Gluten-free in Seattle

I spent the long weekend in Seattle with my dear friend Lauren. Other than spending time with a friend I've had since I was four years old and exploring a new city, I was really looking forward to all the gluten-free food I could eat in Seattle.

Before I left, I did some research. Seattle is a forward-thinking city, much like Boston, with damn good coffee and an open market where I could (and did) spend hours and hours. Among the famous fish-throwing vendors and gorgeous flower stands, there was Pappardelle's Pasta whose charming employees call at you to try their chocolate pasta. After I declined and Lauren enjoyed a piece, I was asked again to try, I stated "Thanks, but I'm one of thsoe lucky people who's gluten intolerant", ready to explain what that meant I was caught off guard when the Papparadelle guy exclaimed "well, we have gluten-free pasta!" YES! Right in front of me was a bin full of gluten-free pasta. After chatting about all the gluten-free places I should try, I bought some and we were on our way. This was at 9AM on the first morning, we were off to a good gluten-free start.
Since it was 9AM, we needed some breakfast. We had already had our obligatory Seattle coffee (and yes, there is a Starbucks everywhere you turn) and it was strong and probably upped my blood pressure, so I needed some food in my stomach. Well, Pappardelle dude told me about Cinnamon Works, which was a mere fifty feet away (BTW, both of these places are located in Pike Place Market) and they have.... wait for it..... GLUTEN-FREE STICKY BUNS! I was so excited to hear this that I assumed the people that worked there would be as excited as me. Yeah, big let down there. The two chicks that I dealt with were about as excited as a rock. And about as pleasant as well, something not very pleasant. Regardless of the service, the sticky bun rocked and I had one again on Sunday.
I'm not sure if any other gluten-free bloggers like me automatically equate Seattle with Gluten Free Girl. I've been a reader of hers for well over a year, so of course I knew that her husband is the chef at the restaurant in Seattle called Impromptu. A wine bar and fine dining restaurant located in a cute part of the city, Madison Park. Well, before anything else, I knew I wanted to go there. So we made reservations for Sunday night and after spending the afternoon walking around Bainbridge Island (very cool place and a short and easy ferry ride from Seattle) I was ready to eat. Boy, it was good. I apologize for the lack of photos, it's dimly lit and small, so any sort of flash photography would have surely ruined the ambiance. To start with, we split the duck risotto and then I got the roasted chicken and Lauren got the trout. All were amazing, the service was great and prompt and pleasant, and I highly recommend it.



There were so many other places I wanted to try in Seattle: gluten-free, vegan pizza, freshly baked gluten-free bread, and an Ener-G Foods wholesale store.

Rock on Seattle. Rock on.

And it wouldn't be a good eatah post without the obligatory dog photo -- this is of a friendly Corgi we met on Bainbridge Island.