Villa Dolce

It was Saturday, and a gorgeous spring day was beckoning. After being cooped up all winter, we were looking for any excuse to be outside. On the way to grab a cupcake from Bloom, we decided to stop for lunch at Villa Dolce next door.

Villa Dolce offers GF pasta substitutions and although the salads were not marked GF, I assume most, if not all their salads could be prepared gluten free as well. I believe they also had one GF appetizer on their lunch menu. The person at the counter was very friendly and helpful in answering questions to help with making a selection.

We ordered at the counter (they have counter service for lunch and table service for dinner) and sat outside to bask in the sunshine while we waited for our meal. Warm weather begs for sangrias and this was the perfect way to spend the short wait before our meal arrived.

Then on to the pasta "farfalle" which was a generous serving of pasta with shaved asparagus, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and chicken in a lemon marscapone sauce, with gluten free penne substituted for the bowtie. The chicken and pasta were perfectly cooked and the sauce was deliciously creamy. Yum!

I would definitely say that Villa Dolce merits a place in the regular restaurant rotation, particularly when we're looking for an outdoor location on those perfect sunny days. Now if only their pizzas were gluten free!

Enjoy!

Bison Jacks

Bison Jacks is located in Greenway Station in Middleton. They are a relatively quick service restaurant that serves primarily hot dogs and burgers made from bison, with sides such as coleslaw, baked fries and salads. They cook the meat to order and then you can customize the toppings.

The main pros of Bison Jacks are that they stock gluten free buns, appear to be very careful about cross contamination issues and there is hardly ever anyone in the restaurant, even on a Friday night which makes for very little wait for a made to order burger and/or hot dog. In the past I have received a copy of the list of items they carry that are gluten free, but they did not seem to have a copy at my most recent visit.

I have only ever had their burgers and so can't comment on their hot dogs although they do have a number of specialty dogs to choose from in addition to being able to customize your own. As for the burgers, they do satisfy a burger craving if you are in the mood for an actual burger with a bun that you don't have to make at home but don't want to go to a bustling place like jacs. The burgers appear to only be made well done and can be topped with cheese and a variety of other topics of your choosing. I recently ordered the combo which came with a burger, soda and choice of side and was under $10, although it appears that the prices are increasing shortly according to a sign posted on the register.

Overall, for ease of having a safe gluten free meal away from home, I would give Bison Jacks an A. The staff is also very friendly and accommodating. The burger itself is fairly average but the competition in the market for gluten free burgers in Madison is fairly limited and so I would consider Bison Jacks to be a solid choice. Enjoy!

Bellini

Yesterday we braved the slushy roads after the snowstorm and ventured out to Bellini for dinner. Bad weather is a great time to go anywhere that's typically busy since no one else wants to. It usually means little to no wait, which is a nice treat on a Friday night during the peak dinner hour.

Bellini is located close to downtown and is in an old church built in 1897. It has beautiful stained glass windows and the furnishings complement the location, even if they're not particularly comfortable.

We started with the meatballs as an appetizer which were fantastic! The combination of the meatballs, sauce, mushrooms and spinach was divine. If they offered an entree size, I think I would order it all the time!

The gluten free items are now marked on the menu, which is helpful. Although the pasta dishes are not marked as gluten free, they usually offer some of them with gluten free pasta. Yesterday, however, they were out of GF pasta which was somewhat disappointing. This did, however, offer the opportunity to try something new from the menu. I ordered the Sogliola alla Romesco which is a fillet of sole in slightly spicy roasted red pepper and almond butter sauce served with green beans. The flavor is similar to Harissa and was pretty good.

My husband ordered the Gamberi al Forno which has jumbo shrimp in a white wine sauce with mashed potatoes. It is also listed as GF and so I tried a bite of that as well. The shrimp are huge and pretty tasty, although I think the sauce was fairly average.

The Flourless chocolate cake is the only GF dessert and we were in the mood for some so we ordered that as well. I prefer mine to be more chocolaty than this one was, but it wasn't bad.

I would definitely say the meatballs were the highlight of the meal and in the future, I would order these as a starter and probably one of the pasta dishes if they have pasta on hand. In the past I've had the Gamberi alla Diavola which has the jumbo shrimp in a slightly spicy vodka tomato cream sauce over GF pasta and I can highly recommend that dish.

This may be the third or fourth time I've actually eaten at Bellini although I've been there several other times when the restaurant has been closed for a private event, usually a wedding reception. If you've ever been here, you know why it's such a popular location. It really is a gorgeous building both inside and out. If you're planning to go there during wedding season, I'd definitely recommend calling ahead to make sure they're open to the public. Enjoy!

Lazy Jane's Cafe

Although I haven't written about any restaurants recently, it's not been for lack of eating out. We've even tried a couple new ones, like Johnny Delmonico's for restaurant week and old favorites like Kabul. They've all been good and the meatballs at Kabul are amazing and worth trying if you haven't already.

