownies too!) The 2 locations are A33 and B13. If you have time, this is a winner!<br />
<b>Cantina Laredo:</b> Although the airport venue did not have a gluten free menu, my waitress knew all about gluten. I ordered the Enchiladas Del Espinaca without the poblano mole sauce. The rice, beans, and queso are gluten free.<br />
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Other options worth a try:<br />
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<b>U Food Grill</b><br />
<b>Red Mango Yogurt</b><br />
<b>Wendy's</b><br />
<b>Dicky's BBQ</b><br />
<b>Starbucks</b><br />
<b>Einstein Bagels</b> (I've heard they are testing a gluten free bagel in a few locations. Although I've never encountered one, it's worth a shot!)<br />
<b>Grove Natural Snacks</b><br />
<b>Smoothie King</b><br />
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<b>McAllen Miller Airport</b><br />
As any airport with only 4 gates, I didn't expect much as far as gluten-free fare goes. Although the only food option inside security was Quiznos, I was surprised to find rice chips in 3 varieties! They also had the usual chips, nuts, and candy to choose from as well.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-15279855532854451042011-05-02T19:34:00.000-05:002011-05-02T19:34:40.971-05:00A Royal Breakfast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="webkit-fake-url://78E88DDB-C0D6-4ED1-A1B3-E06BAD1425A9/th_a26bbaddfe869f19e39b63d4a5b84640_1294656327willkate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="th_a26bbaddfe869f19e39b63d4a5b84640_1294656327willkate.jpg" border="0" height="200" src="webkit-fake-url://78E88DDB-C0D6-4ED1-A1B3-E06BAD1425A9/th_a26bbaddfe869f19e39b63d4a5b84640_1294656327willkate.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7yT3PhcVcNz4g8u_tBYONp8ismOVUet2ZByzzEL3H-mjErn8tLi0BAvFxWUzoJsaS3rGwnhQnBmRkHVKsDMCRJk_kuw929p0l6ejOQ1VMBsYYkGyoK9pNQMSL4FbBK2exl77Jiqe-RHT/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7yT3PhcVcNz4g8u_tBYONp8ismOVUet2ZByzzEL3H-mjErn8tLi0BAvFxWUzoJsaS3rGwnhQnBmRkHVKsDMCRJk_kuw929p0l6ejOQ1VMBsYYkGyoK9pNQMSL4FbBK2exl77Jiqe-RHT/s200/DSC_0036.JPG" width="200" /></a>I have to admit I became a little obsessed over the royal wedding. But then again, what girl hasn't? In honor of the big day I made a special royal gluten-free breakfast. To accompany the 4am wedding, I made blueberry biscuits, cheddar bacon biscuits, and royal english breakfast tea. I used Gluten-Free Bisquick and loved how they turned out!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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<b>Biscuit Batter:</b><br />
2 cups gluten-free Bisquick<br />
1/3 cup shortening<br />
2/3 cup milk<br />
3 eggs.<br />
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Cut shortening into mix using a fork, until the shortening is about the size of a pea. Stir in remaining ingredients.<br />
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I divided the batter into 2 parts to make half blueberry and half cheddar bacon. If you don't divide the batter, double the recipes below!<br />
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<b>For Blueberry Biscuits:</b><br />
1/4 cup Blueberries<br />
1/4 cup sugar<br />
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<b>For Cheddar Bacon Biscuits:</b><br />
3 slices of crispy bacon<br />
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese<br />
1/8 cup diced onion<br />
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and drop the biscuits by spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 13-16 minutes and enjoy! Makes about 12 biscuits.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652421126171284437.post-57408207365913781172011-04-24T21:49:00.000-05:002011-04-24T21:49:48.995-05:00Cross-ContaminationLiving gluten free doesn't end with reading ingredient lists. Oh no, as all of us know the risk of cross contamination is high when dining out, but it's also high when dining in. But just how cautious do we have to be?<br />
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All of us know to keep our serving utensils separate between gluten and gluten free foods, and we don't prepare our foods on surfaces where wheat could have been. But do you need a separate toaster for gluten free breads? Do you need to keep separate condiments (you know, like the jelly jar where people spread jelly on their bread and then dip their knife back in for another scoop-leaving pesky bread crumbs behind)? Can you eat french fries that are fried in the same fryer with breaded chicken? This is where it gets complicated.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qORtKrvocnL_Zw2ibujUSkdjq1Xl6sTmtvogRz5Mew4L0yF91lZImkz3ddUUvMxHdw54Tl93hj2EOhwtvHLho1fO2MGjBTvQ9tq12fLNoIqOhdNIosNUCb2RcyMLzs0qUsGGeBrBbhZv/s1600/bread-crumbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qORtKrvocnL_Zw2ibujUSkdjq1Xl6sTmtvogRz5Mew4L0yF91lZImkz3ddUUvMxHdw54Tl93hj2EOhwtvHLho1fO2MGjBTvQ9tq12fLNoIqOhdNIosNUCb2RcyMLzs0qUsGGeBrBbhZv/s200/bread-crumbs.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The World Health Organization defines naturally gluten free foods as having 20 PPM (parts per million) or less of gluten. According to celiac.com a celiac can have intestinal damage after consuming just 0.1 grams of gluten-equivelant to 1/48th of a slice of bread! Crazy right? And proves just how important it is to regulate cross-contamination. In my opinion, this information shows it <b>is</b> important to keep separate condiment jars. As for the toaster, if you can't have a designated gluten free toaster, make sure to clean it before use.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IPQyWy8hGr7kN7jjPP9gYloiIU-fnSd87PEA3-TXLzeqcEwnnWi449_Zk5qvNLaKNxvJtsYGKDDXaqhK_9yxDSEeh5ahMzqvAKOIs5GztNSRmqbTnMzLjFnh7NrQ08ZzsWhbPap62ji2/s1600/128563751610I95H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IPQyWy8hGr7kN7jjPP9gYloiIU-fnSd87PEA3-TXLzeqcEwnnWi449_Zk5qvNLaKNxvJtsYGKDDXaqhK_9yxDSEeh5ahMzqvAKOIs5GztNSRmqbTnMzLjFnh7NrQ08ZzsWhbPap62ji2/s320/128563751610I95H.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
I do have to admit I eat french fries and tortilla chips that share a fryer with gluten foods. Most of the time I feel fine with the french fries, but the chips are very hit or miss. I haven't been around restaurant grade fryers much, but from my own home frying experience I've seen excess batter sink to the bottom-making me feel more comfortable with the risk. How many other celiacs take this risk?<br />
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My last thought on this topic is the risk associated with eating something that is gluten free, but is processed in a facility that also processes wheat. Honestly, if we were to avoid all products produced in a shared facility, I'm not sure I could handle the additional decrease in choices. My advice is to research what consumers have said about products with a risk of cross contamination. Usually if a product has a high risk, you can find out easily.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893560795252929250noreply@blogger.com0