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Sometimes The Littlest Luxuries Carry The Biggest Impact

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

I don’t know what it is but lately I have become increasingly frustrated with the seemingly endless number of articles that are placing a gluten-free diet back in the fad column.  I am not going to even call out any of the articles because chances are you already saw them and that is not what this post is about.  Every time I see one of those articles or some “C-lebrity” signs-on to the “craze” it always makes me wonder…Why on earth would you go gluten-free if you didn’t have to?  Again, that’s not what this post is about because it’s been discussed ad nauseum (though I still do ponder this question often).  So then is this post about you ask?

Well, as you likely know, I am always about excess and looking at gluten-free from a more luxury-focused point of view but sometimes it’s the most simple of everyday luxuries that make the biggest impact.  You see, on a recent business trip a few months ago I found myself in Dallas.  I found several really fantastic gluten-free locales that I will share in a future post but perhaps my most favorite meal was at Subway. 

Yes, you read that right – the sandwich chain (its Texas locations feature GF rolls).  You see it was a luxury for me to 1) walk into a major chain; 2) actually queue-up with a line of people; 3) be able to order off of the “normal” menu; 4) feel like the manager who came out to make my sandwich was looking out for me (and had been trained); and 5) actually sit down with everyone else, unwrap my sandwich, and enjoy a casual lunch.

Actually, to be completely honest I teared-up a bit when I unwrapped my sandwich and could not stop talking to people about it afterwards.  I know that most people were like, great, you ate at a Subway – here’s your medal.  But it was so much more you see.  It was a luxury.  A true honest to goodness unplanned  luxury that I do not get to experience very often.  Those of you that follow me know that I am all about doing what I want, when I want, and I never let Celiac have control over my lifestyle (but it definitely is something I always have to consider when out and about).  Yet, somehow, walking into a rather nondescript Subway in downtown Dallas became one of my most memorable meals of 2012.  It’s funny how something so simple that I took for granted the majority of my life in my pre-diagnosis days could actually now become so very important.

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, I had a BLT with mayo and a bag of chips.

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Posted in Celiac, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Meals, Products, Restaurants, Reviews, Travel | 5 Comments

Living Gluten Free from a Celiac P.O.V.

Friday, November 30th, 2012

I thought as the year winds down this would be a great opportunity to wax nostalgic and look back on what being gluten-free has really meant to me, the changes to my health, and the changes to the gluten-free landscape.  These are my personal realities that I have experienced as I navigated along my Celiac journey…and believe me it has been and still remains very much a journey.

As is the case with many Celiac diagnoses, I was diagnosed only about twelve years or so ago after more than twenty years of misdiagnoses.  It was always a case of having a funny tummy or acid reflux or a really fast metabolism that no doctor or medicine could seem to fix.  The worst part was not knowing when I would have a reaction to gluten because I had no idea it was the gluten that was the root of my problem – and believe me there were some very interesting situations.

I have to be completely honest, I had not even heard of Celiac disease before my diagnosis.  Gluten meant nothing to me and it was like the first day of school all over again when I found out I actually had Celiac disease.  It was a very different time for Celiacs just a decade ago.  Resources were not that easy to come by, forget about really great tasting products, and support…we’ll good luck with that.  Cue the violins…It was actually a very lonely beginning to my gluten-free journey and a lot of the learning I really had to find out for myself.  It was definitely a period of trial and error as I struggled to get a handle on this disease.  I also happened to become hyper-allergic to shellfish around the same time I was diagnosed Celiac so my eating habits had to undergo a massive re-vamp in a very short period of time.

Reality #1: If you think that you’ll lose weight, think again.
I went gluten-free out of necessity – there just was no other way to lead a normal life as a Celiac without it.  Now, throughout high school and college I was wonderfully thin and the sample-sized racks at stores were my best friend – I mean being a size 27/28 waist and weighing about 150 pounds, the world was my oyster – or so I thought.  What I didn’t realize is that, while perfectly healthy, I looked somewhat sick – I was actually too thin for my age and height.  I thought it was fantastic that I could eat whatever I wanted in any quantity and never gain a pound – never.  I ate like food was going out of style – I simply loved food and once college and grad school came about, let’s just say my eating habits were less than ideal.  I just thought I had a super-fantastic magical metabolism and didn’t ask any questions.  Others, however, did start asking questions – like Did I have an eating disorder?  I can’t blame them for being concerned but I would actually get angry when constantly asked and I knew I was doing nothing out of the norm.  Little did I know that my body was not absorbing nutrients correctly and I was severely damaging my digestive system without even knowing it.

So fast forward to removing gluten from my diet but replacing gluten-filled foods with their gluten-free counterparts.  Okay, at the time of my initial diagnosis there was definitely a lack of good gluten-free products but beggars can’t be choosers and quite frankly I was happy with mediocre bread and pasta vs. nothing.  However, the doctors failed to mention that gluten-free replacements often have twice (or more) the calories and carbohydrates of their gluten-filled counterparts.  This coupled with the fact that once you remove gluten from your diet and you begin to once again absorb nutrients correctly EVERYTHING changes.  Add-in the introduction of more and more delicious gluten-free products hitting the market and it makes for a very weighty combination.  Remember that super slim guy who could eat whatever he wanted?  Well, he fast became a rather large (read gained about 50 pounds or so) version of his previous self.  Worst of all it seemed to just happen without any real warning.  Lesson learned.  It fast became all about moderation and becoming more cognizant of product label details vs. just checking for gluten.

Reality #2: It’s Your Life, Live It.
Perhaps the most common thing that I hear when people are first diagnosed it that they’ll never eat out again.  Can I understand their thinking – absolutely!  It is overwhelming (to say the least) when you suddenly have to change your lifestyle – particularly after decades of doing whatever you wanted.  The good news is that with increased diagnoses comes increased awareness (and yes, we still have a way to go).  I remember trying to explain what it meant to be Celiac when traveling or eating out and getting blank stares.  Now when I dine out more often than not when I say I cannot have gluten I am met with Oh, you have Celiac?  Does this mean that I am ever complacent?  Nope.  I still go through my whole spiel of gluten and shellfish requirements each and every time I eat out even if I have been to a place one hundred times.

I was always a traveler and have been jetting around the globe since I was a toddler so naturally when I was diagnosed I wondered what this would do to my love of travel.  The good news is that it doesn’t stop me in the slightest.  I still go where I want, when I want and have never gone hungry in any part of the world.  Have I had to make concessions – of course – but gluten-free and Celiac disease have become more and more recognized around the globe so things are most definitely getting better.

