Last weekend we went out to our favorite local restaurant, Native Foods. It is a strictly vegan restaurant, and we are strictly vegan, so there is a good start. Like many other restaurants that cater to vegetarians, they sell lots of dishes made with meat substitutes. We've eaten there many times, and at least one of the waitstaff knows my dietary restrictions, because he always tells us if the special is Gluten Free or not.
A different waiter took care of us this time, and I ordered the daily special, an enchilada. I did mention that I needed my meal to be gluten free.
A few minutes later the waiter came back to us and advised me that I should not have the special because it contained seitan, and seitan is made from almost 100% pure wheat gluten.
It was a momentary lapse on my part to order a dish with seitan, because I do know better, but I think I had confused it with tempe - another meat substitute that is usually GF, and apparently always GF at this restaurant.
The guy saved me from an evening of agony, and we now feel even better about a place we already liked a lot.
Native Foods has 4 locations, Westwood, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Costa Mesa, California. Their food is consistently unusual, delicious, and nutritious. Their staff knows about the food they serve.
http://www.nativefoods.com/Steve