However, I have somehow missed out on the GF scones at Lazy Jane's until this morning. I've been to Lazy Jane's in the past and been happy that they offer gluten free bread with their breakfasts, but we haven't been there in about two years. I really don't know if they've always made GF scones and I missed out because I got there too late or if these are new, but they're definitely worth getting there early to make sure you get a hold of one! This morning they had GF lemon cream scones. I'm not sure if they do different ones, but these were fantastic.

Lazy Jane's seems to take reasonable precautions in the restaurant and the GF scones were above the other baked goods and off to the side, which is probably the best that could be done. In the bakery annex they're housed in with the rest of the baked products which makes me more nervous. Either way, the amount of gluten around the GF things does make me more nervous than in some other places. I had a hard time resisting, however, and ordered my scone from the restaurant along with breakfast and so far, I haven't noticed any negative effects from it - just lemony, buttery yumminess.

I also ordered "The Works" with GF toast for breakfast which comes with a choice of meats - I went with bacon. The breakfast was decent, but the highlight really was that GF scone.

Lazy Jane's is on the near East Side. If you've never been, there are some things that I think are helpful to know. Firstly parking is difficult, so it's best to try to find street parking close enough to the restaurant or walk if you're close enough. The procedure is that you stand in line and order, then you find a table, then you get your food from the counter when they call your name. After you're done eating, you bus your own table. There's also a bakery annex a couple doors down on the same side of the street that's open on weekends if you're only getting baked goods. It's also cash only, so be sure to have enough when you go in. Enjoy!

Bunky's

I'm sure anyone who's been gluten free in Madison for more than a month knows about Bunky's. It seems like they've been catering to gluten free diners in Madison before it was cool to do so. I think that one of the main reasons that they're so great is because the owners have a family member with gluten intolerance and they really seem to be on a mission to provide great GF food to the community.

If you've ever been to Bunky's you know that the atmosphere in the restaurant is one of a kind. It's part grandma's house, part Middle Eastern marketplace and all uniquely Bunky's! Their move to the new location on Atwood a short distance away from their original Atwood location did not dampen the unique style of this restaurant.

I vaguely remember ordering a couple different items when I first ate at Bunky's before I discovered the magic that is the pesto pizza and I have to admit that it's now the only thing I get there. It's been so long since I've had anything else except for their desserts (more on those to come) that I can't honestly comment on anything else on their menu. They do have GF pasta available with most of their pasta dishes and can do any of their pizzas on the GF crust which is made by Silly Yak Bakery.

This past Tuesday I was there with a friend and as always ordered the pesto pizza which has pesto as the sauce with spinach, basil, cheese and artichokes on top. I always get the large size so that I have some to take home for the next day. As always, it did not disappoint. Silly Yak also carries Bunky's pizzas frozen for preparation at home and I have gotten these in a pinch, but I really prefer getting them made at the restaurant.

As I alluded to above, Bunky's also makes amazing gluten free desserts - the difficult part is saving room for them when the entrees are so delicious, but I always seem to find room. They always have several GF options and this time I had the chocolate mouse pie which was light, fluffy and heavenly. I've had several of their desserts and they have all been excellent!

If you're in the market for great gluten free food in a cozy, quirky atmosphere, Bunky's is the place to be! Enjoy.

Shish Cafe

I probably can't count the number of times I have passed by the unassuming strip mall that Shish Cafe is located in without giving it a thought. Then within the past few months I've had two separate people rave about it when I've asked for recommendations for good Middle Eastern food and made a mental note that I really should stop in to see what they have to offer. Even so, we just never seem to think about it when we're looking for somewhere to eat until this past Friday when somehow we actually remembered to stop in.

Now that we've finally eaten there, we won't have trouble remembering it in the future. Shish Cafe is located on the West side of Madison on University Avenue and has many classic Syrian dishes, including a number of lamb, seafood and vegetarian meals with a smattering of chicken and beef offerings as well. The waiter did not seem to have a clue about gluten when I asked, but I pulled out my trusty Triumph dining card which he diligently read and then advised me on the menu choices.

We ordered the lamb chops and also the sea bass, both with hummus as the waiter informed us that the basmati rice was made with pasta in it. He was also careful to leave off a garlic bulb that he reported was usually served with the sea bass because it is typically dusted with flour.

Both meals were done to perfection and seasoned well with the lamb cooked to medium and the sea bass being tender and cooked perfectly. The hummus was also delicious as was the yogurt dipping sauce. The portion sizes are not large and the sea bass left me wishing for a few more bites. I think the expectation is that the pita that is served on the table will supplement the portion sizes, but this of course is not an option when eating gluten free.

Overall, I would recommend Shish Cafe. We were able to get a table easily on a Friday night although we were asked if we had a reservation which may mean that this may not always be the case. The food was good and the waiter's attention to my needs meant that I was able to eat there safely. Although my portion was somewhat small, the diners around me had reasonable portions. The prices were reasonable and are comparable to other casual dining restaurants. Enjoy!

