Hi Everyone,

I will be heading to New Orleans next weekend for Jazz Fest and I was just wondering if any of ya'll had restaurant recomendations for dinner (in the Quarter).
This is going to be my 1st gluten free vacation/ music festival. I have contacted the venue and they are willing to let me bring food in so, if you have any suggestions with that issue (what to bring, how to pack, easy snacks)... that would be great.

Thanks!

MarisaB

Marisa, please let us know how your trip goes. I would LOVE to go back to New Orleans once the kids are old enough to stay with an aunt or grandparents. Also, be sure to let us know if any of the bars down there carry Red Bridge or any other gluten free alcoholic treats.

I was in New Orleans, in the Quarter, for a conference in January - and I gotta say, it was the hardest place I've ever visited for accommodating all my food intolerances. If it was just gluten I probably would have been okay - but dairy was a real b**** to avoid. I went to several places - and I mean nice, high end places - where they claimed that EVERY bit of rice or potatoes they had were pre-buttered, and they couldn't possibly steam me some plain rice. And the prices there are crazy, so most nights I ended up paying around $40 for a dinner that didn't even include a starch. (I did find one Italian place that had spaghetti squash sauteed in olive oil, but that was the closest I came to a starch for dinner.)

Fortunately, I've developed a travel routine where I only eat out for dinner. It's a lot of work, but as long as I can get a hotel room with a fridge and find a grocery store, I take along my hot pot and some basic utensils and cook my own breakfasts and lunches. Somehow I feel a lot safer only having to roll the restaurant dice once a day!


Jeanne

Hey Marisa! Glad to see you coming down for Jazz Fest. I'm living in New Orleans right now and it is very tough finding a restaurant down here with gluten-free food. Not every restaurant knows what can and can't go in the food. I went to a restaurant and they gave me 'gluten-free' food not knowing that I couldn't have soy sauce. I'm actually working in that restaurant now and whenever someone gluten-free comes in they ask me what they can/can't have. I'm at Brigtsen's now and it's located in the Uptown area. We are booked pretty solid for Thursday til next Saturday. I rarely go downtown for some unknown reason so I don't know much of the restaurants. I know some places in Uptown that take care of my diet though. As far as beer goes, no bar down here have I found Redbridge at; I get it at Whole Foods.

Hey Adam,

Thanks for the info. I will be in town on Thurs till Monday. I will staying in Metairie, so, if you can think of any restaurants in the area...that would be fabulous!!!!
We are staying with friends (non celiac's) and I just know they are going to want to go out to eat and I don't want to be a drag for them.
Also- can you steer me towards some "gluten free" N'Awlins drinks. I dont drink beer- so that is not a problem. I really want to do the tourist thing and get a hurricane at Pat O's...are they gluten-free safe?

Thanks for your help!

Marisa

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure the hurricanes Pat O's are gluten-free, but not 100%
positive. I've yet to try one there mostly because I'm not 100% sure.
I am positive that the daiquiris are fine though. Those would be perfect on
the hot days here this weekend. As for food, I really never travel out of New
Orleans for the food because it's so good here. The hard part though is finding
somewhere nice open on a Sunday or a Monday. Those are the days restaurants
typically close here. And then finding an open seating this weekend is going
to be tough. If you like sushi you can try Sake Cafe on Veterans Blvd in
Metairie, I've heard really good things. Fiesta Bistro on South Carrollton in
Uptown is very good Mexican food, with a lot of gluten-free choices. The
shrimp or salmon appetizers are delicious. I hope you have a memorable
gluten-free trip this year, and hope you revisit next Jazzfest!

Take care,
Adam

Hi,

I live in Metaire, LA, and since diagnosed with Celiac not long ago, has had many "accidents" dining out in New Orleans. The one where I had good experience was a small nice place called "Dante's Kitchen". The table staff that we had was quite knowledgable about celiac. The fish dish that I ordered was fantastic and it was gluten free. Unfortunately, when you have celiac you don't have too many choices from the menu.

Dante's Kitchen is at the corner of Dante St. and Leake Ave.

Good luck.

Rajawali

Any booze but beer???

just got back from new orleans....my best experiences were at NOLA's and Cafe Amelie. Both were very knowledgeable about the gluten-free diet and accomodated. Aunt Sally's pralines are gluten-free, so you can enjoy them while your friends enjoy cafe du monde next door. Places that would not accomodate...Shula's & Palace Cafe.