Where is Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor is a huge tourist destination in Michigan. Being the home of one of Michigan’s two Big Ten athletic teams, that brings a lot of visitors. In fact, the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitor’s Bureau estimates 5.6 million people visited there in 2014.

If we figure that 1% of the population has Celiac Disease, we could estimate that 50,000 people are in need of gluten-free dining options while in the area. So to help make your trip a little bit easier, here are my list of top Ann Arbor gluten-free restaurant suggestions. (Plus two dedicated gluten free bakeries!)

Zingerman’s Roadhouse

My first mention in my Ann Arbor gluten-free restaurant suggestions is Zingerman’s Roadhouse. Why? Because Zingerman’s is synonymous with the name Ann Arbor. The level of care that they take with their food prep is PHENOMENAL.

With dedicated fryers, toasters and waffle irons, it gives peace of mind while you’re enjoying your meal. I mean, look at those Bits & Grits Waffles?! I wish I had a plate of them right now. Or their a gluten-free fried chicken. Fried Chicken folks! While you’re in the area, make a pit stop at Plum Market across the street for Ethel’s Baking Company treats and other gluten-free goods.

Frita Batidos

I think I’m in love with Frita Batidos. Even though their “fritas” are served bunless for us gluten-free eaters, it may be the most delicious beef patty I’ve ever tasted. Did I mention that their beef is locally sourced?  Their signature fries are cooked in a dedicated fryer. That’s a huge thing for those of us with Celiac Disease.

Their batido milkshakes are wonderful. I could eat my weight in their cajeta, which is made-in-house salted goat’s milk caramel. Cover one of their sweet deep-fried plantains in the stuff and you’ll never want to leave. Add rum to their batidos and it truly is a happy hour. 

Condado Tacos

I’ve visited three different Condado Taco locations, and have had amazing meals every time. The majority of their menu is gluten free, and they have great protocols in place for dietary restrictions. Plus they’re a peanut free and nut free restaurant. Read my review. 

Juicy Kitchen

Ann Arbor is a place with many eclectic flavors and attention to healthy eats. Juicy Kitchen focuses fresh, local food with options for all kinds of eaters. Gluten-free? Check. Vegetarian? Check. Vegan? Yep, that’s covered too.

This delicious gluten-free stuffed French toast is cooked on a dedicated griddle with clean utensils and bowls. Cooks never share the egg wash from the regular French Toast. I highly suggest taking a bite with a bit of strawberry. 

Core Life Eatery

The Core Life Eatery chain recently opened a new location in Ann Arbor. Apart from the bread made off site, everything at Core Life contains no gluten ingredients. You can create your own bowl, or order one of their popular entrees. They also feature some pretty amazing beverages, including hot bone broth.

Anna’s House

This chain of restaurants originally started in Grand Rapids, and opened the Ann Arbor Anna’s House location in 2019. Gluten free meals are prepared in a dedicated prep space with dedicated utensils. While any meal here is stellar, their gluten free breakfast options are phenomenal. Pictured above is their breakfast lasagna.

Buddy’s Pizza

Buddy’s Pizza has many locations across Michigan, including one on Ann Arbor- Saline Rd. Read more about this business in my review.

Tasty Bakery

This 100% gluten free bakery serves up treats at their storefront, and at the Kerrytown Market. Customers also enjoy their treats at local Sweetwater coffee shop locations. To learn more about this unique confectionery, read my interview with Tasty Bakery.

Nirit’s Bakery

This Cottage Law business, Nirit’s Bakery, sells at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. Everything they make is gluten, dairy, soy and nut free. 

Blank Slate Creamery

Blank Slate Creamery is an ice cream icon in Ann Arbor. They make all of their own ice cream, and many flavors are gluten free. Gluten Free flavors are clearly labeled. 

Blom Meadworks

Blom Meadworks sells naturally gluten free, alcoholic mead. They often have gluten free snack options, too. 

Other Ann Arbor Gluten-Free Restaurant Suggestions

1. Paesano’s
I’ve heard lots of great things about Paesano’s over the years. A friend recently had dinner there, and enjoyed gluten free pasta and even tiramisu! They even serve gluten free bread. I need to return to Ann Arbor just to visit this restaurant. 

2. Pilar’s Tamales
Pilar’s Tamales is a small Salvadoran restaurant on Liberty St. Corn flour comprises the base of almost every item on the menu. They do make a few non gluten-free desserts. I highly suggest the pupusas stuffed with cheese and loroco flower.

