Category Archives: Gluten-Free Interviews

Gluten-free Across the Country: Portland

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Gluten-free food around the globeI hope you all enjoyed hearing from Weynab in San Francisco. Next up, we have the lovely Laddie in Portland. She has plenty of great advice and a refreshing opinion on living without wheat.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for you?
A: I’ve been gluten free for six years.The toughest part for me is trying to micro-manage an order at a restaurant where you try to think of absolutely everything that could have been put into a dish that you will have to ask the waitstaff about – soy sauce, chicken stock, blah blah blah. It’s like you’re in the dark sticking your hands out to see if you’re going to hit anything. Though I did meet with a nutritionist up at Columbia’s Celiac Center and her advice was to order your food the way you want it – just grill the chicken with salt and pepper, etc.  The nice thing is that I can find something at most restaurants, other than Asian food, just because so much of that cuisine is done with soy sauce. I get anxiety at Asian restaurants. Very lame.

Q: What are your favorite places to eat?
In New York, it’s Pala Pizza. (Note from the editor: The lady has good taste.) I’m obsessed with that place because they have amazing pizza and gluten-free everything, but they also have a ton of great normal options so that no one feels like they’re left out.

In Portland, it’s Sizzle Pie all the way. Their pizza is amazing. Pala is more fancy, and Sizzle Pie is when you want delicious pepperoni. They began as a delicious normal pizza spot and just added gluten free dough to their menu which is genius. I’ve had so much terrible gluten-free pizza in Portland that I was really excited to have Sizzle Pie.

Portland has been really amazing for the gluten free thing. Maybe it’s all the hippies, or healthy people here, but I love them for it because most waitstaff here do not give you a blank look when you ask if something is gluten free. There are food carts that have gluten free options and two really delicious gluten free bakeries.

Q: What advice do you have for readers?
A: Doctors are not infallible. They’re smart, they want to help you, etc. but they’re not always right. And sometimes they can brush off something that you know is wrong. If you know something that is happening to your body is weird, then you have to persevere until you find a doctor that listens. I went through three doctors before one finally said, “I know you don’t have the rash, but I’m going to test you for celiac anyway.” I don’t know if it’s because they see a lot of hypochondriacs or they just don’t have the time to pursue a solution for you, but you have to be your own advocate and know when something is strange.

Gluten-Free Across the Country: San Francisco

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Gluten-free food around the globeSo, I’ve been chattering on and on for weeks about my switch to gluten-free living. But, as my wonderful mother has taught me over the last 20 something years, the world does not revolve around me. So it’s time to hear from people across the country (and the world) who are dealing with celiac disease and wheat intolerance.

We launch with Weynab in San Francisco/San Jose, who is definitely setting the standard for giving up wheat in style.

How long have you been gluten-free?
I have been gluten-free (GF) for a little over 2.5 years

What is the toughest part for you?
Going out to eat at restaurants that don’t have GF options. I am vegetarian on top of being gluten-free, so it can make eating out difficult at times! But I’ve found that many restaurants are starting to be aware of the growing number of “gluten-freeians” (I just made that up), so some restaurants are beginning to offer an actual GF menu.

What have you discovered about yourself since giving up wheat?
It’s not as hard as it seems! The first month was the hardest for me, but once you notice how much better you feel, and how many substitutes there are, you begin to notice that its worth living a GF life. (Note from the editor: She is one tough cookie. I find it hard to this day…)

Have there been any positive results (aside from good health)?
I definitely feel less bloated and sluggish. It’s a great way to lose a few lbs, and it has also improved my skin. Prior to being GF my skin would get irritated often, and if I scratched it I would get hives. I still get that from time to time, but being GF has helped it improve tremendously. Additionally, I feel that I get less headaches, and even sleep better!

Where do you shop for gluten-free food?
I mainly shop at Trader Joe’s. If you go up to their customer service counter you can ask them to print out a list of their GF items. I also like to go to Whole Foods. That’s where I always find the best GF bread, bagels, etc.

What situations do you find the toughest?
Being really, really hungry and not having anything to eat. There have been times where I’m with a group of friends at a burger joint and there is literally nothing on the menu that I can eat. I’ve found that the best trick is to always have a few treats handy in my purse! Often times I have some raw almonds or a GF bar in my purse for those moments!

And that, ladies and gentleman, is how you do it. Thanks Weynab!