Most recently, La Strada in Del Ray announced yesterday that gluten-free pasta dishes are available upon request to guests (no small wonder considering the culinary mine field gluties are forced to navigate on Italian menus bulging with wheat- and flour-based items).

Other restaurants in the area, including some of the establishments that comprise  Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG), have been trumpeting gluten-free dining options for a while now (perhaps this forward thinking gluten philosophy has to do with co-owner Michael Babin’s S.O. having a gluten allergy?)

At NRG’s Rustico, gluties can indulge in usually-off-limits pizza pie without fear.  Any pie on the menu can be made with a gluten-free chick pea dough (and in fact the menu states except for Eggplant Parmesan and Potato Gnocchi, all items can be made gluten-free). Further, if you thought your Celiac diagnosis was the death knell for enjoying flour-based sweets, guess again. Buzz Bakery Pastry Chef Josh Short makes a mean gluten-free brownie, and gluten-free cakes can be special ordered from the store as well.  

Heading around the beltway to Tysons Corner, gluties can enjoy selections from a gluten-free menu at Wildfire culled together by Chef Steve Lukis. The menu houses a wide array of gluten-free pizzas, sandwiches, and most interestingly a wheat-free beer!

Are you a glutie? Check out dcgluties.com to seek out new restaurants and boldy go where no gluties have gone before.

–Amy Loeffler