3.  Miki Japanese Restaurant
My friend Jen Burch, from Blue Bear Aware, highly recommended this Ann Arbor gluten-free restaurant option to me. The biggest issue for any Asian restaurant is the presence of wheat in soy sauce. She reports that Miki offers gluten-free soy sauce for their dishes. If you get a chance to eat there safely, report back so I know!

4. Totoro

If you’re in the mood for sushi, Totoro has many gluten free sushi options. Gluten free options notated on menu.

5. Stadium Market
Stadium Market isn’t really a restaurant. It’s a party store with a functional kitchen, selling gluten-free pizza and breakfast sandwiches Again, Find Me Gluten-Free has many reviews about this place. I sought the advice of Valarie Mates, the moderator of the online Gluten-Free Ann Arbor Yahoo Group.

She said that it’s “awesome.” Stadium Market reportedly has many gluten-free beers, and sells a selection of Udi’s products. If you can attest to their steps for preventing cross-contact, please let me know!

6. Salt Springs Brewery

Salt Springs Brewery is located in Saline, which is just outside of Ann Arbor. While I have not personally eaten there, I’ve been told they have a dedicated gluten free fryer for fried fish. However, I would check with wait staff before ordering, just to make sure. 

Final Reminders about Eating Gluten Free in Ann Arbor

As always, I suggest calling restaurants prior to dining to ask about gluten free food preparation practices. This allows you to get the best information without staff being distracted during a food rush. Luckily, Ann Arbor is a forward thinking city and there are plenty of options. You can even eat safely at University of Michigan dining commons! And last I knew, there’s a gluten free stand at the football field. 

Where do you look to eat in Ann Arbor? Leave me a note and I’ll be sure to check them out!

**In full disclosure, I was provided free meals at some of these establishments, but that does change my views or my comments.**

The post Ann Arbor Gluten Free Dining Options appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Where is Frita Batidos?

Ann Arbor is home to many amazing restaurants, and Frita Batidos rates high on that list. While it may appear similar to a burger and fry joint, Frita Batidos is a marriage of Cuban flavors that transport you to the tropics. I don’t know that I’ve ever eaten a better burger. And that coconut batido milkshake? Sweet and delectable. All this and they’re totally hip on safely preparing foods for those with food sensitivities.

I contacted Paterno Johnson, the general manager at Frita Batidos, prior to our midweek lunchtime visit. They’ve received great reviews on the Find Me Gluten Free app, but I wanted to inquire further. Reviewers piqued my interest, stating that Frita Batidos has a dedicated fryer. (Gluten-free French Fries are the way to this gal’s heart!) They have a guide that lays out their menu by special requirements, be it gluten-free, vegetarian, lighter side, and more. Paterno explained, via email, their step-by-step process for handling an order for a customer with food allergies.

How Does Frita Batidos Handle Gluten Free Orders? 

When you place your order at the counter, the front-of-house staff comes in the kitchen to talk to the expediter. The “expo” circles the allergy item in red sharpie on both the yellow and white tickets so the line cooks and “expo” is always aware.

Line cooks wash their hands then don clean gloves as they prepare the food. When someone has an allergy to any item from the grill, we cook the item in a separate, clean and sanitized pan (with clean utensils) to avoid cross contamination. When the food is ready, they put the food in our food trays and give it directly to the expo. He or she clearly marks the tray and informs the Front Of House staff which item has the allergy.

2022 Update

While working on my Detroit gluten free dining guide, I had the chance to connect with Eve, the owner of Frita Batidos. She shared the following information.

“We do ask that guest with Celiac Disease let us know because we take extra precautions with this condition. For guests with Celiac disease we specify on our order ticket, do a verbal call to the expeditor, write it on a white board and have a dedicated person in the kitchen prepare and package the order from start to finish.

We still have the essay question on our Restaurant Test asking each staff member to describe Celiac disease in detail. They study from a version of the test with answer but take the final test without the answers in order to work independently on the floor at Frita. This is part of our mandatory front of the house training.

Over the past year and from our conversations with you, we realized we needed to focus more on training the back of the house to have the same level of understanding so that has been a big help all around!

We have tried to constantly improve our practices and training – and have focused on it recently in thanks to a staff member who worked with us over the Summer who has Celiac disease and was able to point out areas we could improve.

We do have a labeled, dedicated gluten free fryer, both in Ann Arbor and Detroit. We also have a kit in a zipped bag with dedicated gluten free cutting board, Chef’s knife, pot, pan etc…) in both Ann Arbor and Detroit! Hope all is well with you and yours and, as always, we are open to suggestions, feedback and areas to improve so I hope you will continue to do so! We SO appreciate your support!!!

