Travel Far Gluten Free Blog

Zion Road Trip - Meals, Activities, and our Airbnb

8/19/2020

I took a wonderful road trip to hike The Narrows in Zion National Park. We stayed in Virgin, Utah in an adorable Airbnb with a beautiful kitchen and backyard perfect for preparing and enjoying hardy breakfasts and filling dinners for days of adventuring. I feature the hike, Airbnb, and meals in my video. See below for other activity photos, meal descriptions, and recipes I used. I'm terrible at writing recipes because I cook, mix, and make it up as I go along until the dish tastes good, but I did add some breakfast recipes and provided more details on our dinners. Enjoy the video and photos and I hope it will give you some inspiration for your next road trip.

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Vegan, Soy Free, Veggie Packed Fried Rice

5/15/2020

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I love fried rice. It's such an easy, delicious dish to make and makes use of all the rice that I make too much of the day before. I usually make mine with soy sauce, but due to household dietary restrictions (and I understand and sympathize and gladly adjust to dietary restrictions) I could not use soy sauce. I racked my brain on how I could make it savory and delicious sans soy sauce. I came up with a savory sauce using coconut amino, salt, and Thai curry paste. I also over compensated with garlic, ginger, and lime juice to add flavor and depth without all the sodium. I also didn't add eggs for an easier prep and to make it vegan. Adding eggs to fried rice can be messy and difficult for those trying to make fried rice for the first time. It also doesn't keep as well if you add eggs to it and have it for leftovers. If you really want an egg, top it with a fried egg at the end! Check out the full recipe below.

Ingredients

2.5 cups of day old rice (you can also use fresh rice, but leftover rice that's been in the fridge in the day is the best)
2 zucchinis, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 onion, sliced
1 ginger stalk, peeled and minced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 stalk of ginger minced
8 basil leaves, chopped
2 limes, juice
2 tablespoons of neutral oil (i.e. avocado oil)

Sauce
1/2 cup of coconut amino acids
1 tablespoon of salt
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of Thai curry paste
1/4 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of ground red pepper

Method

In a bowl mix all the sauce ingredients together. Set aside.
In a large wok, heat up the oil and add the minced garlic and ginger and sauté for a minute.
Add the onions and sauté for a few minutes until soft.
Add the bell pepper and sauté for a few minutes until soft.
Add the zucchini and sauté for a few minutes until soft.
Add the green onions and combine.
Add half the lime juice and half the sauce into the vegetables and combine.
Add the rice and combine with the vegetables. Make sure to break up all the rice clumps. I use a rice paddle to unclump the rice.
Add the rest of the lime juice and sauce and combine.
Add the basil and combine.
Scoop into a bowl and ejoy!

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Easy Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Video Tutorial

5/3/2020

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Today we take a culinary trip to Vietnam via fresh and refreshing spring rolls, a great snack for a hot summer day by the pool. My version nixes the rice noodles on the inside (I personally don't like adding more rice noddles inside of rice paper) and adds bulk with lettuce. I take a shortcut and incorporate shredded carrots into the lettuce mix and toss it with lime for a fresh citrus punch. Serve the spring rolls with a side of peanut sauce or soy sauce for the perfect summer snack.

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Vegan, Gluten Free, Vegetable Packed Zuppa Toscana Inspired Soup

3/29/2020

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What are you making while not flying/working/being stuck at home? I've been pay protected (layman's terms: my flights were canceled but I still get paid for them) for my flights so I've been cooking a lot in my kitchen. It's helping to keep me sane during these crazy times.
Last night I made a vegan, vegetable packed zuppa toscana inspired soup. It was amazing. I used Beyond Meat "beef" crumbles in place of sausage and started with a mirepoix base (onions, carrots, celery) to add flavor and more vegetables. I also used zucchini for even more greens. For the liquid base I used almond milk, vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, to add a "cheesy flavor", and corn starch to thicken the broth. I finished it off with kale and diced potatoes for a hearty, healthy soup. It only requires one pot, so score for less dishes! Check out the recipe below.

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Vegetable Packed, Gluten Free Pasta Salad

12/31/2019

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Gluten Free Veggie Packed Pasta Salad

I absolutely HATE welted lettuce. And as a flight attendant I have to travel all over the country with my food in a lunchbox that gets jostled in transit for several days at a time. And lettuce gets welted, wet, and gross way faster with all the travel. So I began making salads that didn't require lettuce, travel well, but are still full of veggies.
Here's my take on an Italian style pasta salad made with gluten free, protein packed pasta. Plus you get tons of veggies included vitamin packed kale and broccoli. Check out the recipe below.

