Before visiting Estonia, I checked out the website of the Estonian Celiac Society.  It helpfully provides a list of gluten free friendly restaurants in Tallinn and a few other major cities, as well as a list of grocery stores that should carry gluten free brands such as Schar’s and Glutano.

I found several of the restaurants. One did indicate gluten free items on their menu, but they were extremely limited.  The only main course that was gluten free was ratatouille. Two of the other restaurants, both in the heart of the touristy Old Town area, did not indicate anything gluten free on their menus and were far outside of my budget so I chose not to even try.

A fourth restaurant, the Oliver Restaurant, was not listed on the Estonian Celiac Society web site, but proved to be a winner.  Rather than highlighting gluten free items, it marked all menu items that did contain gluten.  Upon consulting with the waitress, she said they could also try to alter other dishes to make them gluten free upon request. I ended up going with a simple grilled chicken with garlic and cheese potatoes, which were pretty good.

My mission on my second day in Tallinn was to try to find a supermarket selling gluten free products so I could stock up for some breakfasts and lunches. The place nearest my hostel was called Kaubamaja. I found it on a map, checked and double checked the address, and set off to find it. I found a building that was apparently called Kaubamaja, but when I went inside, it seemed more like a large mall full of clothing shops, with no grocery stores anywhere in sight. I walked around the building and through the building, with absolutely no luck.

Luckily, my second stop was a success. I went to the Stockmann department store, which is a Finnish chain. It includes a supermarket on the ground floor and there I discovered a variety of gluten free breads, muffins, croissants and cookies. Score! And most were cheaper than in Finland.

My final mission in Tallinn was to check out Rosso, another import from Finland, but this time a restaurant chain that I heard offered gluten free pizza and pasta.  It was located on the same street as my hostel, but about a 20 minute walk in the opposite direction from the Old Town area.  Thus, for any tourists visiting Tallinn, Rosso is not conveniently located. However, it was definitely worth the effort to find it.

The menu was very clear about the gluten free offerings.

On my first visit, I went with a gluten free pizza – the Al Capone to be exact. Although named for an infamous Chicago figure, the Al Capone pizza consisted of pineapple, ham and blue cheese – something that I would typically think of as Hawaiian pizza.  Oh well.  I ordered mine without the blue cheese.

The pizza was huge to say the least – well worth the 7 Euros I paid for it. The crust was extremely thin and very crispy – it was actually hard to cut through at times.  While the crust was less than ideal, the pizza overall was ok. It is hard to ruin pizza, and I would eat this again if I was experiencing a pizza craving in Tallinn.

On my second visit, I decided to branch out and try their gluten free pasta.  Although the menu stated that any penne pasta could be made gluten free, the waitress initially was confused and uncertain when I asked about getting the chicken penne pasta. She said she would have to check and then returned to inform me that they could make it gluten free, but it would take longer.  I told her that was fine and went ahead with the order, slightly nervous about what I might end up getting.

The pasta came out looking and even feeling like regular penne pasta, leaving me even more nervous.  But I took the chance and tried it, telling myself that a chain like Rosso which so prominently advertises its gluten free offerings would not screw up my meal.

Sure enough, it all turned out okay. The pasta was slightly lacking in taste (the sauce was supposed to be a pesto sauce but definitely missed something).  But again, if I wanted something reasonably priced and gluten free in Tallinn, I would probably try it again.

Finally, I had a few experiences eating at places that did not advertise themselves as offering anything gluten free. First, I tried the McDonald’s to see if they might happen to have gluten free buns as they did in Helsinki.  No such luck and when I tried to order a burger without the bun, they got thoroughly confused.  At a couple other restaurants I used my Estonian restaurant card that I got from celiactravel.com.  Both times, the waitresses gave me very funny looks and I was skeptical whether they fully understood.  But, I did end up with decent meals that did not make me sick, so apparently something went right in the translation. Either that, or I was just lucky.

I certainly was not as comfortable eating gluten free in Tallinn as I was in Helsinki, but I made it through okay.  Next up – Russia!

Nearly every restaurant I passed had a menu posted out front. And nearly every one (aside from fast food restaurants) had menu items labeled with a G, L and/or V – for gluten free, lactose free or vegetarian. So not only was Helsinki friendly for those who are gluten intolerant but it seems they cater fairly well to other special dietary needs as well.

However, because I was in Helsinki on a fairly tight budget, most of my eating took place elsewhere – outside of the sit-down restaurants.

On my first day, I wandered through Market Square around lunchtime.  Vendors sold a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables (great to stock up if you are staying some place with a refrigerator!). Another section of the market featured a row of tents offering roasted vegetables, potatoes and various forms of reindeer meat.  I stopped at one and the man behind the counter suggested I try reindeer meatballs. Skeptical that they would be safe, I explained to him that I was allergic to gluten and asked what was in the meatballs. Before I even finished my sentence, he shook his head and said “no, they are made with breadcrumbs, you cannot eat them.” Given the number of times I have mentioned the word “gluten” back home and get a blank stare, I was relieved that he easily understood.  I went on to order just the vegetables and potatoes, which were delicious and a pretty good bargain for just 5 Euros.