Reality #3: It’s a pretty delicious gluten-free world out there.
The gluten-free product landscape has truly exploded over the years since my diagnosis and there is now pretty much a gluten-free replacement for anything you could want.  Over the past few years alone there has been an explosion of gluten-free companies and more mainstream companies launching new gluten-free products.  I no longer have to feel like a culinary outcast because I can now have a gluten-free version of some of my favorite gluten-filled options.

It’s also great that some more mainstream companies are now providing gluten-free products but I absolutely love that there are more and more smaller start-up type companies out there that are crafting more artisanal gluten-free options.

A trip to my local supermarket that once yielded perhaps one or two gluten-free items now features an entire aisle of gluten-free goodies.  Gone are the days where I would have to visit several small, out of the way stores to pick up a few items.

Restaurants are also catching on and it is nice to no longer be relegated to the special category that was once met with stares and confusion.  Even the most major of chains either have a gluten-free menu or provide allergen information to their patrons.  There has also been an explosion of restaurants offering at least one or two dedicated gluten-free items for their guests as well, in my opinion, an increase knowledge on the part of management and service staff to not only deal with Celiac but food allergic diners in general.  Is anything ever going to be 100% – absolutely not and we as Celiac or food allergic (or both) diners must still remain diligent in our asking of questions and getting staff to understand the importance of what our requests mean.  Even if I am a regular at a particular locale, I still go through my celiac and allergy spiel to add, at least in my own mind, an added level of comfort when dining out.

Reality #4: Gluten-free is not a fad, it’s a way of life.
This is a particular sticky point with many Celiacs, myself included.  While it is certainly great that gluten-free has really mainstreamed there is a big difference between those who are gluten-free by choice and those of us that are gluten-free out of necessity.  Don’t get me wrong, if you don’t have Celiac disease or a gluten-intolerance and want to be gluten-free by all means please do so.  I am a firm believer in doing whatever makes you a happy camper.  The problem lies with many people labeling gluten-free as a fad, because for many of us it is a required way of life.  This was bound to happen given that gluten-free has essentially mainstreamed now and people are talking about it more and more.   And this is fantastic because the more people talk about it the more front of mind it becomes with the larger population.  It is a double-edged sword because, as is the case with any celebrity, it comes with the truths and the half-truths.

My truth is that I have a disease that can only be corrected by the exclusion of gluten from my diet.  If I could eat normally again I would do it in a heartbeat.  Do I miss being able to eat absolutely everything (and I mean everything) that I want – sure do.  Do I miss the constant pain and health issues I was subject to for more than twenty years?  Absolutely not.

Reality #5: It does get easier.
In the more than twelve years since my diagnosis I have gone from complete and utter confusion to well seasoned Celiac in a relatively brief period of time.  It is amazing how quickly you completely change your lifestyle and have it become the new normal.  I am living proof that someone can go from zero to relative expert over time.  Will it be a challenge?  Yep.  Will there be times you’ll make mistakes?  Yep.  Will you sometimes feel like there is no way you’ll be able to live a full life?  Yep.  I felt all of those emotions and more.  I’ve fallen on my face on this journey and still have hiccups that occur.  Hey, it’s just how life goes sometimes.  So when you are having a tough time or feel like you’re all alone on this journey look around because there’s 1 in 133 that is in exactly the same boat.

I don’t think I have ever really chronicled my experience as a Celiac in a single thread like this before and I found it to be actually rather therapeutic.  Are there way more than five personal realities for me, absolutely, but the five I discussed are my main ones.

Please feel free to comment and share some of your own personal realities.  While some realities might be true for many, we know that Celiac affects people in different ways.  The one thing that I do know is the same for all of us is that we are a pretty tight knit group and without my Celiac diagnoses I would not have met so many fascinating people out there — each of whom bring a great uniqueness to their approach on living life gluten-free — and for that I am truly thankful.

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Posted in Celiac, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Resources | 4 Comments

Swiss Riviera GF Travel Guide, Part III, The Food

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012


With the recent bout of bad weather we experience here in New York City (and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for that matter) coupled with an extremely busy work schedule have prevented me from updating as often as I would have liked.  I am pleased that I have now finished the third and final installment to my Gluten-Free Swiss Riviera Guide which spotlights some of my new food finds in Montreux and Geneva from my September trip.

First off, I have been visiting this region at least once a year now for the previous few years.  The increase in awareness for Celiac disease in just a few short years has truly amazed me.  My earlier visits, while wonderful, required far more effort on my part to ensure that I would not have any issues when dining out.  Even then, I was still met on occasion by people who just could not grasp why I needed to eat a certain way – nor was it easy to get to the bottom of potential ingredients that could cause a problem – and I speak fluent French, German, and Italian – so communication was not the problem – education  on Celiac was.

Fast forward just a few years and dining out has truly become a dream – quite literally a dream.  So, you are likely wondering what’s good gluten-free  on the shores of Lac Leman?
Montreux

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Le Palmeraie
Grand-Rue, 100

Quite possibly the most decadent gluten-free full-breakfast you will ever come across.  Le Palmeraie is the glass-enclosed breakfast room that looks out over the Grand Rue and Lake Leman.  It is truly THE place for a fabulous breakfast in Montreux.  While rooms at the Palace are pricey they are worth every penny and if you can get a rate that include breakfast – jump on it – it is well worth the added expense vs. having to pay separately for breakfast.

My first morning I was presented with a silver tray laden with a selection of gluten-free breakfast items.  Cereals, bread, cookies – you name it, it was on there.  But as past experience demonstrated, the pièce de résistance is not on the tray.  What might that be you ask?  Well, it is the famed gluten-free croissants that I quite literally dream about.  Both plain and chocolate varieties are on hand.  There is also a selection of gluten –free bread and rolls that are available as well.

The “normal” part of the full-breakfast is an impressive host of items both hot and cold, sweet and savory that also includes some naturally gluten-free items as well.  There is also a made-to-order station where omelets and eggs are available.  This is the first proper breakfast that likely has just as much for gluten-free diners as it does for those with no restrictions.

 

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Harry’s New York Bar
Grand-Rue, 100

This is my all-time go-to place when in Montreux.  If I am not there at least once an evening I am there twice.  Now, hands down the bartenders mix the best cocktails in town but Harry’s also serves a full menu ranging from snack-type nibbles to proper dinners.  As it is part of the Palace (though you must enter from outside the hotel) it offers the Fairmont Lifestyle Cuisine Plus menu which I talked about last year on MSBNC.com.  This menu is available at all Fairmonts around the globe and caters to a range of dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegan, diabetic, etc.

