Until the Canary is available, we thought it might be helpful to highlight where gluten most often hides in restaurants.
Fryers: Yes, potatoes are naturally gluten free. However, the deep fryer that perfectly crisps our french fries isn't always gluten free. If breaded items (think chicken fingers, onion rings, etc.) are fried in the same fryer, our beloved french fries are no longer gluten free. Be sure to ask the waitstaff what goes in their friers.
Salad Dressings & Marinades: Gluten can hide in some restaurant's salad dressings and marinades. Until you have a gluten sensor in your pocket, be sure to ask the restaurant what is included in their salad dressings and marinades (soy sauce can be hiding!).
Stock: Who doesn't love a hearty soup? Soups nourish the soul...unless they include some canned stocks or broths. A lot of restaurants make stock from scratch. Other commercial kitchens only buy gluten free stock/broth. Be sure to ask so you can enjoy a nourishing and hydrating bowl of soup.
Sauce: We're not talking about the classic marinara sauce. We're thinking of cream sauces, gravies and au jus. The old fashion way to thicken a sauce is to simmer while liquid evaporates until the desired consistency is reached. Some restaurants take a short cut and thicken sauces with flour.
Pasta: We all know pasta isn't naturally gluten free. We also have to be careful when we eat gluten free pastas at a restaurant. If you are very sensitive to gluten, ask if the pasta is boiled in a separate pot or with the "regular" pasta.
Grains: Polenta and risotto are gluten free staples. Again, we need to be careful how they are cooked. Some chefs add stock to our "safe" grains to add levels of flavor. Make sure to ask if the stock/broth is gluten free!
Soy Sauce: Believe it or not, most domestic soy sauces are chalk full of GLUTEN. If you are going out for a sushi dinner, do a little research in advance or pack your own.
We can't wait until the Canary is ready to help us all navigate the adventure of eating at a restaurant!
Guest post from Gluten-free Goddess Kate LeClair