Zingerman’s Is a Michigan Icon

To me, the name Zingerman’s is synonymous with the word Michigan. Zingerman’s has been a fixture of the Ann Arbor community for what seems like forever. (For those keeping track, their deli opened in 1982. I would have been 4 at the time.)

For years I’ve seen their baked goods at coffee houses, eateries and health food stores. With my Celiac Disease, it was a business I never thought I’d be able to personally enjoy. Upon my visit to Zingerman’s Roadhouse, I’ve learned that I (and other’s with Celiac Disease) can also be part of the family of customers.

Researching Zingerman’s Gluten Free Options

My visit to Zingerman’s Roadhouse started, like always, with a little research. Gluten-free diners highly rated the restaurant on the Find Me Gluten Free app. I reached out to my connection at the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to see if she had an email contact. Luckily she did. (Us “Margaret”s are resourceful like that.)

The CVB connected me to the totally delightful Marcy Harris. (Later we realized we grew up in the same city and had some of the same friends. Of course!) Marcy impressed so much with her answers (which I will share below) that I eagerly made a reservation to dine there for breakfast.

Gluten Free Waffles and More

So my husband and I arrived for breakfast at 8 am, eager for breakfast and to get out of Ann Arbor traffic. We parked near the “Roadshow” which is an Airstream trailer outside of Zingerman’s Roadhouse. They serve hot beverages and baked goods. You can drive thru and they’ll serve you a warm cup of coffee and a genuine smile.

We walked into the restaurant, and were warmly greeted by the waitstaff. I mentioned my scheduled meeting with Marcy and was promptly seated. It was a busy morning of regulars like Ron, who eats breakfast there every single morning.

Zingerman’s Uses Fresh, Local Ingredients

Marcy joined our table. She was just as excited to meet me as I was to meet her! Our server got our drink orders and gave us a chance to look over the menu. I was impressed that the menus are printed daily, allowing for changes to the menu for the freshest of ingredients.

While I knew what I wanted right away, it took my husband a few moments to decide. For me, the choice was obvious. I ordered the Carolina Gold Rice Grits and Bits waffles, with a side of housemade sausage, made from pigs raised here in Michigan. My husband, who has a pork and shellfish intolerance, went with the Huevos Rancheros. For him to find vegetarian refried beans definitely made his day.

The BEST Gluten Free Waffles

In a word, the food was AMAZING. The Grits & Bits waffles are crisp on the outside and almost creamy on the inside. That probably sounds weird, but trust me, it’s like heaven. Topped with bacon and cheese AND syrup?! It’s out of this world!

And these waffles are ALWAYS gluten-free. They bake these circular waffles in a dedicated gluten-free waffle iron. (Regular waffles are rectangular.) This is intentional so that gluten-free items look different visually, adding another safeguard to the customer’s dining experience.

What Other Gluten Free Options Does Zingerman’s Offer?

They also have gluten-free fried chicken, which is cooked in a dedicated fryer and served on a plate. (The regular fried chicken is served in a basket.) They also have gluten-free bread available, made at Zingerman’s Bakehouse. This is offered as a substitution for bread on any of their sandwiches, or in a bread basket. (See the bottom of my article for prep methods on their gluten-free bread.)

Zingerman’s Roasts Their Own Coffee

My husband let me try his Huevos Rancheros. It was a bit spicy for my taste, but he adored them. He really enjoyed the coffee, which they roast at Zingerman’s Coffee Company and source from small estates that Zingerman’s personally visits. They always have their exclusively roasted Roadhouse Joe on brew, as well as a Coffee of the Month that rotates. You can purchase it in bags at the Roadhouse or visit Zingermnan’s Coffee Company. They even have a chart on the wall, displaying the best way to brew each coffee.

Who Started Zingerman’s?

While we enjoyed our meal, Marcy shared some of the company’s history and unique facts. For instance, Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw started Zingerman’s Deli for a very important reason. The quest to create an excellent Jewish Reuben sandwich. Things grew from there.

Zingerman’s now owns 13 connected businesses. This includes the restaurant, a Creamery where they make their own cheese, the Bakehouse where they make their bread, and even a Korean restaurant named Miss Kim. If they can make their Dolsot Bi Bim Bap gluten-free, I would be ecstatic. Regardless of how large they’ve grown, their mission and mindset never waivers- Great Food, Great Service and Great Finance.

The Mission Behind Everything at Zingerman’s

As impressed with I am with the food, I was just as impressed with the philosophy of the business. Zingerman’s goal is to keep things local, regional and sustainable as much as possible. They own Cornman Farms in Dexter, where they raise their own animals and grow their own produce.

They place an huge emphasis on training. Not just about how to cook and serve food, but on finance and other topics of their interest. They even encourage employees to teach classes themselves. Zingerman’s offers training to others businesses as well. Their not intimidated by competition, but want to serve their community to make it a better place for everyone.

