Gorgeous salmon tacos — hold the cheese but add avocado — at Barrio. I’m always surprised that my X-rays don’t reveal a belly full of tacos.
I’ve written about the challenges of finding safe, mostly healthy gluten free, pescatarian food when traveling. But I’m home in Bend more than I’m roaming the world which means I eat at local restaurants. Here are a few I favor, though more linger on my to-try list.
R and I love Mexican food. Fortunately, many Mexican dishes are good gluten free, veganish-pescatarian options if the kitchen is trained to cook without adding gluten and avoids cross contamination.
LaRosa in NWX is one of our weekly hangouts. We love the owner, the staff and that the restaurant is a quick 18 minute walk from our house. LaRosa offers gluten free chips prepared in a dedicated fryer and pays careful attention to safe kitchen practices. I like many items but my favorites are the Enchilada Del Mar, Tacos de Pescado, Sopa de Vegetables, and the lunch bowl (pictured below) all ordered dairy free.
The vegetarian lunch bowl is a wonderful mix of sautéed veggies, black & pinto beans, and sauce.
Our other Latin American fave is Barrio in downtown Bend. While the chips are not safe for me to eat — no dedicated fryer —the food is so delicious that I don’t miss them. At Barrio, I’m a creature of happy habit. I often order yummy salmon tacos with avocado but no cheese or mushroom & corn tacos. Frequently at lunch I order their delicious mushroom & corn enchiladas. R is addicted to the paella, which is also gluten free. We are regulars at Barrio, which I think is a good thing.
Barrio’s heavenly mushroom & corn enchiladas. Gluten free and vegan.
R loves Barrio’s mixta paella, also gluten free.
A favorite that is only open for lunch is the friendly Sunny Yoga, which actually holds yoga classes when the kitchen is closed. Sunny Yoga offers a host of excellent options for gluten free vegans. The Sunny Bowl is one beauty filled with spinach, kale, peppers, quinoa, garbanzo beans and topped with a curry sauce. It looks delicious and some day I will order the bowl when I’m less smitten with the Sunny Burger, a veggie wonder of spinach, walnuts, onions and arugula (I leave off the mayo and cheese but add avocado) available either on gluten free bread or on a bed of arugula with a splash of sriracha hot sauce.
My photo does not do justice to the Sunny Veggie Burger pictured here on arugula.
Another terrific spot for lunch is the upscale Zydeco. Zydeco offers a gluten free menu, though many options are meat and dairy based. But along with some interesting salads is the Zydeco vegetable beet burger. I order this fabulous meatless burger on gluten free bread, without cheese but with a hearty shot of barbecue sauce.
Mystery to me how that lone crispy fry ended up on my veggie burger
Breakfast out is a dicey meal for me for I find it challenging to find an option that is gluten free, safe and worth eating. While I know egg whites are not vegan, I do, on occasion indulge in Chow’s Huevos Rancheros. I order this dish of corn tortillas, black beans, ancho and green chile sauces with egg whites but without dairy. Not really vegan but certainly vegetarian and delicious.
Huevos Rancheros at Chow, a lovely treat
Other great places in town for gluten free, veganish-pescatarian eats include Spork and Broken Top Bottle Shop. Spork offers a savory gluten free, vegan West African Peanut Curry as well as rice bowls with tofu. Broken Top Bottle Shop, a quick walk from our house, features many traditional meat and dairy items, but also has fresh veggie salads easily topped with tofu or grilled salmon as well as a variety of gluten free appetizers.
Many more restaurants we’ve yet to try so lots of happy eating in Bend.
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