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Mexican Inspired Meal Prep for Flight Attendants

12/16/2019

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Week's Worth of Easy Mexican Inspired Meal Prep for Busy Flight Attendants

I had a blast hosting my first meal prepping class this past Saturday! We prepped a week's worth of Mexican inspired food including 3 different flavors of chicken for the rice bowls with roasted vegetables, Mexican salad with lime dressing, non-fat creamy cilantro sauce, and fresh pico de gallo! See below all the recipes we used for the Mexican meal prep!

This meal prep is especially excellent for flight attendants because it'll keep for up to 6 days, the salad does not have any lettuce that will welt, and it travels well. The chicken is also done with 3 different marinades, so you're not eating the same exact bowl every single day. AND we use a shortcut and use prepackaged seasoning to get the meal prep done faster! Win, win, and win! Because let's be real, as busy flight attendants we are short on time and energy during busy flying weeks.

During the class I also handed out a handy, dandy "Flight Attendant Meal Prep Booklet" with tips and tricks for success, great meal prep worksheets to inspire you and to set you up for a great week worth of meals. I'll be posting an e version of this booklet soon so you can use these great tools to help you succeed even if you can't attend a class in person. Follow me on Instagram @travelfarglutenfree for the latest updates!

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Comprehensive List of Gluten Free Shelf Stable Foods & Snacks

9/6/2019

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Protein – Non-Fish

Chicken
- Canned
- Single Serving Packets
Spam
- Lite
- Turkey
- Single Serving Packets <<< Great for travel!
Canned chicken
Jerky
- Beef
- Turkey
- Pork
- Buffalo / Bison
- Venison
- Elk
- Epic Bars

CHOMPS Grass Fed Beef Jerky Meat Snack Sticks | Keto Certified, Whole30 Approved, Paleo, Low Carb, High Protein, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Non-GMO | 100 Calorie 1.15 Oz Stick, Original Beef 10 Pack

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Paris Gluten Free Travel Guide

3/18/2019

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Paris, the land of pastries and baguettes is the heaven for those with Celiac disease. Wait, what? Yes you read that right. Paris has a plethora of 100% gluten free dedicated bakeries, cafes, and restaurants. It was mind boggling how many places there were. There's no shortage of gluten free tarts, baguettes, and crepes. Book your next trip to the city of love to fall in love with the tres delicious gluten free food.

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Namaste Foods - Product Review & Giveaway

12/4/2018

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About

Namaste offers an array of certified gluten free products that are also free from the top 8 most common food allergens including wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. All products and mixes are vegan or can be made vegan friendly with egg substitutes.

Namaste also has a great culture. They are family-owned, women-operated, and they don't contract out to other companies to produce their products. They make everything themselves in their own facility which is free of all the top 8 allergens ensuring the safest environment for those with food allergies and sensitivities. Their products are also Kosher and USDA Organic. They really do care about delivering the best product for everyone to enjoy.

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Cabo Mexico Gluten Free Travel Guide

10/1/2018

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10 Tips for Gluten Free Air Travel

9/20/2018

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Air travel can be stressful and having to eat gluten free can add even more undue stress. Follow these 10 tips before heading to the airport to help ease your mind and feed your hungry tummy during your travels.

1. Book a meal in advance
For international flights with food service, you can book a special gluten free meal in advance. Many times, you can do it at the time of booking, if not right after the booking. Make sure to put in special meal requests at least 24 to 48 hours before the flight.

2. Gluten free bars
Pack gluten free protein bars and granola bars to snack on during the fight and for when you arrive at your destination. Always bring bars in your purse or pocket when you’re out and about. You never know if you’ll be out longer than expected and not be able to find gluten free food nearby when hunger strikes.

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Seattle, Washington, USA Gluten Free Travel Guide

9/15/2018

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This guide features an interactive map of 100% gluten free eateries and gluten free friendly restaurants. Scroll down to see my list of gluten free restaurant picks along with things to do. Clicking the restaurant name will take you to it's Google Maps page for their address, phone number, and website information.

Gluten Free...

100% Gluten Free
Pike Place Area
Downtown
Greater Seattle

To Do

Drinks
Shop
See

100% Gluten Free

Capitol Cider
818 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
Try: Fried Cheese Curds
100% gluten free kitchen serves up delectable American and midwestern gluten free treats that I have not found anywhere else. The fried cheese curds are incredible and worth the visit alone. I went during happy hour so I could also enjoy the fried chicken sandwich. Pair your meal with a cider flight for a delightful lunch or dinner.