Fresco

Fresco is located on the roof of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art on State Street and is part of the Food Fight Group. We had originally planned on eating at the Icon but when we arrived we learned that they were only serving all you can eat mussels and decided to try somewhere else instead. Fresco is across the street and so off we went.

Before yesterday I'd only been to Fresco for drinks and I would recommend it for the view alone. It's a great view of downtown Madison and could be a pretty romantic location to watch the sun set. I'm not sure why I hadn't tried their food in the past, but was happy to find out that many of the items on their regular menu were also on their gluten free menu. Their website suggests that their menu changes frequently, so I'm not sure if this is always the case.

Given that I'd originally planned on tapas for dinner, I ended up ordering two appetizers as my meal and chose the sweet corn risotto cakes with roasted poblano cream, corn and tomato salad and the shrimp diablo with a jicama orange salad. They were both delicious with the shrimp diablo being just the right amount of spicy and the risotto cakes being crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. I must admit that this was an instance that I was so hungry that I forgot to ask about cross contamination issues with the risotto cakes, but I didn't have any negative effects afterward and for that I was very grateful. I would certainly encourage people to ask about these before ordering them but I'd guess that the menu will change shortly as their current menu seemed summer themed.

I can now say that in addition to having a great view, I can also recommend Fresco for their food. It would be a great location for happy hour if they had a happy hour menu. They are somewhat on the pricier side, but certainly in line with other similar restaurants downtown and the view is included. Enjoy!

Flemings

Life has gotten in the way of dining out recently and so it's been a while since I've posted. We've mostly eaten at old favorites recently like jacs and Taste of India which have been consistently good. I've also been traveling and eating at different restaurants around the country and it's been heartening to find out how much more people seem to know about gluten everywhere I go even in comparison to a couple years ago. I was even offered gluten free toast in Ann Arbor at the Dahlman Campus Inn's restaurant with my breakfast when I explained that I couldn't have the regular toast with my breakfast.

Unfortunately this did not extend to a recent experience at Flemings Steakhouse in Hilldale Mall when we recently stopped in to try their happy hour. In addition to their drinks, they have a limited appetizer menu which we thought we might try on our recent visit. It was clear once we sat down that our bartender did not appear to be in a good mood. I did not expect the degree to which this would have affected our experience.

The bartender in general seemed not very excited about his job and the part of his job that involved interacting with people. I asked for the happy hour menu which he dropped in front of us. He took our drink order and proceeded to pour our water, plopped them in front of us along with a bowl of potato chips and asked if there was anything else we needed. In my typical fashion I asked if the potato chips were gluten free and if there were any other gluten free items on the appetizer menu. He took a look at the menu and mentioned two menu items that could be made gluten free with modifications (the tuna and the carpaccio), the two which were not (calamari and ravioli) and that he didn't know about a fifth (BBQ shrimp). His response to whether or not the potato chips were gluten free was a very dismissive "I don't know, they're potato chips." He did seem to check with someone on this and later let us know that the potato chips were not in fact gluten free. We left very shortly after without placing an order for food and found the experience to be very disappointing, particularly since Flemings is apparently well known for their service. Unfortunately on this occasion, we were not on the receiving end of this.

Bluephies

Before our visit on Friday it had probably been about two years since I'd been to Bluephies. Bluephies now has a few different locations and is one of the restaurants in the Food Fight chain which tends to do a reasonably good job of having gluten free menus at their restaurants.

On Friday, we visited the original restaurant on Monroe Street. I didn't remember being particularly excited about the food at Bluephies two years ago, but when we were looking for somewhere new to go to for dinner, I figured that after two years, it kind of counted as "new." After taking a look at their website it seemed that they had made some changes to their menu including seeming to have more gluten free options like the option to have gluten free bread and pasta substituted in some dishes for an upcharge.

On previous visits, the Ooey Gooey Pasta had been recommended by one of the wait staff and I think that is what I'd had on both occasions. I remember it being good, but nothing to write home about, so I wanted to try something different on this visit. Plus, that was the whole point of going somewhere "new!" After going back and forth between ordering a burger or the risotto, the waitress rightly pointed out that I could make a burger at home and recommended the risotto. And so risotto it was. The waitress, asked me if my "gluten allergy was severe" which I thought was a bit strange, but I responded in the affirmative since I thought that meant that they would make extra efforts to avoid cross contamination, which it seemed they did, because I did not suffer any ill effects from my meal.