As I walked through town, I came across another outdoor market, this time selling sweets. As I looked closer, I saw rows and rows of home made fudge in a variety of flavors, all with a small sign indicating it was gluten free.

Later that day, I headed into a supermarket in the center of Helsinki to buy food to make breakfast the next few mornings in my hostel.  I reached the cereal aisle first and right away a box of corn flakes with the word “gluteeniton” across the front jumped out at me.  Gluten free corn flakes! Hoping to find something a little more substantial, though, I kept going and smiled when I reached the bread aisle and saw Schar’s gluten free bread on the shelf – and for cheaper than gluten free bread usually costs in the United States!  I grabbed some “American style peanut butter” and a few apples as well and I was in good shape.

I have to confess, the thing I anticipated the most in Helsinki was going to McDonald’s.  I heard they had gluten free hamburger buns and according to the Finnish McDonald’s website, their French fries do not contain any gluten (unlike American McDonald’s).  I admit, I was a bit nervous waiting in line to order. Luckily, my nerves proved to be for nothing. When it was my turn, I asked politely if they had gluten free buns and the girl behind the counter gave me this look that sort of said “duh, of course we do.” I ordered a quarter pounder with cheese meal for 6.20 Euros and as she gave me my fries and drink, she told me they would bring out the burger as it would take a few minutes extra.

I had barely started enjoying my fries (and oh how I have missed McDonald’s fries!!), when another girl brought out my quarter pounder. The outside of the package had a “gluteeniton” sticker on it and the receipt fastened to it also indicated it was gluten free.  However, when I opened the package, it didn’t look all that different from a regular quarter pounder. It was even covered with sesame seeds! But, as I picked it up, it was heavier than a typical burger would be and as soon as I took a bite, I knew it was different.  Unlike a lot of gluten free breads, which can be crumbly, McDonald’s gluten free bun was heavy and chewy – almost too chewy.  Not that I’m complaining – considering how long it had been since I had eaten a McDonald’s hamburger, I was thrilled.

My final gluten free encounter came as I was walking along Mannerheimvagen, a main street in central Helsinki. I passed a café with a sign outside that was entirely in Finnish but included the word “gluteenittomana.”

As I walked inside, the café clearly served mostly pastries so I was excited at the chance to try out a gluten free pastry. Sure enough, at the counter they had on display both a gluten free quiche and a gluten free raspberry Tosca cake.  It was midafternoon so I went for the cake, covered in a raspberry sauce and topped with sliced almonds.  It was a bit flaky, but delicious, and was the first cap to a great experience eating gluten free in Helsinki.

I will depart Chicago on August 30 to fly to Helsinki, Finland (which I have heard is great for eating gluten-free, I may not want to leave!).  From there, I will head to Estonia briefly before moving on to Russia, where I plan to spend about 3 months, volunteering and traveling along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

After Russia, I plan to backtrack through the Baltics and on to Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova before crossing the Black Sea to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.  After the Caucasus, my journey will take me into Central Asia and the ‘Stans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

For more about my plans, please check out my post, Announcing My Big Adventure, on Katie Going Global.

Obviously, traveling long-term will present a whole array of challenges when it comes to eating gluten-free.  Simply packing meals or snacks ahead of time is not an option, not only because there is no way they would last throughout a year-long trip, but because I am only carrying a 55L backpack, so space will be quite limited. Instead, I have been trying to prepare myself by researching local Celiac organizations, finding local websites and blogs about dining gluten free and learning about typical cuisine so I have an idea of which foods might likely present issues.

Another challenge will be that on several occasions I will be living with local families who will expect me to eat with them and eat the same meals they eat.  I imagine there will be a fine line between explaining and educating them about my gluten intolerance and offending them by refusing to eat the food they have prepared.

Celiac Travel has been a great resource, providing restaurant cards in multitude of languages.  I printed out the cards in Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, Ukrainian and Uzbek (yes, even Uzbek!).

However, while there tends to be quite a bit of information about traveling gluten-free in western Europe, Canada and the United States, finding good country-specific resources for many of my destinations has been difficult.  If you have any recommendations for any of the countries I mention above, I would greatly appreciate it!

As I travel, I will write here about my experiences eating gluten-free, providing trips for others traveling to these destinations and updating my online resources page as I learn about additional resources in the countries I visit.  I hope you will follow along!

I stopped at an information kiosk and asked for possible options in the area, particularly Mexican or Thai since I generally have good luck with those.  The gentleman directed me to a Taco del Mar a couple blocks away.  Unfortunately, that was a big disappointment – the man behind the counter told me they did not have any corn tortillas, only wheat.  Boo.  Then the owner came out and tried to convince me that they did have corn tortillas – while pointing to a picture on the wall of a tortilla with the word “flour” written over it!  Neither man spoke much English so I didn’t feel comfortable trying to stay and even just order chicken and rice.

Next stop – Mediterranean Mix.  After a brief interrogation of the owner, I felt comfortable enough to order a plate of chicken and rice – without the normal pita that would accompany it.  It wasn’t the best, but it did the trick.

