A Gluten-Free Nurse in PDX

Tests for Celiac disease and Gluten sensitivity

2011-05-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

I thought the following website from the UK does a great job of explaining the different types of testing offered to determine if one has Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Also, they have an e-book which I am excited to read called Truly Grain Free. Check it out at the following website!
http://trulyglutenfree.co.uk/tests/

Gluten-free to Grain-free?

2011-03-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

So a couple posts ago, I mentioned I have decided to go grain-free and therefore will not be going out to "gluten-free restaurants" any more to do reviews. My decision to change my diet further largely came from getting very sick this summer and not being able to get better with all the medications doctors were throwing at me. Possible diagnosis ranged from pneumonia to GERD to asthma to vocal chord dysfunction. All I know is I was very sick, and it took me months to recover. Thank you, thank you to my naturopaths who helped me get back on my feet by helping me with acupuncture, diet change, and the reassurance that my own body could heal itself.

During my illness, I really started to question what I was eating. First I started to really look into restaurants I had been dining at and found that even ones I had said were great gluten-free places on my blog really weren't if you looked at the fine print. In most cases, the restaurant's idea of gluten-free was definitely not mine. So I decided to go restaurant-free to be gluten-free.

Next, I went back to the center of research-books and the internet, and I found www.glutenfreesociety.org and Dr. Osborne which really made me question what I had previously learned about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. I found out that all grains have gluten and that in several research studies people with celiac disease react to several grains, not just those listed by the Celiac Sprue Association and Celiac Disease Foundation, who are supposed to be the most up-to-date. I had no idea. All I had heard previously was that a very small number reacted adversely to oats. Gluten is a protein found in all grains, not just wheat, barley, rye, and the few others those with celiac are supposed to avoid. Yet, reactions to wheat gluten are pretty much the only ones tested. Right now you probably have lots of questions; I know I did. And the best answers can be found in the following podcast link by Dr. Osborne: Gluten Sensitivity: What is It?

Shortly after finding the above podcast, I had a patient with Chron's disease, which is chronic inflammation of the digestive track, and another gut disease with some similarities to celiac disease. We got on the topic of what dietary changes we had made because of our diseases, and I was excited to find that he too was looking into a grain-free diet as Dr. Osborne suggests, though more specifically his inspiration for dietary changes had come from a book called Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall. This book discussed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which was one of the earliest and most successful diets in treating celiac disease. So why hadn't I heard of it before? The book does a great job of answering these questions and more, and I highly suggest you buy it or at least look at the website which I have linked above to do more research yourself. It does a much better job of providing information than I could on this blog.

So after looking at these two suggestions, my final conclusion, after playing around with both diets and doing my own research on healthy foods, was to combine my information into the following diet:
1) No more eating out.
2) No more grains.
3) Limit sugar-primarily only honey and maple syrup if I had any.
4) No processed foods-ingredients had to be identifiable-so if it said walnut, I better see a walnut in it.
5) Make pretty much everything from scratch.
6) All organic food.
7) As local a possible.
8) Grass-fed meat, dairy, egg, and poultry products as much as possible.
9) Raw dairy products as much as possible.

Now, I am not going to lie. I cheated at times. Peer pressure is the worst when you want to go out with friends and eat and do everything they do too, but I would say 90% of the time I stuck to it. The results have been great. I have lost weight, feel more energetic, am no longer sick and best of all my lab results are better. So heres the details.

My IGG antibody level, which along with IGA antibody is used to determine if a patient has celiac disease through a blood test, even after being on the gluten-free diet strictly for two years and trials of not eating out at restaurants previously has never been lower than 33. I would test my antibodies from time to time after my diagnosis to see if diet had brought down my levels. My IGG level dropped from the 70's initially, but never got any lower than 33. My IGA level has always been normal, which is why I could not have a confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease by blood test and had to later have a biopsy. My doctor suggested in 2005 that if the IGG level was still in the 30's after a couple years on the diet, it probably would not improve, and I most likely had some permanent damage from the disease that kept it still high. So I stopped testing at that point, deciding it was not worth the cost to track my progress. Out of curiosity, I decided to retest these antibodies again after being on my new nine rules diet for several months and to my amazement, my IGG level was at a 2, the lowest it has been since diagnosis and within normal range which is 0-19. This was exciting news.