Unfortunately, in my experience, the gluten-free options often contain wither fish or shellfish which I am hyper-allergic to.  But fear not, each restaurant can work with you to ensure that your meal will be safe given your needs.  I had two meals this time around and both were amazing.

The real standout though was when I was presented with a WARM bread basket filled with assorted gluten-free rolls.  As they know me there, I didn’t even need to ask for the special menu or the bread – they simply remember and spring into action.  More importantly they will answer any question you might have and go to the kitchen to speak with the chefs to ensure that you can dine without worry – even offering up recommendations.

 

Le Palais Oriental
Middle Eastern(Iranian/Lebanese/Indian)
Quai E. Ansermet, 6

You cannot miss the building that houses the restaurant that boast a bit of Near East architecture on the outside and impressively detailed touches inside.  It truly feels like you are nowhere near the shores of Lake Leman despite the impressive views the locale affords.

Some people say that service here is a bit cold or standoffish but I have always found service to be efficient and attentive which makes me a happy camper.  Don’t be put-off if you receive a somewhat cold reception, it will get warmer (slightly).

The food here definitely makes up for any service inconsistencies offering a delicious sampling of authentic  regional dishes – many of which just happen to be gluten-free by nature.  I opted for a mixed salad, which was quite impressive and delicious with a simple vinaigrette dressing as my starter.  For my main course I went with the chicken kebab that was beautifully presented and equally as delicious.  The meat was so flavorful, tender, and moist.  It was served with a range of condiments and sauces and a side of light and airy basmati rice.

 

Some other Montreux favorites include:

La Terrasse
Rue du Theatre, 11 in the Eden Palace au Lac Hotel (Really along the Quai E. Ansermet facing the Lake)
Idyllic al fresco dining along the shore of the Lake.  Lovely ambience, good service and food.  Service staff understood food restrictions.  No gluten-free menu but a range of menu items either gluten-fre eor made to order gluten-free.  Perfect to be seated just before sundown and enjoy the show.

Le Museum
Rue de la Gare, 40
Just as the name states this is a fondue (meat and cheese varieties) located in the very cool cellar of the Montreux Museum.  The gratin potatoes are NOT to be missed.  Traditional Swiss fondue at its finest.  Excellent food and service in a unique atmosphere.

Restaurant 45
Avenue des Alpes 45 in the Grand Hotel Suisse-Majestic
This is a relative newcomer that offers an eclectic menu and, wait for it, gluten-free rolls (that appeared after I went though my Celiac and food allergy spiel).  Features a large terrace with panoramic views of the Lake.  Excellent food and service.

Au Parc
Grand Rue, 38
Street-level terrace if you prefer outside but in busy location.  Good Italian that was able to meet my needs.  Very good mushroom risotto.  Service spotty.

 

Geneva/Genf/Genève

Le Grand Quai
Quai Général-Guisan, 34 in the Swissôtel Metropole

Only had one night in Geneva this trip so had to make it count.  This was a true delight and fantastic culinary experience.  My food restrictions were addressed wonderfully by our extremely attentive server who ensured that we were so very well taken care of.  While not formal gluten-free menu my server consulted with the chef to find what would work and what would not – though “no” was never uttered and it was all about what they could do for me.  It was a lovely feeling.

The food was amazing – something I do not often say.  Traditional favorites such as a Salad Caprese which was served three ways: frozen; soup, and multicolored tomato tower.  My main course of roast chicken paired with chanterelles was delicious and dessert of a raspberry jelly atop a bed or meringue push me right into food coma territory.  While the décor in the dining room is lovely, we chose to eat outside to enjoy the warm evening.

 

Urban Bio
Rue des Alpes, 19
Gluten-Free Market

A gem of a market that while not exclusively gluten-free has an incredible variety of gluten-free goods.  Everything from croissants to snacks to breads is on hand and the prices are actually pretty decent (remember this is Geneva though).  Definitely worth a visit if nothing else than to pick-up a few nibbles for your hotel room.

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Posted in Celiac, Cocktails, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Resources, Restaurants, Reviews, Travel | No Comments

Swiss Riviera GF Travel Guide, Part II, The Hotels

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

Part II of my Gluten-Free Guide to the Swiss Riviera focuses on the hotels during my stay. There are two hotels on this trip as we decided to spend some time in Geneva before returning home.

This trip we of course stayed at one of our favorite hotels in the world, Fairmont’s Le Montreux Palace. Our home away from home in Geneva was the Swissôtel Metropole — a sibling within the Fairmont group.

Both hotels did not disappoint and full reviews of the hotels can be found in my TripAdvisor reviews. Simply click on a link below to read more:

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace

 

Swissotel Metropole Geneva

Stay tuned for the final part of the guide which will feature what is, in my opinion, the most important part — the food.  In particular, you’ll learn how these hotels handle celiac and food allergic travelers needs.  Here’s a hint…pretty darn good.

Keep reading for the first part of the guide that takes you on-board SWISS International Airlines trans-Atlantic business class gluten-free service.

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Swiss Riviera GF Travel Guide, Part I, The Flights

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

My annual trip to Montreux and Geneva, while always wonderful, someone exceeded all of my expectations this trip.  Perhaps it was because we mixed it up a bit this time trying a new airline on this particular route; tried a new hotel in Geneva; and visited some new locales on this trip.  As always, the focus was on traveling gluten-free from a luxury p.o.v.

I decided to keep the same format as I did with my Lima, Peru GF travel guide from my trip earlier this year and divide the guide into three main parts:

Part I: The Flights
Part II: The Hotels
Part III: The Food

So fasten, your seatbelts.  Make sure those seats are in the full upright and locked position and join me as we visit the Gluten-Free Swiss Riviera.

Part I: The Flights

We typically fly United (when it was Continental) on the New York to Geneva (GVA) nonstop run out of Newark Liberty.  However, this time we decided to try SWISS International Airlines JFK to GVA because the timing worked out to be much more agreeable and I, ever the aviation geek, wanted to try out the new SWISS business class on their A330-300 aircraft.

As always, I am warning you that this is a pretty comprehensive report on the flights as I am also sharing with some travel boards I frequent where like-minded travel enthusiasts congregate to read exactly these types of in-depth travelogues.  So here we go…

Check-in at JFK was extremely painless.  We had already pre-checked-in online prior to arriving at the airport so already had our boarding passes.  SWISS Business had two dedicated check-in lanes and the entire process took five minutes at the most.  All of our checked bags were priority tagged and then taken by a porter to the TSA bag drop.