In all honesty, I’m in love with this restaurant. From the waffles to the staff to the collection of over 3,000 salt and pepper shakers that line the dining room walls. Because when you’re here, you really do feel like family. And that’s exactly how Ari and Paul and the rest of the Zingerman’s staff want you to feel.

How Zingerman’s Roadhouse Accommodates Gluten-Free and Food Allergy Needs

“Zingerman’s Roadhouse takes food allergies, Celiac Disease and other restrictions very seriously. We take several steps to make sure we are keeping our food allergy guests safe. Our practices start with our menu and our service interaction with the guests.

Any item that is available on the menu as gluten-free is labeled with a “GF”. If an item can be made gluten-free, we add a note underneath that item indicating how it can be done. For example, we have a gluten-free fryer, so we might indicate that an item can be prepared in that fryer to make it safe. Our servers are trained to inquire about food allergies, and to ask specific questions to find out as much as we need to know about accommodating a guest’s needs.”

How Do Wait Staff Handle Gluten Free Orders?

When a guest tells their server they have a gluten sensitivity, or any allergy for that matter, the server rings in the item with specific instructions detailing how it should be prepared. There are buttons in our Point of Sales system that denotes an allergy, what the allergy is, and the severity of the allergy. So for an individual who has Celiac Disease, we would use the buttons that say “Gluten Allergy, Allergy Severe”. This information is sent to the kitchen, who then prepares the meal using safe handling.

How Do Kitchen Staff Handle Gluten Free Orders?

For any allergy, that means changing gloves, using a separate cutting board, knife, bowl, utensils, pan, waffle iron, toaster, or fryer. If an item cannot come into contact with the grill, for example, we prepare it in a fresh, separate sauté pan. Three pairs of eyes read the ticket with the allergy note : the person preparing the food, the chef running the line, and the manager expediting the food. This way, three people are responsible for keeping each other in check for making sure the food is safe.

Does Zingerman’s Have a Separate Fryer?

If we are preparing gluten-free bread for a bread basket, or for a person’s toast in the morning, the bread is toasted in a toaster specifically for gluten-free bread. We do have rice flour available for our gluten-free waffle and gluten-free fried chicken, so it is imperative that we make sure to prepare these items in the gluten-free waffle iron or fryer. There are ways for us to distinguish these items from the others so that there is no mistake of mixing them up.

Other Ways Zingerman’s Take Care of Customers

If a guest comes in regularly, we do take down their name and allergy information and enter it into our reservation system. This way we can print a ticket from the reservation computer and give a copy to the server and to the kitchen.

I am actually in the process of updating an allergy “cheat sheet” that a manager created for our servers a couple of years ago. The laminated card is the perfect size to fit in the servers’ order-taking books. The card categorizes different allergies and lists additional information about our menu items for each category that is critically important for the server to know.

What About Their Gluten Free Bread?

At Zingerman’s we bake our own gluten-free bread, which is prepared in a shared bakery. (Zingerman’s Bakehouse would like to emphasize that it is not a dedicated gluten-free bakery. They make the gluten-free bread as a service to the Roadhouse and the Deli only.) We prepare it during specific production days and times when NO other breads are being made. Zingerman’s gluten-free breads are prepared in separate pans.

Prior to production, we sanitize all utensils and ovens, OR use separate tools used designated only for gluten-free production. Because wheat particles can be present in the air, we send it to a third party lab for testing. Our test results came well within the government guidelines for parts per million of gluten. We do share this information with those that have a serious intolerance like Celiac, so that customers can determine whether this bread is the right fit for them.

Have you eat at Zingerman’s Roadhouse or any of the other Zingerman’s businesses? What’s your favorite meal? Leave me a note below so I know what to get the next time I go back!

Restaurant Location and Contact Information

Zingerman’s Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Ave
Ann Arbor MI 48103
(734) 663.3663
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**We were not charged for our meal. However, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own. And you better believe I’m going back for that fried chicken!**

Zingerman’s Roadhouse is one of many Michigan restaurants I’ve visited. You can view a list of them on my  Michigan gluten free dining post. Please remember to always ask any restaurant about their food preparation practices. In the mood for something different, check out my list of Ann Arbor Gluten Free Dining Recommendations.

Originally Published February 2017

The post Zingerman’s Roadhouse Gluten Free Options appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Why did you decide to start offering gluten free options at Broasted Brothers?

We started offering gluten free because of both of  our wives’ gluten allergies. They asked us to offer it since the beginning of the store but we ignored them. now we hear “iI told you so.” Turns out just two weeks ago my brother has been tested and also has allergy issues to gluten and soy.

Do you accommodate other allergens? What kind of oil do you use?

The gluten free chicken is also dairy free. We have just recently switched from soy to canola oil about two weeks ago. We never use peanut oil.

What are your procedures for making gluten free orders?

We always change gloves or wash hands when dealing with gluten free orders. We prepare the gluten free inside of the walk-in cooler to best keep the wheat flour away from the gluten free chicken. Currently we have two separate gluten free fryers, used only for gluten free chicken and wedges.