Also, my Ferritin, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D (commonly low in patients with celiac disease and for which I have needed supplements) were all greatly improved which told me my digestion of the supplements I was taking was improving.
Ferritin previously at 26 was now 73 (normal 10-291)
Vitamin B12 previously at 320 was now 451 (normal 211-911)
Vitamin D previously at 33.1 was now 39.2 (normal 4.8-52.8)

To me this is confirmation that Dr. Osborne and Elaine Gottschall were on the right track although years apart. So here I am on a grain-free diet hoping to share the wonderful information these two have given me with you. I would say my blog will probably be taking on a different look as I begin my new journey, and I hope people will find it helpful enough to continue reading. I have found all the sources on the internet so helpful for the improvement of my health and hope this will just add to the resources out there.

Tax deductions for gluten-free food

2011-02-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

It's getting to be that time of year again... taxes will be due soon, but if you have celiac disease you can get a tax deduction for the food you buy. Below are some websites to help get you started.

http://www.celiac.com/articles/279/1/Tax-Deduction-for-Gluten-Free-Foods-as-a-Medical-Expense-for-Diagnosed-Celiacs-Only/Page1.html

http://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-%26-Gluten%252dFree-Food-Tax-Deduction-Info/

http://www.ehow.com/how_2089426_get-tax-deductions-food.html

http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/b/2009/02/21/tax-deductions-for-gluten-free-food-expenses.htm

Also, just google gluten-free food and tax deductions and plenty of sites to help you should pop up. Totally worth it, but very time consuming. My suggestion: Save all your receipts throughout the year, circle the things you could count as gluten-free the day you buy them so you don't forget, and then make a general product list of food item costs for gluten items and what you use to substitute. Remember traveling expenses to a health food store also count. The first year you do this, it might be good to pay for the extra help to get it right. Several flexible spending accounts pay for gluten-free items too so if you have one it might be easier just to use it instead and better cost wise if you don't meet the 7.5% of adjusted gross income for total medical costs.

Is it really gluten-free?

2011-02-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

So, I know it has been a while since I have posted anything on this site. That is largely because I have been trying to cut back on eating out so much which I thought kind of defeated the whole purpose of having a restaurant review blog. But after months of not even looking at my site, I was shocked, when today, I took a look and saw that in those months several people have been looking at the site without me even writing anything which made me think that it must be a helpful site to some and inspired me to do an update.

One of the main reasons I have not been keeping up on the site is because I got really sick this summer and throughout the fall, and I started to worry that all my eating out was maybe exposing me to hidden gluten which intern was making me ill. I had realized that although many restaurants are thoughtful enough to try to accommodate for food allergies, I was finding that many still didn't understand quite all that entailed and were still doing things that contaminated foods with gluten. More often than not, I found that a restaurant's understanding of gluten and my own could be very different. A perfect example would be Spunky Monkey Coffee Roasters where I ordered a sandwich gluten-free and then the person making my sandwich proceeded to use the same surface and utensils to make my sandwich she had just used to make a gluten filled sandwich right in front of me. When I pointed this out, the lady making my sandwich got irritated while the other one working was very concerned and tried to make the best of it by starting my sandwich over.

This is the common problem with restaurants becoming allergy friendly. You begin to wonder are they doing it a) so they will attract more customers or b) because they really want to help those with allergies have a comfortable dining experience and are concerned for their general health. My guess is it is a mixture of both. Places like Deschute's Brewery who have a gluten-free menu have in small print on that same menu "Items prepared in oil used to cook products containing gluten" and I have to ask myself how the hell can they call that gluten-free and get away with it? It's only when you start to read the fine print and really ask these restaurants questions that you start to realize gluten to them may be glucose, wheat-free and gluten-free might be meat-free, etc. I am sure most of these restaurants mean well, but they are severely misunderstanding what celiac disease and gluten intolerance are. Most of them don't seem to grasp the concept that a small bit of gluten can cause a reaction that has long standing effects wether the individual feels them at that moment or not.