Ghostfish Brewing Company
2942 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Cuisine: American Food
Price: $$
Ghostfish Brewery brews up Celiac safe beers using rice, millet, and sorghum grains. Their beers have won numerous award so come enjoy a beer, or two, in their taproom and gastropub where you can enjoy your beer with some gluten free mac and cheese, tacos, or fish and chips.

Niche Gluten Free Cafe & Bakery
808 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Nuflours Bakery
518 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Pike Place

Local 360
2234 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Cuisine: Seafood
Price: $$
Try: $1 Oysters during happy hour
This restaurant sources 90% of their ingredients from within a 360 mile radius of the restaurant. Their menu clearly indicates what is gluten free and vegetarian. The best time to go is for their daily happy hour from 3-6pm, which includes their oysters on the half shell for $1. Since citrus is not indigenous to the region, it won't come with a side of lemon. They provide a vinegar based sauce instead that pairs well with the succulent, sweet, delicate oyster. Come early, because it's first come first serve. And if you're an oyster fiend like me, you might eat half of the oyster stash yourself.

Umi Sake House
2230 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $$
Try: Miso soup (yes it's gluten free!) and sushi sets (during happy hour)
After eating your own weight in oysters at Local 360, hop over to Umi Sake House next door for happy hour from 4-6pm. There will probably be people lined up outside the door waiting for the place to open. Browse their menu on the window to find what to enjoy. They clearly mark what's gluten free on the main menu. You'll have to do a little cross referencing between the happy hour menu and the main menu. I thoroughly enjoyed the miso soup, Seattle roll, and sushi set C. They provide a bowl of complimentary edamame to hold you over until the main dishes come.

Back to the Top

Downtown

TO DO

Drinks

Bathtub Gin & Co.
2205 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Price: $$
Try: Flamingo Kid
After wandering around a back alley for a good 10 minutes, we FINALLY found this amazing "hidden" bar. There's a small black sign on the brick wall next to the wooden door. When you open the door you're greeted by a staircase that either takes you down to the lounge area or up to the main bar. We opted to sit at the bar. Their was a menu with list of creative drinks and I enjoyed the Flamingo Kid, a fruity, acidy rum and gin drink.

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Drift Hotel in Cabo Mexico

6/20/2018

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About

Entrance to the hotel

Drift Hotel is in the historic district of San Jose del Cabo. It's surrounded by art galleries and fantastic restaurants and bars. The hotel is for those who prefer culture over all inclusive resorts. It's social atmosphere encourages guests to interact with each other, especially at night while enjoying “mezcanelas" at the mezcal bar. On Thursdays and Saturdays when they open their gate to the public, you meet friendly locals who are more than happy to point you in the right direction for your next adventure, tasty bite, or refreshing drink.

Greeting

Upon ringing the buzzer outside the large black gate, we were greeted by a hotel staff member who escorted us to the mezcal bar. Another staff member took our bags up to our room while we relaxed at the bar with our greeter turned bartender. We enjoyed mezcal while our greeter told us about the hotel and the San Jose del Cabo area.

He walked us up to our room where our bags and glorious room was waiting for us.

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NYLO Providence/Warwick

6/17/2018

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I love cool, well designed, well decorated hotels. (Who doesn't?!) And the NYLO Warwick/Providence is just one of those hotels.

The rooms are chic, modern, warm, and cozy. It's like walking into a warm hug. The highlight of the room is the GIANT bed with the extra soft pillows. The shower has a rainfall shower head and handheld shower head. There's a small sitting area for unwinding and a desk to do work at.

The highlight of the hotel facilities is the sauna in the gym. It's a great spot to relax your muscles after a workout in the gym with windows overlooking the river.

The restaurant and bar downstairs is gorgeous. The concrete floors, walls, and ceiling provide a modern, industrial look, while wooden tables, white couches, blue suede chairs, and coral chandeliers provides warmth and character. There's a pool table at the far end for those looking to play a few rounds with friends.

When the weather is warm, the outside patio area is the perfect spot to relax by the river and watch the duck swim by.

I look forward to my stays here, mostly so I can snuggle into that warm cozy bed after a long work day.

Want to snuggle in that glorious bed yourself? You can book NYLO Warwick/Providence here.

Gluten Free Eats in the Area

Ended up in Rhode Island for work and ventured off to @nyajoes where they had gluten free New England clam chowdah! They brought a gluten free bread basket with an oil, parmesan, and red chili pepper dip. The bread was so soft and delicious. □ They have a dedicated gluten free menu with a number of awesome dishes. If you're craving (gluten free) chowdah, check out @nyajoes

A post shared by Travel Far Gluten Free - Diana (@travelfarglutenfree) on Jun 3, 2018 at 8:02pm PDT

Across the street is Not Your Average Joe's, where they serve gluten free clam chowdah (chowder for those not from back east) and gluten free bread baskets.