The risotto had  bits of duck shredded and folded in with thin pieces of asparagus and mushrooms and was in a red wine reduction. As with my memory of the ooey gooey pasta, I found the risotto to be good, but not particularly great. The concept was better than the execution. It certainly was a generous serving and there was no room for dessert which was a good thing, because they were out of the flourless chocolate cake which is their only GF dessert option. I know that Bluephies is a Madison establishment and certainly has lots of fans, but I must be missing something or maybe just haven't ordered the right things, because I find myself not being one of them. I'd be interested to hear what others think about Bluephies.

Restaurant Week - 43 North

Summer restaurant week is always a favorite time of mine in Madison. It is an opportunity to try new restaurants, enjoy restaurants that I would not necessarily regularly frequent because of their prices and unlike the winter restaurant week, I don't have to dig through snow to get to them. For those unfamiliar with Madison's restaurant weeks, they occur twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Local restaurants offer a choice of a set 3 course menu for $25. Some restaurants also offer a less expensive $15 lunch option during restaurant week. Reservations are highly recommended because many of the restaurants are full during peak times.

Today marked the first day of summer restaurant week and I thought we would give 43 North a try. We made reservations a few weeks ago after calling ahead to ask if there would be gluten free options on their menu. They assured me that there would be. 43 North is located on King Street, just off the square in the old Cafe Continental location. They are another restaurant that opened relatively recently and I've been wanting to give them a try, but until today hadn't made it in. After today, I think I'm going to be a regular.

I did have to consult with the waiter a few times before settling on an order because the initial menu options presented did not sound particularly appealing to me, although mostly because I don't particularly care for chilled soups or salmon which were the two suggestions offered for the first two courses. After further consulting with the kitchen, I ended up ordering the trout, the game hen and the chocolate dessert.

The waiter started us off with a chilled watercress and apple soup with a tomato fennel oil on top. Likely because of my already mentioned dislike of chilled soup, this was my least favorite of the offerings. I wonder if they meant to make the tomato fennel oil look like a face...

Next up was the trout which was pan seared instead of deep fried to make it gluten free. The trout was amazing! It was crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked and served on top of cucumbers and scallions with lemongrass, ginger and macademia nuts. It's not a combination that I would necessarily think would work well together, but I don't know how I'll be able to eat trout any other way now. Apparently this is not an item that is regularly on their menu, but I hope it gets added, because I must have this again!

For the entree, I ordered the Game Hen which is typically offered with Gnocchi but they were able to substitute a potato puree to make it gluten free. The game hen was also perfectly done and served with the aforementioned potato puree, wild mushrooms, sorrel and a mustard caramel. I was already getting full by the time this dish came out and in an attempt to have room for dessert, I asked to have half of it boxed and look forward to reliving this meal as I eat the rest of it sometime this week.

For the grand finale, I ordered the chocolate dessert with a hibiscus panna cotta and a curry flavored sauce - another unexpectedly delicious flavor combination and the perfect end to a wonderful meal.

I can't recommend 43 North highly enough. My only reservation is that the waiter did not seem particularly educated on gluten and did offer me both bread at the beginning of the meal and coffee cake at the end, but I was able to eat there safely after he graciously continued to check with the kitchen prior to me ordering. It certainly appeared that the kitchen had a good handle on gluten issues. The waiter did mention that the restaurant will be starting a happy hour menu in August and I look forward to going back then - hopefully they'll bring back the trout for that menu. As of right now, the only happy hour option with good gluten free appetizers has been Ocean Grill and I'm eager for another option. Hopefully you'll have the opportunity to get out there and try something new this week and if you're still looking for ideas, give 43 North a call! Enjoy!

jacs

It is no small wonder that this blog is 6 months old and so far jacs has only been mentioned as a small part of a previous post since we're there so often. It's probably because we're there so much that I've neglected to write a review on jacs and have instead written about other restaurants that I visit less frequently since I'm not sure when I'll return to those to write about them. It's finally time for me to give jacs it's due as the most fantastic restaurant for gluten free dining for it's style of cuisine and probably more than most other restaurants in town because of the special efforts it makes for it's gluten free diners. It is certainly one of my favorite restaurants in Madison.

jacs is located on Monroe Street on the same end as Bluephies and Taste of India. It has a dedicated fryer for gluten free food and are able to produce yummy gluten free frites and even a gluten free breaded fish fry on Fridays as a result. They are able to make almost any item on their menu gluten free, including those that contain bread products. Also, unlike most other restaurants who accommodate a GF diet by providing the menu item minus the offending gluten containing item, jacs provides a substitute including a gluten free flatbread, gluten free buns and bread for it's burgers and sandwiches and even a gluten free English muffin on their brunch menu!

I've had many of the menu items including a few of their flatbreads (the margarita is my favorite although the veggie looks delicious and I haven't tried that one yet), the duck, the burgers, the mussels and the smoked salmon benedict and can recommend them all in their own right. I've not been as impressed with their dessert, but I've only ordered it once and there's not typically room at the end of the meal anyway! jacs also carries GF beer and a cider as well as wine if you're looking to just stop in for drinks or to have a drink with dinner.

