Gluten-Free in LA (South Bay Area)

On a recent trip to Los Angeles (the South Bay area) I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to eat healthy,  gluten-free food...with some preparation of course! Staying at a bed and breakfast turned out to be fabulous! Richard and Susan Egan, owners of "By the Beach" in Redondo Beach were extremely accommodating to my dietary needs and were excellent cooks. My daily gluten free breakfast included fresh poached eggs with tomatoes and greens. A variety of fresh fruit (mangos, pineapple, pears, cherries, bananas, kiwis), artisan cheese, coffee and orange juice. It was just perfect. The room also had a small kitchenette where I could store additional snacks and make lunches in order to be prepared for a day at the beach or a long wait in LA traffic! I would highly recommend this B&B for the Celiac traveler or any traveler. It was comforting, clean, quiet and our hosts were extremely welcoming. 

gluten free breakfast on the patio

the backyard of the B&B

In El Segundo, we discovered a  restaurant that was full of flavor and reasonably priced. The self proclaimed "urban country" food did not disappoint at the Farm Stand. Fresh flavors of the Mediterranean infuse the food and the happy hour wine is a big plus. I'm always a little nervous trying out new restaurants, but the  staff at the Farm Stand  is aware of the importance of gluten contamination and I was able to eat safely. I would recommend the herb salmon with roasted veggies and rice pilaf or the lemony roasted chicken with a tart cherry pilaf and veggies. Yummy! I was also able to have some really good meals at the Whole Foods in El Segundo. The prepared foods area is remarkable! Other restaurants in the area include, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Outback Steakhouse, and The Green Temple Vegetarian Restaurant. For a delicious dessert, try Pinkberry frozen yogurt with fresh fruit.  Trader Joe's is also a gluten-free paradise and I was able to pick up a lot of snack foods here. It's always nice to return home from a trip healthy and happy! Cheers to L.A! 

Pinkberry mango frozen yogurt topped with 

blood oranges, raspberries and chocolate chips