Going Gluten-Free?
Gluten is all the rage now and many people do not even know why or what they are giving up, they just know it sounds healthy. There are those people that actually have gluten allergies and have to give up gluten, a protein composite found in grains. For both groups, the District has a growing list of places to grub without the gluten. I recently visited Masa 14 for a look at their new gluten free additions and was surprised to learn how I did not miss a thing by giving up the protein that causes health problems in those with celiac disease. For those wishing to give up gluten for the night, curious to see what gluten-free tastes like and those who actually have a wheat allergy, here are some items to consider:
- Hamachi Tartar: Spice lovers will find this intriguing where the heat is absolutely turned up.
- Chilled Cauliflower Soup: I am not a huge fan of chilled summer soups, but this one grabbed my attention with a hint of my fave spice cabinet ingredient…cumin. It got my vote.
- Grilled Salmon: I am in love with salmon now so adding a few of my favorite components only made it hard for me not to lick the plate. Cilantro-mint rice and red thai curry-coconut sauce round out the medium salmon.
- Dry Aged Striploin: Cooked to medium rare, this dish adds an oxymoron to the plate with a vegan steak sauce.
- Dolcezza Sorbet and/or Gelato: Chef Stephen Hartzell likes supporting local businesses and has made Dolcezza products the star of the show at the dessert hour. I do not think you can go wrong trying whatever is in the rotation for the week.
*For those seeking comfort food without the gluten, &Pizza has gluten free pizza on the menu. The gluten free pizza crust took the chain a year to create and when paired with Daiya cheese among the other toppings that you can aim for, pizza is no longer off limits.
*Macon Bistro & Larder has added gluten-free beer and menu items to their menu. More info here: http://www.maconbistro.com/
Category: health concious, restaurant reviews, Reviews, Various Cooking Styles, Washington D.C.