Gluten-Free Portland Oregon - [year] Guide

Many Portland residents suffering from Celiac Disease prefer going gluten-free to help avoid the health risks involved with eating gluten. It offers a great way to protect the small intestines from damage and also maintain overall wellness. Celiac is a gastrointestinal disorder whereby the villi is destroyed, preventing proper absorption of food. Some of the most common symptoms of this disorder include abdominal pain, joint issues, fatigue and vitamin deficiencies. Other diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, and IBS can also result in some of the same symptoms.

The latter occurs due to the intestine’s inability to efficiently take in nutrients due to injury. Nevertheless, after following a gluten-free diet, the symptoms will start to disappear over time, though it may take another 6 months for the intestinal wall to completely heal. Also, for Portland residents interested in losing weight, going gluten-free can be a great idea.

There are many restaurants and products in the area that cater to this particular group of people. If you’re going to practice gluten-free dieting then some of the products to avoid include rye, wheat, barley, and triticale. Nevertheless, cutting gluten alone may not be the only solution for losing weight. Other lifestyle changes will also have to be adopted such as exercising and maintaining a diet full of fresh fruits, veggies and whole foods like beans, nuts, and seeds.

Though the USDA and FDA haven’t yet set any standards for labeling foods as gluten-free in Portland, there are various consumer groups and manufacturers whose sole aim is to monitor and verify that gluten-free products are labeled correctly. This label guarantees quality assurance for consumers and also shows that products with the logo have a threshold of only 10 parts per million (PPM) of gluten.

Reference Websites for Gluten-Free Portland Eating

Check out these amazing websites for some tasty gluten-free Portland eating.

GlutenFreePDX

GlutenFreePDX is the largest and most consistent gluten-free living guide serving the residents of Portland and the Pacific Northwest in general. They have a wide inventory and their listings continue to grow every day. The site’s main goal is to help visitors find affordable gluten-free dining choices. The listings include restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other establishments that serve foods which are gluten-free.

However, occasionally menus may change and thus they encourage guests to share resources, information, and other important details to help keep things updated. Currently, the site is working towards updating their listings in order to determine how careful the food establishments are with preparation. Soon they will not be giving gluten-free labels for venues that have weak cross contamination standards.

A gluten-free listing means that the restaurant offers products which do not contain this protein, though in some eateries they may still come into direct contact with the non-gluten-free food. Additionally, a gluten-free listing means the company has strict guidelines that prevent any chances of cross contamination.

GlutenFreePDX started as a personal project but has since grown to become the largest gluten-free directory in Portland. Their dream is to serve as the go-to website for anyone living in the city, or just visiting that is wanting to eat gluten-free. Nevertheless, the site admits that they can’t possibly name every restaurant offering gluten-free food. Therefore, if there’s anything missing you can send them information through email for a quick update.

Gluten Free Portland

The Gluten Free Portland website is the brainchild of Dr. Samantha Brody, a certified Naturopathic Doctor, and acupuncturist. She is also the owner of Evergreen Natural Health Center which is based in Portland, OR. Apart from offering residents tips on how to live gluten-free, Brody is also a health coach and trainer who can introduce celiac patients to new methods of taking good care of themselves.

Her site, Gluten Free Portland, has all the listings, ideas, reviews, and resources needed to make a wise choice when picking the best place to dine at. It doesn’t matter whether you want a gluten-free restaurant for health and medical reasons or simply by choice. Everything you need is at the site. Gluten Free Portland is also in the process of making format changes to their site, which will ensure that each location listed shows whether or not they might accommodate diners who can’t risk cross contamination.

Furthermore, since May 2013, they have a backup system for guest posts which are also crucial for the entire gluten-free community residing in Portland, OR. For more information on submission of pieces, you can check the Guest Posting Guidelines available. Nevertheless, this site is only meant for informational purposes and not medical or professional care, counsel, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your personal doctor regarding the applicability of information shared on this site before putting it into practice. Moreover, all details concerning bakeries, restaurants, and facilities are provided by purveyors, and they give no full assurance of the gluten-free status of restaurants, or any other products mentioned on the site.

Best Gluten-Free Portland Restaurants

Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House

Deschutes Brewery is located at 210 NW 11th Avenue, Davis Street. It’s known for serving the best gluten-free beer and food in the area with lots of options to choose from. All their drinks are crafted with passion and full-flavored. Additionally, guests are welcomed to take guided tour excursions around the brewery, so as to get up-close glimpses of the tools and equipment used for making gluten-free beer.

These expeditions are offered daily and start in the Tasting Room, later on moving into the manufacturing zone where experts will explain the finer details of using whole-cone hops, Germanic brew kettles and other details involved in producing tasty gluten-free beer. Apart from beverages, other products that they serve in the restaurant include beer nuts, chicken liver mousse, sweet fire cheese, quinoa burgers, garlic fries and warm beer-brined olives among others.

Moreover, the brewery’s distinct Northwestern style cuisine brings a glimpse of Central Oregon dining to the core of Portland, providing residents with not only the best gluten-free experience but also a relaxed urban atmosphere. The pub has a total of 26 taps that feature standard Deschutes beverage mainstays, as well as a selection of experimental and seasonal beers that are developed and brewed on-site. Portland Public House is managed by Jill Ramseier, who also acts as the company’s Executive Chef. Deschutes’ talented culinary team has continuously set the pub apart from others. They are renowned for creating dishes from scratch and with the best local ingredients available.