When I returned to Seattle, I stayed downtown at the Mayflower Park Hotel at the corner of 4^th Avenue and Olive Way – not too far from the famous Pike Place Market.  I was incredibly lazy my first day in town and stopped at Chipotle for lunch and PF Chang’s for dinner – Chipotle was about 3 blocks away and PF Chang’s was around the corner.

On a totally unrelated note, I found it interesting that the Chipotle had calorie counts listed next to each item on its big menu board.  Seattle ordinance?

Anyway, this was actually my first time dining at PF Chang’s.  It was nice to see an ample gluten-free menu right on the main menu – I didn’t have to ask for anything separate.  I got the beef & broccoli to go and was pleased to see a big orange sticker on the container indicating it was gluten-free and that the server specified that it was gluten-free when she brought it out to me.  The only thing I found odd was that they still gave me a fortune cookie…

For breakfast both mornings, I ordered room service at the hotel (again, lazy!).  The best looking option was a ham and cheese omelet with garlic roasted potatoes.  I inquired when I ordered about how everything was prepared and a very nice, understanding worker assured me it would all be safe.  I was not disappointed at all – the omelet was enormous and delicious (a ton of ham stuffed inside with the cheese melted on top – interesting) and the potatoes had just the right amount of garlic.

My second day in town, I had a lunch meeting at Wild Ginger – an Asian restaurant in downtown.  I had no choice in selecting the restaurant, but I did look up the menu ahead of time and looked for potentially safe options (they had no separate gluten-free menu).  To my surprise, our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable.  As soon as I told him that I was allergic to gluten, he pointed out that their curry sauces were gluten free and that they had wheat free tamari sauce available as a substitute for regular soy sauce in other dishes.  He warned me that the only issues might be with some of the items that included pre-marinated meats, but encouraged me to just pick out what I wanted and that they would find a way to prepare it safely for me.  I ended up getting the Panang Curry with Beef, which was quite delicious and not too spicy (I don’t do spicy well).  For a restaurant that didn’t pop up in any of my searches for gluten-free friendly places in Seattle, Wild Ginger was a very pleasant surprise!

Finally, my favorite discovery wasn’t for a meal, but for a snack – gluten-free Monster Cookies at Cinnamon Works near Pike Place Market.  A fabulous mix of butterscotch and chocolate, these huge cookies had the taste and texture of a completely “normal” cookie.  I was in such heaven that I went back for a second one on my last day in town.  Their display case included a variety of gluten-free and/or vegan options and, when I checked out their web site, I discovered that you can even order gluten-free and/or vegan baking mixes from Cinnamon Works to make your own goodies at home!

I should not that a number of gluten-free friendly places did surface as I searched prior to my trip; however, because I was there on business, I was limited in time and ability to venture outside the area close to my hotel.  I’m looking forward to visiting Seattle again for fun and checking out some of the gluten-free options!  Oh, and more Monster Cookies…

I recently returned from a weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Before my trip, I tried to research gluten-free dining options in the city and found several.  If I was traveling on my own or with close friends, that would have been the end of the story and I’d be writing several reviews of some fabulous restaurants with great gluten-free options.

But that isn’t the case .  I was in Vancouver for a conference – the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) conference, to be exact.  This is the first conference to which I have traveled since going gluten-free and it certainly provided its own challenges.

Over 500 people attended the conference and while no meals were included, several social events took place over the weekend, each of which included a variety of hors d’oeuvres, but no real meals.  I tried to prepare by bringing some snacks with me and eating ahead of time because I just didn’t know what would be served and, with everything being passed around or set out on a buffet, there was no real opportunity at any point to place a special order.  At one party, I did try to ask a waitress about what was in the poutine (an odd combo of fries, cheese curds and gravy), which she seemed happy to do, but then she disappeared never to be heard from again.

The thing that I found more difficult was the free time we had over lunch.  Again, if I was traveling with close friends, I would have no qualms about insisting we go to a certain restaurant that I knew would have safe, gluten-free options.  But when I am in the company of brand new acquaintances, I feel a bit more uncomfortable.  Sure, I could eat by myself, but part of the point of going to a conference, especially this conference, is the networking and socializing.  I didn’t want to miss out on that but I also didn’t want to seem overbearing.

One day, a group was going to Japadog, a food truck serving up Japanese-themed hot dogs.  Although I would’ve loved to join them, I was very wary of trying to eat there, not knowing what is in hot dogs.  I didn’t want to get all the way there and ask a lot of questions only to discover the hot dogs were not gluten-free, which would have left me having to find some place to eat on my own.  So I declined and joined another group, to which someone responded that another girl was going who was also gluten-free, she just gets the hot dog without the bun. My thought was, that is all fine and good for her, but I don’t want to take the risk – which then made me feel like I was being too paranoid.

Luckily, I did meet up with some folks who were pretty understanding.  We got fast food tacos from a food court one day and went to Mahony’s in the Vancouver Convention Center another day.  Our server at Mahony’s was great and very accommodating when I ordered my chicken sandwich without the sandwich and a side salad instead of fries.  The next night, a small group of us went to Steamworks in Gastown, which again, although it did not have a gluten-free menu, was very understanding and helpful – the waitress knew that the fries included wheat in the coating so I went with another side salad to accompany my non-sandwich.