This Friday we had the fish fry which is probably what I go there most often to eat. It includes two breaded pieces of fish with tartar sauce, frites with aioli, coleslaw and applesauce which are all really good. There's typically nothing left on my plate at the end of the meal which attests to how good everything is, because it is a lot of food and apple sauce and coleslaw are not typically favorites of mine, but jacs does even these basics well.

The staff at jacs is knowledgeable about their gluten free items and very friendly and efficient. There's a strong need to be efficient too because jacs is frequently crowded with a wait for tables, especially on a Friday. They will do call ahead seating and we do typically call from home before we leave and ask to have our names put on the list. This can be done 30 minutes in advance. They do also take reservations, but I'm not sure if they do so every night.

I'm sure most people who live in Madison who are on a gluten free diet have already discovered jacs, but if you haven't, I would make it your next stop. Also, if anyone from jacs is listening out there, I'm making a special request for gluten free fried chicken. Enjoy!

Vin Santo

Tuesday was my first visit to Vin Santo in Middleton although I've passed it by many times on my trips to Bloom and been curious about what it has to offer by way of gluten free meals. I finally ventured in with a friend after previewing their menu online and seeing that they do have a number of gluten free items available.

Both myself and my dining companion found the ambiance of Vin Santo to be somewhat unusual for an Italian restaurant. To start, there is a strange disconnect between the dark windows and awning on the outside of the building and what greets you upon entering the restaurant. The inside seems to be a strange combination of Southwest colors and a supper club theme - antlers on the wall and all. Although the decor seemed unusual, the smells upon entering the restaurant are classic Italian and the diners certainly seemed to be enjoying their meals with gusto.

After a quick review of the menu and a description of their daily specials, I ordered the soup special which was a creamy spinach soup. Although they do not seem to carry gluten free pasta and the majority of their menu consists of pasta dishes, they do have a number of menu items listed as house specials which all seem to be gluten free. In addition, although their mussels are not listed as gluten free on their menu, the waitress indicated that they were indeed gluten free and I ordered those as well.

I enjoyed the idea of being able to order soup in a restaurant more than the reality of the soup itself which was a bit thin and not particularly flavorful. The mussels were a different story altogether.  They are on the Antipasto menu and although the quantity is indicated on the menu, for some reason, I expected a smaller portion. However, given that I ordered it as an entree, I was happy for the 2 1/2 dozen mussels that were presented. The mussels were perfectly cooked and not at all rubbery like they can sometimes be. The sauce was a delicious white wine broth that was great for dipping each yummy mussel into.

Overall, I would recommend Vin Santo as a solid choice for gluten free Italian food, although if they offered gluten free pasta, I would give it an even higher recommendation. My friend enjoyed her ravioli dish and as I mentioned, the meals at the other tables all looked and smelled delicious so it seems like a great option for non-GF diners as well. Enjoy!

8 Seasons Grille

This past Tuesday evening, I shared a yummy meal with a friend at 8 Seasons Grill. I was in the mood to try somewhere new and found this restaurant in the new Madison's Dining Guide. 8 Seasons Grill is a small bistro in downtown Madison a little bit away from the rest of the downtown restaurant scene. The inside of the restaurant has a comfortable neighborhood feel to it and a small bar area. The bartender seemed friendly and it seemed like a good place to stop in after work for a drink. The outdoor dining area where we sat is a good location for people watching and had a mellow mood, at least on the evening we were there. The restaurant changes it's menu 8 times per year as it's name suggests and seems to source locally.

The waitress was very friendly and assured me that they prepare gluten free meals "all the time" although she seemed somewhat unsure what this involved. After checking with the kitchen she was able to offer a number of choices, including the seafood special which I ended up ordering.  They also had a number of interesting salads such as the "Wisconsin" which is a watercress salad with cranberries and walnuts with a bacon vinaigrette. All their salads were described as gluten free, at least on the menu I ordered from and she assured me that many of the other entrees, including the breaded ones could be adapted to be gluten free.

The entree that I ordered consisted of scallops, shrimp and calamari with broccoli, onions and red bell peppers in a white wine sauce. It came with a side of Parmesan which I sprinkled generously on top (others may think it's a bit of overkill, but I love my cheese!). It was a nice light meal on a hot, almost summer evening. The scallops were perfectly cooked which is a success all on it's own!

My meal was good and safe as well, which is always a relief when I try somewhere new. I would definitely try them again and am excited to add this to the rotation of meals. The website suggests that a new menu is coming up at the end of June and I'm eager to go back and see what the new offerings are.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Yesterday was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and we were in search of somewhere fun to sit outside, enjoy the weather and maybe have a summery drink before continuing on with the errands for the day. It would have been nice to sit out by the lake, but for all the lakefront property in the area, good restaurants on the lake seem to be a rarity in Madison (we do enjoy Sardine, but they're not exactly on the lake, so much as have a reasonable view of it).

