Hi,

Can anyone recommend any restaurants in Key West to get vegetarian/ gluten free meals?
Peggy

No, but you have me wondering. What can one possibly find to eat anywhere on that diet restriction other than veggies and rice?

ICE-CREAM =D>

FainaAgain- Icecream is not a vegetarian food. It's made with milk. That is unless you're into soy icecream.

Well I know vegetarian's that eat ice cream, cheese and other dairy products. I don't know if peppaz does or not but I think there is a different name for people that will not eat dairy products.

That would be vegan....vegetarians generally eat dairy products, vegans don't eat any animal products.

Margy

I am a veggie not vegan and ate very nicely at My Blue Heaven.
check their site menus
http://blueheavenkw.homestead.com/Bl..._Key_West.html

Blue Heaven is a very good place to go if you don't eat meat, since the chickens that wander underfoot will consider you a friend. No, this is not a joke. One of the features of this outdoor restaurant is a resident population of chickens who wander about picking up crumbs.

The meat dishes weren't very good, so maybe vegetarians would eat better. But the place is not to be missed.

I think most of the better places can do a vegetarian, gluten free meal with a little searching on the menu and negotiation with the waiter, and there is a stand on Duvall Street that has felafel and hummus.

In general, though, the prevailing ethos in the more touristy parts of Key West involves trying to burn out as many brain cells as possible through the consumption of alcohol.

I don't know about glutten-free, so just some suggestions...

1 Cafe (really, tha6's what it's called) 509 Southard St
Key West, FL 33040 (305) 296-5515

lists itself at a veggie only place.

2. Lobos Mixed Grill 5 Key Lime Sq.
Key West, FL 33040. They serve wraps with a large selection of veggie ones. (Key Lime Sq is just off Duval on the Simonton Side)

3. Thai Cusine 513 Greene St
Key West, FL 33040 (305) 294-9424

hth
Pjk

All of Key West has chickens and mainly roosters sunning around, in and out of stores, restaurants. They are noisy and wonderful. If one is a vegetarian, is it OK to eat in a restaurant where there are live poultry if you promise not to eat one?

Back to original question - still no answer, but I would think an Asian restaurant would be best bet. You can get veggies, rice, rice noodles, tofu for protein - as long as they thicken sauce with cornstarch and not flour.

It's not uncommon to a vegetarian selection on a menu in Key West, the twist is the gluten free request. You may need to place a call first. Try :

Cafe Sole - www.cafesole,com - they have vegetarian selections

I've never had a bad meal at Blue Heaven - just call and ask about options

If you do eat seafood - not to worry - you can eat in most places.

With all restaurants in Key West, the Winter vacationers are arriving by the plane load, call and make reservations!

Gail - Asian restaurants are not gluten free because most soy sauces are wheat based. Try finding an asian recipe without soy sauce! It not just baked goods and pastas we have to stay away from. Its soy sauce, beer, distilled vinegar (so just about every bottled salad dressing), beer, most alcoholic drinks, modified food starch, beer, etc. We can, however, drink margaritas and eat chocolate!!!

Sounds like my problem Birdie, I cannot eat anything derived from corn and all Asian restaurants seem to use corn oil.

For those not able to eat gluten there are wonderful vinegars that do not contain wheat. For example:
Marukan Seasoned Gourmet Rice Vinegar consist of Rice (water,rice), sugar, salt. And NAKANO Rice Vinegar "Natural" consist of Rice Vinegar , water.

With allergies eating out in restaurants can be a problem.

Maybe I am wrong but I would think that some restaurants in Key West would serve fish, seafood, salads (ask for olive oil and lemon juice on the side for the dressing) and potatoes or rice? And wine would work. Best wishes Peggy, having allergies I understand your concerns.

I occasionally have bought Living Without magazine from health food stores as I also have allergies.

They also have a dining guide, which I don't own. I would think a popular place like Key West would be in their guide, but I don't know that for sure.

http://www.livingwithout.com

Good luck!

Most alcoholic drinks (gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, etc.) are ok for Celiacs (gluten-free). The distilling process takes the gluten out - or so Dr. Murray of the Mayo Clinic has told me. I drink Crown Royal without any problems. Bummer about the beer though, huh?
I just returned from Key West and ate a lot of peel and eat shrimp (both hot and cold options). Had a great burger (no bun) one night too. I rely a lot of eating meat so the whole vegetarian AND Celiac thing would be just awful for me

Birdie - we have eaten in several Aisian restaurants with close friend who can not do gluten - he asks for dishes without the soy sauce and has had no problems.

Thanks, Gail. I should ask them to do it without. And who knew? I can drink gin & tonics!!!

Birdie, just be careful in Asian restaurants..at least my experiences have not been good. I have talked to the servers and they have talked to the chef/cooks..about the fact I can not have anything cooked in corn oil or thickened with corn starch. I have streesed "NO Corn product of any kind" I was always assured when my food was served that there was no corn product. But each time I was terribly ill afterwards. So there was some kind of corn product that was used. Now perhaps with soysauce you would know that immediately unlike a corn product. But I just wanted to mention my expeeriences. I will not ever eat in an Asian restaurant again, as much as I love the food.

I would think corn might be more difficult since corn oil is not distinguishable from "vegetable oil" and the server might not have a clue as to the difference. And the corn starch is such a common thickener. My friend just says "no sauce" which works - although soy is much more obvious than corn.

Birdie - there is now a gluten-free beer that is tolerable.

Peg - what about working backwards here - what do you prefer to eat at home and what types of restaurants seem best able to accomodate that.