Happy Celiac Awareness Month! Thanks to Gluten-Free in SB reader, Ellen, I got a tip that Islands offers great GF burger buns. They also have a gluten-free menu! We decided to try it out yesterday at the prime dining time of 4:45pm to avoid the rush. I prefer eating super early when I am trying a restaurant for the first time so I can ask the server all of my questions without feeling like they are rushed. After asking our waiter my usual questions, he confirmed the following answers with the manager and kitchen: The gluten-free buns are prepared in a safe spot when told it is for an allergy/celiac. The fries are made in their own fryer. However they are close to the fryer that is used for non-GF things, so there is a slight chance of oil splattering into the fries fryer. I took the risk and ordered my Maui Burger with fries. The bun definitely held together better than the standard Udi’s bun. Upon asking about it, the waiter informed me they are made by Smart Flour. I really liked the fries (and felt fine last night), but I did feel a little risky eating them. Would you have tried them?
Islands
1 May- Comments 4 Comments
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I started my morning with a green power smoothie and cinnamon roll from @goletacoffeeco - if you haven’t heard yet, Goleta Coffee Company will have its last day of business on February 15th. Don’t panic though! Owner Stacy Rebich Hespanha will be continuing Loca Vivant Kitchen in a wholesale model. Thank goodness this won’t be the last of their amazing GF breads and goodies!
One of my favorite lunch spots is @bettinapizzeria as they always have super delicious, seasonal salads on their menu. This one consisted of snap peas, pancetta and pecorino and was fantastic. It also happened to be naturally GF!
Tonight was one of those dinners that I wish you could all smell. I made the Red Curry Vegetable Rice from “The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook” by @vanessaweisbrod - it was so flavorful and filling. We ate it with some @bfreefoods pita which was perfect for scooping every last morsel from the bowl.
Over the past few weeks we’ve made the drive to @sykitchen numerous times because the food and service are great and because we like their outdoor seating situation. Some of the menu items I have enjoyed are the local lettuce (GF as is), the prosciutto di Parma (with no bread), the salmon puttanesca (GF as is), the maccheroncini al brasato (with GF pasta), the wild mushroom pappardelle (with GF pasta) and the el viejo cocktail. They use @pasta_granoro for their GF pasta. You just have to request it to be cooked in a clean pot and with clean tools!
I love the chicken salad from @eatpanino so I will often get a small container of it to go without the bread that usually comes with it. Today I paired the chicken salad with @bfreefoods pita pockets I found @sprouts - along with a bag of @kettlebrand chips from Panino, this was a tasty way to start the week!
I found myself hungry for lunch a bit early today so I ordered a “build your own bowl” from @goletacoffeeco well before 11am. My customized bowl had quinoa, carnitas, black beans, shredded kale, shredded carrot, tomato, green onion and avocado. It came with their house-baked hearty artisan gluten-free bread. Does anyone else made weird mmm noises when they are eating something delicious? No? Just me? Let’s just say it was a very noisy meal.
gluten-free in sb 
I have eaten at the SB Islands 3 times. Each server was very knowledgable & the manager came over as well to explain how they help keep gluten free items from being cross contaminated. I used my Nima sensor at 2 of the 3 visits and the food came back safe. I’m happy to have another GF restaurant option in town.
I found that our server wasn’t too knowledgeable but was quick to confirm all of my questions with the manager and kitchen. I’m glad to hear that Nima approved it! Did you have the fries?
Another great post glutenfreeinsb! As a celiac I really appreciate all the great information you provide. To be honest even though I’m incredibly sensitive, given their gluten knowledge I would absolutely take that ‘risk’. You naturally run a risk every time you eat out with cross-contamination in the kitchen however they seem to REALLY know what they’re doing. Thanks again can’t wait to see where you go next!
Thanks for chiming in!