We decided on Cheeseburger in Paradise in Greenway Station in Middleton which has a fun atmosphere and does have outdoor seating and a huge drink menu. Unfortunately, the outdoor seating looks out onto a parking lot and some of the shops of Greenway Station, but with the fun music in the background, if you have a good imagination, you can pretend you're on an island.

Cheeseburger in Paradise offers a number of the requisite cheeseburgers as well as salads, sandwiches and "specialties" as well as the aforementioned summery drinks. The restaurant has an island theme in both the food and drink menu as well as the atmosphere. They also have a gluten free menu available and the staff seem to have a good understanding of it and the relevant issues. Our waitress was very nice and patient with my multiple reminders about needing my meal to be gluten free.

I have had their burgers before, but unlike other restaurants, Cheeseburger in Paradise does not provide gluten free buns and on this occasion, I wasn't in the mood for just a meat patty with condiments. I ended up ordering the ribs with a side of french fries which are both gluten free. The fries are made in a dedicated fryer and both the ribs and the fries were very tasty! The meal also came with a slaw, which I did not particularly enjoy because of the raisins which were featured in it, but others may find it enjoyable.

Overall, I can recommend Cheeseburger in Paradise if you are looking for a fun, outdoor atmosphere and are in some mood for some American fare with an island twist. Any ideas for other gluten free friendly outdoor dining experiences welcome!

Quivey's Grove

Madison has finally started being consistently warm this month and for us that usually means it's time for out of town visitors. One of the places that I like taking people who are here to visit from out of town is Quivey's Grove. It's actually one of the first restaurants I ate at when I moved here and it gave me a sense of the type of down to earth style of cooking that is typical of classic Wisconsin fare. It was also one of my first introductions to how easy it is to eat gluten free in Madison in comparison to other cities that I've visited and/or lived.

As many people may know, Quivey's is actually two different restaurants - the more upscale Stone House and the more casual Stable Grill. They both have gluten free menus and although I've typically eaten at the Stable Grill, I've also found the Stone House to be delicious and accessible to a gluten free diet. If you've never gone through the tunnel from one to the other, it's a fun experience - at least once!

On this occasion I noticed that the menu had changed since my last visit there and one of the dishes that I typically order - the trout is no longer on the menu. The waitress seemed somewhat unsure about what was gluten free on the new menu and after checking with the kitchen I ended up getting the Windsor Whitefish, which is actually quite similar to the trout. The Whitefish is baked in a dill and mustard butter sauce and served with parmesan potatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked and has a mild flavor.

I've been to Quivey's many times and have always safely eaten a good meal there. They're also well known for their fish fry and they do have a gluten free option, although it's not breaded like the one offered at jacs (which I promise to review one of these days!). I would definitely recommend Quivey's and my only complaint is that the restaurant always seems full and the wait staff seem to have more tables than they can successfully attend to and ordering can sometimes feel rushed. With a little patience and good company, however, Quivey's is a great gluten free option. Enjoy!

Liliana's

You may have read about my disappointing experience at the Bayou, so you can imagine how excited I was to find a New Orleans style restaurant in Fitchburg with a gluten free menu and I was even more excited when I looked at their website and saw their gluten free offerings. Their GF menu had many choices and they even stock Silly Yak bread. In short, I had very high expectations for Liliana's before going there.

That said, I hesitate somewhat to write this review, because I can't imagine that my experience was typical. The experience started out poorly. Upon walking into the restaurant we asked for a GF menu and were told that they just changed their menu and hadn't yet printed new GF ones so the hostess had us stand and wait while she went and asked the chef to identify the gluten free items. I'm used to the staff having to check with the chef, but it would have been nice if we'd been seated while this was happening. We were eventually seated and waited for a waiter/waitress for over 15 minutes while the diners around us who arrived after us put their drink orders in and placed their orders. Eventually I asked for our waiter/waitress and someone came over shortly after and apologized for not realizing that we had been seated. Now I assume that these situations don't occur commonly and they really wouldn't have been much of an issue if the rest of the evening had not progressed as it did.

Now I must admit that I'm a bit lax about educating staff about gluten intolerance when they have GF menus, because I assume that someone's already done so if they have a GF menu. I will try not to make that mistake after this experience and am happy that I was more vigilant than usual as I ordered, although I probably should have been more so. I was eager to try the cornmeal crusted calamari, but quickly double checked that it was made in a dedicated fryer. It is not. The most challenging moment of the evening was when the waitress brought out my GF bread from the kitchen and proceeded to try to dump it in the bread basket with the regular bread which had been provided earlier. She seemed surprised by my request not to so and indicated that many people with gluten intolerance come in and this does not seem to bother them. When my GF bread came out with grill marks, I asked about the equipment it was made on and again learned that the equipment is shared, so I sent it back. They did offer a Crudites plate as a replacement, but I declined. It is unfortunate that they go through all the effort of getting GF bread and then don't seem to know what needs to be done to keep it that way.