I’m not sure I would do much differently in the future. I know how much work goes in to planning large events and, while I would’ve requested a gluten-free meal if the conference had included any sit-down meals, I don’t think it would be reasonable of me to expect anything special at the cocktail parties with nothing more than passed hors d’oeuvres.

I brought 2 boxes of rice crackers, several Nature Valley Almond Crunch bars and a huge bag of homemade trail mix with me (quite the challenge when I had to pack for 5 days and only bring a carry-on bag).  Those provided plenty of sustenance for me throughout the weekend, although I usually ate them at the hotel before or after going to the conference and other events, rather than bringing anything with me.  I would’ve loved to have checked out some of the Vancouver restaurants with gluten-free options, but I guess I’ll have to save that for another trip.

So I recently had a wonderful trip to US and had a great time particularly over a few days in Los Angeles touring all the Raw, vegan, organic restaurants. I look forward to when my home town is able to sustain a restaurant solely dedicated to Raw rood! So the best thing about Raw is that because nothing is processed, like wheat, and of course there are no animal products, then it does not contain dairy or egg either. Vegan food of course has no dairy or egg and is usually great at also thinking about us gluten free people!

What I did discover that raw food can be very decadent as well as incredibly tasty and nourishing!

The first restaurant that I encountered was Real Food Daily, a restaurant committed to providing organic vegan food. There are two Real Food Daily restaurants in LA, one in West Hollywood and the one I went to, in Santa Monica. They were started by Ann Gentry who has been a very active vegan and organic cooking advocate.

The restaurant is beautiful and simply decorated, not white linen but table service cafe style. We were seated up the loft style second story seating. I was having an absolute sweet tooth and it was a morning tea event, sadly not quite ready for lunch.

They had the most amazing range of smoothies, which everyone in my table decided to indulge in. I personally had an Antioxidant shake with Acai, mixed berries, banana and berry juice, so delicious!!

I also tasted the tropical of Mango, banana, pineapple and coconut water.

Top to of my sweet craving I had a full inspection of their sweet cabinet and decided to go with the gluten free chocolate cake. Which sadly looked better than it tasted. It was nice, however a little heavy in whatever the flour mix was and not as chocolatey as I would have liked.

I did not get to try the savoury food however there was plenty on the menu including gluten free pizza and pasta options. The Pizza sounded very unique of corn crusted base with tomatoes, sun dried tomato pesto, basil, spinach, sautéed daily greens, cannelloni beans and melted cashew cheese (who knew cashews could make cheese?).

The staff were really fun and friendly and the cafe was very busy with lots of people coming in for takeaway as well. I would definitely go back, especially for the smoothies!

www.realfooddaily.com

Second on our list was Leaf Organics, a totally raw restaurant on Washington boulevard in LA. This brightly painted shop certainly stands out on an otherwise very normal looking street. They have their own parking lot next to them, which is convenient in a city where it is hard to find a park. Leaf Organics is a similar style to cafe to Real Food Daily; however you do have to order at the counter. I really thought that smoothies could not get better than Real Food Daily, but I think these guys might just be better!

With names like Mudslide Slim, Oh My Goji, Berry Refreshing, and Lean Green Scene, the menu is very fun! I went for an Oh My Goji (I am all about the Amazonian superfoods like goji and ace!) which has goji berries, papaya, manage, and agave syrup.

It was time for lunch, to start we had a hummus dip with kale krisps and corn chips. I had never seen kale krisps before, such a great idea, dried kale pressed into a cracker style so healthy and tasty! As you can see from the photo there was plenty to share between a group.

I could not pass up a raw burger because I wanted to see what they would replace the bun with! I had a mushroom and avocado burger and I do not know how they managed it but it did have something that resembled bread that held the burger together, fabulous.

The menu consisted of wraps, burgers, salads, appetizers and smoothies and all raw!! What can I say I think there is real hope for the future of food! Also really inspiring to eat such amazing food in a country I usually associated with hamburgers and chips!

To prove that even raw food can look bad for you I had a mango “cheese” cake. Based on nut milk with pressed shredded coconut for a base this was soooo decadent! I was so ridiculously full after this experience and know next time that my eyes are definitely bigger than my stomach!

http://www.leafcuisine.com

For a dinner experience in LA we went to a raw restaurant with a very sensual name of Euphoria loves Rawvolution!

This restaurant felt a little more bohemian than Leaf or RFD. There were your yogi types and people from all walks of life. The decor was a little more mismatched and jumbled than the other two cafes that had more a clean modern feel. This was more like an eclectic mix of a student abode.

The menu was absolutely huge with a great range of food. Tonight as a group we bought a few meals and shared to get the most of the experience. We trialled a raw pizza, which was simple a delicious, full of flavour with tomatoes, red onion, and peppers. The avocado salad with corn chips was huge and really delicious, not sure how one makes mayonnaise without egg, whatever they did was amazing.

The cafe also stocked a great range of pre-packaged raw foods like raw cacao, kale krisps, raw energy bars consisting of crushed nuts and seeds with some dried fruits, yet again more excitement about the future of food!

