Gluten free in Quebec City
If there’s one thing about this foodie, being gluten free won’t stop me from enjoying a wonderful food-filled vacation- and in fact arguably makes me appreciate my culinary finds even more! When you have to make the tough lifestyle decision to cut out certain foods so your body can operate at its best, you learn to find community with other foodies who’ve done the same. Sometimes these individuals are so passionate about filling the void, that they create entire businesses dedicated to providing delicious safe options to those of us with dietary restrictions (ahhem, like Heidi, the founder of Tucker & Co!). Needless to say, connecting with others who get it, just hits different! You can be gluten free AND still have high food standards!
I recently took a long weekend trip to Quebec City, Canada. The first night we stayed in a “tiny house” in the Canadian mountains. A night in an airbnb means “cooking in” for me– and a trip to the local grocery store. Am I the only one who loves exploring every aisle of a grocery store in a new place or country? I love to see what GF options are available that I may not be able to find at home in Pennsylvania. The stand-out here? The gluten free bread selection- nourishing, packed with whole grains AND the slices were massive! Iykyk … For dinner we made a gluten free pasta dish topped with a garlic, arugula, pecorino, and roasted broccoli combo and finished with fresh mint and walnuts. A New York Times recipe, it’s easily modifiable to be gluten free- see below for the link! It came together quickly using minimal dishes and is the perfect post-airplane meal for when you’re just craving something fresh and nutritious. The mountain views were good for my health; I actively felt my nervous system disengage.
On our first full day, we drove to the city and while I got the immediate impression that european-style laminated pastry is part of the fabric of this place, there were usually also gf treat options available in the cafes! Whenever I visit a new city, I generally do a quick google search to see if there might be any dedicated gluten free bakeries. Quebec City? Results Loading… Success! Chez Hansel and Gretel is a patisserie chocked full of 100% gluten free (and many vegan) cakes, muffins, CROISSANTS, bars, savory sandwiches and so much more. It’s always a true delight to be met with a pastry case filled with items I can actually eat! Everything was tasty but the stand out was undoubtedly the croissants- pain de chocolate or classic- it was truly the best gluten-free laminated pastry I’ve ever had. I got the chance to talk with the owner who gave us a list of some other gluten-free restaurants to check out in the city. He just opened the shop 5 months ago and you can tell it isn’t just a business to him, it’s a mission, a passion project to bring smiles to faces of people like me- coming from near or far. I was duly impressed by the fair pricing. Any gluten-free individual just knows to expect upcharges and speciality pricing- but not here. Maybe food is just more affordable in Canada than the US, or maybe there is a different understanding of accessibility pricing than generally associated with any gluten-free product in typical eateries at home. (PS maybe you’ve noticed you’ll never be charged extra for gluten free bread at Tucker & Co!). I got a frozen 6-pack of plain croissants to travel home with me, but, tragically forgot them in the hotel fridge. I guess I’ll need to come back!
Some other GF restaurants of note:
Bistro Hortus- An upscale french restaurant with thoughtfully curated dishes with an emphasis on eco-sustainability https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g155033-d23429357-Reviews-Bistro_Hortus-Quebec_City_Quebec.html
Verravin- A classic “diner” grill menu– the twist? Everything is gluten free! Onion rings, fish and chips, burgers, corndogs… come here for your comfort food fix! https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g155033-d2440967-Reviews-Le_Veravin-Quebec_City_Quebec.html
Julio Taqueria- A straight-forward mexican taco menu- entirely gluten free… complete with guac, beans, and gluten free churros!!
Le Don Vegan- we loved this spot so much we went back twice- the menu is completely vegan and has a handful of clearly marked gluten free dishes as well. Everything is fresh and made in house. The staff were very friendly and accommodating toward dietary needs. I had the mushroom risotto- it was phenomenal, deep umami flavors- achieved entirely with plants.