What gluten free options are on your menu?

Any of our chicken can be made gluten free (bone-in, tenders, and wings). Also we just started a chicken sandwich and fish. We also will be starting gluten free shrimp in the near future. Also all of our sides are gluten free, except for the Mashed potatoes and the Macaroni and cheese.

Do you offer any gluten free desserts? 

All of our shakes are gluten free. Recently we added a chocolate Molten lava cake to our menu, and will be soon adding another chocolate cake.

What are your hours of operation? 

During the week we are open Tuesday thru Friday from 11AM-9PM. Saturday we are open 12PM-9PM, and Sunday we are open from 12PM-8PM.

Where should customers park?

We are located in the Sheldon Place Plaza on the corner of 5 mile and Sheldon Rd. There is ample parking in front of our store front. We’re in the same plaza as Busch’s Food Market, and across the street from St. Johns Resort.

Do you offer catering? 

Yes, we offer catering and we have hot boxes to hold the food warm for 6 hours. We also have chafing dishes as well. We can deliver with our catering van or it can be picked up.

What else would you like my readers to know about your business? 

We are family owned and operated and we love being part of the gluten free community. They really have embraced us and what we are doing. 

Broasted Brothers Location, Hours and Contact Info

15171 Sheldon Rd, Plymouth MI 48170

(734) 892-2900

Hours: Monday-Friday 11 am – 9 pm / Saturday 12-9 pm / Sunday 12-8 pm

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Other Gluten Free Options in Metro Detroit

Broasted Brothers is one of many Michigan gluten free dining options. Focused on the Metro Detroit options? Find more restaurant recommendations in my Detroit Gluten Free Dining Guide. Craving something sweet? Check out my list of Michigan gluten free bakers.

The post Broasted Brothers Gluten Free Chicken appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Recently my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to share the afternoon with the owners of De Food Truck, Toby and Joelle. While the food was absolutely amazing, the conversations with two of them was just as memorable. We sat and talked for hours!

Where is De Food Truck Located?

You can find De Food Truck is parked at the Blarney and Castle Gas Station in Mesick, Michigan. I included De Food Truck on my Traverse City Gluten Free Dining Guide.

What’s On the Menu?

Everything on De Food Truck menu is gluten free. They offer a variety of fried fish and seafood, plus chicken nuggets. In addition, they offer curry bowls. He fries everything in canola oil.

What Did You Order From De Food Truck?

My husband and I tried a variety of the fried fish and seafood. We both had perch and their amazing French Fries. These are no pre-bought frozen fries. Toby makes his fries from scratch, and fries them twice. Toby stated that they go thru as many as 100 lbs of potatoes on any given day!

My husband and I also tried their squid steak bites. I’ve never had squid before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was great! Nice and firm, without tasting overly fishy. In addition, I had the fried shrimp, which was delicious.

What Kind of Breading is Used?

Since everything on this food truck is gluten free, you’ll find no wheat flour here. Toby uses a blend of rice flour and corn starch, and his own blend of spices. Everything we tried was perfectly cooked, and not soggy.

(Visit my article on gluten free fried fish to make your own fish fry at home.)

Does De Food Truck Have Vegetarian Options?

Yes! You can order their falafel, with or without fries. (Although, I highly recommend the fries!) Toby cooks the falafel in a dedicated fryer, away from the seafood and chicken. In fact, the fries and falafel are both vegan.

In addition, Toby makes this amazing Avo-Tar, which is a version of tartar sauce made with avocado. I could have put it on everything! Toby also said that he plans to switch to vegan mayo, so he can accommodate more people with dietary restrictions.

(Want to make your own falafel? Try my gluten free falafel recipe!)

Why a Gluten Free Food Truck?

Toby has been in the food truck business, since 2006. He personally needs to follow a gluten free diet. After having operated a variety of trucks, he decided to finally open one that benefited him and others who have to eat gluten free. You can learn more about Toby Dunne in this Record Patriot article from July 2023.

Have any other questions about De Food Truck? Drop them in the comments and I’ll try to get them answered for you!

De Food Truck Location & Hours

De Food Truck is parked at the Mesick Roundabout, at Blarney Castle & Propane.

4554 M-37, Mesick, MI 49668

Hours- CLOSED Tuesday & Wednesday

Open Monday 11 am -8 pm / Thursday 11 am – 8 pm/ Friday & Saturday 11 am – 9 pm / Sunday 11 am – 8 pm

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**Note- We were not charged for my meal, despite me offering to pay. We visited Toby and his wife on our 20th wedding anniversary, and they wanted to help us celebrate.

De Food Truck is one of many Michigan eateries I’ve visited. You can find a list of them on my  Michigan gluten free dining post. Please remember to always ask any restaurant about their food preparation practices, before dining.

The post De Food Truck – 100% Gluten Free Food Truck in Northern Michigan appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.