The SWISS Business lounge, like many in Terminal 4, is pre-security which I always find strange but this is just something to keep in mind because even with a separate line for Business/First at the security checkpoint, it basically still requires a bit of queuing to get through screening.

The lounge itself is divided into two sections: First and Business.  The business section is the larger of the two and is actually quite nicely designed albeit if it did feel a bit crowded when we first arrived – though finding a comfortable place to sit was not a problem.

There are two self-serve bars with an okay range of spirits and wines – though nothing quite earth shattering.  There is also a selection of nibbles on hand (hot and cold) and as our flight was leaving around dinnertime there were a few more substantial choices on hand.  Most of the items were off limits to me as a food allergic traveler but I always prefer liquid nourishment over food at a lounge so was fine with a couple of glasses of red wine (the vodka selection left a bit to be desired).  My partner did sample a few of the items on-hand and said they were pretty meh.  It is just a lounge and we are not talking about full pre-flight dining as offered by other airlines – this was really just nibbles which was fine.

The lounge does afford a great view of the tarmac so I was a happy camper watching all the flight movements taking place – which was quite a bit given the time of day.

We eventually made our way to security and were through in about 15 minutes or so.  As mentioned earlier the lounge is pre-security so give yourself a bit of extra time.  The Business/First lane basically feeds into the main line closer to the actual checkpoint so there will be a bit of wait time regardless.

LX 23
JFK-GVA
A330-300
Seats: 10K and 11K (SWISS Business)

Boarding was on-time and very orderly.  We were greeted at the aircraft door with a smile and directed to our seats.  I had selected the single K seats for both legs of this trip.  The SWISS Business cabin is pretty much what you would expect from SWISS – clean, well-laid out, and very functional.  The staggered seating is, depending on row, 1-2-1 or 2-2-1 and the single A seats offer even more space on either side than the K seats but the K seats felt far more private.

Already at our seats was an amenity kit, blanket, noise canceling headphones, and pillow.  Being a Celiac traveler, I always confirm that my meal was loaded prior to departure and a very nice flight attendant checked with the galley and confirmed that my meal was in fact on-board.  Coats or jackets were swiftly placed on hangers and stowed in the closet.  While boarding was still taking place we were offered pre-departure drinks (water, orange juice, or champagne) served in proper glasses.  Once boarding was complete the flight attendants took to the aisles and offered a selection of reading materials and distributed menus.  The crew worked like a well-oiled machine and were extremely efficient and welcoming but not overly intrusive.  Meal requests were taking prior to departure.

Once airborne, pre-dinner cocktails were served along with a choice of cashews or chips.  Dinner service started soon thereafter and was served in appetizer/salad, then main course, then cheese and/or dessert order – so not a single tray service but not as drawn out as other airlines as most people just want to sleep anyway.  An expedited single-tray quick option was offered to those who really wanted to maximize their sleep time.  Breakfast was ordered at the same time as dinner and passengers simply checked off the items they wanted for breakfast and whether or not they wanted to be woken 2-hours prior to landing for a full service or opt for an express option 45 minutes prior to landing.

My gluten-free meal consisted of: a cold meat starter and then salad, served with a main course of white fish with mixed vegetables and rice along with two wrapped rice-cakes.  Now, I also happen to be hyper-allergic to shellfish which only manifested itself about 15 years ago after a lifetime of enjoying shellfish without any issues.  Therefore, I tend not to eat any fish because I am fearful the same thing will happen.  As fish is sometimes braised with clam juice or seafood stock, I decided I did not want to take the chance at 35,000 feet so bypassed the main course.  I was not really that hungry and was able to supplement my main with other items so this was not a major issue and something I am completely used to.  After the main course a cheese course and dessert was offered along with a selection of Swiss chocolates and after dinner drinks, coffee, tea, or espresso.

The regular meal service consisted of:

First Course: Seasonal salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Main Course, choice of:
Seared beef filet with red wine demi-glace
Roasted potatoes, buttered broccolini and carrots
or
Chicken Dijon, mushroom sauce
Shallot bread pudding, grilled peppers and zucchini
or
Honey-glazed salmon filet, mustard cream sauce
Horseradish mashed potato, yellow and green beans
or
Smoke mozzarella tortellini with tomato sauce
Olives and pine nuts

Cheese Course: Selection of cheeses

Dessert: Vanilla mousse with Bourbon butter peaches
Crumbled almond biscotti
Swiss Chocolates

Breakfast prior to landing.

 

LX 22
GVA-JFK
A330-300
Seats: 9K and 10K (SWISS Business)

Check in at Geneva was a bit chaotic given a very large party in front of the SWISS Business check-in lines was literally checking at the very least a minimum of 60 pieces of luggage.  I had never seen flatbed trollies being used for transporting piles of baggage within the terminal.  The agents clearly had their hands full with this group so I spied the Web check-in desk a few counters down and headed over there (which is likely where I should have gone originally as I had already pre-checked-in).  A very pleasant agent (who was in clear sight of the large luggage situation) quickly checked us in, priority tagged our bags, and re-printed boarding passes to be sure that the barcodes would work on the fast track security lane.

The priority security lanes are amazing.  Scan your boarding pass, gates open, and you are routed to a truly dedicated lane that took all of two minutes to get through (unlike JFK).  We proceeded to the SWISS Business Lounge which I had actually been to before which is quite nice with plenty of seating, and self-service food and beverages.  My only tiny issue with this lounge is that the restrooms are outside of the lounge and down the hallway – not a major issue but just noting it.

As you need to clear passport control before getting to the gate area, we gave ourselves a bit of extra time to do some last minute duty free shopping and make it to the gate on-time.  We just had a coffee and my partner had a pastry in the lounge.  Once through passport control you must then give your passport to SWISS agents that are behind small stations (grouped Economy, Business, and First) for review and complete an emergency contact form.  There was then some random secondary screening for a few people while the majority of us filed into a rather tight waiting area that eventually became very crowded.  Boarding was a bit delayed but we were soon welcomed aboard by another very nice crew.

We took our seats and I once again asked about my gluten-free meal to which the flight attendant said they had been alerted during their briefing that there was a gluten-free meal in business but she would double-check – very nice follow through indeed – and it was, of course on-board.

Once again all the in-flight amenities were already neatly waiting for us at our seat.  Pre-departure cocktails were offered and menus distributed prior to taxi along with a selection of reading materials.  Departure was swift and we were soon on our way to JFK.

