Gluten Free In Williamsburg
My initial instinct when blogging is to write grandiose posts that encompass all of student life and each possible student concern, wrapping each up nicely with the writing-equivalent of a slow camera fade set to inspirational music. After several disparaging attempts, I’ve put epic on the shelf for more specific how-to’s and individual anecdotes from life in Williamsburg. Hopefully this will give you an idea of everyday life at William & Mary.
Today’s blog focuses on a concept that is both close to home and completely foreign to me … dieting. Specifically, living on a gluten free diet in Williamsburg. Reason being, my girlfriend has Celiac disease and cannot process gluten, or any traces of gluten products. At this point, I’m guessing you are either ecstatic that someone is blogging about a situation so similar to your own, to which I would also recommend http://glutenfreeryangosling.tumblr.com/, or you’re asking ‘what’s gluten?’ Gluten is basically a protein component that’s in everything you eat such as wheat, barley and rye.
For lent of this year I decided to try giving up gluten and all gluten-contaminated foods. Needless to say, a gluten free (aka GF) diet, whether by choice or by force, is not an easy task and it can seem particularly difficult in a small town like Williamsburg. There’s hope, though, because if I can do it so can you! Below I’ve listed restaurants close to campus where students tend to eat out with a breakdown of what they offer that is (completely) gluten free.
- Our Dining Halls!
- The W&M dining halls have a number of options in their buffet lines marked with red pen.
- The Marketplace does a GF wrap at the wrap station!
- WAWA (this one is a seminal establishment for William & Mary Students and luckily there are a lot of GF options)
- All UTZ and most Lays potato chips (for 99 cents!)
- Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream
- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
- Slurpees
- Much, much more that I couldn’t even start to list here.
- Pita Pit
- Lots of FroYo flavors, which are GF unless Wheat is marked on their label
- Chipotle
- Everything!!!! (aside from the tortillas)
- Panera (ask for them to change their gloves)
- Black Bean Soup
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Sweet Frog/Berry Body
- Most FroYo and many toppings (same situation as Pita Pit)
- The Cheese Shop (a William & Mary favorite that luckily has GF options)
- Gluten free bagels with Ham and chicken breast, as well as most cheeses
- Food For Thought
- They have an extensive GF menu and prepare everything separately.
- Carrabba’s Italian
- All Carrabba’s pasta can also be made GF!
- The Daily Grind
- Our on-campus coffee shop has GF bread to make delicious sandwiches with and their owner, Scott, is also GF so he knows how to prepare everything.
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I have Celiac’s as well, so just as you predicted I was “ecstatic” to read your post. I was already aware of some of your suggestions but others we’re welcome treats. I did want to add a few of my own, if you don’t mind, that I find particularly pleasing. Mexican restaurants like Plaza Azteca and El Tolteca are great places to find gluten-free options because so many of their options use corn tortillas and the melted cheese is safe. Also, Five Guys uses a dedicated potato fryer so their fries are safe for an indulgent snack. You already mentioned Carraba’s, but that restaurant operates under the same corporation as Outback and Bonefish Grill. All three restaurants have a range of GF options and their staff are well acquainted with accommodating the diet (I highly recommend the Saucy Shrimp at Bonefish). Another restaurant with a GF menu is UNO Chicago Grill, which offers pizza, but if you want a truly sinful pizza experience, you must try the GF pizza at Z-Pizza in New Town. You won’t regret it. Lastly, all of the grocery stores in the area carry gluten-free products which makes cooking much easier. Martin’s, in particular, has shelf labels throughout the store delineating GF products as well as an entire GF aisle in the organic section. Looks like Williamsburg isn’t such a bad place to live GF. Thanks for cluing everyone in.
You make me proud to be a member of the Tribe, Philip.
Thanks guys, that’s awesome! We tried the 5 guys fries with a Wendy’s milkshake and it was delicious. Z Pizza is so good! Buy 1, get one for $2 at Z pizza on Tuesdays!
Awesome post! Thanks for sharing. I’m starting a gluten free club on campus this year to offer a space of support/conversation for people living gluten free or trying to support someone who is gluten free. Everyone is welcome!
Thanks for the post Philip! I’m gluten free too and it’s awesome that you tried it out for your girlfriend! Also, a new restaurant opened up, Sticks– I’ve heard they’re great for Celiacs.