So...You Have Celiac Disease? Now You Can Have Your Cake and Eat it Too!

So you have celiac disease?

What is the first thing you thought of when you were diagnosed? I can tell you the first thing I thought of. Well… first two things.

1– Oh Thank God I don’t have to take meds for the rest of my life.

2– Oh bloody hell, I can’t eat at anymore! I love the Olive Garden.

I wasn’t sure which of the two was more significant to me.  I was happy to find a “cure” for the horrible illness that had made me so severely sick (due to years of build up). Evidently, I had been eating mass amounts of gluten most of my life like it was going out of style. Most of us who are trying to eat healthy tend to go towards all things wheat. I was one of them. I ate everything made out of whole wheat. No joking, everything! I was literally killing myself without realizing it.

Here’s the thing, there are varying degrees of difficulty with this disease. Some who eat wheat (by accident or like me, who sometimes “cheat”) might have a tough night with a lot of bloating as well as some gas… ok I really mean pooping (yes I said it!). Some will be sick for a few days straight (like myself).  Some of us “cheat” because we haven’t come to terms with the fact that we just can’t have that French bread and butter at dinner, which everyone else got to eat (you know, it looked so, so good. So good.)

Once again, after I finally stopped being stubborn and from many nights spending most of my time in the bathroom, I decided to take a stand against the disease!!!! Yes! I would be a super hero against Celiac!

This disease will not keep me from the foods I like or enjoying food in general! NO it will not... So I decided to figure out how to create my own gluten free comfort foods and to make an effort to seek out establishments that offer a gluten free menu or… (GUESS WHAT?) have an entire business based around gluten-free baked goods! (And it’s friggin Ah-Mah-Zing!).

For my first blog, I will give you a little hidden gem. I say hidden because the place is literally kind of hard to find.

I found this place based on luck when I ran into a lady at the Oceanside Thursday night street market who told me of some gluten-free alternatives around town. I also did some research on my own and found many places that offered a gluten-free menu.

I love pizza. I mean... I really love pizza and when I was diagnosed with Celiac disease just over six months ago, I was sad. Like crying in my salad sad!

However, I got off my butt and decided to research restaurants that offer gluten-free alternatives.

Just off one of the side streets in Carlsbad there is a pizzeria that offers the BEST gluten-free pizza I have had so far. Of course they have "normal" pizza as well. Oh! and it doesn't stop there! They also offer gluten-free cinnamon rolls (they are fab-u-lous!), breadsticks, cheesesticks, breaded chicken wings, and calzones. They are one of the only establishments that make their own crust from scratch. If you have lived in the midwest and have ever had Donato’s Pizza you will be reminded of their greatness. The pepperonis are Ah-Mah-Zing! Little cooked slices of heaven!

I asked the owner why he created the gluten-free items. He said his nephew has Celiac Disease and it started with wanting to create something that he would be able to eat from the shop. That grew to the development of many other menu items for us fellow Celiacs (yes, we have our own people). He basically went from a good idea to help his nephew, to creating a niche that accounts for 30% of his orders. He has customers come from all over Southern California and has even had people call in a late night order as they are arriving into San Diego airport. His gluten free pizza is that good.

If you live near Carlsbad or go there on travel (you must because it’s awesome!) then please go visit . Tell them Rebecca sent you...Yes, there is only one of me.

The address is:

Paradise Pizza

2564 State Street Ste. F

Carlsbad, Ca 92008

Enter Via back parking lot on Roosevelt Street.

BTW…They are open until 3 am every day! BONUS!

Each week I will either review a gluten-free friendly place or give you a great recipe. Along with that I will give information about the disease and hopefully helpful advice.

P.S. For my next write up I'll have an amazing brownie recipe. Seriously... People who don't have celiac or a gluten allergy find it amazing. Did I say it was amazing yet?

Oh and I'll also talk about that weird acne you keep getting.. You know what I'm talking about.

Stay away from the gluten,

Rebecca Ryan Long

Questions/Comments?/Tips on gluten free friendly places for me to write about? Post them in comments or contact me via email.