Even for people who have allergies, where effects are often more immediate and visual, are underplayed. My cousin is allergic to peanuts and her teacher thought she was just being picky when she asked if there were nuts in the birthday dessert one child brought into school so replied that there were no nuts giving my cousin the go-ahead to eat the dessert. She ended up going into anaphylactic shock because of this teacher's assumptions. Similarly, often when I go to a restaurant people look at my request for a gluten-free menu as a preference not something I must do to avoid getting sick. The more gluten-free restaurants pop up, the less I feel they are actually paying attention to what gluten is. For many restaurants, buying gluten-free bread makes everything gluten-free in their mind which is not true.

This summer, I was so sick and my iron, B12, and vitamin D labs were all very low despite taking supplements that had previously worked for me which is common in those with celiac disease, especially when it is unmanaged. I have revamped my diet since then because being as sick as I was really scared me and reminded me of what it was like before I got diagnosed, which is a place I don't want to be again. So eating out for me is a once a month thing now at most, and I have been really focusing on making things from scratch so I know where they come from. I am doing much better health-wise and my labs are back where they should be. I attribute this improvement in my health to my dietary changes, acupuncture, and supplements for my vitamin deficiencies.

So my suggestion to all reading my blog would be to make sure the places you eat are really gluten-free. Make sure they are dedicated gluten-free facilities and that they can define clearly what gluten is and how to keep it from contaminating your food. You will be shocked when you start to ask these questions how much the general public and food industry still needs to learn about gluten and celiac disease. It's uncomfortable to ask these questions but necessary. We need to do what is best for our health.

As if my above update isn't enough to digest, I have chosen on top of all this to go primarily grain-free. Why you may ask? Well that is a complex answer which involved several months of research on my part which I hope others will stay tuned to read. For now though, I think I have given people enough to chew on.

P.S. Thank you all restaurants who are attempting to be gluten-free. The above restaurants I mentioned are not the only bad experiences I have had, so I didn't mean to single you out. But please, if you are going to be gluten-free, really make an effort to do so. That means educating all your staff about celiac disease and what it really means for those people to consume gluten. Make an effort to really make a difference by caring about your customers and putting yourself in their shoes. Eating is such a social experience, and with that, comes pressures to even eat foods that will make you sick just so you can fit in. Imagine if food, which you have to eat to survive, was your enemy; imagine the anxiety caused by trying to find a food that was safe. To be honest, food scares me. I know I have to eat it, but I also know that if I eat the wrong thing it can harm me. It makes eating, which is normally an enjoyable event, highly stressful. If you could only feel that fear, you would know what it is like to be a customer at a restaurant where you have to put your trust in someone you don't even know to prepare your food, and you would want to to do what is best for that customer.

Back to Eden Bakery Boutique

2010-04-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

This little bakery tucked into the heart of Alberta art district is so perfectly named. The Garden of Eden was a place of respect for the connections humans have to animals and the earth that sustains them both. Back to Eden Bakery Boutique is friendly and local, completely vegan, mostly organic, sustainable in practice, and best of all largely gluten-free. The sit down area is bright and inviting with vegan cookbooks galore that make even the most dedicated meat eaters think twice as they salivate over the delicious recipes. I had the chocolate orange cheesecake which was delightful, and the perfect compliment to my coffee with hazelnut milk. With its creamy, rich chocolate topping, not-to-sweet, smooth cheese center, and thin caramelized, crunchy bottom, my only wish was for a little more of that delicious crunch underneath which added such a nice texture contrast to the rest of the cake. Definitely, look forward to coming to this place again with book in hand and tummy ready for more tasty sweets.

http://www.backtoedenbakery.com/new/

New Cascadia Traditional Revisited

2010-04-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

Just want to send out a lot of love for New Cascadia Traditional Bakery. I have reviewed them in the past, but they have upped their game over the year and are now in my top favorite gluten free places to go. Their pizza is so darn good that I crave it all week, nice and thin as the Italians make it, without overdoing sauce or cheese, while adding veggies and herbs to make it complete. Coffee cake is a must for me every Saturday with a smooth cappuccino, but the tarts and scones are equally tempting. Always good music, free wi-fi, bright and sunny, smiling staff, and local art, and even an education session or two. Got to love this place! I am proud to say that people are taking notice too. The place is bubbling with gluten free guests. I should have taken a picture of us with our delicious New Cascadia selections, but alas, they were so good we ate them before we could take pictures of our scrumptious scone, tart, and coffee cake. :)

http://www.newcascadiatraditional.com/

Cannon Beach=Gluten-free Surprise!

