STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 46
SUSHI AND ASIAN CUISINE Miso: Offers a dedicated GF menu. While smaller than the main menu, the options are excellent and safe.
Nagoya: They don’ t have a formal GF menu, but almost any meal can be adapted( excluding certain fried items). GF meals are prepared in the back to avoid sharing a grill.
Akeno: They do not use peanut products in-house and are very accommodating toward various sensitivities and allergies.
PIZZA RESTAURANTS
Hideaway Pizza: Likely the best local option for allergens. They offer two types of GF crusts that are made off-site and prepackaged. Staff use fresh gloves, clean utensils, and – when volume allows – a dedicated oven. Their crusts are vegan, they offer vegan cheese, and they use rice oil instead of peanut oil.
Empire Slice House: Offers a house-made 10-inch GF crust prepared in a separate area. They provide vegan cheese, and the only peanut product on-site is their peanut butter dessert cookie.
Domino’ s, Pizza Hut, and Papa Johns: While they offer GF crusts( Pizza Hut uses Udi’ s), these chains generally warn those with celiac disease to avoid them due to the high risk of cross-contamination.
SIT-DOWN FAMILY RESTAURANTS
Eskimo Joe’ s and Texas Roadhouse: Neither has a specific GF menu, but both are known for being highly accommodating if you speak with the server.( Tip: Ask about the seasonings on the steaks).
Freddie Paul’ s: While they lack a formal GF menu, their“ yard bird” and pecan-crusted chicken are fantastic GF options( though they do contain dairy).
Chili’ s: They have some“ hidden” GF options, like the Santa Fe Chicken Salad( order without tortilla strips).
Café 33( Perkins): Despite being a small-town steakhouse, their staff is knowledgeable and willing to check with the kitchen to ensure ingredients are safe.
* I love this place. I was skeptical when my husband wanted to eat here because, in my experience, small-town restaurants are not the best at accommodating people with food allergies. I have been there three times now, and they are always helpful and accommodating!
Those of us with celiac disease or severe intolerances know we are difficult to accommodate, but this is our reality. Many of us don’ t eat out often, but it’ s nice to do so occasionally without the fear of getting sick.
Hideaway Pizza
BAKERIES
Nothing Bundt Cakes: According to Shift Manager Amberlee Hart, they take significant precautions to separate GF products and utensils. While they cannot 100 % guarantee against cross-contamination, many local celiac diners( including this author) have had great success here. They also offer a dairy-free carrot cake.
At certain times of the year, they have a few options that are peanut-flavored products, but when they make these products, they are also made separately from everything else and are stored in the same fridge as other things but inside a container.
Persimmon Hill Farm and Bakery: A standout for safety. Owner Shonna Richardson maintains a separate room, separate dishes, and even a designated baker for GF items. They offer GF sandwiches, breakfast items, and pie crusts. Because they bake from scratch, they can also accommodate dairy-free requests with advanced notice.“ We are always looking to expand as well, so we are hoping to start making GF sour dough at some point.”
They do use some peanut butter in their kitchen, but separate mixing bowls and utensils are used to make the baked goods with peanut butter. They have breads that are dairy free, and they can provide dairy-free baked goods upon advanced notice.“ We make cakes with dairy-free frosting. My big thing is because we make everything from scratch, we can make it how we want to. It helps us to control our ingredients,” Richardson said.
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Loren of Nothing Bundt Cake
STORY BY: Alisa Boswell Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 46