Where to find the East Bay’s tastiest gluten-free food

Once I found I had a wheat intolerance 25 years in the past, the East Bay gluten-free panorama was decidedly barren; fortunately, it’s extra verdant now, whereas nonetheless a bit quirky.

These days, many individuals keep away from gluten for quite a lot of causes, however when these with celiac illness eat gluten (a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley), their bodies mount an immune response that attacks the small intestine. So, for them, the power to take pleasure in consuming out, whereas being sure to keep away from any hint of gluten, is of major significance. 

At most eating places, even when a dish is listed as “GF” on the menu, these with celiac should pepper the server with questions to make certain there might be no cross contamination. For instance, consuming a supposedly “GF dish” that was fried in the identical oil that was beforehand used to arrange a dish containing gluten, may trigger a particularly painful response that lasts for hours.

For these diners, the uncommon eating places which have devoted gluten-free kitchens enable them to let their guard down barely, as anybody with celiac or a wheat intolerance can take pleasure in the whole lot on the menu.

On March 24, the opening of Kitava Albany added a devoted gluten-free kitchen to Solano Avenue. (That is Kitava’s third location after San Francisco’s Mission and Oakland’s Temescal.) 

Proprietor Bryan Tublin’s unique motivation was attempting to heal his personal power ache. Meals was one piece of that. After he studied for 2 years at Berkeley’s Bauman College, he began doing wholesome pop-ups.

“Our philosophy in direction of allergens is essential,” Tublin mentioned. “We need to make actual meals that makes you are feeling good and that’s accessible to as many individuals as we are able to. There are lots of people who’ve gluten allergic reactions or sensitivities. We need to make it so after they come into Kitava they don’t have to consider it. They will order the whole lot right here; gluten shouldn’t be on the premises. Identical with peanuts and soy. It’s not that these issues are inherently unhealthy, we simply need to be welcoming to people which have any dietary wants. Even when folks have different kinds of allergic reactions, we need to be the place that claims, ‘let’s discover one thing that can be just right for you.’”

Nosh has collected a handful of 100% gluten-free kitchens, principally gluten-free eating places, and a few particular gluten-free dishes across the East Bay. Many extra are on the market to be tasted — tell us your favorites. 

Devoted gluten-free kitchens

All Kitava places have 100% gluten-free kitchens, and in addition comply with “clear consuming rules,” which keep away from the opposite most typical allergens: dairy, peanuts, and soy, in addition to unhealthy oils, refined sugar, and chemical compounds. 

Their latest eatery is brilliant, ethereal, and dotted with crops. It took over the previous Boss Burgers, plus added area from an adjoining actual property workplace, with 50 seats and a parking zone within the again. This can be a quick informal spot with construct your individual bowls from many choices, together with rice, veggies and salads. Vegan choices can be found, plus domestically sourced hen, pork, beef and tuna. Specialties embrace hen or cauliflower in a crispy cassava coating and a black bean protein patty. Desserts embrace brownies, cookies and dairy-free smooth serve.

Kitava: 1187 Solano Ave., Albany and 375 fortieth St, Oakland; each places are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a regular basis with brunch service 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday by way of Sunday

Paul Iglesias’ Colombian heritage influenced his determination to make his restaurant 100% gluten free. He realized that, historically, Colombian and different South American cuisines included no glutinous grains till the 1500’s when the Spanish arrived with wheat in tow. That truth, plus the fact that an increasing number of people are creating celiac and different sensitivities to gluten, made it a simple determination to completely get rid of it from the restaurant.

His artistic Colombian delicacies contains arepas, empanadas, and smashed plantains. Yuca, maize and rice all make appearances topped or full of flavorful stewed meats and veggies in addition to creative ceviche. My favourite ceviche mixed trout with mango leche de tigre, squid ink aioli, basil oil, and coriander oil, and was topped with crispy salmon pores and skin.

Parche: 2295 Broadway, Oakland; open Sunday by way of Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Strolling into Mariposa Bakery Cafe is like being transported to a gluten-free wonderland, the place each cookie, croissant, cake, pie, pretzel, and pasta may be loved with out fear. Mariposa’s founder, Patti Furey Crane, is the godmother of gluten-free baked items within the Bay Space. She opened her Oakland bakery and cafe in 2006 and creates gluten-free variations of each possible baked good, from cupcakes to cinnamon rolls, plus a half dozen totally different breads. A few of my favorites embrace her moist, fudgy “Penguino” cupcakes, homey hen pot pie and gooey cinnamon rolls (tip: take them house, wrap calmly in foil and warmth at 375 levels till heat and melty). At their cozy cafe, for breakfast, you’ll be able to select from bagels, scones and muffins. Lunch options pizzas, sandwiches, quiche, pot pies, empanadas and far more. 

Mariposa Baking Co.: 5427 Telegraph Ave. d3, Oakland;  open Monday by way of Thursday 9 a.m. to five p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to six p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to five p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu opened their West Berkeley bakery in 2018 with a novel deal with that shortly gained an enormous following. The bakery went completely gluten free the next yr. Their mochi muffins and donuts are available in a variety of flavors. The unique mochi muffin options mochiko rice flour, natural French-style butter, a mix of pandan and coconut milk and is sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds. Different flavors embrace chocolate chip, black sesame, churro, matcha, chili crisp and, my favourite, ube. Baked butter donut flavors embrace mango ardour, guava cheesecake and lots of extra varieties. 