I did eventually order the jambalaya which they are reportedly well known for as well as the creme brulee. They were both very delicious. The waitress also offered a couple recommendations for wine which were great. They have a very extensive wine menu and the live jazz in the background was really nice.

The creme brulee even looked so delicious that I dug in before I took a picture for you :) It was divine! As you may guess, I did get glutened and I won't be back, at least not for dinner. It's really a shame, because I think this restaurant does have the potential to serve gluten free food if their staff were more educated on cross contamination issues.

I think Liliana's is a great restaurant for diners who are not on a GF diet. I like the atmosphere, the wine list and the live music, but I wouldn't dine there again unless there were improvements made to the cross contamination issues.

I have one more soap box for the day. I LOVE that so many people are living healthier lives on a GF diet than they have in the past and realize that everyone's got different levels of tolerance for gluten. It's certainly increased the demand for GF products and the quality of them as well as encouraged more restaurants to try to accommodate GF diners. However, it seems that because of less sensitivity of some patrons, some restaurants have not been as attentive to cross contamination issues which makes dining at some places more difficult for those of us who are more sensitive to gluten than others. When I complain about some issues, I often hear that many GF diners are able to safely eat at a particular restaurant when I've had clear issues because of cross contamination. Of course, there are other restaurants who are wonderful about these issues and which I often enjoy eating at and it is certainly a personal risk when eating at a restaurant versus at home. It is still frustrating when restaurants claim to be able to offer GF menus and then are not educated on the issues. Hopefully you have many safe  and delicious dining experiences in your future!

Francesca's al Lago

On Thursday evening we stopped into Francesca's al Lago for a quick dinner. Francesca's is a chain of restaurants that started in Chicago and which opened it's first restaurant in downtown Madison last year. They have a gluten free menu with a fair number of choices, including dessert and carry gluten free pasta which is a corn/quinoa blend. Francesca's has a large bar area with a good wine list and is a fun location for meeting friends and then possibly grabbing a bite to eat after.

After trying the pizza at Greenbush Bar recently, I was left wanting for some good pasta and so I ordered a pasta dish with scallops, mushrooms and asparagus in a cherry tomato sauce. The dish was listed as a shrimp dish but apparently the restaurant does not stock shrimp (at least not the night I was there) because this menu item is not listed on the regular menu and so I was offered scallops as a substitution.

There certainly was a lot of pasta and except for the fact that it was broken up, it was cooked well as was the overall dish. Although, the meal was not particularly exciting, it was hearty and about what you would expect. The service was good and the meal arrived quickly. I was quite full after eating this gigantic bowl of pasta and did not have room for dessert, but would expect that it would have been about the same - satisfactory, but nothing particularly exciting. I'm certainly still in the market for a good Italian restaurant in Madison that can cater to a gluten free diet. So far the leader of the pack seems to be Biaggi's which is another restaurant chain that also has a gluten free menu and is located in Middleton. Other ideas welcome!

Greenbush Bar

Since moving to Madison, I've heard about Greenbush Bar and gotten lots of rave reviews about their menu, particularly their brick oven pizzas. Greenbush Bar is located on Regent Street and easy to miss unless you're looking for it. It's located in the basement of the Italian Workmen's Club and has a rich history in Madison.

Prior to being diagnosed, I spent countless hours eating Italian food, good bad and mediocre because Italian restaurants are everywhere to be found and easily taken for granted. Since switching to a gluten free diet, I've approached Italian restaurants with caution because it seems that it's generally unlikely that I'll be able to make a meal out of the items of the menu unless I'm in the mood for salad while my dining companions eat pasta/pizza. To be sure, with the increase in the number of Italian chain restaurants offering gluten free menus, options for gluten free Italian dining are not as limited as they have been in the past. However, eating Italian food from a family owned restaurant on a gluten free diet is often challenging.

After learning that Greenbush Bar offers gluten free pastas and pizzas, I was excited to eat there. Memories of rich ragus with freshly made pastas from my pre-diagnosis days in New York City came to mind as we were seated and I got a whiff of what the kitchen had to offer.

This past Friday was my first visit there and as I looked at the menu, I was torn between ordering one of their pasta dishes or a pizza. The smell of the pizzas on the tables of the other guests and the gusto with which they were eating convinced me to try one of their gluten free pizzas. At Greenbush, the pizza comes with sauce and cheese and the toppings are ordered individually. After much deliberation, I ended up ordered the gluten free pizza with sausage, artichokes and feta and a glass of wine.

 


First I will say that the toppings were delicious. All three toppings together were a bit much and the pie would probably have been better with just two, but that was my own doing and something I'll keep in mind if I return. The bottom of the brick oven crust was deliciously crispy. However, somewhere between the crispy bottom of the crust and the toppings, the pizza did not meet expectations. I'm not sure whether the pizza was underdone or whether the ratios of the flours used were not appropriate but the crust had an unpleasant consistency that stuck to my teeth and was not enjoyable. Overall, I give this pizza a "B."