My gluten-free meal on this flight consisted of lunch and pre-arrival snack.  The gluten-free lunch was a cold meat starter complete with Bündnerfleisch and a selection of vegetable sticks and green salad.  The main course was a grilled chicken breast served with carrots, zucchini, broccoli, and spinach.  It was actually all very good but perhaps the piece de résistance was the two slices of gluten-free bread – yes gluten-free bread – that accompanied my meal.  On of the terrific flight attendants even asked if I wanted the bread heated – wow!  The main course was followed by a cheese selection and dessert (mine was fruit salad) that came complete with a freshly made espresso.  The pre-arrival snack was a sliced cold chicken breast with different mixed vegetables.  My fight attendant was more concerned than I was that there was no bread to accompany it – and to be honest I wasn’t expecting it so no biggie there.  While remarkable similar to my main course chicken breast, it did hit the spot and I can safely say that I did not go hungry on this flight.

The regular meal service consisted of:

First Course: Air-dried beef with potato and Trögligen Alpine goats cheese timbale; Smoked tout tartlet with pearl barley salad and vegetables with Horseradish vinaigrette; Seasonal Salad with egg and croutons

Main Course, choice of:
Grilled beef filet with truffle jus
Celeriac pureé, glazed yellow beetroot
or
Chicken breast with almond cranberry crust, port wine jus
Sweet potato and mascarpone pureé, baked apple
or
Filet of sole with Swabian potato dumplings and saffron sauce
Creamed Savoy cabbage, artichokes with olives
or
Pumpkin ravioli with cream sauce, tomato confit

Cheese Course: Selection of cheese from Switzerland and the canton of Solothurn

Dessert: Solothurn hazelnut and almond mousse with raspberry coulis
Fresh fruit salad

The new SWISS Business is the epitome of style with the traditional focus on service excellence.  The crews on both of my flights were both professional but took the time to engage their guests on a more personal level.  Both Maître de Cabine ran extremely efficient ships but they too took time to chat with guests and really made sure that guests were well taken care of.  The new business seats are extremely comfortable, inclusive of massage function, and are proper full-flat beds.  Power and USB connections were available and on-demand IFE was also very good with a range of programming options.

On arrival our we were through immigration, picked up our bags, and cleared customs in 15 minutes tops. The fastest I have ever managed at JFK. Priority tagged bags actually arrived first on the belt in both GVA and JFK which I have found to be hit or miss with other airlines. SWISS service is most definitely consistent on both sides of the Atlantic.

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Laboratoire du Fournil, Le Sarissans Organic Chocolate Fondant

Friday, September 28th, 2012

One of the decadent finds on my recent trip to Switzerland was found at an amazing organic market (Urban Bio, 19, Rue des Alpes) that I literally stumbled across while walking around Geneva a day before heading home to the United States.  I typically do a bit of research prior to any trip but as the majority of my trip was in my familiar stomping ground of Montreux, I thought I would wing-it for our final night in Geneva.  I have a few other goodies that I picked-up in Geneva and will be reviewing them soon.  Now on to the chocolate fondant…

This was an amazingly rich and organic tart that was really more like a small round brownie.  It contained just five simple organic ingredients: a buckwheat and rice flour blend; cane sugar, eggs, chocolate, and vegetable oil.  While the ingredients were incredibly simple the cake itself was wonderfully complex.  It had a rich, nutty, chocolate flavor that had only a very subtle sweetness allowing the chocolate to have the spotlight.  It was wonderfully moist but was still dense enough to not be overly fragile – I actually threw this in my carry-on on my way home and it arrived in one piece.

So once again a great gluten-free find popped-up when I wasn’t even looking once again proving that you can get out there and, even without major planning, still navigate successfully as a gluten-free traveler.  If you happen to be in Geneva, definitely stop-by Urban Bio as there gluten-free selection was truly amazing.


Just part of the gluten-free section at Urban Bio.


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Lima GF Travel Guide, Part Three, The Food

Sunday, May 27th, 2012

This is the final installment of my Gluten-Free Guide to Lima.

Lima has been called the Culinary Capital of the Americas and let me be the first to tell you that it definitely lived up to the title on my recent visit.  Now, I was first a bit apprehensive because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean which meant that fish and shellfish would likely be plentiful and featured at restaurants throughout the City – and given my shellfish allergy this always makes me a bit antsy.  I mean the City is famous for it ceviche after all with entire restaurants dedicated to this popular dish.  I need not have worried though as Lima’s amazing culinary scene has quite literally something for everyone and finding gluten- and shellfish-free options.

Now I might speak seven languages but unfortunately Spanish is not one of them – I know, I know.  More often than not when I travel I speak the local language but this time I would be outside of my comfort zone.  I did however plan in advance and found some great food allergic allergy cards that I ended up printing out and laminating with my shellfish allergy requirements on one side and Celiac disease on the other.  I had a native Spanish speaker first look them over to ensure that they conveyed exactly what I would need to communicate to servers and kitchen staff that I would encounter on my journey – and they did.  Best of all, they were available free online.  Being Italian both me and my mother speak Italian and were actually able to understand far more than I had anticipated being able to when spoken to in Spanish.  Hey, you use everything you can when you have to.

So on to the food…

Prior to departure I had asked friends and colleagues who had been or lived there to recommend the not to be missed places that I needed to visit.  I managed to compile quite the list but with only six nights and an aggressive sightseeing agenda I had to narrow it down and decided upon place that would give a taste of what Lima had to offer.  Also, as many of you know, evening meals were often dictated by how tired we were from the day’s outings – and we were really all over the place trying to take in as much as we could.

Breakfast was a grand affair that we took daily on the roof of our hotel – the Orient Express Miraflores Park Hotel – and was by far the best thing the hotel had to offer (you can read more about that here).  Breakfast was an impressive of hot and cold buffet items with made to order options offered just as easily.  Basically you could have anything and as much as what you wanted.  Fresh fruit, freshly squeezed juices, and fresh baked goods were standouts but perhaps the most exciting thing for me was the inclusion of gluten-free bread that was on offer.  It was a rather unique bread, labeled only as “sin gluten” that was thicker and more solid than your traditional gluten-free bread and has a bit of sweetness to it.  I was most welcome and paired wonderfully with the eggs prepared a range of ways that I would delight in each morning.  I am typically not a big breakfast person but enjoying a full-breakfast while traveling affords me the opportunity to not have stop during the day for a large lunch allowing more time for sightseeing.  It makes it much easier to just grab something light while on the move to tide you over until dinner.

Speaking of dinner, here are a few memorable meals I enjoyed while in Lima.  I also want to point out that I was never glutened nor did I have to use my Epi-Pen for my shellfish allergy which is always a good thing.  Bon Appétit!