Does Frita Batidos Have A Dedicated Fryer?

For anything that needs to be cooked in the fryer (like their DELICIOUS French Fries) away from contaminated items, Frita Batidos maintains a dedicated gluten free fryer. Like everything else, line cooks wash their hands then use gloves as they prepare the food.

Food delivery to the customer is the same as above. If a guest is eating with a group, their food will not be on the same tray to avoid cross contamination. Also, per requirements from the health department, a Frita Batidos has a manager that is Serv Safe Allergen Certified. While the law only requires one, Paterno understands the wisdom of having as multiple staff aware of the steps to keep food allergy guests safe.

Now that we’ve got the food safety covered, let’s get to the amazing food at Frita Batidos!

What Does Frita Batido Mean? 

The name of the restaurant, Frita Batidos, refers to Cuban burgers named Fritas. They create traditional fritas from chorizo, served on brioche buns, topped with shoestring fries and a remoulade-style sauce. Right now, Frita Batidos doesn’t carry gluten-free buns.

To be honest, I’m not sure it totally needs one. It was the MOST perfectly flavored patty I think I’ve eaten in my WHOLE LIFE.  However, manager Paterno Johnson was receptive to my suggestion of a local gluten-free bakery, should they ever decide to carry a gluten-free bun. I really appreciate his willingness to listen to suggestion.

As mentioned, alert the front of the house staff when you order, and they will cook them in a dedicated fryer. In addition to the regular fries, they also make garlic-cilantro fries that Paterno served to us with a lemon scented mayo. What a combination of flavor!

What’s The “Best Snack Ever”? 

Frita Batidos is more than just burgers, fries and milkshakes. They have some great sides as well. The staff aptly named this dish “The Best Snack Ever.” It’s comprised of coconut-ginger rice layered with black beans and melted Muenster, mixed with cilantro-lime salsa. I could seriously eat this every day.

You also have to try the twice-fried plantains. They taste a bit like a baked potato, again topped with black beans, Muenster, cilantro-lime salsa, and the addition of avocado spread and creme fraiche. If you are a vegetarian eater, you can eat well with these items, sans meat.

Does Frita Batidos Offer Gluten Free Desserts?

Of course, you have to save room for dessert. Although, life is short, so you might order one of their signature batidos first. Paterno gave us samples of the Coconut Cream and Passion Fruit batidos. I preferred the coconut, while my husband preferred the Passion Fruit.

I want to go back to try the Chocolate Espanol batido, which is dark melted chocolate steeped with cinnamon. If you’re looking for something lighter, they’ll make one with crushed ice and less ice cream. Or take a regular one up a notch and add a splash of rum!

Try the Deep Fried Plantains!

Frita Batidos is famous for their churros, which unfortunately are not gluten-free. However, Paterno was nice enough to give me a deep fried plantain, coated in cinnamon and sugar.

With that, he served me some of that delicious chocolate espanol, as well as “cajeta.” Cajeta is slow cooked caramel made from goat’s milk. I can’t even begin to tell you how CRAZY delicious this is. Make a batido with that and chocolate espanol and I would be in HEAVEN.

Frita Batidos Supports Local Michigan Businesses

Eve Aronoff is the creative chef and owner of Frita Batidos. She has won extensive awards for her cooking. After eating here, I can understand why. Eve and her staff are eager to support local, visiting local farms & purveyors and expanding their cooking skills through culinary expeditions.

They also place a high value on ongoing, continuing education for all staff. They take advantage of guidance from like minded businesses, such as Zingerman’s Zing Train courses. This and more is what makes Ann Arbor a great dining destination. There’s room for all the flavors of the palate here in A2. I look forward to returning to Frita Batidos soon and often.  Especially for happy hour, because there’s a discount on those amazing fries!

Locations

Frita Batidos – Ann Arbor
117 W. Washington
Ann Arbor MI 48104
(734) 761.2882

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Frita Batidos – Detroit 
66 W Columbia St
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 725-4100

Frita Batidos – New York
334 Kent Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11249
(718) 559-0161

Have you eaten at Frita Batidos? What’s your favorite menu item? Do restaurants that focus on sourcing local ingredients, like Frita Batidos, more readily make you want to dine there?

** I was not charged for my meal. All of my thoughts and opinions are my own. Such as I need to go back for another round of those french fries!*

Frita Batidos 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.