2010-04-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend, Walker, and I recently ventured to Cannon beach for a little getaway that was long overdue. We had a hotel room with kitchenette ready to cook all our meals as he is very health conscious and I have my gluten-free diet restrictions. To our surprise, while wandering around Cannon Beach city center, we happened upon not one but three healthy, gluten-free friendly restaurants. Who knew this little town had so much to offer?!

Cranky Sue’s nestled inside a bright, funky, and inspiring art gallery offers unique loose leaf teas and some very fishilishous New England Clam Chowder. Word around the block is that her Very Crabby Cakes are in high demand, and I wish I had been able to try them...though there is always next time. Cranky Sue is not cranky at all, but rather sweet and spunky with unique flare that she adds to both her little restaurant and the food she prepares. Great place to play Scrabble and relax while it is raining outside which is exactly what Walker and I did.

http://www.cannon-beach.net/crankysues/

Next on the list of gluten-free Cannon Beach awesomeness is JP’s at Cannon Beach. Looks high class and expensive, which it is, but when you walk in, you can tell this is a family affair, where their greatest joy is to feed you and feed you something gourmet that will keep you coming back feeling you were part of their family as well. I had the Black Forest Salad. The red wine and balsamic vinaigrette sweet onions and tender strips of lamb and chicken over fresh greens were soothing and rich with juicy mushrooms and little bursts of sun-dried tomato. Oh yes please...worth every penny. Walker had the daily special: Sea Bass with lemon butter that dissolved into your mouth leaving you wanting just one more bite so you could feel that glorious taste sensation all over again. I couldn’t say enough good things about this place. I had The Lemon Thing for dessert, and I couldn’t ask for a finer finish. Tart with sweet satisfaction.

http://www.jpsatcannonbeach.com/

Last, but not least, I would like to mention Sweet Basil’s Cafe which we unfortunately did not get to, but would like to try next time. Organic and gluten-free friendly, they offer Portland’s very own New Cascadia Traditional bread as substitute for their sandwich options, which I think is just superb.

http://www.cafesweetbasils.com/

So there it is friends-Cannon Beach, a gluten-free mecca. Perfect for a gluten-free, worry-free, beach vacation!

Better Late Then Never: Catching Up on Restaurants Visited in the Last Few Months