On our first evening in Lima we decided to walk to the nearby Larcomar Center which is an impressive upscale outdoor mall that is literally built into the cliff side.  It offers a range of shopping and dining options – not to mention the most amazing views of the coast and Pacific Ocean.  We walked around and stumbled upon what would turn out to be an amazing Italian restaurant Vivaldino.  I have to admit I was a bit hesitant because they did offer quite of bit of shellfish-based options but my concerns were quickly put at ease when I handed our waiter my dining card, which he read completely, and then provided tremendous advice on what would and would not work.  I opted for a homemade risotto with porcini mushrooms and Parmesan cheese that was cooked to absolute al dente perfection as my main course and my starter was a simple tomato and mozzarella salad drizzled lightly with olive oil and finished with fresh basil.  My mother started with a salad of Brie, pears, sun-dried tomatoes, and arugula which she enjoyed.  Her main was a duck magret with wild berry sauce with Portobello mushrooms, prosciutto, and pears au gratin.  She raved about this dish which was beautifully presented to boot.  Service was flawless even despite the restaurant being quite busy. We would actually end up eating here another evening with me ordering the risotto again – it was just that good.  We had a different server but ours was there serving a large party and stopped over to explain my allergies (he remembered) to our new server – very nice indeed.

Our second evening I had our hotel make a reservation at a restaurant that came recommended from a colleague – La Carreta.  This is Lima’s proverbial temple to all things meat and it did not disappoint.  As you can imagine this was not a problem to do gluten-free.  I did of course hand my dining card to our waiter who once again read it completely and, in this case, was able to advise on the potential for shellfish cross-contamination, which was minimal – but all of my requirements were noted and conveyed to the kitchen.  I started with an appetizer of thick-sliced grilled bacon accompanied by a wonderfully sweet and tart berry sauce.  This was, in a word, amazing.  The smokiness of the back brought to the next level by the grill and paired perfectly with the sweetness of the berry sauce that was not at all overpowering and allowed the bacon to really shine.  The portions at this place are enormous so sharing would definitely work.  My mother started with grilled Chinchulines (intestine) that was presented crackling away over coals when presented at the table.  For our main courses, I had the young filet which was pretty much an entire small tenderloin that could have easily fed three hungry people.  It was of course grilled to perfect medium with minimal seasoning allowing the true flavor of the beef to shine through.  My mother opted for the prime rib which was more of a large rib eye.  It too was cooked to perfection but was a bit fattier than my mother had expected but very good nonetheless.  We chose a potato rosti, mixed vegetables, and grilled asparagus for our sides – all of which were delicious.  I believe (and my mother confirmed) that I attempted to round-off the meal with a chocolate mousse but was in such a food coma by the end of the meal it has become a blur.

The next evening we were exhausted after an afternoon of power shopping our way across Lima so decided to utilize a complimentary meal for two that accompanied my stay at the hotel restaurant Mesa 18 by Toshiro.  Now, I actually had no intention of using this because I typically steer away from Japanese restaurants as a rule given my shellfish allergy.  While this restaurant is a self-proclaimed Peruvian/Japanese restaurant I was still weary after reviewing their menu.  Due to some issues I had while at the hotel I had a meeting with the General Manager of the hotel who had asked if I tried Mesa 18 yet.  I explained that due to my allergy and Celiac disease I did not think it would be a good idea and he was instant that the restaurant would be able to accommodate.  He was in fact VERY wrong.

One evening, while both tired, we decided to just stay-in and try Mesa 18.  It was a proverbial cluster-fu*k from the moment we were seated.  Our drink orders failed to arrive after two reminders.  I had presented my dining cards to our waiter who was having difficulty understanding – despite them being in Spanish.  Felling a bit uncomfortable I asked for the manager who instead sent another waiter who I can only assume was sent because he had a better handle of English but also took my dining card into the kitchen for feedback.  Well, the hotel General Manager’s assurance that they could work with my restrictions turned into one, yes one, menu item working for me and that was a chicken in a white wine sauce with vegetables and white rice.  Apparently, according to our server, all other meat items, including the filet were pre-marinated in soy sauce which is off limits to me.

Happy that there was at least one thing I could have I was just thankful that I would be eating soon.  Unfortunately when the dish arrived it was completely off-putting.  A questionable looking piece of chicken was presented with cabbage and a few vegetables.  Now, this was not the restaurant going above or making something special – this was actually an existing menu item – which made it even more disappointing.  My mother just had the chicken skewers appetizer with a side of Japanese fried rice.  Both of which arrived cold and were just average at best according to her.  It was an utterly disappointing experience and by far the worst meal I had while in Lima.

The next evening, thankfully, we took-in another recommended restaurant Huaca Pucllana which is located in the actual Pucllana Archeological Zone making for a truly memorable dining experience – particularly at night when the ruins are illuminated.  Be sure you make sure you reserve a table on the expansive terrace which provides sweeping vistas of the ruins.  It was extremely busy when we visited and service started off a bit lackluster but once the staff got going it did get better. Once again my dining cards were read, understood, and even brought to the kitchen.  The menu features a range of options that incorporate Peruvian ingredients.  For my starter I had a Three quinoa salad with “solterito” (fresh cheese, onion, tomato, rocoto peppers, fava beans and corn) which was out of this world.  Lightly dressed with a tangy lemon dressing that played perfectly off of all the fresh, crisp vegetables this was a home run – not to mention the corn was quite possible the largest I have ever come across.  My mother had the green and white asparagus with artichoke tartar, fresh hearts of palm, and basil vinaigrette.  She raved about how delicious this was.  For my main course I had the Grilled tenderloin in a cilantro sauce with potatoes and white rice that did not disappoint.  The meat was cooker perfectly and the cilantro sauce just took it to the next level.  My mother had the Paiche filet (fish from the Amazon) served with yucca and plantain with cocona (indigenous fruit) and aji charapita (spicy peppers) chimichurri.  The fish was cooked to perfection and the sweet/tart/spicy trifecta made for a very interesting flavor combination that my mother said worked extremely well with the mild flavor fish used.  For dessert I had the Chocolate crème caramel with cherimoya (Andean fruit) foam sans the orange croquant that typically accompanied it.  The chocolate flan was decadent and the subtle sweetness the cherimoya foam offered capped off a perfect dessert.