This place had a real community feel and the menu range was great with salads, sushi, wraps,  dips, sweets and smoothies there was plenty to choose from!

http://euphorialovesrawvolution.com/

Overall it was fantastic experience and I look forward to finding people in Brisbane who are passionate to join forces to recreate a restaurant like this in Brisbane!

Of all the things I have had to give up since finding out a year ago that I am gluten-intolerant, I probably miss beer the most.

I miss drinking beer with everyone else at baseball games and street fairs.  I miss going out to a bar and sharing a couple pitchers with a group of friends. I miss going on pub crawls where beer is really the only acceptable beverage of choice.

Sure, I can drink cider – Magner’s, Woodchuck and Original Sin have become my go-to beer replacements – and wine is always an option (but who really drinks wine at a baseball game or sports bar?!).  And I can drink gluten-free beer if I can find it anywhere. But it isn’t quite the same.

I think it’s not so much that I miss beer itself, but rather what beer represents.

I miss my social life.

Missing beer really represents missing my social life.  It hasn’t been the same since I went gluten-free.  Initially, I let it consume me. I read posts on message boards from people who hadn’t eaten at a restaurant in 5 years because they thought it was too dangerous.  I got super paranoid and didn’t feel comfortable going anywhere.

I skipped out on friends’ birthday dinners because they were at restaurants with no clear gluten-free options and I didn’t trust that I’d be able to find an understanding chef willing to take the time to make my food safe at 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday night.  I ditched out on my favorite street fairs because I knew they only served beer.  I gave up my favorite bar crawl, the Twelve Bars of Xmas, because the whole day revolves around drinking beer and doing “cereal shots,” both of which became off-limits.

It wasn’t even so much about being afraid of getting sick.  I just didn’t want to stand out as being different – as not being normal.  I didn’t want to have to explain over and over again why I wasn’t drinking beer or why I wasn’t sharing appetizers with everyone (it is really amazing how much attention people pay to what others are eating or drinking – way too much!).

I hate being difficult.

Along the same lines, I didn’t want to be that difficult person who asks the server a gazillion questions about every ingredient of every aspect of the menu. I hate being that person, but I have no choice. Even with the growing presence of “gluten-free” in the media and the increasing number of restaurants offering gluten-free menus, the majority of people I encounter do not fully understand what is required to eat completely gluten-free.

It isn’t enough that my food not contain any ingredients made from wheat, rye, barley or oats.

If it is fried in the same fryer as anything containing gluten, I can’t eat it.

If it is grilled on the same grill as anything containing gluten, I can’t eat it.

If it touches absolutely anything that contains gluten, I can’t eat it.

I would say that the vast majority of restaurants do not get this – even if they offer a gluten-free menu, they don’t take the precautions necessary to avoid cross-contamination.  So every time I eat out, I have to be that difficult, annoying, high maintenance person in order to be sure that I don’t get sick.

I don’t miss gluten.

Most of the time, when I tell someone I am gluten-intolerant (I rarely say Celiac Disease – I hate the way it sounds and most people don’t know what it is anyway), their initial reaction is “oh, that sucks.”

But it really doesn’t. I don’t really miss gluten and I am eating healthier than ever before.  It isn’t so much that gluten itself is unhealthy (there are a lot of conflicting opinions on that), but giving it up has meant changing the whole way I eat.  No more snacking on sweet potato fries and chicken fingers while watching football at a bar. Swinging by Panda Express for orange chicken or McDonald’s for a chicken sandwich and fries are no longer options. Late night pizza deliveries or burritos as big as my head after a long night of drinking are things of the past as well.

Instead, I generally stick to foods that are naturally gluten-free, like fruits, vegetables, rice, quinoa, nuts, eggs and meat.  There’s a lot I can still eat and when I am cooking for myself at home, I don’t even think about the fact that it is gluten-free.

Of course, there are a plethora of gluten-free substitutes out there for bread, pasta and pizza in which I could indulge if I really wanted to.  But they are often twice as expensive and none of them taste anywhere close to as good as the “real thing.”  Not to mention, they are usually higher in fat, calories, sugar and/or sodium.

And if I need to satisfy my sweet tooth now and then, I can still eat ice cream and chocolate.

So it isn’t all bad.

Gluten-free is actually pretty good (really, it is).

I realize this has been a fairly negative post – some might even construe it as whiny.  But I want to look on the positive side. As I mentioned above, I am eating healthier than ever before.  Although I was never super sick before being diagnosed, I do generally feel better and have more energy.  The brain fog that used to consume me every afternoon is gone and I recover faster from my marathon training runs. I have also been able to cut way back on my spending – eliminating most processed foods from my diet saves a lot of money and going out less means spending less money as well.

I have also realized that I cannot let being gluten-intolerant define me or control me.  Yes, I need to take the necessary precautions when it comes to what I eat, but I need to let go of the stress and self-consciousness that overwhelmed me for much of the last year.  In recent months, I think I have gained confidence in explaining my gluten-intolerance and I have become more comfortable being “that person” in restaurants.

Finally, I have decided to take my lemon that is gluten-intolerance and make lemonade. Combining my love of travel with the necessity to lead a gluten-free life, I launched Globally Gluten Free. You can read about my vision for the site on the Welcome page, but suffice it to say I am excited about this opportunity to provide information and, hopefully, inspiration for others like me.  With upcoming trips to Seattle, Vancouver, Finland, Estonia and Russia likely in the works, I should have quite a lot to share in the months to come!