2010-04-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Seres Restaurant and Bar: I had the Curry Claypot with Chicken which had a lovely Asian fusion flare to it. Spicy but not too hot for the faint at heart. I have also recently tried the Organic Buddha's Delight with Tofu which gave me a refreshed feeling as I walked out the door. The one thing I really love about the food here is that they don't overdue the sauce. It is just enough to give it a twinge of something exotic but not overkill so you feel sickly full and unfulfilled afterwards. Watch out P.F. Changs! You may have been the only Chinese restaurant that was gluten-free before, but you now have some delicious competition.
http://seresrestaurant.com/
Southeast Grind: Portland's only 24 hr coffeehouse...Yes!!! So I remember coming to this place when it was called Fireside. I would study or type into the wee hours of the morning drinking coffee like a mad woman. While it now has a new name, it is still the cozy, warm place I remember with more than enough comfy couches, chairs, and tables so you don't have to battle over them or stare longingly at them from the uncomfortable chair by the drafty window. They serve my favorite local coffee, Stumptown, and I strongly recommend the appropriately named Hairbender for those late night grinds or early morning pick-me-ups. They also happen to have several gluten-free options including some delicious local Sift Bakery cookies which Jen, an employee at Southeast Grind, was so sweet to model for us.
http://www.southeastgrind.com/
Elephants Delicatessen: Happened to stop by here as I was at the wonderful Goodwill next door (my favorite place to shop FYI) and dying of hunger, needing food fast. I had heard they had gluten-free options and decided to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by all the wheat-free options, but sad to see that nothing really specified gluten-free. I did try one of the enchilada casseroles which was good for quick food but definitely overpriced. I called later on to verify if there were any for sure gluten-free items, and I was informed at this time they only specify wheat-free not gluten-free. I probably will not visit again due to this fact, but at least they are being more allergy friendly than most, so I give them points for that. For those of you who can't have dairy, wheat, or are vegetarian or vegan this is a great quick grab place for you.
http://www.elephantsdeli.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageID=1
Grilled Cheese Grill: So a toasted cheese sandwich is a fav of mine especially when accompanied by tomato soup. So this was a natural place for me to be drawn to. They do offer gluten free bread for $0.75 extra, and I have to say they get creative with the toppings. Roasted jalapenos and bacon were my add-ons and mmmm was it good especially as a late night snack after a few ciders with friends. However, it does not appear that they have a gluten-free section to keep things from being contaminated, nor did it look like they cleaned surfaces. So yet again, not completely gluten-free and only a one-time stop until they become more gluten-free safe, but it was rather wonderful while it lasted. Mmmmm...cheesy goodness.
http://www.grilledcheesegrill.com/
Mon Ami Cafe: I haven’t had crepes in years! I decided going to Vancouver, WA was a must for this. The savory crepe was delightful with some of my favorite coffee yet again, Stumptown!!! Definitely worth the drive if you have a Vancouver friend you want to meet up with to chat over coffee...it’s a quirky, cute coffee shop with yummy, sweet and savory gluten-free crepes to boot! Free wi-fi is also available. Bon appetit!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mon-ami-vancouver
Cafe Yumm: Not so nummy after all. Insert sad face here. On a venture to Eugene, OR I decided to try Cafe Yumm with my boyfriend. For some reason, however, the sauce, which is on most every food item, made me feel a little nauseous. I had the smokey bowl which sounds healthy and intriguing with its organic brown rice, house-made chipotle chili, organic salsa, and yumm sauce but it fell flat in my opinion and was to be honest too tangy and heavy on the stomach. I feel this is a sauce you either love or hate. So glad this restaurant has so many gluten-free options, but alas, I do not think it is for me. My boyfriend was not a big fan of the sauce either, but I am sure there is some love out there for this restaurant as they are opening a new one in Portland, Oregon. Yeah! for one more gluten-free restaurant in P-town!
http://www.cafeyumm.com/

Morrison Hotel: Best cider and gluten-free beer selection I have seen thus far. Hell yes! All I have to say for this place is Cheers! and Bottoms up! Perfect place to sit back, relax, and get your drink on. Bartender was not the friendliest but at least there are tables far away from the bar so you can forget all about her over a tasty drink with friends.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/morrison-hotel-portland

Exploring My German Roots: A Review of Rheinlander German Restaurant and Gustav's Pub and Grill

2009-12-28T00:00:00.001-08:00

Rheinlander German Restaurant and Gustav's Pub and Grill: A little taste of Germany right here in Portland. The restaurant and pub are connected, but each are unique from each other in design, atmosphere and food selection. We sat in the pub section for a more lively setting; although, the restaurant part looked nice for big family gatherings or intimate get-togethers. I tried the Mushroom Schnitzel which was a nice change from everyday food. Honestly, schnitzel has never been much of a favorite of mine, but the portabella mushroom was cooked and marinated so it was a flavor burst in your mouth that combined nicely with the chicken and German potato salad. Chocolate Lovers Flourless Chocolate Cake was a pleasantly surprising taste of chocolaty, gooey, carmely, crunchy goodness which after my last bite left me pouting for more but knowing it was just the right amount of perfection. I felt relaxed as the waitress was very reassuring that everything would be gluten-free. This is a great place to go with family, and one I hope to revisit to get back in touch with my German roots.

http://www.rheinlander.com/

http://www.gustavs.net/

Does Someone in Your Family have Celiac Disease too?