Lima is indeed a culinary melting pot incorporating many of the foreign influences that make the City so amazing.  There is truly something for everyone from the very simple to food courts to fine dining.  If you are less adventurous in the food department there are a host of chains (American and otherwise) but with so many real options it’s best to step outside of your comfort zone while in Lima.  I even scored my beloved Pinkberry while shopping one afternoon that came complete with fresh gooseberries and enjoyed that while my mother indulged in a sugar-free Italian gelato as we sipped espresso.  One thing is for certain, you will definitely not go hungry while visiting Lima and perhaps some of the most memorable times we had on the journey were while talking breaks at the small cafes that dot the City to enjoy a coffee or cocktail while soaking in the true beauty that is Lima.

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Lima GF Travel Guide, Part One, The Flights

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

My trip to Lima was better than I even anticipated. I mean, I knew it was going to be a great trip but was so interested to see how far the City has come since the horrible internal terrorist activity during the 80′s and 90′s which severely damaged the reputation of Lima and Peru.  Well, I am happy to report that the Lima of today is a vibrant city that has most deservedly captured the title of culinary capital of the Americas.  Lima is very much a city of stark contrasts particularly rich and poor but one thing that is unifying is the warm welcome and sense of pride that its inhabitants have.

To most people, Lima is a just a starting or stopping point before or after a visit to Machu Picchu.  I had a feeling that the city had far more to offer so decided when planning a recent trip that I would spend more than a week in Lima – and let me tell you it was the absolute right thing to do.

As a Celiac with a severe shellfish allergy who doesn’t speak Spanish I was a bit concerned about how that would go when dining out but as you’ll soon read, I needn’t have worried about it as things went extremely well thank to just a little bit of planning.

So I thought I would start my report with the flights.  People often ask about how I handle my dietary needs, particularly on long-haul flights.  Well, being a private pilot, I am a bit of an aviation dork and have long had a love affair with all things aviation-related – particularly airlines.  Yes, I am the person who made my mother fly with me to Honk Kong via Dubai (rather than a much quicker non-stop routing) so we could be on the first non-stop from New York to Dubai to try Emirates new service.  And yes, it was well worth it.

The first part of this trip report is of course The Flights.  I am warning you that this is a pretty comprehensive report on the flights as I am also sharing with some travel boards I frequent where like-minded travel enthusiasts congregate to read exactly these types of in-depth travelogues. So here we go…

I researched various options to Lima and landed on flying LAN Airlines to try their much raved about Premium Business Class service.  We’d be flying New York (JFK) to Guayaquil to Lima and non-stop Lima back to New York.  I also was very interested in sampling LAN’s gluten-free meal option.  I of course do not travel without my gluten-free contingency pack which includes snacks or food items in case of delay or lack of gluten-free options while on the road.  LAN’s flights depart late at night to arrive in Latin America early the next morning.  LAN recently moved to JFK’s Terminal 8 (American Airlines) and the terminal was actually very busy when we arrived to check-in.  LAN has two desks handling business class check-in and while not the fastest process, it was efficient and the agents very pleasant.  When checking-in we were told that our flight was delayed but we could go on the non-stop to Lima leaving around the same time we were supposed to leave.  I was not too hopeful though because when I made the reservations that flight was sold out – hence our one-stop itinerary.  Sure enough, there were no business class seats available so we stayed on our original flight which was now two-hours delayed.  Certainly not the end of the world but this would push departure time to around 1:30 a.m.  Luckily the same aircraft was the aircraft for our connection so that too would be delayed allowing us to connect as planned.  We were presented with invitations to the American Airlines Admirals Club along with two vouchers for $20 each to use at any of the terminal restaurants – though we had already has a lovely dinner prior to arrival so those went unused. The only strange thing was that the monitors confused our flight information with the Lima non-stop so our flight number and destination were correct with the Lima non-stop flight’s departure time (and hour before ours). Likely something to do with the terminal swap. This did not get resolved until shortly before boarding.

The Admirals Club was a pretty standard club that was quite busy but we received four top-shelf cocktail chits and settled in.  There is food for purchase along with the standard club snacks and beverages.  The lounge does have a good view of flight operations which I always enjoy – though at that hour they were not too frequent.  The lounge was supposed to close at 11:30 p.m. but actually remained open until we were called to the gate for boarding which I thought was very nice.

LAN 539
JFK-GYE
767-300ER (with winglets)
Seats: 3J and 3L (Premium Business)

When we got to the gate we were warmly welcomed on-board by a smiling, impeccably dressed crew and took out seats.  This LAN aircraft had only three rows of Premium Business in a 2-2-2 configuration and full lie flat seats.  The flight attendant serving our side came over and introduced herself and offered champagne, juice, or the famous pisco sour cocktail along with warm nuts – guess what I had?  The cocktail was delicious and really helped put you in the mood of your destination and was a very nice touch.  We were then presented with menus and wine lists and Bvlgari amenity kits were also distributed.  As we were already delayed passengers has the option to just sleep the entire was or enjoy the dinner service.  I had to see what my gluten-free meal would be so opted to stay awake for a bit.  I also confirmed as soon as I was settled that the meal was actually on-board – a very important tip I always stress to travelers.  There is very little that can be done at 35,000 feet if your meal is not on-board so ask nicely once you settle in to confirm.  I should also point out that my boarding pass also had my gluten-free meal noted on it which I have not seen before.

Boarding was swift and we were soon on our way to Guayaquil.  Flight time would be a quick six hours and twenty minutes.  Shortly after takeoff the attendants swung into action and hot towels were distributed.  Meal order were taken prior to take off so were served extremely efficiently.  Given the delay, a more abbreviated meal service was offered and that was actually most welcome.  My gluten-free meal arrived and was actually not that bad.  For some reason airline caterers love to make chicken, in some form or another, the gluten-free option.

After dinner I reclined my seat into the bed position and was fast into sleepy land before I knew it.  Flight attendants distributed large bottles of water and the cabin was darkened for sleep.  The seats are amazingly comfortable and come complete with a real duvet and pillow which really made a difference.  I pretty much slept until landing so not sure what transpired or was offered while I was sleeping but pretty much the entire cabin was out cold until landing.Arrival in Guayaquil for transit was super easy.

A LAN representative was waiting and directing to the transit area or customs.  The transit area has a quick security check with X-ray and walk through metal detector and we were the let out in the Duty Free Shop and made our way into the terminal.  We went to the Diamond Club Lounge.  I did find it strange that I had to go to the departure gate to get a lounge invitation but I guess since so many airlines use the lounge they have to track it somehow.  Was not a big deal and we were soon enjoying a very nice hot breakfast with amazing fresh coffee.  The lounge was really very nice with skylights replicating and outdoor area in one part.  Service was excellent and we were soon called to the gate for boarding.