Corbett Fish House

Corbett Fish House is based at 5901 SW Corbett Avenue Pendleton Street and they offer a 100% gluten-free menu that consists of both lunch, happy hour and dessert items. To ensure their food remains free from the protein, they always toast the fish in brown rice-flour and not batter. It guarantees that no cross-contamination occurs during preparation.The blend of clean, high-grade oil and light topping of rice flour creates a delicious and healthy serving of fish. Guests are treated to tasty, greaseless foods with crispy coverings and succulent insides. Corbett Fish House has been in operation for more than 10 years, serving fish & chips as well as a variety of other gluten-free dishes like seafood, sandwiches, soups and chowders.

Moreover, they are the only eatery on the West Coast serving Walleye and Lake Perch, both freshwater fish that fry very easily. Other menu options include oysters, catfish, halibut, calamari and various non-fried seafood items. There are also great chowders on offer.

Vita Cafe (Sadly now closed)

Vita Cafe is a vegetarian and vegan-style café located at 3023 NE Alberta Street. They’ve been in operation since 1999 serving gluten-free food at affordable rates. Most of their ingredients are locally sourced and organic, with the restaurant trying as much as possible to reduce negative impacts on the environment and also focusing on sustainable business practices. Some of the popular dishes they have on offer include raw peanut butter with cheesecake, a buffalo tofu wrap and chicken fried steak topped with gravy and mashed potatoes.

The café is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with an exclusive $1 happy hour session for kids starting from 5-7 in the evening every day. This is not just your regular kind of vegetarian restaurant as they also specialize in full servings of vegetarian-style comfort foods.

Ruby Jewel Scoops

Ruby Jewel is an ice cream restaurant found at 428 SW 12th Avenue, Portland Oregon. Most of their desserts are gluten-free such as the salted caramel chocolate-ganache ice cream, marionberry crisp cream and chocolate chip cookies. This store is popular both for its amazing deserts but also for their community of friendly workers and their comfy dining atmosphere.

The restaurant has a reputation for creating hand-crafted ice cream dishes. Each flavor is individually crafted in their North Portland kitchen, making use of fine ingredients sourced from local farmers and food artisans both in Oregon and the surrounding Northwest region. Ruby Jewel Scoops is family-owned and has been in operation since 2004. Apart from providing quality food they are also committed to supporting the local community, economy and limiting their environmental impact wherever possible.

Though the eatery has received lots of national attention in the past, appearing in Oprah Magazine and on the Food Network channel, all of their products are still handcrafted locally in their North Portland kitchen. This eatery is the brainchild of two sisters, Lisa and Becky, who opened their first location in North Portland in 2010, followed by another one in Southwest Portland in 2012. Apart from ice cream sandwiches, guests can also enjoy sundaes and scoops which come in a variety of flavors.

Homemade Gluten-Free Portland Recipes

There are various interesting gluten-free recipes meant specifically for Portland residents. The ingredients are easy to come by and can be found in most local stores. These recipes are also suitable for people of all ages, both young and old.

Yam Casserole with Seasoned Pecans

Ingredients

1/3 Cup Pure Olive Oil
2/3 Cup of Coconut Butter
1 1/4 Tablespoon of Sea Salt
1 1/2 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Cup Maple Syrup
2 Small Apples, Chopped
8 Cups of Yams, Finely Chopped into 1-inch Pieces and Boiled for 5 Minutes

For Spiced Pecans

1/4 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1/3 Cup Coconut Sugar
1/2 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Melted Coconut Oil
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
2 Cups Pecans

Cooking Instructions

Boil the sweet potatoes by soaking in water, then bring to heat for about 5 minutes.
Mix the ingredients for pecans and toast nuts in an oven at 325 degrees for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Grease the baking dish with pure olive oil then combine all of the ingredients together in a sizable bowl, excluding the pecans. Toss to coat and place the mixture in a baking dish.
Cook for 25 minutes on 325-degrees heat. Then uncover the dish and adjust heat to 425 degrees, add pecans on top. Bake for 5-10 more minutes until the pecans are deep brown in color but not black.

This dessert takes approximately 50 minutes to cook and serves 6-8 people.

Vegan Sushi with Butternut Squash

It’s a tasty vegetable dish that’s also gluten-free.

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw cashew nuts, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1 bunch scallions
1 bunch grated mustard greens
1 package seaweed
1 1/2 cup peeled and diced butternut squash, cooked
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 cups turnip, finely chopped to 1-inch cubes
3 cups jicama, cut two 1-inch cubes
Black Sesame Seeds

Cooking Instructions

Pour the chopped jicama, cashews, and turnip into a food processor, then leave until the mixture is crushed into the size of fine rice granules.
Press the ‘rice’ mixture button on your blending machine over a standard bowl to remove excess moisture.
Combine the granules with salt and vinegar then stir in a strainer to further drain the water.
Lay seaweed down with the rough side facing up. Spoon a layer of ‘rice’ in the bottom third section of your sheet, then arrange granules into box shapes all the way up to the 1/4 inch mark of the cup from all sides.
Line up small portions of each constituent ingredient in a straight line. These include 1 scallion, half mustard green leaf, cut squash pieces and a ration of black sesame seeds.
Roll the piece firmly away from you then set the seam-side down and repeat the procedure again.
Chop the food with a serrated bread knife and then serve, for even better results try wiping the knife clean between each cut.

In conclusion, gluten-free living can either be a necessity due to Celiac Disease or other illnesses, or simply a lifestyle choice. Statistics show that gluten sensitivity in the Portland area mostly runs within family trees. If your close relative has a condition then chances are high that you may also contract it as well. Nevertheless, there are ways you can manage the disease such as following the tips mentioned in this article.

Did we miss any hotspots in this gluten-free Portland guide? If so, let us know below!