2009-12-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

Remember that celiac disease is a genetic disease. That means if you have it, your first degree relatives should probably be tested too. Below is an article discussing the prevalence of celiac disease within families.

http://www.celiac.com/articles/688/1/17-of-Celiac-Disease-Relatives-also-Affected/Page1.html

Sur La Table: Relaxing Gluten-Free Friendly Cooking Classes

2009-12-20T12:53:00.000-08:00

Kudos to Sur La Table for realizing people who can't eat gluten like to cook too! I took one cooking class here last year, and they were very accommodating. I will be taking the class on January 9th titled, New Orleans-A Culinary Tour with Scott Hargrove, with my mother. I greatly appreciated that when I called to ask about classes that might be gluten-free Mr. Hargrove stated that while this class would not be completely gluten-free he could make substitutions that would make it a "learning experience" for everyone. The staff always is very knowledgeable about gluten and very friendly about the whole thing even if they have to make changes which keeps me coming back for more fun in the kitchen, great wine, and dining with new people. They also offer completely gluten-free cooking classes though these are usually baking classes, and I don't see any coming up soon...most likely they will pop up again in the spring.

http://cookingclasses.surlatable.com/browse/storeSchedule.jsp;jsessionid=A7D14D8063399FB17A4D70AEE4BFD06E?storeId=s29

What is Celiac Disease Pamphlet

2009-12-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a great pamphlet put out by the Celiac Disease Foundation with a simple breakdown of Celiac Disease, signs and symptoms, and tests used to confirm Celiac Disease. Remember that blood tests are not completely accurate when people have IgA deficiency (like in my case) and also, both blood tests and the biopsy can show up as a false-negative if you have already been on a gluten-free diet. You can do genetic testing, but this only rules out if you do or don't have the HLA gene on which celiac disease is carried. The HLA gene can carry with it many other auto-immune problems that are not celiac disease or you may just be a carrier. So the most accurate results will be if you have been eating a regular dose of gluten in your diet and take both the blood test and do a biopsy.

http://www.celiac.org/downloads/Are-you-ONE-brochure-Oct09.pdf

PDX Gluten-Free Restaurants Reviewed

2009-12-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Gluten-Free Restaurants or those that will accommodate in Portland, Oregon that I have tried:

Andina: Orgasmic peruvian food. Expensive, but great atmosphere and tantalizing tastes from Peru. There is nothing to compare it to. The owner often comes out and talks with guests. They have both gluten-free and vegetarian menus. I would stay away from any mixed drinks like the sangria as the waiters/waitresses always seem not so sure which are gluten-free and there are no drinks on the gluten-free menu.

http://www.andinarestaurant.com/

Bellagios Pizza: Does not seem like a very gluten-free setting, but surprisingly did not get sick. If you want the greasy Domino’s type pizza everyone tends to crave once in a while this is probably a good place to go.

http://www.bellagiospizza.com/

Biddy McGraw’s Irish Pub: Yeah for cider and live music! Pretty sure none of their food is gluten-free though.

http://www.biddymcgraws.com/

Bumblekiss: Gluten-free corn cakes are the only advertised gluten-free thing...not worth going there for in my opinion. I would go to Vita Cafe if you are looking for something gluten-free and pancake-like for breakfast. I am not sure, but their scrambles, etc. are probably gluten-free, although, not advertised as such, and they have brown rice bread options.

http://bumblekiss.org/default.aspx

Cup and Saucer: Good breakfast, but question how gluten-free. Have not gotten sick from going here yet, and they always assure me they make every effort, so one of my favorite breakfast spots. Even one of the waitresses can’t have gluten at the one in N Portland.

http://www.cupandsaucercafe.com/

Deschutes Brewery and Public House: Gluten-free beers and homemade gluten-free buns. Their elk burger is wow! melt in your mouth goodness.

http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brewery/brew-pubs/portland-pub/default.aspx

Hawthorne and Corbett Fish House: Great places to go for healthiest deep fried fish (They flash fry it in brown rice coating and don’t let it sit in oil.) Plus their crab pepper chowder has been rated the best soup in Portland. They also have really yummy desserts. Family-owned.

http://www.corbettfishhouse.com/

Kell’s Pub: Quite a few options and cider for drinking. I like the corned beef and cabbage (The waiter will probably inform you, but you can’t have the mustard sauce that usually comes with this.) Good live music. No gluten-free menu, but waiters are knowledgeable. One of my favorite places to go for cider!

