Eating out GF in Santa Cruz,

[Guest guest]

Here are more suggestions for restaurants that are popular with members of the Santa Cruz Celiac Support group: Vasili's Greek food on Mission (great lemon-chicken soup); Ristorante Avanti on Mission; Ristorante Italiano on Soquel Ave.; Ideal Fish on the Wharf (check out their weekly lobster special; I think it is on Wednesday; they have been good about substituting ingredients if you tell them you have a medically required diet); Thai House on Soquel Ave.; Little Tampico in Soquel; Pallapas in Aptos. Taqueria Vallarta on Soquel Avenue. Also, all the Mc s in the Santa Cruz area are used to serving hamburgers with no buns, as our family has been to all of them many times. The french fries are OK at Mc s as well. The sushi restaurants are great too; we bring our own soy sauce. The Boardwalk is hopeless but there are a few Mexican places across the street where you can do OK, as well as the wharf. If you are into an expensive dinner, try the Casa Blanca. I haven't been there in a long time, but they were very accomodating the last time we went.

In s Valley, all on Mount Hermon Road, you can find several great places to eat gluten-free: s Valley Chinese Cuisine (ask the owner, , to make your food without soy sauce or bring your own GF soy sauce); Bruno's Barbecue (the best ribs around and the sauce is gluten-free!!!!! you CANNOT eat the french fries, but the chili, coleslaw, and potato salad are OK); right across the parking lot from Bruno's is El Faro Mexican Food (they have excellent Mexican food, much of which is GF or can be made that way; you can eat the sauce on the enchiladas and the tamales, and if you want the flautas they will cook them in fresh oil if you ask); Tuscon Taqueria is across the street and has a large dining area but the food is not quite as good as El Faro (the tamales are NOT GF but you can have the sauce on the enchiladas).

Going farther afield, you can find a good selection at La Cabana in Davenport (their tamales are gf but not the sauce; make sure that their griddle is cleaned before cooking anything: they also heat up bread on the same griddle and I have gotten bread crumbs in the carne asada). The Davenport Cash Store (this is a store, restaurant, and B & B in Davenport) has been accommodating in the past, but I haven't been there in years. I don't recommend El Palomar because, even though they clamed no gluten was in our food, we had problems with it; this was several years ago and I haven't tried it since, so they may have changed. Sorry there are so many Mexican food places, but that and Chinese seem to be all my kids like. Also near the mall in Capitola is Marie Calendars. I haven't ever been there, but others in our group have said they are accommodating to celiacs. Please remember to check the ingredients of your meal since things can always change.

Pam Newbury

Santa Cruz Celiac Support Group

-----Original Message-----From: LSBlondie@... [mailto:LSBlondie@...]Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 3:25 PM Subject: Re: [ ] New Member in the South BaySide note for Gretchen...Do you know of any good GF restaurants in Santa Cruz. Me and my boyfriend love to take day trips there and I always have to bring my own meals.