LAN 1631
GYE-LIM
767-300ER (with winglets)
Seats: 2A and 2C (Premium Business)
The flight to Lima was empty in business class – just four of us in the fifteen seats so it felt a bit eerie but again, was warmly welcomed on-board and offered a pre-departure beverage.  The attendant servicing our side of the aircraft introduced herself and we were soon on our way.  The flight would only be about 2 hours so there would be a quick breakfast meal service.  It consisted of fresh fruit, yogurt, assorted cheeses and meats, and a selection of warm breads (none were gluten-free) was offered.

Arrival in Lima was uneventful and we were through customs and immigration very quickly despite having our bags selected for X-ray before leaving the arrivals hall.  You push a button and if it’s green off you go, red and you have to just go through one final check that took no time at all really.  This was not the first country I have had to push a button in but when I saw the people in front of me all go green I knew I’d be making a pit stop.  Upon exiting the arrivals hall we were immediately met by our driver and whisked to our hotel – about 45 minutes away.

The Return

Our departure from Lima was a non-stop flight that departed, you guessed it, after midnight.  Having been warned that Lima airport can get a bit crazy we decided to leave for the airport at 8:00 p.m. and it took a good 45 minutes to an hour to get to the airport.  Traffic in Lima is extremely congested  and when we arrived at the airport we were glad we had given ourselves some extra time.  Check-in was fast though I had to smile when the agent asked if one of us would be interested in downgrading as business was oversold – I should have found out was being offered but quite frankly was looking forward to a nice long sleep again – so we declined.  Here’s a little tip: when flying internationally while you cannot typically print your boarding pass (because of security and immigration requirements) you can pre-check-in which on LAN is 48 hours in advance.  So we had long been checked-in and the agent made a point of noting this.  Lounge invitations were issued and we were on our way.

Security was busy but pretty well organized and we were through in no time.  Immigration on the other hand took a bit longer and we were again glad that we given ourselves additional time.  There is no premium cabin security or immigration at Lima and with most flights north departing around the same time it can get very busy – so give yourself plenty of time.

After immigration we hit the duty free shops for a few items (that are delivered to the jetway for claim prior to boarding) and then headed to the LAN lounge which is the SUMAQ FISA Investments Salon.  The lounge was very busy but still had plenty of seating.  There was a host of food items and beverages including a fresh squeezed orange juice machine and a staffed complimentary bar.  The lounge had an outside courtyard seating area and quiet area with loungers.

LAN 530
LIM-JFK
767-300ER (with winglets)
Seats: 3A and 3C (Premium Business)

Boarding in Lima was pretty chaotic.  The flight originates in Santiago, Chile and transit passengers had to deplane and then there was some confusion as they were re-boarded before the Lima passengers were.  There was secondary screening for all passengers which was very quick and we were soon boarding after picking-up our duty-free purchases.

The consistent thing about the LAN crews is that they are extremely professional and seem to really enjoy their jobs (at least the crews we had).  We were once again warmly greeted and took our seats.  Welcome cocktails and nuts were once again offered, amenity kits distributed, along with breakfast menus.  The first meal service would be a quick-service dinner (single tray presentation) and breakfast would be either a full breakfast (2 hours prior to landing) or fast breakfast service (45 minutes prior to landing).  The full breakfast options were pretty much everything under the sun from omelets and hot options to cereals and fresh fruit.  Best of all you could select anything that you wanted to customize it to you preferences.  My first meal option was the gluten-free meal and was – you guessed it – chicken.  It was not as good as the outbound chicken but the grilled vegetables with it were quite good as was the salad.


Shortly after dinner it was time for bed and I slept through until I was, as requested, awaken for my full breakfast.    I opted for an omelet with fresh fruit and a cheese and meat platter.  It was very good but I did have use my gluten-free skills to navigate because it was an à la carte menu and there was some confusion as to whether there was a separate gluten-free meal for the second service.  Anyway, it was fine because I was able to pick a few simple items that I knew would work for me.  Total flight time was 8 hours and 20 minutes.

LAN is definitely a world class airline and their Premium Business Class is a great hard product and service was extremely professional.  On the ground they are good but somewhat inconsistent – not really a big deal but it would be nice if their ground service was more on par with their in-flight crew.

Part II: The Hotel is also ready for viewing. Unfortunately TripAdvisor didn’t publish all the photos I submitted but you definitely get a taste for the experience.

Part III: Dining Gluten-Free in Lima will give you a taste of this culinary capital of the Americas.

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Gluten Free In Lima Peru

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Lima was a truly magical city.  It is at the crossroads of becoming a well-established tourist destination on its own versus a pit stop or jumping off point for more well-known destinations in Peru such as Machu Picchu or a diversion from the Galapagos Islands.  Lima is a sophisticated metropolis that is a city of distinct contrasts grounded in a rich historical background.

I had no idea what to expect my first time in Lima.  People who had heard that I was only going to Lima and not venturing to the highlands seemed to question Why?  Well, you see this was a trip for my mother and me to re-start our globe trekking that dates back to my high school days when we would jet off to London for a weekend of theater or Brussels and Amsterdam to shop and dine and more importantly just be together.  Mom is a fabulous travel partner in crime and we’d later visit Dubai before it was well known or be ducking the back alleys of Mong Kong in Hong Kong.  She is now 73 and has more energy and hutzpah than most people half her age.  The past few years saw my father battling for his life against cancer — a battle lost just ten months ago which still does not seem real.  My mother was a rock during his illness and devoted every minute and ounce of her being to my father — not once faltering.  After more than 50 years of marriage they were still as in love as the teenagers who met long ago.  My father’s passing was beyond difficult for my family and my mother in particular.  This trip was to make her feel special and rekindle our past travel experiences and make them once again an annual tradition.

My Lima experience was so diverse that I am breaking my travelogue into a few sections: The Flights; The Hotel; and The Sights and Food.  Of course the focus for all of the sections will be on my travels as Celiac and shellfish allergic traveler in a country that is not too well-known as a gluten-free friendly locale.  So stay tuned in the coming days for the release of each of these sections and I hope you’ll enjoy learning more about this remarkable city.

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Gluten Free To, In, and From Lima Coming Soon.

Friday, April 13th, 2012

I have not been posting as frequently as normal because as many of you know I am on the road in Lima, Peru. Sadly my journey to Lima is coming to an end and I have had a truly fabulous time here. I was a bit apprehensive in the food allergy department at first but found this culinary capital of the Americas to be most welcoming to this food allergic diner.

I have been documenting my gluten-free experience from the airline lounges, on-board LAN’s Premium Business Class, some great locales here in Lima, and finally, the return home.

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