The post Frita Batidos : Gluten-Free with a Cuban Flair appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

**This is an interview with the owner. Please scroll to bottom of page for bakery address, phone number, website, email, and social media links.**

Tasty Bakery is truly a fixture of the Ann Arbor community. When I first shared the Michigan’s Best GF bakery tour idea with the Ann Arbor online support group in 2016, this bakery was immediately suggested and written in by voters. Julie and Ran Rabinovitz first opened their gluten-free business in 2009, in a stall at a local farmer’s market.

For that reason, and so much more, the Ann Arbor community has loved them back. They began a Kickstarter campaign to open a “brick and mortar” store, located on West Huron.  The support they received was tremendous. In one month, over $20,000 dollars was donated to their campaign. They opened their new store in the fall of 2015. Learn more about this gluten free bakery in Julie’s own words.

1. What inspired you to become a baker?  Why the focus on gluten-free?

As most stories go, I’ve been baking since I was a kid and always loved it. My Celiac Disease diagnosis came in 2006 while I was living in Brooklyn. I dabbled a bit in gluten-free baking but wasn’t really committed to the necessary diet as I should have been. That changed when we moved to Ann Arbor in 2007.

It was then I decided to start baking gluten free more, and though I’d start a business. I knew the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market would be a great place to test the waters. Since then, due to my own extended food allergies, we’ve included using organic coconut oil and sugar, baking more vegan items, and making sure our ingredients are soy and corn free. My husband believed so much in what I was doing, he jumped on board and helped me expand the business.

2. Are there other highlights of your products? Dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free etc?

Everything we bake is soy-free and corn-free, and almost everything we bake is vegan. We’ve kept a few original items that have grass-fed butter and free-range eggs.. We try to use low-glycemic, organic coconut sugar or nectar in most of our creations. In addition, we offer grain-free options, including bread and cookies.

We buy and use local and organic ingredients or buy from vendors who use organic practices whenever possible. We buy our chocolate from Mindo Chocolate, in Dexter. Our packaging is compostable, and our cleaning products are earth-friendly. We’re also starting to include soups, and light-meal options, such as quiche, salads and pizza to go.

3. What steps do you take to insure that your products are truly gluten-free?

We are a dedicated gluten-free bakery and never bring gluten into our facility. All ingredients are purchased from reputable, gluten-free sources. We also make sure our sources are corn and soy free. We use Golden Prarie Oats, which are tested and verified to contain under 10 ppm of gluten, which is lower than the FDA standard of 20 ppm.

4. Do you have any stories of customers who reported back to you how important your products have been in their life?

People tell us all the time how much they love and appreciate Tasty Bakery and our practices. We try very hard to use “clean” ingredients and believe it’s the reason our products are so good. You can read some of our reviews on our Facebook page. (And can add one as well!)

5. What would you like consumers to know about your products and your business?

We want people to know that we put a lot of thought, care and love behind what we do. Even though most of what we do are desserts, we want to make sure that our benefits  you;  not only in taste & pleasure, but nutritionally as well.We make things in small batches by hand. In addition, we wrap everything by hand in compostable packaging because we care about every batch and what we put into the environment.

Plus, we want our bakery to be more than just a place to pick up cookies or bread. We have plans to use our space to teach classes and host community events. It will be a place where you can get a good cup of local coffee, sit and catch up with a friend, and just enjoy the vibe that is Ann Arbor.

6. Where Can You Find Tasty Bakery Products?

Aside from our bakery, you can find our products at both Argus Farm Stop stores (Liberty + Packard locations, A2), Zingerman’s Next Door Cafe (A2), Bearclaw Coffee Company (A2), The Produce Station (A2), Sweetwaters (Kerrytown + Ypsilanti locations), Vertex Coffee Roasters (A2), Thrive Juicery (A2), and Uptown Coffeehouse in Howell. We also ship our products, and you can order through our website. (A2 = Ann Arbor)

Also check out my post on Ann Arbor Gluten Free Dining Options, for restaurant recommendations. 

Tasty Bakery Location, Hours and Contact Information

Tasty Bakery
416 West Huron, Suite 24
Ann Arbor MI 48103
Website / Facebook / Instagram  / Email
Open Monday thru Friday, 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday 11 am – 3 pm.
They also sell at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
(734) 707- 1046

Tasty Bakery is one of many great, dedicated gluten-free bakeries across the state of Michigan. Follow this link for a compete state-wide list and interactive map! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram  for more gluten free bakery insights.

The post Tasty Bakery – Ann Arbor’s Gluten Free Bakery appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.