Third Culture Bakery: 2701 eighth St., Berkeley; open on a regular basis 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Crystal Wahpepah’s altering seasonal menu honors foods from Native producers both local and across North America. The whole lot on the restaurant is gluten free besides fry bread and cornbread. Her signature dishes embrace Kickapoo chili within the winter, a medley of squashes within the fall, festive inexperienced salads in spring and a berry celebration in summer time. I really like her chewy/crispy wild rice fritters, which function cranberries, corn, and zucchini and are topped with a pumpkin seed sauce, her blueberry-infused bison meatballs, and the salmon tostadas on blue corn tortillas.

Wahpepah’s Kitchen: 3301 East twelfth St., suite # 133, Oakland; open Wednesday by way of Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

The whole lot at this Temescal restaurant is gluten free besides the breads. Their menu publicizes the central function of spices of their Indian dishes. Some standouts embrace aloo tikki chaat, (a crispy Indian potato patty flavored with spices and topped with Chana garbanzo masala), saag paneer (sauteed spinach with paneer cheese), hen korma (which is cooked in a wealthy cashew cream sauce), baingan bharta (roasted eggplant, peas and tomatoes in a spicy sauce) and, for dessert, kheer (creamy rice pudding with cardamom). 

Marigold Indian Eats: 4868 Telegraph Ave., Oakland; open on a regular basis 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The whole lot is gluten free, apart from the flour tortillas in children’ meals and the churros, that are cooked individually. On a regular basis, the restaurant options tacos with contemporary substances, comparable to pork, beef, and hen, plus veggie selections like mushrooms or cauliflower. I really like the contemporary fish tacos, their hearty pozole con pollo soup, sprinkled with crunchy radish shards, and their salad de la casa, which is festively topped with strawberries, pecans, cheese, raisins and pecans and dressed with a mango French dressing.  5 Tacos and Beers additionally incorporates a collection of gluten-free beers.

5 Tacos and Beers: 1175 Solano Ave., Albany; open Monday by way of Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Teni East provides a contemporary twist on conventional Burmese delicacies. From their satisfying fermented tea leaf salad that incorporates a mound of child kale, to flavorful beef, lamb and hen curries, with loads of veggie dishes too, the whole lot is gluten free besides the breads. 

Teni East Kitchen: 4015 Broadway, Oakland; open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11am to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., closed Mondays

Particular gluten-free dishes

Lucia’s gluten-free pizza and pasta

Lucia’s particular mix of rice and wheat starch flour produces puffy, fluffy pizza crusts, that are wildly in style (they promote 40-50 gluten-free pizzas a day.) They use rice flour on their counters  and the whole lot is saved separate, (besides the identical oven is used for each gluten-free and common pizzas). In addition they supply gluten-free pastas, appetizers (like an exquisite calamari fritti), and desserts.

Lucia’s: 2016 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Sailing Goat gluten-free fish and chips

This outside (canine pleasant) restaurant on the water at Level San Pablo Harbor typically options reside music. It has a devoted gluten-free fryer and serves domestically caught, crispy battered fish which matches completely with their french fries and coleslaw. In addition they supply a weekly gluten-free chowder and a few gluten-free desserts.

Sailing Goat: 1900 Stenmark Drive, Richmond; open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Monday-Thursday

Though a lot of the celebrated bagels at Bageltopia include wheat flour, they’ve discovered a reasonably good gluten-free choice from Odd Bagel in Richmond*, which makes half a dozen flavors. Bageltopia solely carries their plain and the whole lot varieties, however this conscientious spot allowed my gluten-loving husband and me to have an important breakfast collectively. Whereas he loved their common poppy seed bagel with cream cheese and jam, I ordered a gluten-free the whole lot bagel with lox which got here topped with capers and the thinnest sliced crimson onions, simply the way in which I prefer it. Servers are very acutely aware of respecting gluten-free protocols and maintain a devoted toaster and prep station. When you order spreads or toppings, they’ll take them from particular reserves within the fridge which haven’t been beforehand touched.

Bageltopia: 1401 College Ave., Berkeley: open Tuesday by way of Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Mondays

*You’ll find packages of Odd Bagels at each Berkeley Bowls and Alameda Pure Grocery and they’re additionally served at Saul’s and Levy’s Bagel and Firm.

Ever since Paul Masse began his bakery in North Berkeley 27 years in the past, his focus has been on creating beautiful conventional European truffles and confections. A number of of those are made with a base of solely nut flours, like almond, hazelnut or pistachio, and thus are naturally gluten free. These embrace chocolate hazelnut sponge cake, almond pistachio raspberry sponge cake, and Viennese chocolate cake made with almond flour. All are superbly adorned with chocolate flowers or different aesthetic touches. Different gluten-free treats are all the time accessible, together with pot de crème, plus a slew of almond macarons in refined flavors comparable to lavender, chocolate with wild orange, ginger with lemon, and salted caramel. Whereas their truffles will not be assured 100% gluten free attributable to flour within the kitchen, I discover them an important dessert to serve at events the place folks with various sensitivities could also be current.

Masse’s Pastries: 1469 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; open Wednesday by way of Saturday 10 a.m. to five p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Tuesdays