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Cabo, Mexico - Our Stay, Eats and Acitivies

5/31/2018

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I went to Cabo with my boyfriend Josh at the end of April for (gluten free) food, drinks, and fun in the sun. We opted to stay in San Jose del Cabo instead of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is much more low key than crazy party central Cabo San Lucas. We preferred the vibes of San Jose, filled with art, narrow streets, and small restaurants and boutique hotels.

Featured:
Drift Hotel
La Lupita Taco and Mezcal
12 Onzas Tap House
Mariscos El Chino
Mixology
El Catrin, Tacos Y Mas

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Honolulu Gluten Free

4/12/2018

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I was looking for vitamin SEA, sun, and delicious food, so what better place than Hawaii? I decided on Honolulu and stayed in Waikiki for some well deserved R&R. Read on to see where I stayed and ate during my short but delicious stay in Honolulu.

My Hostel

Rooftop patio at The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel

I stayed at The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel, a hostel on the southern end of the Waikiki area. I found it to be the perfect spot to stay, being only a block from the beach and 10 minutes from the center of the tourist area.

The hostel offers free tours every day of the week, and if I had more time, energy, and less desire to hunt and devour all the delicious gluten free food in Honolulu, I might have gone on the tours.

I stayed in the 4 bed female dorm with an attached bathroom. The bathroom was all tile and it was nice and clean. Housekeeping came everyday to clean the bathroom and floors.

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Top 15 Gluten Free Things to Eat & Drink in the Pacific Northwest

2/24/2018

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Portland and Seattle are two of my favorite cities in the world for gluten free and vegan food. These two cities, and states in general, are conscious of dietary restrictions and cater to everyone. Check out my top 15 gluten free things to eat and drink while in this amazing region.

1. Huckleberries

If you haven't had a huckleberry, I'm sorry. Get your butt up to the Pacific Northwest and get some. My favorite ways to enjoy huckleberry is via huckleberry jam. I typically picked up my huckleberry jams at the Multnomah Falls gift shop. I also bought huckleberry coffee while there, another delightful way to enjoy the huckleberry flavor.

2. Salmon

Salmon is quiescently Pacific Northwest. It's what most think of when dining on Pacific Northwest foods. I personally love mine smoked. You can also enjoy it cooked on cedar wood with lemon. Another favorite is to have it as sashimi with gluten free soy sauce. Smoked, cooked, sushi, just have some.

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Top 10 Gluten Free Things to Eat & Drink in France

1/20/2018

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Bordeaux Palais de la Bourse in Bordeaux, France

When I was traveling through France friends asked, "How are you eating gluten free in France?!?" I simply replied "Fine and deliciously!" Although I was in the land of baguettes, there were many things to enjoy gluten free. Check out my top gluten free picks in France.

Macaron from a pastry shop in St. Emilion

Macarons

These little morsels of goodness are just the right amount of sweet and have a texture of a real pastry. They're made with almond flour, making them safe for Celiacs. Enjoy one without feeling like you're missing out as your travel buddies chow down on their gluten-y pastries.

Duck with plum sauce. Make sure to ask if the sauce is "sans gluten" (gluten free)

Duck

Duck can be found on almost every restaurant menu in France. Ducks popularity in France is the equivalent of finding chicken on every USA menu. Beware of sauces though! Many are made with a roux (flour). The duck was usually so exquisite and moist, you really didn't need a sauce.

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London Myths Busted

1/8/2018

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Before ever planning a trip to London, I heard so many things about it. "The food is expensive and crappy." "The people are rude." "The food sucks." "It's expensive." Well all of that was so far from the truth, it's laughable. Here's a list of things I heard from people about London's lacking qualities that I discovered were untrue after visiting there.

Gluten free fried chicken burger at Honest Burgers. Click the photo for the full blog post about this incredible burger and restaurant.

The Food Sucks

Busted: I was bracing myself for terrible food so I booked a hotel with a kitchenette, but after a couple of meals out, it felt silly to cook. The food was awesome! The food was awesome. We dined on Thai, Indian, burgers, fish and chips, and pho. Every meal was delicious and not too pricey. A gluten free burger at Honest Burger with fries and onion rings was Â£15 . I personally dub London a top food spot and a place I would visit specifically to enjoy the food.

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Honestly the Best Burgers in London

11/20/2017

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You know what I miss? Fried chicken. The other thing I miss? A GOOD gluten free hamburger bun. One that's soft and moist. Well I found both in one glorious friend chicken sandwich at Honest Burger in London.