Like Erin from New York, being a gluten-free blogger and running a website about living Gluten Free in Brisbane, I am often asked about the best places to for gluten free dining in Brisbane. I must say we are very blessed that in the last 10 years Brisbane has really blossomed with the gluten free catering.

When I was first diagnosed with gluten intolerance at 11 years old, gluten free dining and food shopping was virtually non-existent, now even McCafe offers gluten free cakes (who would have thought!).

Queensland (the state that Brisbane is the capital of) also has the widest range of gluten free food producers in Australia, which is truly amazing and wonderful to always buy locally produced.

Within Brisbane and the surrounding areas we have two dedicated gluten free shops. Celiac Supplies is located in South Brisbane and the Celiac Shack is in the lovely beach side suburb of Redcliffe.

Australia also has a Coeliac Society which does its best to list gluten free Restaurants and Cafes that they have certified. Unfortunately as a volunteer organization they do not have the funds to go to all of the restaurants and cafes offering great gluten free alternatives.

When I was asked to write this post, it took me days to decide which places to choose, as luckily I have lots to choose from! I decided to go for a mix of places and not just restaurants but also recommend some areas that have a large range of gluten free options all within the same precinct.

First to mention is the inner city suburb of West End, this is truly the gluten free heart of Brisbane! The West End Markets in Davies Park take place every Saturday morning and there a few hidden gems at the Market. Warron’s Gluten Free Delights provide a wonderful array of sweet cakes and slices. Doudou Crepes do a gluten free crepe based on Buckwheat and Pasta Riveria have some lovely gluten free Pasta.

Then moving into the main street of West End, called Boundary street, you can find Forest Cafe which is a vegan cafe with a large offering of gluten free cakes and savoury options. This is a picture I took of my lunch which is a crepe (based on Besan Flour) with guacamole, delicious!

For some sweet treats you can duck around the corner to the Cupcake Parlour that does gluten free cupcakes. West End is also home to Brisbane’s amazing Bakery Sol Breads. These guys do both normal and a range of gluten free breads and cakes and have several bakery locations around Brisbane. What makes Sol Breads unique is they use a traditional leavening technique which makes their bread amazingly tasty.

The star of gluten free heaven in West End is Mondo Organic Restaurant. Mondo, as you probably guessed from the name, is a wholly organic restaurant that caters for gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian. Mondo is a high class, white tablecloth style dining experience with incredibly beautiful food.

To give you an idea of the style of food, here a few examples from their menu:

Scallop Ceviche with finger lime, radish, cucumber, avocado, coriander and lime salsa.

Lamb rack rolled with smoked eggplant and wild Australian olives on cavelo nero,

black turtle beans and parsnip puree.

If you are looking for a special night out in Brisbane this would be the way to go!

Next we are moving onto another inner city Suburb of Brisbane called New Farm. Like West End, New Farm is a very trendy and has lots of lovely restaurants.

My most recent and exciting discovery is Pintxo Spanish Tapas Restaurant with a Tapas train (think sushi but with tapas). They have a both a sit down restaurant and the tapas train. They have a wonderful variety of dishes that are clearly marked as gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian.

When I went there we had sit down dinner and I think the photo says it all about the food! Unfortunately the service was not amazing as they were super busy and struggled to keep up, but I certainly would still recommend it for the food.

The wonderful thing about Brisbane is that most cafes will stock at least one gluten free cake option. We are very lucky to have a business based in Brisbane that pride themselves of providing fantastic gluten free cake and slice options to Brisbane cafes so you know you have a much better chance of no contamination and variety.

The only downside is that Brisbane city itself has virtually no gluten free options. So if you are looking for dining while staying in Brisbane it will need to be in the suburbs surrounding the CBD.

Now even as you drive into Brisbane the Baker’s Club has set up at the Airport discount shopping mall. Baker’s Club are a bakery and do a full gluten free range, which they bake fresh and regularly through the day. They have had their processes certified by the Coeliac Society that they are able to keep the bread contamination free. Pretty special for a coeliac to actually get hot gluten free bread unless you bake it yourself! So take a spot of discount clothes shopping and stop in for some tasty bread, pies and slices.

Dolci Sappori is also a little hidden gem in Clayfield. They make Italian desserts and they are mostly hazelnut and almond based and they make a wonderful gluten free range, they also do a fantastic espresso.

I would say overall the restaurant and cafe industry is reasonably aware of providing for coeliacs and gluten intolerance. Of course staff are always changing so always make sure to ask and double check! Enjoy your gluten free dining in Brisbane, make sure you check out Gluten Free in Brisbane.com and feel free to connect with me while you are in Brisbane!

This post originally appeared on Katie Going Global on February 24, 2011.

Photo: mcfarlandmo

I took my first international trip after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease to London. I was a bit nervous and not sure what to expect, but as it turned out, London was incredibly friendly for the gluten-free traveler!

