Trip from Michigan to Atlanta, GA

[cardine45]

I managed to get the week of Labor Day off from work, so I'm going to take a trip down to Atlanta, GA for the week. I'm going to be driving, so I'd like to stop off at some great gf restaurants along the way if there are any.

The route I have planned goes through the following big cities: Fort Wayne, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; Nashville, TN; Chattanooga, TN; and finally on to Atlanta, GA. There are a few other possible routes, if I need to detour, or I can go a different route each way.

I'll probably be in Atlanta for 4-5 days, so I mainly want places I can go there (I can only eat so much along the drive).

As long as I'll be driving through places I wouldn't normally go, I'd love to try out as much as I can. Any suggestions are welcome (even if it's a store to buy stuff I can snack on along the way.)

[cardine45]

I'm still looking for places to go, but I can't seem to find info on the reason I originally chose Atlanta. Isn't there an Outback that is 100% gluten-free in the area, or one that at least has more options than most Outback's? I know they tried it, but I can't figure out which one it was to find out if they continued with it or if it was just a trial period.

Any help would be appreciated.

[aklap]

Hey - you could get a GF blooming onion!!! It's in Roswell, GA - if i remember correctly.

this is old - http://gladtobeglutenfree.blogspot.com/2008/06/fabulous-outback-steakhouse-only-in.html
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[mrsppmrxky]

The Outback there is wonderful! We went and it was so worth the trip. We gorged on the blooming onion. We wanted to get one to take home and freeze, but we decided it might not reheat well enough. The staff were very helpful and they were open to making us up a dish or two for traveling back to freeze.

If you are in Atlanta, there is a small grocery store there called RETURN TO EDEN. It is great!!! The staff there are very gracious in helping your find what you are looking for. Jennifer Harris works there and she puts signage up with her picks on really good items.

Their prices are not too bad either. When we go through Atlanta on our way to visit family, we stop and buy groceries and take them home in the cooler. They are cheaper than the whole foods.

If you buy out of the bulk bins, they make sure that only GF items go in the bulk bins. They do not have scoops, so you don't have to worry about that.

The Trader Joe's in Atlanta is not worth the waste of your time to visit. There is a list of GF dining in Atlanta.

You might try the Return to Eden website to see if they can provide you that info. Or they might put you in contact with the Celiac group that can give you a listing.

They have a gluten free fair in October this year. (I know that isn't your time frame, but I am giving the plug now.)
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[cardine45]

Thanks Al and Mrs. P. That will definitely help me to get started in making plans. I suppose that week will be here before I know it, so I think I need to look into it myself a bit more too.

I wish the food fair was when I would be there. I loved the one I went to in Michigan.

Mrs. P, is everything gf at the Outback there, or do they just have more than most? That's a great idea to get stuff to freeze to bring home with me. I can show it off to the waiter I know here, and tell them to get to work on getting the dedicated fryer up and running which will get them one step closer

[mrsppmrxky]

I think that they also serve gluten, but I would not stake a bet on it. LOL

We had a gf menu and the waiter was very attentive to make sure we had a great experience.
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[cardine45]

Thank you for everyone's help. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I leave in 24 hours!!!

I now know I'm stopping in Nashville, TN, and I'll probably need someplace to stop for dinner Saturday night and lunch on Sunday. Anyone have any suggestions? (worst case scenario, I'll check a gf website, but I'd prefer a place someone has actually been)

I'll keep everyone updated on my trip with all the gluten-free goodies as I go.

[cardine45]

I'm back! I didn’t really have access to internet while I was on vacation, so here’s a summary of the whole trip.

Saturday night, I had dinner at P.F. Changs in Nashville, TN. When I called in advance, they went over how they avoid cross-contamination, and it sounded like they do a pretty good training program at that location. Each person I came into contact with knew exactly what I was talking about. I had the Philip’s Better Lemon Chicken, and it was delicious. The only complaint I had about the place was parking. I couldn’t find a place to park, and I needed a hotel anyway, so I just stayed at the Marriott next door so I could park in their ramp and walk over which worked well.

Sunday night, I went to Maggiano’s in Nashville because my best friend from 3rd grade works there, so we met after her shift. I was highly impressed by the staff and their rules about food allergies and such. Their policy is that if you have any sort of food allergy or even a specific dietary preference, they send the chef out to go over the menu with you. They do not have a specific gf menu, but it’s not necessary when you can speak with the chef directly. I had the Chicken Francese with a side of gf noodles in marinara sauce (I was very impressed that they had gf noodles).