Honest Burger is a chain of burger restaurants in the London area serving up beef, chicken, and veggie burgers with a side of rosemary "chips" (American translation: French fries). During the week I was visiting London they were also serving up Keralan Fried Chicken sandwiches. A fried chicken breast (or thigh?) when served on their heavenly, fluffy gluten free bun is 100% gluten free. Their fryers fry only gluten free items so no worries about cross contamination. That also means you can enjoy their onion rings. Yippee!!!

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A Better, Prettier Margarita at Del Sur

11/1/2017

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Margaritas are done by many, but perfected by few.

At Del Sur in San Diego, lead bartender Sabrina gave us the inside scoop of how to make a perfect prickly pear margarita. It starts with a generous pour of blanco tequila, two ounces to be exact, followed by a house made prickly pear puree and lime agave mix made fresh everyday, then a touch of triple sec for a little extra sweetness. It's shaken to perfection and the glass is rimmed with black charcoal salt creating a beautiful visual contrast with the pink/purple drink.

Wonderful co-owner Kate provided us with an array gluten free and vegetarian options to enjoy with our drinks.

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Gluten Free French Toast in San Diego

10/20/2017

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What's better than gluten free French toast for breakfast? Enjoying a huge helping of gluten free French toast at the Pacific Beach Fig Tree Café in their gorgeous outdoor restaurant surrounded by flora and fauna.

The Fig Tree Café serves up a variety of gluten free and vegetarian options at their beautiful outside eatery in the San Diego area. Their staff members are well versed in handling dietary restrictions and they take cross contamination seriously, ensuring they use different containers, gloves, and cooking areas.

About 80% of the menu is gluten free, or can be made gluten free, so there are a lot of options to choose from.

The star of the menu are the French toasts. From the traditional to the exquisite, including a stuffed French toast with mascarpone cheese topped with mangos and strawberries. They really do have a French toast to delight everyone. The gluten free version is made with gluten free cinnamon-raisin bread (yum!) and there's no extra charge. Gluten free-ers wallets rejoice!

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Rocking Good Pizza

9/5/2017

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Pizza Rock Downtown Las Vegas

Sivan of The Olive Brunette, & I, on the rig inside of Pizza Rock downtown

The free concerts on Fremont street aren't the only rocking place in downtown Las Vegas.

Pizza Rock rolls and rocks out over 400 pizzas on weekend nights and 30 gluten free pizzas to boot.

Sivan, the fabulous creator and blogger of The Olive Brunette, and I ventured off to Pizza Rock to try their gluten free pizza and we were thoroughly impressed.

We met Chef Andrew in the kitchen so we could see how they create their delicious gluten free pizza.

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Tao Restaurant - Extraordinary Asian Fusion

8/22/2017

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Tao Restaurant is a swanky Asian fusion joint on the fabulous Las Vegas strip.
Typically, a group of girlfriends and myself can be found here on a Thursday at least once a month for it's incredible comped dinner for gals. Yes you read that right, a group of women can get a free dinner at Tao on Thursdays. Make sure you tip the waiter though. If you want access to this comped dinner, contact my buddy Dom here. If he gets you in, make sure to tip him as well.
On one extravagant non-Thursday night, some of my friends went to Tao for a friend's birthday.

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Top 5 Gluten Free Things to Eat & Drink in Mexico

7/27/2017

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With corn tortilla tacos available on almost every corner, it's hard to go hungry while eating gluten free in Mexico. While I could eat tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there were a couple of other gluten free things that I did enjoy while in this beautiful country, including a "sandwich" that I fell in love with. Check out the list below and let me know your favorite gluten free eats while in Mexico!

Tacos

No list for Mexico would EVER be complete without tacos. It's number one on the list and rightly so. Tacos are a staple in Mexico and you can find it on almost every street corner, and you'll probably find several vendors vying for your business. Also luckily for you gluten free-ers, most stands and shops use corn tortillas. And even more lucky for all of us foodies, most stands hand make their corn tortillas daily and sometimes on the spot. Don't miss these mouth watering treats.

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<<Previous

Ingredients

Method

Gluten Free Veggie Packed Pasta Salad

Week's Worth of Easy Mexican Inspired Meal Prep for Busy Flight Attendants

Protein – Non-Fish

About

Gluten Free...

To Do

100% Gluten Free

Pike Place

Downtown

TO DO

Drinks

About

​Greeting

Gluten Free Eats in the Area ​

My Hostel

1. Huckleberries

2. Salmon

Macarons

Duck

The Food Sucks

Margaritas are done by many, but perfected by few.

Pizza Rock Downtown Las Vegas

Tacos

Greeting

Gluten Free Eats in the Area