Shortly after landing at Heathrow, I took the Tube to Central London, dropped my bags at my friend’s office, and set out to explore. But first, I needed some food! I stumbled into a deli with a large salad bar, which looked quite promising. As I perused the options, the man behind the counter asked if he could help me with anything. I explained that I was gluten-intolerant and trying to decide what I might be able to eat. To my surprise, he knew exactly what I was talking about and immediately started pointing out a variety of choices that would be safe. As he pointed to a plate of chicken, some grilled and some breaded, I pointed out that I couldn’t eat the grilled chicken because it was in contact with the breaded. He quickly volunteered to grill me up some fresh chicken and disappeared into the kitchen before I could even respond! I ended up enjoying a delicious green salad with tomato, mozzarella, chicken and oil and vinegar, all for about 6 pounds. More importantly, I left very encouraged about my prospects for eating gluten free while in London!

That evening, we went to JD Wetherspoon for dinner. I was downright gleeful when I looked at my menu and saw a slew of symbols indicating items that were gluten free or could be prepared gluten free! I ordered a chicken curry dish, substituting poppadums for the naan bread that would normally accompany it. I explained to the waiter that I was gluten-intolerant and he even offered to give me extra poppadums! My meal was delicious and, with 794 locations throughout the UK (including a couple at Heathrow), JD Wetherspoon seems to be a great option for those traveling gluten-free in London!

I was in London to go to Wimbledon, so that was my next challenge – eating gluten-free at a sporting event where, at least in the United States, much of the fare tends to be breaded and fried. After starting off with the very safe strawberries and cream, I ventured on for some something more substantial. I spotted a booth that sold only hamburgers (cooked on a grill) and French fries (fried in their own fryer). I nervously asked the cashier if I could get the hamburger without the bun, explaining that I was gluten-intolerant. She seemed to readily understand and yelled back to the girl cooking the burgers to get me one without the bun – and then apologized that she would still have to charge me full price! I laughed, saying I wouldn’t expect a discount, and then laughed again when she offered me a double serving of fries to make up for the fact I couldn’t have a bun! Bonus!

After getting back to my friend’s place that night, it was too late to eat at the restaurants near her house, so we went to the corner grocery store to find something for dinner. Once again, London impressed me! The grocery store had a whole selection of gluten-free microwave dinners from which to choose (something I have yet to find in the US!).

Overall, I got the impression that London is an incredibly friendly destination for gluten-free travelers. Unlike at home, where I usually get odd looks when I tell people I am gluten-intolerant, everyone I encountered seemed to be quite familiar with it, and very willing to accommodate.

As I mentioned before, the JD Wetherspoon chain seems great, and with so many locations, should be an easy destination for someone needing to dine gluten-free. Since my experience, though positive, was limited, I reached out to a local for some additional recommendations. Christine of Gluten Free Brit (@glutenfreebrit on Twitter) was kind enough to provide the following:

Aragosta Ristorante Pizzeria, www.aragosta.co.uk:

354/356 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London (020 8886 8091)

According to their website, Aragosta “boasts an extensive menu which caters for gluten-free diners – gluten- free pizza or pasta.” Sure enough, they offer over a dozen different pizzas, all of which can be made gluten-free for a surcharge of 1.50 pounds. Their pasta list is also impressive, with nearly 20 options, all but two of which are available gluten-free. Christine says “ the food is fantastic – I can quite happily eat a whole pizza,” although she does point out they do not offer gluten-free bread.

Cotto Restaurant, www.italiancotto.co.uk:

89 Westminster Bridge Road, Waterloo, London (020 7928 5535)

Christine says “Cotto is great. The owner is celiac and looks after customers, getting nervous if he sees them near beer.” Looking at their gluten-free menu (available here), it is huge, with a great variety of antipasti, pasta, meat and fish entrees, and pizza.

Sweetcheeks, www.sweetcheeksltd.co.uk

079 8655 6973

Sweetcheeks provides baked goods for both the gluten-free and vegan diets – think cupcakes, cookies, brownies, doughnuts and cakes. They can be found on Saturdays at Cabbages & Frocks on Marylebourne High Street in London and on Sundays at Upmarket on Brick Lane in East London. They also have a Facebook page.

Finally, the Gluten Free London Guide appears to be a helpful resource, listing restaurants by area (although without address information or websites), as well as blog posts related to eating gluten-free in London. View London also provides a listed of recommended gluten-free restaurants and Gluten Free Foodie and Gluten Free London Blog are additional blogs worth checking out.

This post originally appeared on Katie Going Global on January 23, 2011.

Do you have experience eating out gluten-free in London? What do you recommend?

Photo: Eva Abreu

As a gluten-free blogger living in New York City and the lead organizer of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup group, I am often contacted about the best gluten-free places to eat in NYC. I am excited to share a few of my favorite gluten-free restaurants and tips for dining out in New York City with you, so grab an unlimited MetroCard and go explore!

I am a big fan of restaurants in the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP), a program sponsored by the Gluten Intolerance Group. This program “facilitates a relationship between individuals with celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerance, and restaurants.” We are lucky to have more than 20 GFRAP restaurants in New York City. These restaurants are able to accommodate gluten-free diners with a modified menu and they are often very knowledgeable about gluten-free dietary restrictions. As a reminder, please discuss all of your dietary needs directly with your server and/or manager.