http://www.kellsirish.com/portland/index.php

Laughing Planet: They don’t have an official gluten-free menu, but they have a book with all the ingredients of each dish. Most rice/bean bowls are gluten-free as they are just rice, beans, and vegetables.

http://www.laughingplanetcafe.com/

Macaroni Grill: The downtown location is educated about gluten. No gluten-free menu, but very willing to work with you to provide something you can eat. One of the waitresses is gluten-free and always very helpful when I go there. No pastas are gluten-free, but some meat dishes and salads are.

http://www.macaronigrill.com/Home/Default.aspx

Mississippi Pizza Pub: Great tasting pizza, but I have to say the after effects are not always so good. Sadly, I have gotten sick after eating here. I ignored it at first and thought it was just paranoia. They do take lots of steps to make gluten free pizza like using a separate oven and separate utensils, but I decided to investigate when they were making my pizza since I was getting sick. I have seen them use the same toppings as they do for wheat crust pizza. I do not think that cross-contamination happens all the time, but I do think the staff may need to be better educated. They do have gluten-free beer which is a plus. I am hoping they will become more gluten-free safe in the future because I really do love their pizza and the music scene there, and I feel they are trying to be more gluten-free friendly.

http://www.mississippipizza.com/gluten.html

New Cascadia Traditional Bakery: Completely gluten-free bakery...need I say more? I wish their sandwich breads weren’t quite so hard and dense, but they are made in artisan bread tradition so they would be perfect for the artisan bread connoisseur and are still quite delicious. I think I am just too used to over-processed breads. Their pastries, baguettes, muffins, scones, cakes, and pretzels are perfect with some wake-you up Stumptown coffee, which they also have at their bakery.

http://www.newcascadiatraditional.com/

Nicola’s: They will cook your noodles in a separate pot, but the catch is you have to bring the noodles in, and they still charge you the same amount for your dinner...so essentially you are paying for sauce but at a sauce and noodles price. Their sauces are quite good though, and their restaurant reminds me of something straight out of Italy. I usually only eat here if a big group already has plans at Nicola’s and I don’t want to be inconvenient by saying I can’t have anything. Family-owned and friendly. Maybe with more requests they might consider going gluten-free. :) http://portland.citysearch.com/profile/8455560/portland_or/nicola_s_pizza.html

Old Wives Tales: Most allergy conscious. They separate their cooking areas for gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, etc. Very eclectic mix of dishes. Hearty soups for cold days.

http://www.oldwivestalesrestaurant.com/

Old Spaghetti Factory: Not sure how they make their pasta but I seem to always have tummy problems after I go here which makes me question how gluten-free they really are. My guess is they use gluten-free noodles but not gluten-free surfaces or water...went here twice just to be sure, but both times got sick. So I would avoid this one.

http://www.osf.com/

Outback Steak House: Lot’s of good choices and staff seems very aware of what gluten is. Definitely try the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under. I am always a little bummed that the Bloomin’ Onion is not gluten-free...I so far have not found gluten-free onion rings. Though my mom makes delicious ones if you want a recipe.

http://www.outback.com/

Papa Haydn: Soooo many desserts that are gluten-free; I always have a hard time deciding which one, they all look so good and for once I have so many choices. I think they also have gluten-free entrees, but I have never tried these so can’t really speak to whether they are good or not. http://www.papahaydn.com/

P.F. Chang’s: When you go to P.F. Chang’s the waiter usually starts by mixing you a special sauce that includes soy sauce, and they do it right in front of you. This can be gluten-free, but I have found that depending on the waiter you may need to remind them several times to mix up a gluten-free sauce for you. They need to use different soy sauce then the one on the table. So keep your eye on them especially so that they make yours first so as not to contaminate it with the other soy sauce. Other than the awkwardness of the sauce thing, I would say they have great service and the only chinese food in Portland that is gluten-free.

http://www.pfchangs.com/index.aspx

Pix Patisserie: Delicious desserts...especially their macarons. Many gluten-free options, although, not as many as Papa Haydn. Cute location that has good wine, coffee, and sometimes movies. Very intimate.