I  may yet give Greenbush another try, probably ordering one of their pasta dishes, or another pizza with fewer toppings and requesting some extra time in the oven because if they were able to solve the crust issue, this could potentially be a great gluten free dining option. Hopefully you have some delicious Italian food in your future! Enjoy!

Taste of India

Before being diagnosed and switching to a gluten free diet, I'd eaten Indian food occasionally, but had not been particularly impressed and rarely sought out Indian food on my own. After being diagnosed, I tended to avoid most dishes that were heavily sauced or with gravies because I assumed that they were likely to be thickened with flour or some other gluten containing ingredient and most Indian dishes seemed to fall into this category.

A few years ago, while living in Arkansas, I  tentatively rediscovered Indian food after being convinced by friends to try a restaurant in town. For those following along, these are the same friends who convinced me to try Sushi (they were pretty convincing friends) which as my previous post has shown, I previously refused to eat and now love! Here again, I found a genre of food that is actually very friendly for a gluten free diet and which I am now a huge fan of. It's amazing how much more open minded I am about food now that my choices are restricted by gluten! It seems that in most Indian restaurants, at least the ones I've been to, even the "bread" (papadums) that is typically brought to the table is gluten free as it's made from chick pea flour. Avoid the naan and other breads made from flour and most of the appetizers and it seems that for the most part the other dishes seem to be gluten free. I always double check when I try a new restaurant of course.

Yesterday we went to Taste of India on Monroe Street for their lunch buffet. We eat dinner here regularly and always enjoy our meal. The staff is very friendly and seem well educated about gluten. I don't normally eat at lunch buffets because of cross contamination issues, but since the majority of the food seems to be gluten free, I make an exception here. The menu is extensive and I'm not sure about all the items, but everything I've ever asked about in the entree section has been gluten free. I avoid the dishes on the buffet that are beside the naan and all the appetizers which tend to be breaded and fried and which are kept in a separate area. Even with doing this, there are a number of dishes to choose from. Yesterday I had the chicken tikka masala, goat curry and chick pea curry with rice and coconut and mango ice cream for dessert. Yum!

Taste of India is a pretty inexpensive option for lunch at $9.95 per person. It's served between 11:30am-3pm. For dinner an affordable way to enjoy this restaurant is with gift certificates from Restaurant.com which often has $25 gift certificates for a highly discounted rate (these are only valid for dinner). You can normally get them for $15 but I've gotten them for $2 on sale and saved them until we get a craving for Indian food since they never expire - there is a minimum $35 purchase.

Hopefully there's some delicious Indian food is in your near future. Enjoy!

Sushi Muramoto

As we were running our usual weekend errands, we decided to make a stop at one of my favorite lunch spots - Sushi Muramoto. This is somewhat strange to those who've known me for a long time, because before a few years ago, I steadfastly refused to eat sushi. However, as I've spent more time living gluten free, I've found that I'm far more willing to try foods that before I would never have eaten before such as quinoa, avocado and guacamole and yes, sushi. I now often get sushi cravings and this restaurant is my favorite place to get it in Madison.

What makes it my favorite? A number of reasons. They have wheat free soy sauce available by request which means that I don't have to go prepared with my little container from home which is what I used to do before a waiter mercifully told me that I didn't need to keep doing that since they always have it on hand...

I also like that the staff has a good understanding of gluten and I just have to make my needs known without having to explain what's involved.

The reason I particularly love going there for lunch is their special lunch menu. We always get the #2 which consists of three sushi rolls. Usually there is one inside out roll, one regular roll and one roll with a vegetable such as cucumber or avocado - all for just $10! Three sushi rolls for $10 is even better than what you could get at the grocery store and FAR more delicious. The rolls are the chefs choice, which I like, because I get to try things I wouldn't necessarily order, but if you're particularly picky about your sushi, this may not be a good option for you. I do always let the wait staff know that I'm gluten free when ordering it and they accommodate this request easily. The lunch menu is available between 11 and 3, so it's the perfect stop on a weekend while you're out looking for something delicious, inexpensive and relatively quick unless you get there in the middle of the lunch crowd, which we unfortunately did on this occasion.

These are pictures of our recent orders (mine is below, although they were both gluten free). I admit I can't remember what they were, but they did explain it when they brought it to the table. Mine had spicy shrimp and a cucumber roll - can't remember what the third one was. They were delicious though :)

Although I'm raving about their lunch menu today, I've also been there for dinner a few times and ordered from their regular menu as well as their special dinner menu and I've gone with friends who haven't ordered sushi and we always enjoy our choices. I think it's a solid choice if at least someone in your party enjoys sushi. Enjoy!