Any visitors to NYC are welcome to join the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup group for one of our upcoming events. With more than 1,200 members, we are the largest Meetup group in the country and offer online support and local events to the gluten-free community. You can see our calendar of events here.

As an additional tool for those of you traveling to New York City, I have put together a Google map of restaurants, bars, and markets that cater to the gluten-free community. I update this map regularly, but I still suggest you call ahead to make sure your destination is still open. NYC restaurants tend to turn over quickly at times, especially in this economy. You can view my Gluten-Free Fun in New York City map here.

My recommendations:

CitiField, Home of the New York Mets

123-01 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, NY 11368

(718) 507-6387

Subway: 7 train to Citifield

Citifield, the new home of the New York Mets, is only two years old but it is already becoming a legend in the gluten-free community. Located in the Field Level Concourse in Right Field next to the World’s Fair Market there is a gluten-free concession stand. You can order hamburgers, hotdogs, and sausage and peppers; all served on gluten-free bread products from The Grainless Baker. There is even gluten-free Kozy Shack chocolate pudding or rice pudding for dessert. Next door at the World’s Fair Market you can grab a gluten-free Redbridge beer to go with your gluten-free snacks.

Gluten Free stand at CitiField

GustOrganics

519 Avenue of the Americas

(212) 242-5800

Subway: F/M to 14th Street

GustOrganics is the first and only certified organic restaurant in New York and America’s first restaurant to use 100% USDA certified organic ingredients. GustOrganics holds a very dear place in my heart. In early 2009, I read a random article that mentioned this restaurant had a gluten-free “hempanada.” (This was a play on the classic empanada but made with gluten-free hemp flour.) I contacted the restaurant and was immediately inspired by their owner, Alberto Gonzales. He was so passionate about his organic restaurant and was eager to learn more about catering to his gluten-free clients. Over a couple of months, I worked with Alberto on perfecting his gluten-free menu. By February 2009, GustOrganics had easily integrated a gluten-free menu with their already amazing organic menu. Soon after, GustOrganics joined the GFRAP program and the rest is history.

Tip: The GustOrganics organic cocktails are delicious!

Heartland Brewery Midtown West

625 8^th Avenue, between 40^th and 41^st Streets

Subway: A/C/E to Port Authority-42^nd St.

Conveniently located at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and just steps from Times Square and Bryant Park, Heartland Brewery Midtown West is an awesome option for both commuters and tourists. In conjunction with GFRAP, Heartland Brewery-Midtown West launched their gluten-free menu in the summer of 2010. Nachos, chicken wings, BBQ shrimp, and mussels are just a few of the gluten-free options on this lively brewery’s menu. The label clearly identifies all of the gluten-free items and the servers are happy to answer all of your questions. Currently, the Heartland Brewery Midtown West sells the gluten-free Bard’s Tale Beer to accompany your lunch or dinner.

Tip: At this time only the Midtown West location of the Heartland Brewery offers the gluten-free menu. Don’t get confused with the other six locations in Manhattan!

Nizza NYC

630 9^th Avenue, between 44^th and 45^th Streets

(212) 956-1800, Reservations recommended

Subway: A/C/E to Port Authority-42^nd St.

Located within walking distance of Broadway, Nizza NYC is a great pre- or post-show restaurant. Nizza’s food is inspired by both French and Italian cuisine and offers lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner menus. Nizza is a member of GFRAP so the entire staff of Nizza NYC is well-versed in gluten-free dining. As soon as you mention you are gluten-free, you will be given a gluten-free menu and delicious gluten-free breadsticks with your own dipping oil. The signature dish at Nizza NYC is socca, a crispy, naturally gluten-free, chickpea pancake cooked in a brick oven. It is the cross between a really thick pancake and a pizza and is delicious. Nizza NYC also offers La Veneziane corn pasta for their pasta dishes. Ask about the gluten-free desserts which tend to rotate on the menu.

Studio Square during a Brazil World Cup game

Studio Square Beer Garden

35-33 36^th Street, Long Island City, NY

(718) 383-1001

Subway: R/ M to 36^th Street; N/Q to 36^th Avenue

The words “beer garden” and the idea of getting on the subway and leaving Manhattan might scare you away, but this place is worth a visit during your spring and summer trips to New York City. Studio Square is influenced by the famous German beer gardens with a wide selection of beers and brats. A nice addition to the Studio Square menu was the gluten-free beer from Green’s. This lets us gluten-free folks enjoy beers with stein-swigging friends. Even better, Studio Square offers sangria on a dedicated tap! This is a great option for all drinkers in your party, especially on a warm summer evening. The best part about Studio Square is the HUGE outdoor space that can hold up to 2,500 people. When I was there in the summer of 2010 watching the FIFA World Cup on outdoor screens, I truly believe they hit capacity. This place is fun and although the gluten-free food options are limited it is a great place to hang out when the weather is warm. Additionally, it is located only one block away from the newly renovated Museum of the Moving Image so you can wind down at Studio Square after your museum visit.

Tip: I live nearby, love sangria and enjoy meeting new gluten-free folks, so look me up if you are in the ‘hood.

This post was originally published on Katie Going Global on January 30, 2011.