I arrived in Atlanta, GA late Sunday night, but I caught my second wind when my friends girlfriend showed me everything she had bought for me. There were a couple of microwave meals, lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and then the best part: She got me paper plates, plastic cups, plastic silverware, a new steak knife, a 12 piece set of regular silverware, sponges to wash things, and all new supplies to bake the Betty Crocker gf brownie mix (plastic bowls, a whisk, disposable pans, etc). I’ve never even met this girl, and she did more for my visit than any of my friends or family has ever done for me.

Monday night was my first night in Atlanta, GA, and although I had ideas of places to go, I hadn’t planned very well. We were walking around downtown when we decided it was time to eat. We stopped at a place that I think was called Fire of Brazil, but they had no clue what I was talking about, so we left. Next, we tried Benihana’s because I have had luck at a hibachi grill before. The host was completely clueless, but I asked if he could check for me. The manager came out to speak with me, and said I would only have to be careful about the soy sauce. I explained how sensitive I am, and he said that they could certainly accommodate me.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I sat down until a party of 4 joined us at our table. My friends had decided they just wouldn’t have soy sauce on their food, but I couldn’t ask 4 complete strangers to do the same. I immediately waved over the manager, and he said he would tell the waitress and the cook that my food would need to be made first. The other party at the table looked kind of ticked off that they had to wait longer, but I didn’t find it necessary to explain to them why I got my food first. I had the filet mignon, which was excellent.
I don’t know if I would recommend Benihana’s to others, especially if they’re not comfortable with being very “demanding,” which I’m normally not, but the last thing I wanted was to get sick on vacation. They also didn’t know for sure what was in their soup that came with my meal, so I just skipped it.

Tuesday night, we went to Rathbun’s. I was told that the head chef/owner won Iron Chef, so I was very excited to try the food. They said they would easily be able to accommodate when we made the reservations, and confirmed one of us needed gf food when we arrived. They do not have a gf menu, but the waitress went over my options with me, and stated she would reconfirm with the chef when the order was put in.
For an appetizer, I had Lamp Scaloppini Pancetta, Goat Gouda. My main course was Braised Pork Cheeks, Charred Artichokes, Pecorino Toscano. Dessert was Chocolate Crème Brulee (I chose to ignore my lactose intolerance as I was told their crème brulee is amazing). I could not believe how amazing their food was. Unfortunately Kevin Rathbun was not there that evening, but he has definitely trained his staff well. I did get to meet 2 of the chefs, and the pastry chef (he came out to go over the desserts with me).

Wednesday night, I finally made it to Outback in Roswell, GA. If anyone has the chance to go there, I highly recommend it. They have a dedicated fryer, so you can have aussie fries, sweet potato fries, bloomin onions, etc. They have gf buns so you don’t have to have a burger without a bun. They have gf noodles for their pasta dishes. You can have a majority of the things on the menu, rather than about ½ to ¾ which is what is available at most Outback’s.
I don’t like onions, and I’ve never had a bloomin onion before that I can remember, but I had to get one because I could. It was sooo good. I had a no rules burger with sweet potato fries for my meal, and I was bouncing up and down in my seat as I waited for it. I haven’t had a burger on a bun since my vacation last year the first week of August, so it was very exciting for me.

My breakfasts, lunches, and snacks were mainly Corn Chex, Enjoy Life Cookies, Hormel Chicken & Rice Compleats, and leftovers from restaurant meals.

One more thing--I was too tired to drive all the way from Nashville to Kalamazoo on the way back, so I stopped in Seymour, IN and stayed at Quality Inn. They were nice enough to bring me a microwave to my room so I could heat up a meal. I’ve never thought of asking for that at a hotel that doesn’t automatically have them, but it was definitely helpful considering I couldn’t find a restaurant to eat at.

Sorry the post was so long, but hopefully it will help someone else who makes a similar trip.

[STZ]

Sounds like you had a good trip. Glad everything worked out for you. That was very nice of a total stranger to accomidate you with all new cooking items.....
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STZ
DX = Celiac
High ttg 3/2009
Biopsy positive 10/2009
GF since 3/2009
DX = Osteopenia
Bone Density Test 9/2009

[cardine45]

[Torrey]

Wow!! Sounds like you had an absolutely FABULOUS trip!!! That is fantastic!
And your friend's girlfriend, holy cow--that *is* truly awesome!
So glad to hear you had a great time! And thanks for keeping us all in the know!
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~Torrey

August 24, 1975
GF BD July 12, 2004

[Home-Based-Mom]

I am SO impressed that you were able to eat out so often and not get sick! Quite an accomplishment!
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Sandi ~ learning to live in a world obsessed and infested with wheat.
"If it wasn't food 100 years ago, it isn't food now." Mike Huckabee
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