http://www.pixpatisserie.com/

Red Robin: Good juicy burgers, but fattening I am sure. Very accommodating. The manager even once insisted I receive my meal free because a drink I wanted to have was not gluten-free, and the manager felt bad. They are very friendly and really seem to educate their staff well. Best gluten-free french fries; they are made in a completely separate frier from everything else. I love ranch dressing with my fries but unfortunately it is not gluten-free; however, the honey-mustard poppyseed dressing is a great dipping substitute.

http://www.redrobin.com/food/

Townshend's Tea Company: For those of you who are obsessed with tea like me, this is an awesome place to go for good loose-leaf tea as they also have gluten-free snack-ems for while you are reading or surfing the net.

http://www.townshendstea.com/

Typhoon: Gluten-free thai! Love the people here. They are always so friendly; it feels like family. Don’t use any preservatives. And their thai chicken satay is the best...also love the curries.

http://www.typhoonrestaurants.com/

Virgo and Pisces: Safest gluten-free pizza as they make no other pizza but gluten-free. It is made in a completely separate kitchen from their other food. They also do gluten-free pasta and fish-and-chips which are so so. The pizza is amazing though with very unique toppings. I like this place way better than Mississippi pizza because their toppings are just so good and different and also because I can feel completely safe eating their pizza.

http://www.virgoandpisces.com/

Vita Cafe: Gluten-free and sustainable. Good to check out if you like the vegan scene. They have especially good corn cakes, so I would definitely check these out.

http://www.vita-cafe.com/

Wild Abandon Restaurant: Good scrambles that can be made gluten-free, but not so sure how gluten-free their cooking surfaces are. Felt a little icky after eating here, but still not sure if I will give up on it.

http://wildabandonrestaurant.com/

There are still many restaurants to try, and these are the best websites for gluten-free restaurants in Portland:

http://www.glutenfreeportland.org/restaurant-list/

http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

http://www.glutenfreeregistry.com/gluten-free-state-search.do?state=OR&city=Portland

http://www.celiachandbook.com/oregon.html

My Gluten-Free Story

2009-12-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

I found out I had celiac disease at the age of 17. It took years of tests, doctors visits, and more antibiotics and pills than anybody should be on at that age before I found out I had celiac disease. My doctor had determined that my illness was in my head, and so I went to a psychiatrist where I was told I probably had bipolar disorder and should start on lithium. I was suicidal, having hallucinations, exhausted, moody, and forgetful. I was sick much of the time and missing school. I felt discouraged because I really did feel ill, but I thought I must be crazy because the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me physically. Thanks to my mom's dedication, we tried various diets to see if I would feel better, and she believed me when I told her I thought there was something physically making me ill. One of those diets was the gluten-free diet. Only two weeks later, I asked my mom, "Do people really feel this good?" I had no idea people could feel so happy, healthy...so clear. I had been tested for celiac disease in the past, but my blood test had come back negative, so how could I have celiac's was my next question. It turns out the blood test is not as accurate as once thought, and an intestinal biopsy is a more determinant way to diagnose celiac disease. I had been on a gluten-free diet for a month when I finally went to a gastroenterologist. He told me that in that time my gut had probably healed and a biopsy would not be as accurate without gluten in my diet to damage my small intestine. He determined I probably had celiac disease based on my reaction to the diet. I told him I needed proof that I really had celiac disease for all the doctors who hadn't believed me when I told them I was sick; I wanted a real answer, a name of a disease I could write on paper. So back to eating gluten for a month; I have never been sicker. And with the biopsy, I had proof...proof that yes indeed I have a disease that can be fixed with diet and no I was not crazy. It was the biggest relief. I encounter people every day who probably have celiac disease and don't know it, and it hurts me to think what frustrations they may go through before they realize how much better life could be without gluten. Unfortunately, not many medical personal are educated about gluten-intolerance or celiac disease and the trusting population will take the pills offered them without ever receiving a real answer to their illnesses. 1 in a 133 people have celiac disease according to the most recent research and yet 97% go undiagnosed. My question for you is who out of the 133 people you know has it?